Hiking at Robberg Nature Reserve

We took the day off from school today and went hiking at Robberg Nature Reserve. This is said to be one of the most popular and scenic hikes along the Garden Route. It was one of the top things I was looking forward to during our time here. The hiking trail has three different loops to choose from. We went all in and did the longest one which circles the entire Robberg peninsula and covers about 7 miles. It was definitely one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve been on!

Climbing, Cliff Edges and Cape Fur Seals

Something that made this hike unique was that the terrain was constantly changing. There were parts that were a casual stroll along a flat trail and parts where we had to scramble up and down giant rocks. We walked through dense vegetation, sandy beaches, climbed numerous wooden staircases, and hung on to ropes as we navigated our way across narrow ledges on the cliff’s edge.

The hike started out at an overlook with an expansive view of the Indian Ocean. We then made our way through some thick vegetation working our way towards the edge of the cliffs along the ocean.

A highlight of this area is that it is home to a huge colony of Cape Fur Seals. We could hear the seals before we saw them. You could see them swimming and playing as we walked along the edge of the cliffs. They were so fun to watch!

There were amazing views during the entire hike. This is my favorite picture! If you look closely, you can see the seals down below.

The Edge of the Peninsula

As we reached the edge of the peninsula you could see the changes in the water, with calm waters on one side and giant waves on the other. We made our way down towards the waves and enjoyed watching more seals swim and jump around.

From here we walked along the rocky terrain around the narrow cliff’s edge towards a secluded beach.

The Long Beach to a Little Island

There was a long beach that separated the peninsula from a small island. We stopped at the beach to relax for a bit before checking out the island.

The island had a staircase and plank walkway around the entire thing. This was towards the end of our hike and we were all getting pretty tired. Dave had read on the map that there was a seagull hatchery up there. We didn’t see any baby seagulls, but the views were beautiful and we did see a sea otter which was fun.

The last part of the hike was a long stretch of beach, more cliff edges, and ended with a spectacular view of the beach and island.

We had a late lunch when we got home and spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing. The kids said this was the hardest hike they’ve ever been on. Dave and I agreed it was challenging, but not as hard as climbing 14’ers in Colorado. We had read in reviews that it was difficult, but it was so worth it!