Transkaroo Hiking Trail

About Transkaroo Hiking Trail

Start: farm near the village of Noupoort, 40 km from Colesberg
Finish: back at the farm; the hike is circular
Duration: 3 days, 42 km
Fitness: moderately fit
Our tip: neither mid-summer nor mid-winter are particularly comfortable weather-wise. Go March to May, or September and October.

Just outside Middelburg in the Groot Karoo is a 10 500 hectare farm that caters for adventure holidays and includes a hiking trail known as the Transkaroo Hiking Trail.

Overnights are catered for in old farm houses (bring all your own equipment and bedding). But what recommends the hike most is that hikers can adjust the degree of difficulty and how long they want to spend hiking to their own needs – divided into one, two and three day trails.

That and the beauty of the farms surrounds – natural swimming holes, rock art, unusual rock formations, a fossilised river bed, and diverse vegetation and animal life. The hike will take you through mountains, valleys and typical Karoo veld.

The farm provides you with a map with clearly marked day routes, and the trail's markings (paw prints) are easily visible. The farm can also provide back-up vehicles and transport your backpacks for you, turning it into a slackpacker trail.

Day one: Wilgefontein to Uitsig takes one up Visserskloof (think interesting rock formations and swimming holes). You then ascend via the 'Stone Desert'' for views of the Kompassberg. A gentle descent brings you to the Uitsig hut, described by hikers as magical.

Day two: Uitsig to Weltevrede begins on a jeep track, past several ruined buildings and ascends to a beacon. A relaxed walk throught the veld is followed by descent to a stream along which you walk for about 4km. Weltevrede is another offbeat rustic accommodation.

Day three: Weltevrede to Wilgefontein takes hikers past a couple of dams to another stream. It climbs to a plateau and incredible views before heading back to base.