Namaqua Flower 3 Day/4-Night Hike

This exhilarating Slackpack hiking tour is not just about the flowers; it’s about immersing yourself in the absolute best of Namakwa! With over 10 years of experience in Namaqua, Trisport knows exactly where to take you for an unforgettable hike amidst the stunning floral landscapes. We are dedicated to ensuring you witness the most incredible blooms, so we will adapt the program accordingly, chasing the best flower displays at the time of your Slackpack hike.

Prepare to explore three distinct areas of Namakwa, as we embark on a thrilling flower-hunting adventure together. We’ll unveil hidden gems that even the locals are unaware of, guided by our team of passionate experts who will leave you beaming with joy. While Trisport will accompany you on each tour, our local guides will provide unique insights and a genuine connection to the heart and soul of Namakwa (Namaqua).

Namakwa (Namaqua) is an arid region of Namibia and South Africa, extending along the west coast over 1,000 kilometres and covering a total area of 440,000 square kilometres. It is divided by the lower course of the Orange River into two portions – Little Namakwa to the south and Great Namakwa to the north.

Namakwa remained a very quiet place during the cultural evolution until about 2000 years ago. This was when the Khoikhoi or Nama arrived from the area that now encompasses northern Botswana. The region is known for its cultural history, which was preserved by the Nama and Khoisan tribes. The Nama people are the largest group of Khoikhoi people.

Trisport stands apart. Hands-on and community-focused, we invest in your trip and the local area.

With 23+ years of experience and boundless passion, we deliver an unforgettable adventure.

Each tour is meticulously planned, with the region’s best accommodations each night. Enjoy warm hospitality, genuine smiles, and experiences that forge lifelong friendships.

If you crave pampering and real care, Trisport goes the extra mile, making you feel special at every moment.

Day 1
15:00 – Check-in under your name at your overnight venue, Jakkalswater Guest Farm
18:00 – Meet with your Trisport host
19:00 – Dinner

Day 2
08:00 – Breakfast
09:00 – Hike
Experience the beautiful fauna and flora, see the remains of an old copper mine, enjoy views of the West Coast in the distance, and learn about the area’s history. The hike will include stops for tea and lunch at a scenic spot. Enjoy your guide’s passion for nature and all the information about the amazing flowers.
19:30 – Dinner 

Day 3
07:30 – Breakfast
09:00 – Hike
We will visit the best hiking location where flowers are abundant. The trail may be a single-track with an elevation of about 300 meters, depending on where the flowers are at their best. Enjoy the fauna and flora, learn about the history, and take breaks for tea and lunch at a beautiful spot.
18:30 – Dinner

Day 4
07:00 – Breakfast
08:00 – Depart for the next hiking venue by vehicle
09:00 – Hike
We will go to a location known for its beautiful flowers. The hike will include stops for tea and lunch along the way, enjoying the fauna, flora, and history.
18:30 – Dinner

Day 5
07:30 – Breakfast and farewells

Jakkalswater Guest farm: Nestled between the slopes and granite boulders of the Kamiesberg Mountains, Jakkalswater guest farm is situated 9.9 miles from Springbok

Start Venue: Jakkalswater Guest farm:

Nestled between the slopes and granite boulders of the Kamiesberg Mountains, Jakkalswater guest farm is situated 15 km outside the town, Springbok.

Springbok is 500km from Cape Town and 300km from Upington.

For this tour, you need your own vehicle to travel to the different hiking areas. Each day we will hike in different areas, depending on where the flowers are the best and each person must be able to get there by him/herself

Methods to get to Springbok:

1. Fly to Cape Town and hire a car to travel to Okiep. There are no shuttles from Cape Town.

2. Fly to Upngton and hire a car 

3. Drive to Jakkalswater

Day 1: 12 to 15km
Day 2: 8 to 10km
Day 3: 8 to 12km

Distances may be in different order depending on where and at which overnight venues we start and finish.

Each tour’s venues are different, it depends on what time of the season it is. We use various venues to hike at, but you will experience the best of Namaqua while you are with us on the tour.

Hiking Venues:
Jakkalswater Guest farm, close to Nababeeb
Goegap Nature Reserve
Bruinkop
Lewerberg
Concordia
Lammershoek area

Limited to 16 entries

This hiking tour is not suitable for beginners who only hike on flat and easy surfaces like tar or gravel roads.

While there is not a lot of elevation on the hikes, you must be able to navigate some technical sections over rocks and walk off-road through the bush. We don’t follow set out hiking trails. We will take you to where the most beautiful flowers are, and therefore the terrain can be challenging.

If you are unsure about your ability to handle the hike, please contact Sonja at Sonja@trisport.co.za. Additionally, please note that you must be able to walk at least 12km to 15km per day. 

Age Policy and Requirements

• The minimum age for participation is 12 years.
• Participants aged 65 and older must provide a letter from their doctor confirming they are fit to hike the daily distances.
• The maximum age for participation is 70 years.

Exceptional Cases

• If you believe you are a very fit individual over 70, please contact Janine at janine@trisport.co.za for approval before registering.

Physical Fitness and Terrain

• Participants must be capable of navigating technical sections over rocks and walking off-road through bush, steep granite koppies, and hills. We do not follow set hiking trails; terrain can be challenging and unpredictable.
• You must be able to walk at least 12 to 15 kilometers per day.

Important Notice

• If you are unsure about your ability to handle the hikes, it is your responsibility to contact Janine at janine@trisport.co.za prior to registration.
• We do not accept responsibility for participants who are not physically fit or unable to complete the technical sections. Your fitness level must not impact the group’s safety or experience.
• Participants who are unable to meet these requirements will not be permitted to hike with the group but are welcome to undertake shorter hikes independently in the area.

Jeep tracks, single tracks, through the bush/shrubs, small rocks, some steep short uphill sections, hiking trails, rocky roads, up-hill, down-hill. Elevation of about 300 to 500m per day.

• 4 Nights, 4 Days;
• 4 nights accommodation
• 3 Days of hiking
• A Trisport Goody bag
• Local Guides on each hike
• Cost of Guides
• Trisport Guides
• Mine Tour
• Nature Reserve entry fees
• Private property permits and entry fees
• All arrangements to ensure you have an amazing Flower hike
• All meals from dinner on first night to dinner the last night
• Home cooked Namakwa meals; and
• All the arrangements by Trisport
• And unforgettable and unique Namakwa experience.

• Travel to your start venue, (we will send it to you once you booked) and in between our hiking venues, we will go where the flowers are best
• Alcoholic drinks; and
• Breakfast on departure
• Guide tips.
• Your vehicle to drive from venue to venue, no 4 x 4 needed, but a high clearance SUV is advised
• Medical insurance
• Travel Insurance
• Cancelation insurance
• Cost of Evacuation if necessary

We have the following safety equipment with us:

– A medical kit, including bandages, etc.
– A Garmin InReach (to be used in case of an extreme emergency only, not when you are tired)
– A helicopter for airlifting, with the understanding that you will be held liable for the cost of evacuation.

The Schaap River Canyon is about 60km long in total. It is in Namakwa between Springbok and Kleinsee. It runs over private property only, and permission are obtain from each farmer to be allowed to hike in the Canyon. Namakwa is an arid region of Namibia and South Africa, extending along the west coast over 1,000 kilometres and covering a total area of 440,000 square kilometres. It is divided by the lower course of the Orange River into two portions – Little Namakwa to the south and Great Namakwa to the north. Namakwa remained a very quiet place during the cultural evolution until about 2000 years ago. This was when the Khoikhoi or Nama arrived from the area that now encompasses northern Botswana. The region is known for its cultural history, which was preserved by the Nama and Khoisan tribes. The Nama people are the largest group of Khoikhoi people.

Venue: Nigramoep Guest Farm, Schaap River Canyon, Northern Cape
Your Accommodation: 2 nights at Nigramoep Guest Cottages and 3 nights in Luxury Tents with proper beds and mattresses in the Canyon
Nigramoep consist of beautiful renovated guest cottages and old farm houses. Most cottages and houses have 2 or more rooms and you might share a bathroom. You will experience the delicious farm style home cooking of Nigramoep Guest Farm. Nigramoep does have a bar, but you can bring your own drinks as well.

Day 1 : Arrival
Day 2 : 19km hike from the Guest farm down into the Schaapriver Canyon up to our base camp where we will stay for 3 nights, steep downill today until the bottom of the canyon, bit of bundu bashing as we hike through the Beautiful colourful veld with lots of flowers.
Day 3 : 8 or 16km hike from the Basecamp into the canyon and back, you will be inside the canyon and see the majestic canyon as it stretched out, you will see lots of flowers as you hike in the canyon. No elevation today, it is up to you, either a easy rest day after the previous harder day or you can do a good 16km hike in the Canyon
Day 4 : 15km, hike from the base camp to a different part of the Canyon via a beautiful ravine, only elevation of 290 m, beautiful flowers and rock pools in the ravine and canyon, very high cliffs, see klipspringers jumping from rock to rock, see leopard spoor in the sandy patches, see amazing rock formations, sandy patches, donkey tracks, rocky sections.
Day 5 : 14km, hike out of the canyon back to Nigramoep guest farm, see the Verreaux and Booted eagle’s nest, lots of flowers at the water points, beautiful views as you climb out of the canyon, beautiful flowers along the way, elevation 550m, sandy patches, donkey tracks, boulders, climbing out of the canyon back to the guest house.
Day 6 : Breakfast and Good Byes

Limited to 20 entries

NO BEGINNERS
Intermediate to advance level hikers. You must be fit for hiking up to 17km per day with sections of rocky and uneven areas over boulders and loose rocks. You will ascend 850meters into a the Canyon on day 1, but ascent 550 meters out of the Canyon on the last day. People 70 years old and older must please contact us first before registering.

• 5 Days and 5 Nights;
• 2 Nights accommodation at the Canyon Guest Farm, 3 nights Glamping in the Canyon
• Includes a big tent, where you can stand up in, bed, mattresses. The tents and beds with mattresses are permanently at the base camp
• Lights and electricity in the camp
• Staying in beautiful renovated whitewashed cottages
• 3 Nights Glamping in the Schaap River Canyon on private property;
• 4 Days hiking with experienced guides born in Namakwa, eager to share their intimate knowledge of the flowers, geography and history of the area;
• All the permissions and payments of the local farmers where we will transverse over
• Transport and logistics to get your gear/ luggage to the base camp
• Supply of water, fire wood and cooking equipment;
• A hot shower and flushable toilets
• All meals from dinner on arrival to breakfast on departure day;
• Freshly baked bread and salad each night;
• Wine each night
• A Cash Bar available at Base Camp in the Canyon and at Nigramoep Guest Farm
• Home cooked Namakwa meals;
• All the arrangements by Trisport

• Travel to and from Springbok, Northern Cape;
• Sleeping bag, pillow,
• Day pack,
• Tea/coffee sachets, coffee cup, small flask for the hike.
• Snacks for during the hike;
• Tips for the Guides; and
• Alcoholic Beverages.
• Extra Flower Tour options : Namaqua Undiscovered Cultural Tour see: https://sjupsjup.com/ for more detail and book through the website.
• Medical insurance
• Travel Insurance
• Cost of Evacuation if necessary

Day 1
15:00-18:00 Arrival at Nigramoep Guest Farm and Dinner

Day 2
07:00 Breakfast

08:00 Start with the 19km hike from the Guest Farm towards the Schaapriver Canyon. It is a uneven terrain with lot of small rocks on day 1, start off on a jeep track, then followed by a short bushy section through the flowers area to see the best flowers on the beautiful Nigramoep pristine areas, lunch (provided) in the veld, coffee breaks along the way, and arrive late afternoon back at Base Camp in the Canyon to spend 3 nights at the Base Camp. Bar available at the Base Camp.

17:00 onwards arrive at Base Camp and have a cold beer, check in into you Tent with a proper bed, matrass etc

18:00 Dinner with wine with freshly baked bread and salad made by us.

Day 3
07:00 Breakfast

08:00 An 8 or 16km hike from the Basecamp into the canyon and back, you will be inside the canyon and see the majestic canyon as it stretched out, you will see lots of flowers as you hike in the canyon. No elevation today, it is up to you, either a easy rest day after the previous harder day or you can do a good 16km hike in the Canyon
Hiking is flat, but has sandy patches, rocky sections, loose rocks, steep downhill and donkey trails.
You will start to see beautiful rock formations. Hiking, experiencing the geology of the canyon, the fauna and flora, the history, stopping for tea, stopping for lunch at a beautiful spot.

16:00 Arrive back at the Base camp and enjoy a cold drink

18:00 Dinner, wine and freshly baked bread and salad made by us. Relax around the bonfire while we listen to the sounds of the animals and canyon.

Day 4
07:00 Breakfast

08:00 Do a circular hike in a ravine leading into the canyon.
You will experience the high cliffs of the canyon and secret big water pools and waterfalls.
Lots of pools to swim in, lots of beautiful rock formations, klipspringers, leopard spoor, beautiful flowers, hiking on donkey trails.

16:00 onwards: Arrive at the Base camp and enjoy a hot shower, cold drink while dinner is prepared. Watch the sun set over the red cliffs of the Canyon.

18:00 Dinner and freshly baked bread and salad made by us. Relax around the bonfire while we listen to the sounds of the animals and canyon

Day 5
07:00 Breakfast

08:00 Today we will hike out of the Canyon where we will start with a flat section for about 2km and will then slowly start ascending out of the Canyon back towards Nigramoep

It is 550 meters of elevation. Vasbyt! Watch the views while you are climbing and experiencing the geology of the canyon from above, enjoy the fauna and flora, stopping for tea, stopping for lunch at a beautiful spot. Spot the Verreaux and Booted eagle’s nest, lots of flowers at the water points, beautiful views as you climb out of the canyon, beautiful flowers along the way.
Once on the top it is not too far back to Nigramoep.

14:00 Arrive at Nigramoep Guest Farm and check in

16:00 Drive with your own car or with Nigramoep’s famous pipe cars to have a glass of champagne or drink overlooking the Canyon you just hiked.

18:00 Dinner and Accommodation at Nigramoep Guest Farm.

Day 6
09:00 Breakfast and Goodbyes

We have the following safety equipment with us:

– A medical kit, including bandages, etc.
– An AED (Automatic Electric Defibrillator)
– Epipen
– Radios
– A Garmin InReach (to be used in case of an extreme emergency only, not when you are tired)
– A helicopter for airlifting, with the understanding that you will be held liable for the cost of evacuation.