Alexandria Hiking Trail

Description

This two day circular forest trail is relatively easy. The first day leads for 19.5 km from Langebos through the dense forest canopy to Wonderboom. This is a gigantic Quteniqua Yellowwood, named for the reservoir of water held in a deep hollow at the base of the trunk. It has been a favourite resting place and water stop for weary travellers for many years.

Head on down to the Woody Cape Resort and continue along a 6 km stretch of open beach until the sand cliffs are reached. Then carry on a further 2 km until a rope ladder is reached. Here you can either walk along the base of the cliff if it is low tide, or you can pull yourself and your pack up a 45 degree angle "ladder". Then it's onto final stretch to the Woody Cape hut for a relaxing evening. The water available here is from a rain tank and must be used sparingly. There is a spring at the base of the cliff, 200 m west of the second ladder, that can be used for ablutions.

The second day traverses the huge inland sand dunefields. It can become very hot walking in here, so it is best to make an early start. The trail is marked with tall posts, anchored by wire stays. Some have fallen over which makes it difficult to follow the trail. The use of binoculars and sunglasses helps tremendously. Looking westwards one can see dune upon dune stretching away towards the Sundays River. Once out of the dunes one heads towards the Langevlakte Valley where one can admire an old chicory oven which dates back to the 1920's and a farmhouse with yellowwood panelling. The Path heads back into the forest after awhile, then onto an old grassy forestry road and you are soon back at Langebos hut.

Summary

Rating : greater than 15 km's per day, moderate pace (3km per hour or more), average terrain. Distance : 36 km, circular.

Duration : 2 days. Terrain : coastal forest & fynbos, flat coastal beach, huge inland sand dunefields.

Climate : rapidly changeable weather. High wind speeds possible from April to September. Rain possible throughout the year but falls mainly in spring & autumn. Summer days can be very hot.

Elevation : 0 - 300 meter's Access road : short gravel road from Alexandria with parking area at Langebos hut.

Accommodation : Langebos hut is the base hut with water, cold showers, toilets, 12 bunks with mattresses, braai facilities but no wood supplied, no electricity. Woody Cape hut is the second hut with rain tank water only, toilet, 12 bunks with mattresses, no fires allowed, no electricity. Key for this hut and Langebos to picked up from the outside box at the conservation office on arrival .

Group limit : 12 people. Features : Alexandria sand dunefields, one of the largest active coastal dunefields in the world, coastal dune forest. Brown hyena. Damara tern, the rarest seabird breeding in SA.

Possible hazards : High winds(take protection against being sand blasted!), losing your way in the sand dunes, ticks.

Booking authority : Woody Cape Nature Reserve, A.Bosman, +27 46 6530601.

Permit needed : yes. Cost : R40 p/p (16/08/99)

Fauna Hairy footed gerbil, large-spotted genet, tree dassie, black backed jackel, blue duiker, grey duiker, common duiker, bushbuck, bushpig, vervet monkey, brown hyena, dolphins, whales, 44 species of birdlife like damara tern, jackass penguin, gannet, crowned hornbill, trumpeter hornbill, knysna loerie.

Flora Coastal forest & fynbos, rare cycad - encephalartos arenarius, common wild fig, coast coral tree, yellowwood, white ironwood, variety of flowers.

Updated Mon, 24 September, 2001 http://www.rocksport.co.za