10 Day Namaqualand Ultra Walk [301 km]

Experience the wonder of the flowers of Namaqualand on foot as you walk through carpets of bright orange, yellow and white daisies.

Walking 301kms through Namaqualand at the peak of the flowering season is a truly breath-taking trip.

Highlights

Namaqualand Nature Reserve
Kamies Mountains and a visit to Taaiboskraal Tea Garden
Meeting the people of Namaqualand
Smelling nature and listening to birds singing while walking
Garies and Genis se Winkel
Knersvlakte
Rooibos Tea Factory
Rock formations in the Cedarberg Mountains

DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION

DEPARTURE TIME

INCLUDED

Return Transport from Cape Town	daily meals with a light picnic lunch
Accommodation guest farms and in chalets	refreshments while walking

NOT INCLUDED

Restaurant meals, Alcoholic drinks

personal items, and medical insurance

ITINERARY 301KM NAMAQUALAND ULTRA WALK

(Traveling day)

Our journey will start at 06:00 from Durbanville near Cape Town to Klein Pella via Piekenierskloof Lodge breakfast (own account), at the top of the Piekenierskloof Pass. From here we will travel along the N7 with regular rest stops along the way to Klein Pella, near Pofadder.

Accommodation & Dinner Klein Pella Guest Farm (DB&B)

The guides will give a briefing before dinner

Walking Day 1

5 August 2022

The “Big Walk” starts at the Orange River to Klein Pella Guest House for breakfast.

Follow a picturesque route from Klein Pella home to the biggest date farm in the southern hemisphere to Pella.

A definite highlight of the day is lunch with the nuns at the historic Cathedral in Pella. Lots of photographic opportunities of the beautiful scenery of Quiver trees and the Namibian Plato.

Accommodation and Dinner: Klein Pella Guest Farm (DB&B) 30km

Walking Day 2

6 August 2022

We leave after breakfast and will walk from Klein Pella Guest House through a Quiver Tree Forest, with beautiful Boesmanland and mountain scenery. Drive to Goegab Nature Reserve near Springbok and walk a circular route in the reserve.

Overnight and Dinner: Guest House, Springbok (DB&B) 30km

Walking Day 3

7 August 2022

We leave before breakfast and start our walk on the Droëdap farm road in the direction of Taaibos Kraal. From here we will walk into the Kamies Mountains towards Taaiboskraal. Granite hills with quiver trees and real Namaqualand scenery are a picturesque sight not seen by many.

You will be transfered to Kamieskroon.

Overnight: Kamieskroon Guesthouse(DB&B) 30km

Overnight: Rietfontein Ostrich Palace Guest Farm Accommodation (DB&B)

Walking Day 4

8 August 2022

Today we walk a circular route along the crest of the mountain passing the forgotten Village of Nourivier where we will have lunch. Walking on jeep tracks with fragrant fynbos, farming scenes and vegetation and flowers only found high up in the Kamies Mountains. Dinner will be at Kliphuis Kombuis restaurant (own account)

Overnight and Dinner:) Overnight: Kamieskroon Guesthouse(B&B) 30km

Walking Day5

9 August 2022

We will walk the Arkoep back roads and the transfer to Namaqualand National Park ‘Skilpad’ for a picnic lunch and walk a circular route. Stop for ‘Pannekoek’ along the way! Enjoy the walk among the spectacular display of orange daisies that the reserve is famous for after good rains. We will transfer you to Garies for a private Dinner at ‘Oom Genis se winkel’ where you can shop for memorabilia while enjoying a glass of wine.

Dinner for own account

Overnight: Guest Chalets, Garies (B&B) 30 km

Walking Day 6

10 August 2022

After breakfast, a transfer will take you to the starting point of the walk on back roads through Garies farm and flowering scenes. We travel from Garies to the ‘Knersvlakte’. Here we visit the ‘Knersvlakte Spens’ where Buys and Christene Wiese will let you have a peek into their world of unique succulents and the struggle for survival in this semi-desert area of Namaqualand. A day of exploring an unknown part of Namaqualand and being amazed by the variety of small and unique succulents. End your day with a wine-tasting at Seal Breeze with Joan Wiggins, wine-maker extraordinaire. Dinner in the Lapa with a cash bar (own account)

Overnight and Dinner: Highlanders Guest Farm Trawal (B&B) 30km

Walking Day 7

11 August 2022

Walk the scenic route along the Olifants River and Bulshoek Dam. On a 2-spoor jeep track looking down on the river and irrigation channels. Beautiful rock formations and flora e.g mini baobab tree and apricot daisy. Transfer to Boskloof Swemgat

Overnight and dinner: Boskloof Swemgat (DB&B). 30 km

Walking Day 8

12 August 2022

Early morning ‘Breakfast run’ into Boskloof. After breakfast, we walk to Clanwilliam and walk the streets to explore the village, with time for shopping. Interesting visit to Rooibos tea factory in Clanwilliam. Transfer to Louis Leipoldt’s grave. Walk from his grave on the Old Road passing beautiful rock formations and the well-known, but forgotten ‘Soldaat Kop’. Transfer to Boskloof and walk the last few kilometres of the day to your accommodation.

Overnight and Dinner: Boskloof Swemgat (DB&B) 30 km

Walking Day 9

13 August 2022

Walk ‘Brand se Berg’ into the Cedarberg Mountains with its amazing rock formations and fynbos. Today the going gets tough and the tough get going!

Accommodation: Boskloof Swemgat (DB&B) 30 km

Walking Day 10

14 August 2022

Leave before breakfast and walk from Graafwater on back roads in the direction of Lamberts Bay. Transfer to Lamberts Bay for the last leg of the 301 km Walk, finishing on the beach at Lamberts Bay. Dinner and Prizegiving evening at Isabella’s restaurant in the harbour (own account).

Overnight: Albatros Guest House Lamberts Bay (B) 30 km

Return

15 August 2022(Traveling day)

Depart from Lamberts Bay to Cape Town International Airport

Arrive at the Airport by 11:00

(The programme can change due to road conditions and flower displays)

For many years to come, the ‘301’ will stay with you. To go back to your ‘normal’ life will be difficult, with more challenges than you can imagine. You will long for simplicity, no worries and to be back where nature levels all playing fields……. making you humble

Eco Ultra Pilgrimage Walks

The 301km Ultra Walks were designed for the serious walker who wants a pilgrimage, but also to experience the area walked through.

We explore all the facets of nature in the different areas of Southern Africa and discover the history, the local people and their cultures. Participants are amazed by the sense of achievement, self-worth and a new purpose for life, which result from completing these Eco Ultra Walks.

The distance per day is walked in 8 – 10km stretches, with safari-style rest breaks in the veldt, or an interesting cultural or historical stop along the way.
Walking is done on gravel roads without a backpack – no hiking trails.
Accommodation is mostly on guest farms, where you stay in chalets.
Three meals a day, with a support vehicle and support team, are provided.
After booking your pilgrimage walk you will receive Newsletters with recommendations on training, walking equipment, packing checklists and general information i.e. travelling options.
A support vehicle and team are there to assist you throughout the day.

These adventure walks are South Africa’s own pilgrimages.

For many years to come, the ‘301’ will stay with you. To go back to your ‘normal’ life will be difficult, with more challenges than you can imagine.

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