|
Alexandria Hiking
Trail
Addo Elephant
National Park, Eastern Cape
There are many aspects of Southern
Africa's natural beauty that can only be described by such words as
stunning and magnificent. To discover such a place as Alexandria is like
discovering a new chapter in a book that you thought you had finished.
The dunes, the coastal dune forest, and the seascape is quite simply
breathtaking. It is the only trail that I know that sand goggles should
be carried as part of your pack contents and that you could quite expect
a Camel Train to be encountered in some Mirage. I know that when I did
it I started singing the theme song to the film Caravan.
Alexandria has been proposed as
a new World Heritage Site
 |
|
The Alexandria
Duneveld |
The Alexandria Duneveld is
the largest Duneveld in the Southern Hemisphere and forms part of
the 145,000 hectare Addo Elephant National Park.
The Trail
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
The trail begins
at the park offices near Alexandria. To get there, from
Port Elizabeth, take the N2 towards East London. At the
Nanaga interchange, take the R72 towards Alexandria and
Port Alfred. Just before entering the town of
Alexandria, take the gravel road to the right signposted
with park signs and Beyond Adventure. Follow the gravel
road, taking the left fork after about 2Km and bearing
left again where the road forks again. After this take
the signposted road on the right hand side to the
offices.
Keys for the
overnight huts can be collected at the offices. Any
outstanding fees including conservation levies. |
|
 |
|
Arrival |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
 |
|
The new
Langebos Huts |
|
|
The Langebos huts,
at the start of the trail, are equipped with 12 bunk beds
and mattresses, hot water showers, toilets and a braai area.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
The first day of
the trail is 19,5Km long and starts off with a walk
through a magical forest where ancient Yellowwoods and
spectacular Coral Trees can be seen. The "Waterboom" or
"Lekkerboom" - a gigantic yellowwood named for the
reservoir of water held at the base of its trunk -
provides an interesting resting point along the way. The
trail eventually crosses some open grassland (Perdevlei)
before reaching the shore. |
|
.jpg) |
 |
|
The
Forest walk |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
Dolphins |
|
|
Dolphins and
Whales are often seen while walking the 6Km of unspoilt
coastline. The stark sandy beach ecosystem and dramatic
dune cliffs provide breathtaking scenery. The dramatic
cliffs of Woody Cape provide the hiker with two options,
either walking along boulder-strewn base of the cliffs
(impassable at high tide) or climbing a log rope ladder
to reach the cliff top followed by a fairly easy walk to
Woody Cape Hut.
The wreck
of the Nidaros - an old steamer - can also be
investigated along the trail. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Woody Cape Hut
has beds and mattresses for 12 people. It relies on
rainwater tanks so water must be used sparingly. No
fires are allowed here and therefore hikers need to
carry their own gas stoves.
From the hut the
views out across the surf are stunning and Bird Island
Lighthouse is visible in the distance. |
|
 |
 |
|
View
from Woody Cape Hut |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
 |
|
The
second day traverses incredible dunes |
|
|
The second day of
the trail is 16,5Km long and traverses the largest duneveld in the Southern Hemisphere before once again
winding through beautiful indigenous forest back to
Langebos Hut |
|
Map of Addo Elephant
National Park (PDF).
Click here
Conclusion
The Alexandria Trail is not
an easy trail as the distances are long each day. However the trail
is well worth the extra effort. Those hikers who have to travel a
long way to reach the trail should maybe look at doing it in
conjunction with one of the other long distance trails in the area
such as Tsitsikamma or Amatola. Coastal trails are always popular
and this is one of the best.
Bookings
Jacana
Travel Marketing
and Reservations
Telephone
0861Jacana (0861 522262) or +27
41 366
2084
Fax 012
012 803
4144
e-mail
info@jacanacollection.co.za
Pictures on this page
were supplied by South African National Parks and used with their
permission
Footprint
Hiking Club
To view one
of the other pages on our website click on a hyperlink below
|
