Garden Route Unearthed

Garden Route National Park’s spectacular Half-Collared Kingfisher hiking trail

The Half-Collared Kingfisher Hiking Trail in the Garden Route National Park in Wilderness is a very popular route and once you experience it, you will understand why.

Bryan and I have walked this hiking trail several times with friends and family, as well as by ourselves. There is great variety in the hiking trail, as it starts in the indigenous forest, has sections that open into fern forests, pathways along the river and even a boardwalk high in the tree canopy. It also leads to a beautiful waterfall where you can splash around in the cool river water.

The Half-Collared Kingfisher Trail is a there and back hiking trail, rather than a circular route, however, you can choose to either cross the Touw River via the Pontoon or the Stepping Stones (follow the relevant sign), so a section of the hike one way can be different.

Entry is free if you have a Wild Card, otherwise there is a small fee that is charged when you complete your hiking permit. This is a very quick and easy process, unless it is a particularly busy day.

The hiking trail starts by winding through the indigenous forest. Here many of the trees are named so that you can see which species are present.

Also early into the trail, you climb some wooden stairs and get a beautiful view of the Touw River, which the trail meanders alongside. The waterfall being the Touw River further towards its source.

On this particular day, Bryan and I had decided we would add the Bosduif Loop to our hike. It is apparently a strenuous extra 1km, but as we understand, there are even more spectacular views of the Touw River from this view point. Sadly though, when we reached the turn off to the Bosduif Loop, there was a sign announcing the route was closed due to a bee hive being present on it. So, that but paid to that plan. We will just have to do it another time.

As we were walking through the forest section of the trail, we came across a bushbuck feeding on the bushes. It is common to come across bushbuck here and so we watched for a little while. She was in the middle of the pathway and was relatively calm and unfazed by our presence.

We decided to take the Pontoon Crossing, which is always fun and I think it adds a little extra to the Half-Collared Kingfisher Trail hike. We could hear the Knysna Lourie calling as well as a Kingfisher as we crossed the river, but since we didn’t have binoculars with us, we didn’t manage to spot either of them.

As you follow the pathway along the river, it opens up in sections and then closes back into the forest, so you see lots of different vegetation and the variety is wonderful. After about 3kms, the wooden boardwalk starts and here you make an initial climb up a few steps so you are walking above the river level, but not quite into the tree canopy (that comes a bit later).

The wooden boardwalk is split into two sections and the second section consists of many steps which are relatively steep and take you high into the canopy of the trees. In this section you often see the Knysna Lourie as they fly just above you head. We heard many, but sadly, we were unable to capture a clear photo.

Eventually, the boardwalk ends and there are steps down to the rocks surrounding the waterfall. There are many areas where you can reach the water and take a plunge and it is lovely to take a picnic and enjoy it here whilst listening to the noise of the waterfall crashing into the rock pools.

After spending some time at the waterfall (although not swimming this time, as the water was a little chilly in early Spring), we started our return walk back to the start of the trail. The trail is just under 4kms each way and I would describe it as an easy hiking trail. The pathway is relatively flat with a few wooden steps along the way, but nothing too strenuous.

To our delight, as we walked along the boardwalk and got a bit lower down and closer to the river level, we came a cross two Knysna Lourie chattering away to each other in the branches of some trees. I was able to capture a couple of videos of this busy and noisy pair and this is the best clip of one of them.

We had yet again thoroughly enjoyed our hike to the waterfall and we would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a beautiful, varied and easy hiking trail. The Half-Collared Kingfisher Trail is located in Wilderness and is part of the Garden Route National Park. The trail is well maintained and very clearly marked.

It is a great hiking route for spotting Knysna Lourie’s and, as its name suggests, Half-Collared Kingfishers, as well as many other bird species. You are also very likely to see bushbuck and why not take a picnic as well as your swim wear, as a dip in the clear pools by the waterfall are absolute bliss. The tannins from the rocks that the water washes over does make the water a light brown colour, but don’t be put off by this, as the tannins are totally harmless and the water is cool and refreshing.

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