HIKING IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE POPULAR IN SOUTH AFRICA AND WITH SO MANY TRAILS TO CHOOSE FROM IT’S DIFFICULT TO CHOOSE WHERE TO START…
This is where we come in… join the East Rand Hiking Club and we promise to immerse you in the outdoors. Whether you are hiking to see the beautiful nature our country has to offer or just want to get fit, we have a trail on our program for you.
WHERE TO BEGIN? JOIN THE CLUB
Once you’ve joined the club you can check out our program and select a hiking trail that suits you. Our program will indicate if the hike is a novice or advanced hike. Don’t worry you’ll soon get to the advanced stage by keeping at it and you also want to enjoy it while you get there. The nice thing about hiking is that it’s not a race, it’s for everyone interested and ready to go.
DECIDE HOW MUCH TIME YOU HAVE
Our program will tell you how long the hike is and how much time it will take (more or less) to complete. Whether you have a whole day or just a couple of hours, there’s a hike for you.
HOW FIT MUST YOU BE
As we said there are hikes for everyone, no matter your fitness level. Just remember, hiking is there to be enjoyed so start by picking a novice hike. We don’t want you suffering through a long day and then you never want to hike again, that’s not what it’s about.
WHAT TO WEAR
The nice thing about hiking is that you don’t need a whole bunch of high-tech gear and equipment to start with.
Start with sunblock, water and a pair of hiking boots or sturdy trainers, for shorter hikes. You can pick up a good pair of hiking boots at a steal from some department stores. When buying your pair of hiking boots, try to buy a size bigger as your feet will swell slightly during the hike. The rest of your clothing is up to you, we suggest lightweight dry fit clothing – go for a t-shirt and shorts or leggings. Now you’re all set to go.
OTHER GEAR
Now you can decide if you want to take a backpack for extra essentials. You can carry your water and snacks in your backpack and not have to worry about how you’re going to navigate the terrain with a water bottle in your hand. We recommend you take about a litre of water and snacks like energy bars or a banana.
Now you’re all set to go, happy hiking.