You Decide. We Just Keep Going Back…
There are some places that get under your skin so deeply, you start to measure your life in returns.
For me, that place is the Fynbos Trail near Stanford — a ribbon of singletrack winding through ancient milkwoods, fynbos-covered hills and conservation magic. I’ve hiked it eight times. Eight. That’s practically family.
So when Michelle Privett, one of the owners of the trail told me they had opened it for running, well, you know I had to go back to run it. This year still.
Which is exactly what I did the first weekend of November 2025.
It felt like finding out your best friend is Father Christmas and you have a limitless wish list.
The Fynbos Trail is already a luxury slackpack jewel of the Western Cape. Its magic comes from the scenery, the carefully curated accommodations, and a deep commitment to conserving the fynbos, Leopard Toads, and Cape Leopards. But running it? That elevated everything — heartbeats, laughs, photos, and sheer joy
A Trail With a Soul
If you haven’t experienced the Fynbos Trail, you’re missing one of the rare gems that balances wilderness, luxury, and purpose. The traditional route is 3 days and 26 km, guided or self-guided, with overnight stops in charming lodges that combine comfort and local character.
The trail winds through milkwood forests, protea-dotted slopes, and mountain passes with views of Walker Bay that steal your breath in the best way. You learn about pollinators, endemic flora that blooms for a week, a year, and the wildlife caretakers who dedicate themselves to protecting the fragile ecosystem.
Every visit leaves your legs tired, your heart full, and your conscience quietly happy.
The thing is, I keep returning because it never feels repetitive. Every step, every flower, every lizard skittering across the path feels like a first encounter.
Planning a Two-Day Run
Only this time, I wasn’t in hiking boots. I laced up trail shoes, planning to run the traditional three-day route: 17 km on Saturday, 11 km on Sunday, in two days.
Enough distance to move, enough time to pause for photos and ridiculous poses.
I dragged along an equally enthusiastic bunch — some veterans, some first-timers. The veterans immediately understood my excitement; the newbies gave me the “you’re nuts” look.
They weren’t wrong.
Day 1: The 17 km Joyride
Saturday morning in Stanford has a special kind of quiet that makes you whisper without knowing why.
Despite the haze from a fire 90 km away in Bredasdorp, the sun painted the hills ochre as we started our run. Every step released the scents of damp earth and fynbos oils. Birds (or maybe they were bats) chirped, the wind gusted, and our laughter stitched the landscape together.
Twists in the trail revealed familiar yet newly wild surprises — a protea blooming out of season, a waterfall tossing diamonds, and the occasional rustle that wasn’t the wind. Maybe a bat?
By midday, we reached our lodge at Witkrans, flushed and buzzing. Running sharpened everything — colour, sound, scent — and it made me realize hiking it had always been magical but running it was alchemy.
That evening, we watched the rugby. SA vs France. It turns out I am the Springbok Bogey Fan — as soon as I left the room – as I predicted – South Africa’s national team started scoring tries.
The Boks won. You’re welcome, South Africa.
Day 2: The 11 km Home Stretch
Sunday dawned Bok-babbelassed and cool — perfect running weather. Legs a little heavy, spirits high. We set off after Pierre’s amazing coffee, winding through golden-green ridges and past sweeping views of Walker Bay.
Due to the fires in Bredasdorp, the normally crisp Overberg sky was soft and smoky, giving the landscape an almost painterly quality. But by Sunday, the wind had shifted, and the air cleared — crisp, vibrant, and perfect for running.
The second day sharpened the experience. We stopped for photos and ridiculous mid-run poses; arms raised against the backdrop of proteas and hills. Every step felt like a toast to life itself.
Running did not rob the trail of its beauty — it amplified it. Familiar paths felt new; every breath, every pulse, every glance seemed heightened.
Luxury, Comfort, and Nature
Unlike most runs, the Fynbos Trail indulges you. Each day ends with great food, great company, and a soft bed — the perfect balance of wilderness and pampering.
This time, we stayed in a slightly different lodge arrangement from the standard hike, and Chucky and I discovered our own room had been specially reserved for us. A small gesture, but it felt like the trail itself was celebrating our visit.
Returning from a long run to a hot shower and soft bed, surrounded by friends who were equally tired, exhilarated, and slightly feral, is a kind of luxury you can’t replicate anywhere else.
Why You’ll Fall in Love Too
If you’ve ever worried that the Fynbos Trail might be “too slow” or “too easy,” running it is your answer. You still get the scenery, flora, and wildlife, but you also get the thrill of motion.
It’s beginner-friendly if you have some trail experience, and the route is well-marked. Sprint the downhills, walk the climbs, laugh on the flats — there’s no wrong way to run this trail.
For those who’ve done it before, running offers a new lens on a familiar favorite. New flowers, new wildlife sightings, new laughs — and an endless stream of photo opportunities.
Same Trail, New Love Affair
What struck all of us — especially those who’d done the trail before — was how different it felt to run a trail we already loved. It wasn’t about rushing or missing details; it was about letting movement amplify joy.
When you run the Fynbos Trail, you’re not fighting the landscape — you’re flowing with it. The uphills are heart-pounding challenges, the downhills pure, reckless release. You feel more of everything: the wind, the gradient, the scent, the pulse of the place.
It felt like the trail was laughing with us. From dung beetles rolling a ball to sugarbirds hovering over fynbos blooms, the trail hums with life, and running through it makes you a part of that rhythm.
The Heart of It All
Beyond running, the Fynbos Trail is one of the Western Cape’s finest examples of eco-tourism done right. Each booking supports conservation projects, environmental education, and protection of local wildlife, including the shy Cape Leopard.
You’re not just passing through — you’re contributing to a living, breathing ecosystem.
Next Year: The Big Ten
As I laced off my shoes at the end of Day 2, it hit me: nine visits now — eight hikes, one run. Next year will mark the tenth adventure on this trail.
Do we hike it slowly, savoring every step, or run it again with wind in our hair and hearts in our throats? I haven’t decided yet, but one thing’s certain: we’re going back.
Whoever joins us next year — whether hiking, running, or a bit of both — will see why the Fynbos Trail isn’t just a route. It’s a ritual.
Sean Privett: Designer & Conservationist
Sean Privett is the botanical mind and designer behind this beautiful trail. A passionate conservationist and educator, Sean has been instrumental in ensuring the trail highlights the richness of the Cape Floral Kingdom while promoting sustainable tourism.
In 2025, he was part of the team behind South Africa’s Gold-winning Chelsea Flower Show exhibition in collaboration with the Grootbos Foundation. Sean’s work bridges practical trail design, ecological sensitivity, and educational impact — letting visitors experience fynbos, wildlife, and conservation in a hands-on, unforgettable way.
Grootbos & the 2025 Chelsea Flower Show
The 2025 Chelsea Flower Show Gold medal was a triumph of collaboration. The exhibit, led by designer Leon Kluge with creative input from Tristan Woudberg, showcased the biodiversity of South Africa’s fynbos biome.
The Grootbos Foundation provided invaluable botanical and ecological expertise, ensuring that every plant told a story of conservation.
This partnership highlights the global importance of local ecosystems, turning a show garden into a real-world message: protecting the fynbos matters, and every visitor, hiker, or runner contributes.
Practical Magic
- Distance: 26 km total (traditionally 3 days; 2 if you’re running)
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Location: Near Stanford, Western Cape
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Type: Luxury slackpack with catered or self-catered, guided or self-guided options
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Accommodation: Comfortable lodges with hot showers and local charm
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Best time to go: Autumn and spring for peak wildflower season
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Why go: For the scenery, wildlife, conservation, and adventure
Final Thoughts
Few trails test you, teach you, and call you back the way the Fynbos Trail does. Running it doesn’t replace hiking it — it simply expands the love. Meeting an old friend in a new light, the trail continues to surprise and delight.
Next year, when we return for the tenth round, I know there will be new flowers, new wildlife sightings, and moments that linger in the mind and soul.
So — run it, hike it, love it. Just don’t miss it.
The Fynbos Trail isn’t waiting for you. It’s waiting with you.
Learn More / Links
Explore the trail and conservation work:
Author Bio
I’m Gabiba — self-employed, GenXer, and addicted to trails.
I’ve completed the Fynbos Trail nine times (eight hikes, one run), and I’m counting sleeps until the tenth adventure. I believe wilderness and luxury can coexist — like a hot shower after a day on a mountain path. When not running or hiking, I’m planning the next escape, packing a bag, and quietly trying to undo my Springbok-fan karma.
Join us next year — maybe you’ll be in the photos, arms raised, trail dust on your shoes, smiling at the sky.
Trail Shout-Out
Big cheers to everyone who joined me on this adventure — for the laughs, the epic fails, the wild energy, and all the photos and videos you contribute. You make the trails brighter, the stories better, and my blog way more fun. Couldn’t do it without you — literally, you supply half the content!
Video and Pic credits to:
Ben
Cara
Jackie
Lindsay
Rashaad
Saeed
Best time with the best people.
Number 2 loading with the number 10!