For your hiking comfort, we recommend packing lightly with only essential items needed for the day’s hike. A small backpack or hydration pack should suffice with enough space for 2 liters (winter) and 3 liters (summer) of hydration for the longer days. It’s important to have adequate space in your pack for your trail lunch or snacks. Slackpacking is a minimalist hiking experience where you only carry what you need, allowing you to fully enjoy the beauty of the Richtersveld and surrounding sceneries.

We provide vehicle support to move your main luggage bag between overnight stays. Any type or shape of bag is acceptable, but we ask that you limit the size to a medium size, approximately 60 to 70 liters. Laundry services are also available at the lodges for a fee of R60 per load, giving you the option to have some items cleaned on day 3.

Our accommodation during the hike will be in simple tented camps that are fully equipped with all the necessary amenities, including mobile showers and toilets. Rest assured that we have taken care of every detail to ensure your comfort and convenience throughout your journey.

At our camp, we make every effort to accommodate most dietary requirements. However, please note that providing meals in the wilderness can be challenging. We offer a snack pack, breakfast, and dinner each day of the tour. If you desire additional snacks or luxurious food items, please bring them along. On the first day, you will need to bring your own lunch for the transfer to the start of the hike. Kindly let us know in advance if you have any dietary specifications so that we may tailor our menu accordingly.

Our accommodation throughout the tour will consist of tent camping, immersed in nature without access to Eskom supply. However, we have arranged for solar-powered lighting and charging points for cellphones and power banks. You can rest assured that we have made every effort to ensure your comfort and convenience during your stay.

Please note that due to the remote nature of the hiking route, cellphone reception is limited and can only be picked up at certain areas, particularly on higher elevations and near the town. However, we do have solar charging points available to ensure your cellphones and power banks remain charged during your stay. Additionally, we would like to bring to your attention that load shedding may also have an impact on the network, therefore, we advise you to prepare accordingly for such circumstances.

To ensure the best possible experience during the hiking tour, we recommend booking for the months of May, June, July or August. This period marks the beginning of winter, providing cooler and less windy weather with drier conditions. The cooler temperatures during winter make it a perfect time for hiking and enjoying the beautiful succulent blooms in the area. On the other hand, the summer season offers longer daylight hours, but the temperatures can be extremely high, making hiking more challenging. Therefore, we advise against booking the tour during the summer months.

To fully enjoy the tour, a basic level of fitness is required as we cover between 16km to 20 km each day for the 4 nights 5-day tour and 25km to 33km for the Steinkopf/Ricthersveld Hiking. The trail has a few steep sections and some dry riverbeds that we need to navigate through. However, the scenery and experience are well worth the effort. Our knowledgeable guide will also provide interesting stories and historical background about the towns and attractions we pass along the way.

To ensure safety and a smooth hiking experience, it’s important to note that once the trail starts each day, there will be no access to the vehicle until we reach the end of the day’s hike. This means that we will be hiking through some difficult and steep areas, and there may be areas with no cellphone signal to communicate with the driver of the vehicle. It’s important to stay with the group and follow the guide’s instructions for a safe and enjoyable hike.

To ensure the safety and comfort of all our guests, we have set an age limit of 16 and above for the hiking route. However, we are planning educational and life skills camps with walks specifically designed for children aged 10 and above. It is important to note that children must be physically fit and able to walk at least 10 km per day. We also require parents to provide us with the child’s medical history to ensure proper care and handling during the camp.

Certainly! However, we kindly request that you remain flexible with your accommodation preferences based on availability. Depending on the gender, members of the group may also be open to sharing accommodation during camping. Please note that we require a minimum of 10 people to book a private group tour. We are also able to customize the tour to fit your specific needs and preferences.

Certainly, we require that you provide us with your medical aid details prior to the trip. It is important that your medical aid covers you for any potential incidents that may occur during the trip, including transportation. This ensures that you are properly prepared and covered in case of any medical emergencies.

Our guide is fully trained in First Aid Level 2 and can provide assistance in case of any serious emergency. In case of a life-threatening situation, we will call for a helicopter evacuation. Please ensure that your medical aid covers helicopter evacuation in case of a serious emergency.

We recommend packing a poncho, a rain jacket, and pants as weather conditions can be unpredictable during the hike/ride. While we cannot control the weather, we do prioritize guest safety and may need to make adjustments in the event of heavy rains and thunderstorms. If weather conditions become dangerous, we will reassess the situation and make any necessary decisions to ensure your safety.

• Cancellation more than 30 days before the start of the tour will result in a 50% refund of the total cost.
• Cancellation between 15 and 30 days before the start of the tour will result in a 25% refund of the total cost.
• Cancellation less than 15 days before the start of the tour will result in no refund.

Please note that any cancellation must be done in writing via email, and that refunds will be made to the original payment method. In the event that we need to cancel the tour due to unforeseen circumstances, we will provide a full refund to our guests.

Alternatively, we provide water that has been purified using a filtration system to ensure it’s safe for drinking. It’s important to stay hydrated during the hike, so we encourage you to drink plenty of water. Please let us know if you have any concerns or special requirements regarding the water supply.

We recommend bringing enough cash to cover any additional expenses such as buying drinks or snacks from the local town or purchasing souvenirs from local entrepreneurs. It’s always a good idea to have some cash on hand in case of emergencies. Please note that credit card facilities may not be available in some areas, so having cash on hand is essential.

Please see our recommended packing list below:

• Comfortable hiking shoes/boots
• Appropriate hiking clothing (quick-drying, breathable, warm layers, hat, gloves)
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat for sun protection
• Personal toiletries (including toilet paper and wet wipes)
• Insect repellent
• Water bottle or hydration system (at least 2L capacity)
• Snacks (energy bars, trail mix, etc.)
• Poncho or rain jacket
• Warm sleeping bag (temperature rated to at least 5°C)
• Small backpack or daypack
• Personal medication (if required)
• Cash for drinks, curios, and optional activities

Please note that the liquor store on the tour does supply a range of local beer, but if you prefer spirits or wine, please bring your own.

Great question! The tour fees include the following:

• Guiding fees: You will have an experienced guide with you throughout the tour who will lead the group and provide information about the area and its attractions.
• Logistics/secondary support for bags: We will provide support for your bags during the hike so you don’t have to carry everything with you.
• Accommodation: You will be staying in tented camps that will be set up with all necessary equipment, including mobile showers/toilets.
• Breakfast, hiking snacks, and supper: We will provide breakfast, a snack pack, and dinner each day.
• Bedding: We will provide bedding for your stay in the tented camps.

Please note that the tour fees do not include transportation to/from the starting point of the tour, any additional snacks or luxury items you may want to bring, and any alcoholic beverages you may choose to purchase.

Additional items not included in the tour fees are lunches on the first day of the hike, any additional snacks or luxury items, personal medical or travel insurance, and any personal expenses or purchases.

Great! We are happy to assist you with travel arrangements and accommodation before and after the tour. Please let us know your travel plans and we will do our best to recommend suitable options and assist you with transfers from the nearest airports such as Cape Town or Upington. Just let us know how we can be of assistance.