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Tuesday, March 31, 2009

5-BAY TRAIL



Description



The 5-Bay Trail takes guests on a timeless journey through breathtaking landscape, tracing human harvesting of the sea. Enriched by the ancient and contemporary West Coast fishing culture, this 2.5 day, 28km easy walk explores the five scenic bays between the fishing villages of Paternoster and Jacobsbaai. Operating out of Paternoster, where there is a choice of outstanding sleeping and eating establishments, the trail offers a gentle outdoor challenge by day, delicious food and memorable interactions with West Coast folk as the sun sets.

Moving leisurely along the shoreline, walkers will see artifacts dating back to San hunter-gatherers, later Khoi herders and modern day fishing communities. A central theme is the history and heritage of fishing and seafood gathering through the ages. Within the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve stone tools, bones, shells and pottery tell of successive waves of hunter- gatherers and then pastoralists who came to the coast to gather seafood. The trail culminates in stories of contemporary fishing communities, who like those before them have a respect and admiration for the coast they call home.

Itinerary

Day 1: Tweede Mosselbank – Paternoster (Leg 1, Walking Time 1-2 hours)

Time your arrival in Paternoster for mid afternoon. A warm welcome awaits you at your guesthouse. After checking in hop into your guide’s off road vehicle and set off along the back of the dunes to “Tweede Mosselbank”, named by the local fishermen. Tales of fishing lore set against a sunset stroll, take you back along the beach to your guesthouse, dinner and a comfortable nights sleep.

Day 2: Paternoster – Trekoskraal (15km)

Carrying only a daypack, work up an appetite with a pre-breakfast stroll. Accompanied by your guide, walk along the beach and through the fishing village of Paternoster to Cape Columbine Nature Reserve and Tietiesbaai (Leg 2, 2.5 hours), which is quiet and wild in winter, whilst in the summer months, campers and crayfisher’s create a festive atmosphere. The Beach Camp Bar is an interesting rest spot with icy drinks and colourful characters. Enjoy a hearty breakfast on the rocks, a swim in tranquil tide pools and in spring, take time to smell the flowers, as you make your way to Varswaterbaai, the source of fresh water for Paternoster in days gone by (end of leg 3 - 1.5 hours). Stroll along the beach with the ocean roaring at your side or explore the tranquil tracks behind the vegetated dunes, as you make your way to Noordwesbaai and Trekoskraa and the days walk (end of leg 4 - 2 hours. Refreshing drinks, a local snack and a lift back to Paternoster are most welcome. Relax around the fire feasting on local delicacies, before heading for bed and a sound nights sleep.

Day 3: Trekoskraal – Jacobsbaai (13km)

Wake to the aroma of coffee; grab your daypack and a lift back to Trekoskraal where you start your pre-breakfast stroll. Follow the tracks around the headland, where netted holiday shelters give you a sense of the way of life in this part of the world (Leg 5, 1.5 hours). After breakfast, explore the limestone cliffs, dunes and wave scoured beaches of Wesbaai (Leg 6, 1.5 hours). A short hop around tiny Hospitaalbaai, where ships of old stopped to drop off the sick before they reached quarantined Cape Town, brings to you to the village of Jacobsbaai where your trail ends with a picnic on its tranquil shores.(Leg 7, 1.5 hours).

Price


The trail has not been developed yet but the itinerary described above is 70% of the way there and already a great experience. If you have a group of people interested in doing the trail as it currently is, we can arrange for you to do a Trial Run at cost and according to your tailor-made itinerary, accommodation and catering options. Interested? Contact Janette du Toit on jdutoit@capebiosphere.co.za

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