Robberg Hiking trail -- January 2021

Robberg Hiking Trail .   23rd   January 2021

On the hike with us today.    Teresa.  Janny.   Gay.   Gillian Katts.  Faye.   Ally.   Rina and Susan.

 We had spoken about this hike for some time.   And after the Tsitsikamma hike of last week we decided that this would be a good one for this weekend.   

I made an advance booking for us as the Website indicated that only a limited number of people would be allowed on the hike each day.  

We left PE at 6.30am.   Stopped at the Storms River Bridge for a coffee / snack break.   Fortunately when we arrived at the Robberg Gate we were allowed straight though with our advance booking.   

We were on the trail by about 9.45am.   The trail starts on the East Side of the Robberg and we immedately had this wonderful view across the Plett Robberg Beach to the Beacon Island Hotel.   I have run this beach many times.   From the BI Hotel to Robberg and back is 9km.   Always a good run.  3

From up on the Robberg trail we were impressed with the wonderful views below.   Quite spectacular to be able to see all the way to Keurbooms Strand and Natures Valley.   The first section to the Gap is a rocky pathway and mostly slightly downhill to the cave where I left my PE Rocks.   We pass the boardwalk area of the Gap and begin our climb up the well marked and well laid out pathway.   We are not yet warmed up and so this climb can be difficult if not taken slowly.   Gillian battles on this first section.  Feeling quite faint and almost turned around back the start.   But stopping to rest and recover helped her to get going again.  This happened on three occasions before we were on a flatter section which leads to the Cape Fur Seal lookout point.   

From here we walked on the soft dune sand to the Witsand Area.   At this stage I was not sure if the group would want to continue on to the point or walk down the dunes to the Island.   But we found them all walking on towards the Point.   Gillian and I met up with Ally and Faye.  And Susan who had thought we would want to do the shorter route.  

From here we are in a No Shade area.   Also with the West wind blowing we had no cooling breeze.   And the Ants were quite an irritation.   Listening to,  Smelling and looking down at the seals is quite a treat.   Seeing them playing and swimming in this clear water below.  We also see some people swimming with the seals.   I have been with tourists on this adventure on a previous occasion.  It was Julia Giddy who first told us about this activity.   

Continuing on to the point is not a particularly difficult hike and medium fitness is required.   We walk down to the rocky section where the rest of the group is having their snack / lunch break.   It has taken us about 2 or 2.5 hours to get this far.   We relax, watching the sea roll in.   And the seals in these huge waves. 

After our break we make the decision to continue back around the West side of the Robberg.   This is not at all and easy walk.   There are numerous rocks and boulders to climb over.  Probably about 5 or 6 steep climbs on rocky pathways and plenty of steep stairways.    Do not take this section lightly.   Allow up to Three Hours to go from the Point back to the Gap.  Not far in distance but a tough terrain.   And you have not reached the Island Beach until you can finally see the last dune sand climb down.   If you are not hiking fit or inexperienced,   then you should probably not undertake this walk.   Rather turn around and walk back on the East Side of the Robberg.   

Also..... Take not less than 2 liters of water per person.   3 liters is probably safer.  We also suggest a sachet of Rehydrate per person.   You will need a snack and maybe even more than a snack as this hike is demanding and you need all the reserves you can carry.   

Susan in particular battled with extreme fatigue and sore limbs.   There is no possible way out of this walk except on your own feet.   

Finally we reach the Island Beach section where Faye and Ally are waiting for us.   The rest of the group have pressed on to the end.   From the Island there is still a long tough and rocky pathway to negotiate.   This section ends with a boardwalk and then back to the Gap.   

Here you have a choice to finish going back the way you came on the East side of the Robberg.   OR you can turn left to the West side.   The West side is shorter but entails a bit of a rocky climb.   On the East side there is also a rocky climb but no steep parts.  

The whole hike took us around 6 hours.   

Drive back home to PE arriving at about 6.30pm with one stop for Coffee and a snack.   

Start of the hike with a map showing the various options. 

Looking East to the Beacon Isle hotel

My PE Rocks that I left at the Cave

At the Gap we will now start the long rocky climb towards the Point. 

Cheerful hikers with Rina; Gillian; Faye; Ally;  Gay and Susan. 

We have now passed the steepest part of the climb. 

Ally has enjoyed the walk so far. 

Looking down at the Seal Colony.    I think that there are something like 7000 seals 

Faye on the edge of the cliff

.

Ally is as Cheerful as ever. 

On the trail with Ally and Faye. 

Gillian has completely recovered from her inital Fainting feeling of hopelessness. 

At the poing.  A steep and long downhill to the rocks where we take a break

After the break there are many many such steep climbs and descents.   Both on stairs and rocky pathways 

There are also many sections of Rocks to climb over.   

These inviting looking flat pathways are short lived. 

Back at the parking area.   Everyone has completed the hike.   And ready to go.  

Meanwhile Nicky is doing a run at Sea Point with friends. 

Gay on the lookout rock.   I do not think that anyone enjoyed the hike as much as Gay did

Janny has only positive things to say about this hike. 

Steep and difficult climbs on the west side of the Robberg. 

The group of Gillian; Gay;  Ally and Janny

.At the Point where we have our lunch break.   This old outboard motor stands as a reminder of how treacherous the seas can be.  

The Fishermen caught notning today.   Seals must have chased the fish away. 

Description of the Cape Fur Seal.  

Ally walked stronly and well today.   For me a real pleasure to have her as part of the group.  

On the trail back to the Gap.  Relaxing on the boardwalk.   Ally;  Gay;  Teresa;  Janny;  Faye and Rina

Clearly this group of friends are having fun.  

Huge boulders that have come crashing down from the cliffs above 

There is not much shade on this trail.  

This was, for me, a first time on the Robberg Trail for many years. 

Teresa had a really good hike today. 

The last of the shady areas. 

The Robberg is a rocky and difficult hiking trail.   Above average fitness and experience is required for a comfortable hike to the point. 

At times there are ropes to help you climb up and down the steep sections. 

Ally, Faye, Rina and Janny waited for us on the Island Beach. 

The views are amazing.  The seas are rough.   The trail is long and difficult. 

Leprous Milkweed Locust

Steep slopes.   You need to be sure footed and able to walk on difficult terrain. 

Gillian walks down using the ropes

Gay opts for a backward manouver

Beautiful Robberg hiking trail 

11km moderate to difficult Hike

Child friendly 

2km & 4km Hikes

situated 8km south of Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route, is not only a nature reserve, but also a national monument and World Heritage Site. 

Rocks from this region date back 120 million years to the break-up of Gondwanaland and evidence of middle and later Stone Age inhabitation has been found in a few of the caves along the peninsula. #trekkingafrica #westerncape #robberg #robberghiking #hikingadventures #hikingtrails

Robberg Nature Reserve Conservation

The Robberg Peninsula is conserved for several reasons. The mainland connects to an island through a spit called a tombolo. This results from waves sweeping around both sides of the island. Similar to other rocky headlands on this coastline, Robberg Peninsula supports a diverse array of plants and animals that have adapted to this land/sea ecology.

But what sets it apart is the distinctive climbing-falling dune (one of only seven on this coastline). The bedrock of the peninsula was dated to the prehistoric breaking up of Gondwanaland and evidence of this can be seen at several sites. Besides the unique and fascinating typography, evidence of middle and later Stone Age inhabitation was found in a few of the caves. It is for this reason that the reserve was proclaimed a national monument. The rare blue duiker (the smallest antelope in the Western Cape) and the vulnerable sex-changing roman fish are just two of the species that find sanctuary in this marine reserve.

These fur seals are eared seals that include as well sea lions.

Eared seals (Otariidae), walruses (Odobenidae), and true seals (Phocidae) belong to the pinnipeds (Pinnipedia).

This is not a negligible point that Cape fur seals belong to the eared seals.

Eared seals have tiny external ears that distinguish them from true seals. Furthermore, they have much larger foreflippers, and thus, are able to move more easily on land.

True seals do not have these strong foreflippers. They are more adapted to a life in the water.

Thus, seals in the Robberg Nature Reserve are eared seals that can move more easily on land than other seals.

The Cape Fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) is the only pinniped resident to the South African coastline and breeds at 41 different sites between Baia dos Tigres in Angola and Algoa Bay in South Africa. Most of the colonies are situated on the west coast within the Benguela Current system, while only three are situated to the east of Cape Agulhas within the Agulhas Current system.

The Robberg Peninsula colony in Plettenberg Bay is one of the few situated in the Agulhas Current system and has only recently been considered as a breeding colony. A breeding colony is defined as a colony where at least 100 pups are born annually on a regular basis. Robberg Peninsula is currently home to over 6000 Cape Fur seals, but historically, before the start of commercial seal harvesting, it may have been home to many more.

Historically there were two colonies in Plettenberg Bay, one on Robberg Peninsula and another on Beacon Island. Unfortunately, these colonies were driven to extinction by the late 1800s as a result of indiscriminate and uncontrolled harvesting. After the introduction of protective legislation in 1893, Cape fur seals began recolonizing the area again in the 1990s. At first, only small numbers of seals returned to the area, but with time the numbers gradually increased, and in the breeding season of 1996/1997 the first newborn pups were observed on Robberg. Between 2000 and 2009, Cape Fur seal numbers on Robberg Peninsula steadily increased from less than 300 to over 3100, with a maximum number of 50 pups observed during the 2009 breeding season.

Although regular monthly counts of the number of seals hauled out on Robberg have been conducted by Cape Nature since 2009, the number of pups has not been monitored. However, recent independent boat-based counts during the 2016/2017 breeding season revealed 160-200 pups. Both the number of seals hauling out on Robberg, and the number of pups born annually, therefore, appears to be steadily increasing. Interestingly, so are the number of great white shark sightings in the area, possibly indicating an ecosystem recovering after many years of heavy commercial exploitation of not just seals, but also local fishery stocks

Contact Peter Giddy (Tour Guide and Hike leader)  to arrange a hike for you and your friends or work teams.    This is something you will keep with you as a goal achieved and a special day.  

SA Guided Tours and Peter Giddy Guided Tours -- Shore Excursions -- Addo Elephant and other Wildlife Reserves -- Garden Route.  Flowers of Namaqualand -- 

0027 (0) 82 55 03 714    Whatsup
peter.giddy@gmail.com
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