Welcome to our Karoo Stone Folk Slackpacking Trail
Firstly, what is slackpacking?
Slackpacking is not a phrase that everyone may have heard of, but it is one worth becoming familiar with if you enjoy hiking and are considering embarking on a multi-day or long-distance hike.
Slackpacking is essentially backpacking without carrying all of your gear on your back. You hike the trail carrying just your daypack, water and any essentials, whilst your main luggage is transported for you by someone else to your overnight location.
There are different versions of slackpacking, depending on where your overnight accommodation is. Some trails provide huts for sleeping in. You must provide food, pots, pans, cutlery, crockery and firewood. Other locations require you to also bring along tents, sleeping bags and towels, etc.
It all depends on the trail you are hiking, but if you are slackpacking, everything is transported for you, by a third party, during the day, whilst you enjoy your hiking trail carrying as little as is essential.
The Karoo Stone Folk Slackpacking Trail
Our 3-day, 4-night slackpacking trail is a great way to experience the incredibly diverse landscape of the Karoo.
The trail takes place between Nieu Bethesda and Compassberg. It is a circular route covering approximately 53kms in total and effectively traverses three different farms.
The first and fourth nights of the trail are spent at the same farmstead, Weltevreden.
It is a fully guided route that also includes,
- 4-nights accommodation in comfortable farmstays,
- all meals such as a hearty breakfast, a daily lunch pack and a wholesome evening meal,
- plus the transportation of your main luggage to your overnight accommodation each day.
This means that all you have to carry on your hike each day is a day pack, your water and any other essentials you need for the day’s exploring.
The trail itself takes place at an altitude of 1250m and 1500m and is an undulating trail. It follows jeep tracks, sheep tracks, a riverbed and wide open grasslands and sections of the trail are stoney surfaces.
The distances each day are approximately: Day 1 – 18kms , Day 2 – 18kms and Day 3 – 17kms on Day 3.
Daily hiking duration times are between 6 – 8 hours.
In terms of the difficulty of the trail, it would best be described as moderate to strenuous. Ankle strength and mobility are vital for this hike, as well as a moderate fitness level.
The Karoo Region
The word “Karoo” is thought to have come from a Khoisan word, meaning “Land of Great Thirst” and many visualise a semi-desert, arid landscape and a harsh climate with the Karoo region of South Africa.
This area, however, is extraordinarily diverse and is acknowledged as a biodiversity hotspot, with over 6,000 plant species of which 40% are endemic.
The Karoo provides visitors with a unique and awe-inspiring break. Its spectacular landscape of wide open spaces, incredible geological features, breath-taking beauty and peaceful silence, are the perfect ingredients for an escape from the daily rigours of city life and busy life-styles.
Hiking this terrain provides time to breath, see, smell and think. It is a place that rejuvenates the soul.
