Garden Route Unearthed

The Kranshoek Coastal Trail is a challenging but incredibly scenic hike along the Garden Route National Park coastline.

On Thursday 7th December 2023, Bryan and myself decided to head to Harkerville Forest again, but this time instead of zip-lining we were going to explore the Kranshoek Coastal Trail. We had heard and read that it is a challenging hike, but we felt we were ready for it.

It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and the sky was a deep blue. We planned to get there at about 9am, so that we would be walking in the cooler part of the day. So, armed with plenty of water, an energy drink and a few snacks, we left our home in Sedgefield and drove to Harkerville.

The beginning of the trail starts by the parking area where you also go for the Knysna Zip-lining experience.

From the start of the trail you can see Kanshoek beach where the coastal section of the trail begins, so to get to Kranshoek beach, you need to hike through the forest and the gorge.

The beginning of the trail is relatively flat, as you meander trough the forest, but fairly quickly it gets steeper and narrower as the trail winds its way down the gorge.

You need to watch your footing here, as there are some loose rocks / shale and tight bends in the path with the odd tree root growing out of it. So take you time and enjoy the shade provided by this part of the trail, as once you start the section along the coastline, there is virtually no shade at all.

Through the gorge, the trail crosses the stream a few times and occasionally you hear the shriek of laughter and the hum of the zip-line as a group enjoys themselves high above you and the trees.

After about 2kms you start to hear the waves breaking on the beach ahead of you and eventually the trail opens up on to the pebbly Kranshoek beach. the sight that greets you is simply incredible.

Once you arrive at the beach, the trail continues along the coastline to your left (heading East). Take it easy on the pebbles, as it is quite tricky to walk on them and keep a look out for the footprints. These footprints guide you along the trail and keep you on the correct pathway.

A little way along the beach, you have the option to return to the Kranshoek Viewpoint. This is a short cut and makes the trail about 4.5kms in length. We had decided to hike the entire route though, so we continued along the coast, gasping in awe at each rocky outcrop we came round at the splendour we saw ahead of us. I have to say, the scenery you experience on this trail is out of this world.

In terms of the difficulty of this trail. It is definitely challenging. The trail along the coastline takes you past several small bays, whose rocky points and peninsula’s you have to scramble up and over. In addition to this, there is one section that takes you along the face of the dune, again over loose rocks and boulders. Take your time and take plenty of breaks. These are tricky sections that require your full attention and concentration. Having said that, it is definitely worth the effort and challenge!

The ascent back up from the coastline to the top of the rocky cliffs is steep and almost vertical, so again, take your time, stop to admire the view once more and enjoy the spectacle that nature provides you on this trail.

Once you are at the top of the climb, the scenery is again majestic. We took plenty more photos at this point and marvelled at the route we had just travelled.

The remaining part of the trail, once you leave the rocky cliff edge is mainly along a jeep track. It takes you eventually to the Kranshoek View Point and then on the the car park. Whilst this part of the trail is not the most beautiful, it is certainly enjoyable to be walking on flat ground and no longer having to negotiate the uneven rocks and boulders under foot.

So, in summary, the Kranshoek Coastal Trail is an absolute feast for the eyes. The scenery is breathtaking, we saw a pod of dolphins frolicking in the waves and we didn’t pass any other hikers during the 4 hours it took us to navigate the trail.

Bryan and I absolutely loved the trail, and thoroughly enjoyed our morning, however, this is a tough hike. Your need to have good fitness levels, need to be steady underfoot with good balance and I would say you need to have fairly strong legs. If this is you, then go for it! You will have an awesome adventure exploring this trail!

Take plenty of water, sun screen and mosquito spray for the forest section. Don’t rush, enjoy the views and this incredible section of the Garden Route.

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