Entabeni Hiking Trail - Limpopo

WHERE?Start at Entabeni Hut, 40 km east of Louis Trichardt, Soutpansberg

WHEN?Booking is essential.

HOW?Call Komatiland Forestry on 013-754-2724

HOW MUCH?Price on request

OVERNIGHT?Stay at accommodation in Louis Trichardt, in Limpopo

Start:         Entabeni Hut, 40 km east of Louis Trichardt in the Soutpansberg
Finish:      Entabeni Hut
Duration:  2 days, 32 km
Fitness:    Moderate to difficult 

Our tip: bring your own water particularly during the dry season; hikers are advised not to drink from the streams

This overnight, figure-eight hiking trail starts and ends each day at Entabeni Hut. Each trail is roughly 16 km and there are shorter loop options (within these loops) that vary between 8 and 12km. You can decide whilst hiking whether or not to take these.

For those hikers who have traversed the southern Soutpansberg for years these trails, re-established by Komatiland Forestry, replace former well known trails. The overnight hiking hut, despite having the same name, is not the old Ou Entabeni hut.

Highlights of the trail include: Klein Australia Peak, Ebbe Dam, Vera's Peak, Vera's Tears waterfall and the funghi and incredible indigenous forests.

The Redwood Trail heads south of the hut through pine plantations and indigenous forest filled with huge redwoods and if you are quiet the calls and rustles of samango monkeys. You can take this trail a lot slower than the Phadzima View Trail. It is easier, and Vera's Tears waterfall adds a great stopping spot for hot days. The longer loop continues south up to Klein Australia View with views of the Levubu tropical farms.

The Phadzima View Trail heads north of the hut passing through incredible indigenous forest via the Ebbe dam. Views out over the Phadzima valley are said to be worth it, and some of the biggest tree ferns imaginable make the trail seem otherworldly. A loop up to the Thate-Vondo view and Mathiva Peak is optional. It adds an extra three odd hours, for those intent on the longer version of the hike.

Diepdrift Hiking Trails-Limpopo

This is a 4000 hectare game farm outside Bela Bela in the Waterberg in Limpopo. There are 2 overnight hikes and 2 day trails on this farm. Diepdrift Farm has hikes for the experienced and those just looking for an awesome stroll through nature. They have many species of antelope and bushveld trees on the reserve.

The Hippo Hiking Trail is a 24km trail over 2 days. It heads through the bushveld leading to a hippo pool where it is suggested not to swim because crocodiles are spotted there on a regular basis. Other game will also be spotted on this route. It is a circular trail. Be exceptionally careful at the pool because of the hippo’s and crocodiles.

The Sable Hiking Trail is also a 24km, 2 day trail. It is a tough trail with steep climbs and descents which cross the Diepdrift and Elandsfontain farms. You will definitely spot some game while you cross the mountain range and walk into a kloof. Then you are rewarded at the top of the plateau with spectacular and breath taking views of the bushveld landscape.

There are two shorter trails, the Bontebok Hiking Trail which is 4km, about 2 hours. It is a circular hike through the hills which is best done in the late afternoon or early evening. Then the Klipspringer Hiking Trail which is 8km and 4hours. This is another circular trail which explores the unusual erosion on the farm with stunning rock formations. There is plenty of game to be spotted.

Contact Anvie Ventures +27(0)12 662-0586

Hydration is Key

You must not even think of starting a hike that will take you more than 2 km from home without a bottle of water. You should have at least one litre of water with you and drink about 250ml every 40 minutes. You should keep drinking water even if you don’t feel very thirsty. You might not realize it but while you are hiking, your body does lose moisture. So its very important to replenish it. 

 A good way to tell if you are hydrated is that you should have consumed the entire litre of water during a 3 hour hike and still need to use the loo afterwards. If that is not the case you should drink more water since it means you have lost more moisture from perspiration than you have replenished. Drink water every now and then until you need the loo.

Water is the key to survival, doesn’t matter if you are at home or on a hike. You can live for 3 days without water and I can tell you from experience after 1 day without water you are not acting rationally.

If you don’t have food you will be able to walk on for about 200 km. But if you run out of water, you have one day to find a way out of that situation, after that its up to…