Trekking

The Inca Trail is on many people’s wish list and it is a great trekking if you know what to expect. If you are in for a quiet trekking in nature you’ll be disappointed. Once you realize that the trail can (and will) be very crowded it can be a great experience. The views are beautiful and the Inca sites on route are very interesting and pretty.
The classic Inca trail takes 4 days. On the first day you gradually climb but it isn’t too hard. On the second day you climb the highest pass of the trekking called the "death woman’s pass" of about 4050m. On day three there are two more smaller passes to cross after which a long descent follows to the last camp. Day four means getting up early and hiking the remaining 2 hours to the sun gate of Machu Picchu to watch the sun rise (if the clouds don’t interfere).

If you are in the Cusco area and you would like to have a different trekking experience than the classic Inca Trail, the Lares trekking is a great experience. There won’t be hundreds of other people here doing the same trekking at the same time as you and the mountain views here can be absolutely breathtaking!
Generally the Lares trekking is done in four days. The trail forms a loop starting in the Sacred Valley close to Urubamba at about 3000 meters. On the trekking there are two challenging passes to be crossed with a maximum altitude of about 4650 meters. Especially on the second and third day you get rewarded with beautiful glacier views.

The reason to come to Cilaos is of course the soaring mountains. There are a several great hikes to do in the vicinity of Cilaos, either multi days from valley to valley or just day hikes. A popular day hike is the return trip up to the pass, Col du Taibit, which separates the Cirque de Cilaos from the Cirque de Mafate. 830 m of altitude gain within 2.5 hours. It startes 5 km outside Cilaos towards Ilet a Cordes. Both the GR 1 and GR2 pass through.

Saba Island is one of the world’s top dive destinations but don’t be fooled into thinking Saba is only for dive fanatics. This dormant volcanic island with a tiny population of around 1,500 has plenty on offer for everyone and if hiking is your thing you will be in heaven! A "must do" for the adventurous is the hike to the island's peak appropriately named Mount Scenery. At just under 900 m above sea level, this steep but not overly challenging trek takes around two hours depending on starting point and rewards you with rainforest vegetation inside the volcanic crater and amazing views to the neighbouring islands Saint Kitts and Saint Eustatius. After a hard day of hiking you can unwind at one of the luxurious retreats, villas or eco friendly retreats and enjoy some well earnt pampering!

You are spoiled for choices regarding hikes in the central highlands, but most are fairly long. One good short hike is the one from the botanical garden (Jardim Botânico do Bom Sucesso) to Amelia Lake (Lagoa Amélia) and back, about four hours return. Guides can be hired at the botanical garden, but the trail is well trodden and is easy to follow, except at the beginning among the gardens. Don't expect a real alpine lake, Amelia Lake is more like a swamp. The trail also leads to Pico de São Tomé (2,024 m), the highest peak in Sao Tome and Principe, but that is a much longer hike.

This hike goes through six pitch-black tunnels with water channels high up in the jungle-covered mountains close to the Obo National Park. It's a 3-5 hours roundtrip back to the parking place (where the mark on the map is). The first bit takes you uphill through the jungle, while following a water pipe. The trail becomes narrow at some points with dangerous steep drops. Keep going to you get to a proper bridge with trails on both sides, do not cross but stick to the trail on the same side. A viaduct will soon cross the trail high above your head. Follow it to the first tunnel. Though the water runs in a separate channel, the path is muddy or just full of water. Angolares Waterfall will be right after the first tunnel. The second tunnel is really long with two bends and the third tunnel is full of small bats. Bring flashlight and proper footwear. It's a truly unique hike, which has no match anywhere in the world (to our knowledge).

Loma, meaning "King", isn't a bad description. Mount Bintumani's peak reaches a modest 1945 metres, but it's the highest summit anywhere between Morocco and Cameroon. Reaching its top from, and returning to, one of the villages in the vicinity of the Lomas take two (approaching from the east) to five (approaching from the north-west) days of hard hiking. The hardship is worth it, as a palette of green views as far as Guinea is the prize once the ascent is completed. Taking a longer route will also offer fauna in the form of primates, birdlife and, possibly, snakes. The village chiefs' will be glad to provide accommodation for an appropriate offering to the village, but it's often a good idea to be self-reliant of rice. Villages are also good places to arrange porters and guides, just make sure they are equipped for the trip. Hiking during the rainy season have been described as "mad" and means getting soaked to the bone, no matter how rain proof your gear are, and adds "very, very slippery" to the characteristic of the routes (as we found out).

The ski sport area on Mt Vogel is great for outdoor activities - also during summer. A cable car will swiftly take you to the ski hotel at 1537 m while offering amazing views over Lake Bohinj, Mt Triglav (2864 m) and the rest of the Julian Alps. At the base, you can either do gentle walks, trekking - e.g. to the top of Mt Vogel (1922 m) - or even mountain biking. During winter, the place turns into a small but popular ski resort due to the reliable snow condition with ski season running from December to May.

The Drakensberg, or Dragon Mountains, are so named after the many jagged peaks that give an appearance of teeth. They are a hiker's paradise, providing some of the finest trails and views in all of Africa. The sheer vastness of the mountains - the range stretches for some 1000 km - means that there is practically unlimited choice depending on weather, fitness levels and interests. The best hiking (and certainly the best facilities) is arguably in KwaZulu-Natal, although Lesotho boasts some impressive sites, too. Walks range from short and easy to multi-day treks, with everything in between. The mountains are also covered with San rock paintings, and they boast an impressive array of flora and fauna. The weather is unreliable at best, and some of the roads are impassable in winter due to snow. But the walks are enjoyable in sunshine or rain, and the mood of the mountains changes dramatically from moment to moment. Although some of the camps get busy, the trails rarely do, and there is a magnificent feeling of having the world to yourself when visiting the Drakensberg.

One of the Transkei’s best-kept secrets is the coastal village of Mbotyi. Set on the banks of the Mbotyi River, this charming community and the incredible nature that surrounds it are worth a visit. Spend days exploring the Ntsubane forest, one of the largest indigenous forests in all of South Africa. Countless paths will lead you through this lush forest, home to a diverse bird population that includes the endangered Cape Parrot. Along with its forests and isolated beaches, the Mbotyi area is spoilt with seven waterfalls, including the spectacular Magwa Falls and Angel Falls. A great trek is up the towering gorge to the base of the 110 m Fraser Falls where you can cool off in its crisp rock pools. All the falls are worth a visit, however, Waterfall Bluff is the must-see. The coastal hike to this marvel is half the fun for you will pass some surreal rock formations including the ominous Cathedral Rock. Of course, the highlight is Waterfall Bluff. This raging 60 m waterfall that empties into the Indian Ocean will have you at a loss for words upon your arrival.