The Chokka Trail, situated in the greater St Francis, Eastern Cape, is an award winning 4 day/3-night slackpacking hike. It’s much more than just a hike, as it also includes a canal cruise on the famous St Francis canals and calamari tasting.
The 62km trail lies between Oyster Bay, St Francis Bay and Cape St Francis, however, in true slackpacking style (you hike with a small daypack while your luggage is transported), distances were shortened especially for your group and difficult dune climbing sections were bypassed.
ACCOMMODATION unique privately owned overnight points to make sure your day starts with a hearty breakfast, your packed lunch is delicious and at your next destination, a cooked meal and hot shower will be waiting!
TRANSPORT Return transport from George Airport and daily transfers, between accommodation and starting/ending points, by Mercedes Sprinter 14-seater bus.
Training programme - Packing checklists – recommendations on gear, especially walking shoes.
Regular Tips and Updates and Travel assistance
Pick up at George Airport before 12:00 and we leave along the N2 via Knysna, arriving at Oyster Bay by 16:00. After checking into the Oyster Kaya, and meeting our hosts Bokkie and Lindy Lombard, we will relax before dinner and discuss the route and interesting highlights awaiting us on the hike.
Accommodation: Guest House accommodation (DB&B) and a lunch pack
After breakfast, our hosts will hand out our lunch packs and set us off on the trail to Thysbaai, all along the coastline. Highlights of the day include Thysfontein, a little beach with a holiday cottage, where you might find spoor of the cape clawless otter. The trail continues past a rock gully, where during low tide you can see circular rock walls in the water – it is ancient Koi-San fish traps, more than 2 000 years old. 18 km
Accommodation and Dinner: Oyster Kaya (DB&B and a Lunch Pack)
After a hearty breakfast, you pick up your lunch pack, fill enough water bottles to last you at least 6 hours and we set off to explore the dunes of oyster bay, also referred to as the Sand River by the locals.
Peace and tranquility take over as you walk through the bush, enjoying the birdsong in the coastal thicket on either side of you. The prevailing westerly shapes the dunes, which slope gradually up in front of you and then drop steeply. Your challenge is whether to slide down or traverse! Remember to look across the countryside to the mountains in the north, the beautiful Baviaanskloof mountain range, and look around you for evidence of ancient cultures – a feature of the dunefield is the KhoiSan. The day’s hiking finishes at the Dune Ridge Country House, situated on a private conservation reserve. You will enjoy a well-deserved drink around the swimming pool. Pre-book a well-deserved back massage. 16km
Accommodation and Dinner: Dune Ridge Country House (DB&B and a Lunch Pack)
Starting times on the third morning is always a problem, as most hikers are reluctant to leave the tranquillity of Dune Ridge and owner Sarah Swanepoel’s hospitality. The trail starts through a beautiful section of coastal forest and thicket until you reach the shoreline. Enjoy walking through this special landscape, filled with bird calls, and keep your eyes open for grey duiker, mongoose, porcupine quills, bushbuck or caracal. Look for otters in the rock pools as well as Oystercatchers, Kelp Gulls, terns, and Turnstones.
You will pass Mostertshoek, and walk along the Wild Side - so named for the untamed sea that crashes onto the rocks in spectacular fashion. You will see the second largest blow hole in SA, an unknown grave, the remains of the HMS Osprey that ran onto the rocks in 1867, as well as the Cape Recife (1929).
Your day finishes at the Cape St Francis Resort. 15km
Accommodation: Cape St Francis Resort
Dinner at: Joe Fish Restaurant (DB&B and a Lunch Pack)
The last day kicks off on the Cape St Francis beach, and follows the footpaths via Shark Point to Port St Francis, where Clive Cantor from Chokka Block will tell you more about the Chokka industry and
serve calamari tasting. The hike continues on the Two Harbours Walk, towards Granny’s Pool.
You have now reached the end of your Chokka Trail, which we celebrate at Bruce’s Café, a small coffee shop inside an Ocean Museum, with a light lunch, and you will enjoy a sundowner cruise on the St Francis canals before dinner. 15km
Accommodation: Cape St Francis Resort
Dinner at: Joe Fish Restaurant (B&B)
Leave early, after breakfast via N7 to George Airport, arriving by 12:00
Thysfontein, a little beach with a holiday cottage
The dunes of oyster bay, also referred to as the Sand River by the locals.
Peace and tranquillity take over as you walk through the bush, enjoying the birdsong in the coastal thicket on either side of you.
Cape St Francis Resort.
Sun downer boat trip on canals
The Chokka industry and calamari tasting.
Granny’s Pool.
Price Includes: Return transport by Mercedes Sprinter bus from George Airport Accommodation, meals
Trail Guide and Driver.
Daily transfers between accommodation and starting and ending points while hiking. Hiking Permits and Entry fees
Price excludes: Restaurant meals, Alcoholic drinks, personal items and medical/travel insurance
