Oldenburgia Hiking Club

04/09/2023

07/03/2022

OLDENBURGIA HIKING CLUB HIKE TO CAPE PADRONE

On Sunday 6 March 2022 seventeen of us hiked from Cannon Rocks to Cape Padrone and back. We began by following the classic Cannon Rocks trail through the coastal forest but at the 3.5 km mark, instead of heading back along the beach which is the usual route, we continued south-west across the dune field for another five kilometres or so. At one point we followed a game path through some scratchy bushes which left a few members of the party wondering if there was any path at all, but by the time all of us had made it through, there definitely was!

We ate our lunch on top of the cliffs overlooking the rocky shore of the Cape and then, as our party was of mixed fitness, some of us went varying distances further along the cliff top before descending to the shoreline, hopping over the rocks and making our way back along the beach. The return route was simple enough (keep the sea on your right) and as the tide was still more than half way out, there was plenty of hard sand to walk on. Since the people who walked further tended to be faster, we all got back to our vehicles at about the same time. The total distance we hiked was about 17 km; for some a bit more and for some a bit less.

The easterly wind freshened up as the day wore on so we had it in our faces on our return but it was never strong enough for the windblown sand to come much above our ankles, just sufficient to ensure that by the time we got home we all felt we had had a good day’s walk in the fresh air and sunshine of our lovely Eastern Cape coastline.

03/03/2022

SOME PICTURES OF THE OLDENBURGIA HIKING TRAIL

The Oldenburgia Hiking Trail is a wonderful public resource on commonage close to Grahamstown/Makhanda. (Find the map on this page.) Here are some pictures taken on the trail at the beginning of March 2022.

The area has dried out rapidly in the summer heat but there is still some water in the streams. The length of the full trail is 17 km but shorter options are available. If the following images whet your appetite and inspire you to put on your hiking shoes, the trail starts on Mountain Drive and is clearly marked with white footprints. The ‘escape routes’ are marked with red or yellow footprints. There is no charge and no permit is required.

07/02/2022

On Sunday 6 February the Oldenburgia Hiking Club had its first official outing after two years of lockdown at the Manley Flats community trail between Grahamstown/Makhanda and Bathurst. Eleven hikers took part and enjoyed the warm summer weather as well as the verdant vegetation alongside dams and streams that are holding water for the first time in years.

The 14 km trail which can be walked, run or cycled, passes through Albany thicket biome and is well marked and maintained with plenty of shady places to stop and rest along the way.

The Oldenburgia Hiking Club intends to have more regular outings from now on so watch this page for upcoming events.

Here are some pictures from our hike.

28/09/2021

THE ULTIMATE BEACH WALK REPORT BACK
After a long period of lockdowns and restrictions the Oldenburgia Hiking Club is back in action! On Sunday 26 September, four hardy hikers led by Richard Grant undertook what Richard describes as ‘The Ultimate Beach Walk’, a 27.8 km hike round Woody Cape.
After getting our day permits to enter the Greater Addo Reserve from the Woody Cape forestry office we parked at the Woody Cape Nature Lodge and set off towards Woody Cape along what must be one of the world’s most spectacular beaches. This is also part of the Alexandria Trail, however when we reached the ladder up onto the dunes we stayed on the beach and continued at the base of the cliffs, along a section that is only accessible at low tide. There are a couple of fresh water springs here where one can refill water bottles – if you know where to look.
Eventually after negotiating many kilometres of rocky sections and sandy coves, the unclimbable cliffs give way to a lower place where it is possible to scramble back up onto the dunes and this was where we stopped for lunch. We then started our return journey, climbing over some of the highest dunes of what is said to be the largest coastal dune field in the southern hemisphere. Eventually we were back at the top of the Alexandria Trail ladder and here we left the dunes and climbed down to the shoreline. By now the tide was pushing in and a huge swell was running so we had a rather exciting time negotiating the last section of cliffs before we reached the safety of a wider beach. Then it was back up the beach and a last climb of the final dune to the Nature Lodge and some welcome refreshments at the pub.
The date for the hike was carefully selected with low tide at midday. The weather was perfect with a cool breeze but not strong enough to raise any whitecaps on the ocean or move a single grain of sand on the dunes.

The Ultimate Beach Hike indeed!

09/11/2020

A great map with info. Thanks to Roy Lubke for posting it on the WESSA page.

14/08/2020

LOCK DOWN CLAUSTROPHOBIA? 🤪😷
Take a day trip to Shenfield Farm for a picnic or walk (or both) in the wilderness. Social distance isolation at its best - with awesome views as a bonus! 🍂🌿 R100 p/p for the day.... Whatsapp 084 522 4854

17/03/2020

In light of the current situation regarding COVID-19, our hiking activities are on hold until further notice. We encourage our members to follow sensible and practical public health advice being issued in order to slow the rate of infections. Please take care of yourselves and others. OHC Committee.