2 South African hikes featured in 35 best hikes in the world list

Posted on 5 May 2023

Two South African hikes made an international list of the 35 best hikes in the world that almost anyone can do.

Robberg Witsand Circuit. Photo: Marzahn Botha/ Getaway Magazine

Robberg Peninsula in Plettenberg Bay and Cecilia Forest in Cape Town made the list, compiled by Explore! a travel adventure company.

In compiling the list, Explore! commented that ‘we at Explore believe that any place worth going is a place worth hiking through. So we’ve assembled a list of 35 of the best hikes in the world that almost anyone can do, from short jaunts you can do in less than an hour to longer, multi-day itineraries.’

Read: 5 trails in South Africa for beginner hikers

The Robber came in at 27th on the list, while Cecilia Forest ranked 29th.

The 35 best hiking trails on our list were evaluated according to their:

  1. Length (Distance)
  2. Elevation
  3. Duration
  4. Weather
  5. Instagrammability

Cecilia forest in Cape Town. Picture: Wikimedia Commons

Every hike was allocated weighted points for each of the five categories above.

Read: The ultimate beginner’s guide to hiking

The top 35 hikes are:

  1. Perito Moreno Glacier Trail, El Calafate, Santa Cruz, Argentina

  2. Aoraki/Mount Cook Loop, Canterbury, New Zealand

  3. Scenic Drive, Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah, USA

  4. Continental Divide Trail From NM 547, Grants, New Mexico, USA

  5. Lower Yosemite Falls Trail, Yosemite Valley, California, USA

  6. Carnarvon Gorge, Carnarvon Park, Queensland, Australia

  7. Colca Canyon:Cabanaconde – Llahuar, Cabanaconde, Arequipa, Peru

  8. Wineglass Bay, Tasmania, Australia

  9. B’nei Hamoshavim Ascent Loop from ןיע ידג, Ein Gedi, Israel

  10. Jaffa Port – St Peter’s Church Loop from יזבש, Tel Aviv, Israel

  11. World’s End – Baker’s Falls Loop from Ohiya, Horton Plains National Park & World’s End, Sri Lanka

  12. South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point, Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA

  13. Okatse Canyon Loop from ზედა გორდი, Banchueti, Georgia

  14. Western Wall, Jerusalem ינמראה עבור from Loop, Jerusalem, Israel

  15. Catbells Circular, Lake District, Cumbria, UK

  16. Piatra Craiului Ridge Walk, Magura, Brasov County, Transylvania, Romania

  17. Mirador Loop, Cotapaxi, Mejia, Cotopaxi, Ecuador

  18. Path of the Gods, Bomerano, Campania, Italy

  19. Balcony Trail, Madeira, Portugal

  20. Offa’s Dyke Trail, Chepstow, Monmouthshire to Prestatyn, Denbighshire, UK

  21. Kaieteur Falls, Chenapau, Potaro-Siparuni, Guyana

  22. Birtvisi Canyon Viewpoint and Ruins Hike, Tbisi, Kvemo Kartli, Georgia

  23. El Tepozteco, Tepoztlan, Mexico

  24. Grand Canyon Track, Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia

  25. Shulamit-Quelle Loop ידג ןיע from, Wadi David, Israel

  26. Berber Villages, Atlas Mountains, Asni, Marrakesh-Tensift-El Haouz, Morocco

  27. Robberg Peninsula, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

  28. Montfort Castle Loop from הפצמ הליה, Upper Galilee, Israel

  29. Cecilia Waterfall via Cecilia Forest, Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, South Africa

  30. Inca Trail (Mollepata), Aguas Calientes, Peru

  31. Huayna Potosi, La Paz, Bolivia

  32. Mt Rosea Loop, The Grampians, Halls Gap, Victoria, Australia

  33. Dschelada Pavian Loop from Gich, Simien National Park, Ethiopia

  34. Annapurna Circuit, Besi Sahar, Nepal

  35. Kilimanjaro, Lemosho Route, Arusha, Tanzania

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