Genadendal Trail
The Genadendal Trail is a fairly tough two-day hike with little shade, but the flower-speckled mountainsides, interchanging views and refreshing swimming holes make it memorable.
Distance: 25.3 km (first day – 14.3km and second day – 11km)
Beauty: 4.5/5
Difficulty (fitness): 7–8/10 (the difficulty of this hike can be made much worse by extreme heat)
Technical rating: Standard trail walking with some steep inclines and declines.
The small town of Genadendal, lying just 5km from Greyton in the Western Cape, isn’t well known, but it has a fascinating history. It was the first mission station in Southern Africa and Nelson Mandela renamed the president’s official Cape Town residence after the small town. It’s also the starting point of a two-day hiking trail that winds its way up and over the Riviersonderend Mountains and down into the Robertson Valley on the other side.
Looking down on Genadendal – the mission was started under the cluster of trees at the bottom right of this image.
This beautiful overnight hike traverses the Riviersonderend Conservation Area, 70,000 hectares of rugged terrain, gorges, and mountain streams. You spend the night in a farm hut and then return to Genadendal on a circular route.
Day 1
On a bright October morning, we left at 08:00, passing a national monument on the way out of town.
A national monument in the Genadendal werf at the start of the trail.
The Genadendal Trail was launched about 15 years ago, but it follows paths that are hundreds, if not thousands, of years old. The reserve is full of pines that have proven stubborn and nearly impossible to extinguish. We encountered the first of many at a shaded spot where we had a mid-morning snack.
After the snack, we traversed a plateau thick with yellow flowers that stood on the side of the path like supporters of a marathon cheering us on.
Wonderklippe is a section of the hike with interesting rock formations – tall, upright and alone, like massive totem poles or stone wickets.
We arrived at Groot Koffiegat, a perfect lunch spot with cold, deep mountain water – the ideal place to swim, snooze, and recharge before tackling the afternoon stretch.
Henri certainly wasn’t going anywhere soon.
The afternoon scenery drew comparisons to North America – rugged valleys, pine forests, and a sense of wild isolation. Our accommodation for the night lay in the valley below near the dam on De Hoek Farm.
The renovated overnight huts each sleep eight hikers, complete with warm water, a fridge, braai wood, and optional supplies from the farmer if arranged in advance.
Day 2
After a good night’s rest, the two-hour climb with no shade proved the most challenging part of the hike. We were well-prepared thanks to Mike Lundy’s classic book, Weekend Trails in the Western Cape.
You can see our trusty companion, Mike Lundy’s book, close at hand.
At the top, we rested in the shade, admiring the views toward McGregor and Robertson. The trail then passed through thick pine forests and patches of colourful Cape heather as we began the descent back to Genadendal.
As the pines thinned out, purple Cape heather guided the final descent.
Back in Genadendal, locals gathered for a church service as we finished the hike, tired but deeply satisfied. As Mike Lundy wrote, “demanding but beautiful” — the best hikes always are.
Our tip: There’s little shade on this trail, so pack a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water. Pre-arranging cold drinks for your return is highly recommended!
Booking Info
Call CapeNature on 021 483 0190 for permits. For Friday night accommodation in Genadendal, call 028 251 8346. For the Saturday night on De Hoek Farm, call 023 626 2176.
Originally posted by Getaway.
Use our Multi-Day Hiking Checklist and always practice the Leave No Trace Principles for sustainable hiking.