Being on foot and immersed in beautiful indigenous forest not far from a national highway is pretty special.
Running in an ancient indigenous forest – under the canopy of trees with names like mountain waxberry, white stinkwood, kamassi and the beautifully flowering Cape chestnut – is something close to spiritual, no matter what your religious conviction. A hidden gem that let's you experience this on the Garden Route is the Half Collared Kingfisher trail just outside Wilderness...
LOCATION: Ebb & Flow Rest Camp, Garden Route National Park, Wilderness
DISTANCE: 8km round-trip
TERRAIN: Not technical, boardwalks and groomed forest trail
PERMITS: Available at Ebb & Flow gate
The trail, which starts next to the railway bridge at Ebb and Flow North Restcamp on the Touw River is the ideal place to introduce someone new to trail running, or soak up a few hours in the forest on a not-so-strenuous trot.
The running is not technical and features boardwalks and groomed (clearly marked) trails in the spectacular woodlands of indigenous yellowwoods, white stinkwood, white milkwood, wild pear, climbers, lichens, flowering bulbs and ferns.
For the green nerds, many of the trees are labelled along the way, enhancing the experience of forest diversity. The birdlife (it is named after the brilliantly coloured half-collared kingfisher) is also spectacular with an almost non-stop background track of birdsong accompanying your run. Look out for forest specials such as the Knysna turaco (loerie), Narina trogon, brown-hooded kingfisher, dusky flycatcher and blue-mantled crested-flycatcher.
There are various picnic spots along the riverbank for a quick (or longer) breather. The trail leads to a waterfall and rock pool, perfect for a sneaky dip before the turnaround and return leg on the same trail.
