WHAT TO BRING

Comfortable, casual, warm clothes and shoes are fine for after walking and evenings. For protection from the sun, walking clothes may include a collared, long sleeved shirt, thermal top (in winter), comfortable long or short walking pants (long give protection from sun, ticks and scratches), windbreaker, rain jacket and pants if you have them, cap and/or warm hat. Shoe options are rather a personal thing. The terrain ranges from fine sand to rocks to old sandy jeep tracks. It is advisable to have a couple of dry changes of clothes, sleepwear, toiletries, sunblock, broad-brimmed hat, daypack, water bottle, camera, between meal energy drinks and snacks and cash for incidentals. There are towels at the guesthouses but you may want to bring an extra one. A sarong or something of that nature is always useful and light to carry in your daypack. Don’t forget your costume.

Weather

The weather is changeable – bring a hat for the sun, a costume for swimming, a windbreaker for the wind, a rain suit in case of rain and a change of clothes just in case your gear gets wet. Again a ‘sarong’ is very useful as a towel, sun shield and wind breaker.

Luggage & Daypack

You will spend both nights in the same guesthouse so you can leave your luggage in your room. We advise you to lock your rooms or guesthouse when you are not there – just to be safe.

Please bring a daypack with you as you will need to carry your lunch and water.

Water

We are trying to cut down on the amount of plastic waste. Please bring a re-usable 1-1.5 litre plastic water bottle and fill up either at the guesthouse or from the 25 litre drum of tap water on hand. If you only drink bottled water – rather than several small bottles, please bring your own 1 – 1.5 litre bottles for the hike, cycle or canoe. Feel free to bring any additional bottled water you may need but please stick to large bottles and take the bottles back home with you to recycle.

Tea / Coffee

We supply tea and filter coffee with breakfast and guesthouses normally provide complimentary sachets of instant coffee and tea. If you would prefer to drink tea / coffee rather than juice and water while paddling – please bring along your own flask, cup and ingredients.

Meals & Drinks

West Coast style dinners (fish braai or pooitjie) are prepared by marvelous local chefs. The guesthouse provides a breakfast of cereal, yoghurt, fruit and various delicious bacon and egg dishes. A lunch of bread, cheese, snoek pate and other homemade delicacies will either be served picnic style along the route or carried with you. The final lunch is a surprise prepared by local caterers from Jacobsbaai. Please bring your own drinks and snacks.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

To be safe we advise you to take basic security precautions – lock your car and don’t leave anything in it, lock your room or guesthouse when you are not in it and put valuables away where they can’t be seen, don’t walk alone, especially not in areas you don’t know.

As per legal requirements and good sense – one or more of the guides will have basic first aid training and carry a basic first aid kit. In case of mishap the guide may request the assistance of one or more persons in the group, especially a doctor or medic. In cases where evacuation is required the guide will call the trail support vehicle or in the case of emergency evacuation – Atlantic Emergency Medical Response or District Emergency Response. The guides have these numbers on their phones. If something happens to one or more of the guides – please use their phone to call these services.

The trails are relatively easily accessible but injured folk may need to be carried a short distance to exit points. There is cell phone reception along trail but not in all areas. If injury happens at a point where there is no reception and evacuation is required, two people will go to the nearest reception point to call for help the others will remain with the injured party unless otherwise directed by the guide. If the guide is injured, he/she may delegate a person in the group to help manage the situation or in a case where the guide cannot talk, the group should elect a person to manage the situation.

Snakes – if you encounter a snake the best is to stand still until it moves off.

Ostriches – they breed in spring and summer, so wait until they move off or try to keep your distance especially if they have young ones.

It is essential to follow the safety precautions as directed by the cycling and river guides on the Trail.

CODE OF GOOD CONDUCT

Reduce carbon emissions – share transport, use green transport, buy locally

Save water – shower, use the same towels throughout

Save electricity – turn off the lights when you are not in the room

Reduce waste – avoid small plastic bottled water containers, use a non-plastic 1-1.5 litre water bottle we can decant into

Recycle or reuse waste – carry your waste home and give plastic to the guides to recycle

Do not litter – dispose of all your waste in a dustbin or give it to the guides to recycle

Choose biodegradable products – packaging, detergents and soaps

Choose responsible organic products – organic, recyclable, zero footprint, biodiversity & wine initiative (All Darling Cellars belong to this initiative), Fair Trade, SASSI fish products

Support local economies – procure locally produced goods, create local employment

Respect the land and the landowners who have been kind enough to let us pass through their property – leave no footprint, close gates and follow the guides lead

Respect all the people, service providers, property and communities your trail comes in contact with and follow the guides lead

Respect your natural and cultural heritage and follow your guides lead: Watch where you are walking – don’t trample
Use existing paths – don’t disturb virgin territory
Observe from a distance

Take photographs – don’t remove or disturb When in doubt, don’t.

For more information or to book visit: www.capebiosphere.co.za/trails

Contact: [email protected] or 0861 872 457
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @CWCBTrails

West Coast Way is Your Route To Nature

West Coast Way is your ultimate gateway to experiencing the natural beauty and cultural richness of the Cape West Coast of South Africa. As a premium tourism brand, we offer six uniquely themed trip plans that promise an unforgettable journey: Cape, Culture, Foodie, Tractor, Berg, and Wild.

Discover over 101 incredible things to see and do with West Coast Way: Savour the delights of wine, craft beer, olives, and Rooibos tea tastings. Indulge in authentic Weskus cuisine and the traditional braaivleis (barbecue). Feel the thrill of swinging into Citrusdal on a zipline or challenge yourself with Cederberg bouldering. Rejuvenate in natural warm pools and embark on serene cruises across lagoons and rivers. Explore the diverse landscapes of nature reserves and a National Park, or embark on exciting game drives. Hone your skills in archery and angling, or amp up the excitement with sandboarding and quad-biking. Enjoy horse riding, immerse yourself in the unique San culture, and experience the vibrant Riel dancing. For water sports enthusiasts, kite- and windsurfing, surfing, and kayaking trips await. Go beach hopping, learn about bees and whales, and delight in birdwatching in a twitcher’s paradise – all within South Africa’s renowned wildflower reserve. For more information on the best places to visit on the West Coast, road tripping routes, hikes, tours, and trails, explore westcoastway.co.za or call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777.  Follow us on  on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn @WestCoastWaySA.

Take the road less travelled in the West Coast Way

For more information on West Coast Way Routes and the list of 101+ Things To See And Do in the Cape West Coast, visit our eventspage. Choose to go on a self-guided adventure drive by following the routes, or book an air-conditioned trip to top West Coast attractions in South Africa.