Sacred Trails Tsitsikamma- soul adventure wellness journey

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LET YOUR ADVENTURE BEGIN!

Meet at Firefly Falls, the Crags, Plettenberg Bay, between 3-5pm to check-in. 

Shuttle services to the resort are available to book directly with Firefly Falls, or leave your car there for the duration.

Greetings and introduction to our Sacred Trail. We will share in circle, and learn about the elemental pathway that we will hike together, and how beautifully this will serve our lives.

Each day on trail will begin in noble silence until we are ready to stretch and be guided on a meditation on the embodiment of each ELEMENT.

During the course of each day we will be guided through experiential processes to connect deeply with Nature and with ourselves.

Every evening we will share in circle about our ancestry that makes us who we are, discovering ourselves in the process; we will be seen and heard by each other.

Night 1- First night at Firefly Falls.

Rest well.

Firefly Falls transport to Covie to start hike to Bloukrans Hut – 9 km +- 3 hours.

WATER- WISDOM

Today we enter the wilderness to cleanse our spirits and dissolve our sins in the waters that spring from our unique Afro-montane forest, allowing it to wash away grief and spent emotion, as well as to inform our dreams.

The first day on trail is a short one as we enter the forest. We begin our Sacred Trail by walking from Covie to the Bloukrans hut, situated on the verge of a cliff and offering incredible views of the river gorges below, with majestic Peak Formosa and the Tsitsikamma Mountains to the north. A few hundred metres beneath the hut a rust-coloured waterfall tumbles into private rock pools where we will be blessed to meet the sacred waters of life. We will also bathe, swim and play!

Tonight we share about our Grandmothers in our sacred circle.

Night 2- Bloukrans Hut

Night watch- 1 hour around the fire each

 Hike from Bloukrans to Keurbos hut - 13.4km +- 6 hours.

AIR- PERSPECTIVE & CLARITY

On this day we will explore the healing

power of breath work- breathing out trauma and expanding our Spirit.

Today takes us deep into the Tsitsikamma Mountains and forest. This is a wetter and more remote world where a true sense of isolation begins to take hold. Buffelsbos is where the last Cape buffalo of the Tsitsikamma was to be found in the late 1800’s. In this enchanted piece of indigenous forest the trail begins its eastward course through the mountains, with wonderful swimming and resting places. The rest of the day follows flat terrain through flower-rich fynbos and ancient, relic forest. Shortly before reaching Keurbos hut there are rockpools resembling natural jacuzis at the twin tubs for us to cool down. 

Tonight we share about our Fathers.

Night 3- Keurbos Hut 

Night watch- 1 hour around the fire each

Keurbos hike to Heuningbos hut -13,4 km 

+- 6 hours. Elevation gain 354 m.

EARTH- COURAGE

Today we connect with the Earth Mother, feeling her support through our base chakra, connect to your birth Mother.

Day 4 passes through very diverse habitat types and has a number of exciting river crossings. After a gradual descent from Keurbos hut through very tall fynbos the Lottering River is reached. We will proceed slowly up Rushes Pass, pausing regularly to appreciate the majestic views. Once over the saddle, largepockets of untouched indigenous forest become visible in remote mountain regions. The path then descends for a similar distance to follow the western bank of the Elandsbos River for almost a kilometre before reaching the Elandsbos River crossing point. Heuningbos indigenous forest has many hidden secrets awaiting hikers further ahead. After the final descent towards the hut, you will cross the Kleinbos River twice before reaching the Heuningbos Hut. A very pleasant swimming pool lies within strolling distance away. 

Tonight we share about our Mothers in our sacred circle.

Night 4- Heuningbos Hut

Night watch- 1 hour around the fire each

Heuningbos hike to Sleepkloof hut - 14.2 km +- 7 hours.

FIRE- POWER & ANCESTRY

The longest day of the trail will see us negotiate two saddles on route to Sleepkloof hut, as we feel the burn and work with our internal flame.

Most of the day passes through pristine mountain fynbos where many interesting plant and animal species occur. The wet indigenous forest at Mostertsbos is a stark contrast from the open mountain slopes. The crossing of the Witteklip River marks the day’s half-way point and the second saddle’s ascent begins shortly thereafter. The view from the top of Nademaalsnek is a just reward. The spectacular Storms River gorge, Sleepkloof hut and the final two-kilometre indigenous forest stretch are both visible from that point. Sleepkloof hut nestles on the slopes of a densely forested gorge where wood was dragged out during the woodcutter era.
The hut has magnificent views of the Tsitsikamma mountains in the distance.

Tonight we share about our Grandfathers in our sacred circle.

Night 5- Sleepkloof Hut
Night watch- 1 hour around the fire each

Sleepkloof hike to Stormsriver- 5,5 km +- 2 hours. Exit and pick-up- transport shuttle to BioCamp Bitou. 

SPIRIT- ILLUMINATION & GUIDANCE

Today we will stay by the river to deepen into ourselves, held in wild Nature, with some gentle process work to assist us, and lots of time to relax and decompress. We will begin our integration process, preparing us to enter society reborn.

Leaving in the morning from the Sleepkloof Hut, we will take an easy hike through dense indigenous forest to our collection point for the short ride to the Bitou BioCamp, deep in the forest and by a cool, flowing river.

Tonight we share about ourselves and our plans for the future in our sacred circle of accountability.

Night 6- BioCamp Bitou

Night watch- 1 hour around the fire each

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BioCamp Bitou pick-up- Transport shuttle to Firefly Falls.

INTEGRATION- Our way forward.

A gentle start to the day, revelling in the pristiine wilderness at the Bitou river camp, we relax around the morning fire, sipping hot coffee and feeling the glow of our hearts, our eyes and our skin. 

A short ride back to base camp follows, arriving by the afternoon.

Tour END and goodbyes.

Departure Dinner if booked. Stay the night again at Firefly Falls if you have booked.