Baviaans Canyon Trail 2026
Five days.
Twelve hikers.
Slackpacking.
Luxury.
Our bags would be transported.
Our food had been planned.
Our accommodation awaited.
What could possibly go wrong?
Unfortunately, just before the trip, the person who actually knew what was going on became seriously ill and couldn’t join us 😢.
Our Mastermind handed over a pile of printed instructions, appointed a substitute adult, and sent us on our way.
The plans were excellent.
The substitute adult handled it suspiciously well.
After a flight, a shuttle and a supposedly quick supply run that wasn’t particularly quick, we finally arrived.
The forecast had been threatening cold, rain and general misery all week.
Everyone had panic bought extra rain gear.
We were ready.
Probably.
Day 1 - Confidence
Birthday cookies acquired.
Rain gear acquired.
Briefing received.
The forecast delivered some drizzle, but mostly we got mountains, dramatic rocks and coffee.
Someone burned his hand making said coffee.
The medical kit came out.
Days without incidents: 0
Good start.
At camp there was a labyrinth, a freezing swimming pool and butter chicken.
Naturally, some people swam.
I walked the labyrinth to clear my chakras.
I thought this might help prevent further incidents.
It did not.
A good day, finished with a birthday celebration.
That night was cold. A few strategic hikers abandoned their huts for the main cabin and its fire.
Day 2 - Things Escalate
Within roughly 500 metres, the birthday boy, one day older, fell backwards into the river.
There he was, backpack on, stuck in the water like a turtle on its back.
We had all been carefully hopping across rocks trying to keep our shoes dry.
The Caver walked straight through.
Perhaps there was a lesson there.
Then came a monster climb.
For reasons still unclear, I charged up it.
Perhaps enthusiasm.
Perhaps showing off. Women like this, right? 🤦🏻♂️
Either way, I reached the top early, missed the coffee stop, and then remembered that I was carrying the medical kit.
Excellent decision-making.
Which became relevant when a knee needed strapping.
Later, I spotted some beautiful flowers.
“That would make a nice photo.”
The flowers had other ideas.
Something stung me in the stomach.
Then chased me.
Then stung me in the back.
What followed was less rugged wilderness adventurer and more Mr Bean attacks himself with a hat.
I eventually escaped.
The flowers kept their territory.
Back at camp, the day’s biggest incident arrived when some enthusiastic wood chopping ended with considerably less fingertip than it started with.
Fortunately, we had doctors.
Days without incidents: 0
That evening T and I decided the men should help with dinner.
I cut an onion.
T made couscous.
The women continued making dinner.
Day 3 - Crocs Enter the Canyon
Slot canyon day.
Water shoes recommended.
Crocs accepted.
Absolutely spectacular.
More photos.
We followed the canyon all the way to the end, where only a few sufficiently foolish people celebrated by swimming in a very cold pool.
Then we retreated to somewhere sunny for lunch.
T and his better half produced bacon and ramen.
Everyone else looked sadly at their hiking food.
The afternoon brought sunshine, another swim and an outstanding braai: steak, wors and chocolate wraps over the fire.
T sacrificed his eyes to the smoke in pursuit of the perfect steak.
The steak was excellent.
His eyes required medical attention.
Days without incidents: 0
At this point, the medical kit was basically another member of the group.
Day 4 - Apparently There Are Views Here
By now there was only one request:
Please. Nobody get injured today.
We left at 7am and climbed into the mountains for what was supposed to be the most spectacular day of the trail.
We saw mist.
Lots of mist.
Presumably the views were incredible.
Eventually we descended a ridiculous staircase and the clouds began to lift.
And suddenly:
rock faces, cliffs, canyon walls and the reason we’d climbed all that way.
Down in the canyon came the playground: river crossings, boulder hopping and far too many photo stops.
Our final camp was possibly the prettiest of the lot.
So naturally we got into another freezing pool.
Fire.
Chicken soup.
Bread.
Biltong.
Pesto.
Two-minute noodles.
And tequila.
Possibly too much tequila.
And somehow…
Days without incidents: 1 🎉
We had done it.
Day 5 - Morning Glory
One hiker wasn’t feeling quite right in the morning.
No theories were proposed.
The medical kit came out to find some solutions.
Days without incidents: 0
It had been nice while it lasted.
We started slightly late, and two sensible hikers decided to sit this one out.
The remaining nine immediately climbed Morning Glory.
Another cave at the top failed to impress the Caver.
Unlike every other day, the sun was now fully operational.
It was hot.
There was an optional detour to the Orange Room.
Some wisely declined.
The rest of us discovered that it was just worth the extra effort.
And finally, with no mist anywhere, Baviaanskloof showed off.
Huge cliffs.
Blue sky.
Ridiculous views.
Then came the final slog.
Eventually we heard cheering.
We’d made it.
We rang the bell.
And this time almost everybody got into the water.
Five days earlier, we’d been worried about rain.
Now nobody cared.
The counter may have been back at zero.
But eleven hikers had made it to the finish.
The final tally
Five days.
77 kilometres.
One birthday.
One human turtle.
Two bee hornet stings.
One unfortunate fingertip.
Several cold swims.
One newly adopted hiking daughter.
Smoky eyes.
1,000+ photos.
Blisters.
A suspicious quantity of tequila.
And eleven hikers who somehow made it through.
Most of the doctors made it out unscathed.
They just had to do considerably more work than expected.
We switched our phones back on.
T braai’ed chicken this time.
Safely.
We held a fines meeting.
We warned the next group what they were getting themselves into.
And then we found the massage chair.
Luxury hiking after all.
A great hike, an incredible place, and a pretty special collection of characters to share it with.