Its 4am. I leap out of bed, run to the curtains, pull them back excitedly expecting to see a striking sunrise, when I am taken by surprise.
Its 4am. I leap out of bed, run to the curtains, pull them back excitedly expecting to see a striking sunrise, when I am taken by surprise.
I am greeted by the most beautiful swirling mist stretching along the deep gorge at The Edge Mountain Retreat in Hogsback – my accommodation for the weekend.
As the mist danced in the sunlight, I realised that it is no wonder Tolkien found the inspiration for The Lord of the Rings in and among the natural beauty of the Amatola Forest.
Hogsback offers an expanse of hiking routes and walks that will take you through the forests, past waterfalls and to the most magnificent views.
For me, the most enjoyable walks include The Labyrinth at the Edge, Madonna and Child Falls and The Big Tree. Walks and trails range from 3km to 20km and some routes include places of historic and natural interest which are indicated with painted hogs.
In the event you are not an avid hiker, there may be some 4×4 adventure in store for you.
The road from Hogsback to Seymour is rugged and this rough track is ideal for the 4×4 enthusiast. So ideal we managed to get stuck in a Land Rover. There my boyfriend and I stood building a bridge of rocks (he more than we) in an attempt to continue on our adventure.
Once we were back on our way, we went into the village to explore its gift shops, art galleries and restaurants.
My favourite restaurant is at The Edge. The head chef at The Edge served up the most spectacular Friday evening dinner which included a starter of beetroot and blue cheese puff pastry tart with garden greens and a mustard vinaigrette.
An absolute pleasure to the taste buds.
If you’d like to pack a picnic, there are endless sites to choose from to enjoy your meal.
There is something special about finding a place one can truly escape to. A place to escape from your thoughts, have a break and appreciate the beautiful scenery South Africa has to offer.
For me that place is Hogsback, the village that overlooks rivers and plains of the Tyume Valley in a region dominated by three ridges that are said to resemble the bristles on a hog’s back.
How to get there
Hogsback is approximately an hour and 50 minutes drive from Grahamstown. It is 30km from Alice, which in turn is 22km from Fort Beaufort.
A map of the area and its offerings can be obtained from any of the accommodation establishments in the area.
