Ina Nutshell
Uptoit?This65-kilometre,four-day
slackpackingPondoTrailis mainlyalongcoastal
pathsandbeaches,withsomeeasyscrambling
andrivercrossingsaddingexcitement.
Moderatelystrenuousin goodconditions,it can
becomehardworkin badweather.Althoughthe
paceis tailoredtothegroup,andtheguideand
groundteamareattentiveandhelpful,thefitter
youarethemoretimeyou’llhavetoswimand
explore.
Whentogo?Thetrailis runyear-round,butthe
Pondocoastis a summer-rainfallareasohiking
is bestin theautumnandwintermonths.
TipTakea pairofstropsorpaddlingshoesfor
thebig-rivercrossings.
Contact 082562 8361,[email protected]
wildchildafrica.comeverythingfrombeautifulplacesettingsto
chocolatesonourpillows.Butevenbytheir
highstandards,thelastnight’sdinnerof
oysters,crayfishandrocksalmon– thelatter
caughtbyJohandeJongh– is a feast.
Afterdinner,I sitonthebeachin the
moonlightwatchingitslightonthewater,
in manywayssadthattheadventure,andthe
enforceddigitaldetox,is over.Ourdayshave
followedtherhythmofdaylightandthetides,
andI haven’tlookedat thetime,orthought
aboutwork,forfivedays.
Pondolandis moreremoteandinaccessible
thanI imagined,a truewildernessthatI’ve
neverbeforehadtheprivilegeofexploring.
If you’rethinkingofvisitingthearea,this
luxury,slackpackingtrailis thewayto go. ■
MapreferenceE7-8seeinsidebackcover
ABOVELEFT:Pickinguptheexoskeleton of a crayfish Garth explains how the animal goes into hiding after it
moultsasitsnewshellis softand makes it vulnerable to predators. ABOVE RIGHT: Here in Pondoland, the cattle
arephotogenic,andthegoatsare the best posers. The reason for their scrambling onto rocky perches is a source
ofdebateamongus.BELOW:Our first sighting of Manteku, our final camp. BOTTOM LEFT: Sundowners with bubbly
andoystersonourfinalnight.BOTTOM RIGHT: We could probably swim across the Manteku River, but it seems
morefittingtobeferriedacrossthe last waterway in canoes.084HIKING ◗ PONDO TRAIL