Biosphere Breakerway Walk – Hermanus to Pringle Bay

I am not a great athlete, let alone a competitive one, but I do enjoy walking. When walking involves a bunch of cool, crazy friends and a scenery to die for, then I’m over the moon.

About two years ago, our friends Lyn and Ian invited us to join them on the Wellington Wine Walk. We so enjoyed the region and company on the WWW, that when I heard of their new sister walk, the Biosphere Breakerway, I immediately booked and started canvassing recruits. The criteria were love nature and love life.

The Biosphere Breakerway walk is an extraordinary hiking experience along the rugged South-Western coastline from Hermanus to Pringle Bay. We covered approximately 54km over the four days and walked in the veld, over mountains, through forests and valleys and on the beach.

We were warned that the weather will play an important role as the area is alongside the coast and prone to seasonal winds and unsettled conditions. I don’t think any of us were quite prepared for such unsettling conditions … we had sun, rain, high-speed wind and chilly temperatures, but none of it took away from the beauty of the walk.

What impressed me most?

• South Africa is one of six Floral Kingdoms in the World and is referred to as Capensis.
  

  Sewejaartjies

• The diversity of the fynbos plants is extremely high. We have over 9000 species of plants occurring in the area, of which around 6200 are endemic (growing nowhere else in the world).
• Amida Johns, a botanist at Oudebosch Nature Reserve, who shared her endless knowledge and love of the veld with us.
• We learnt how labour intensive abalone farming is and we tasted abalone prepared three different ways.
• How to distinguish between a male and female restionaceous (grass-like plants) … the males have the dangling bits and the females the pointy bits 🙂
• Sarah and Richard Starke’s passion for the endangered Oystercatcher.
• The resilience of a bunch of 50, 60 and 70 plusses on the slopes of a rugged mountain.
  

  Biosphere-Enroute

• Our two guides, John and Clem, and their willingness on sharing their time and knowledge with us.

I absolutely loved this walk … it is one of those that when you look back, you can say ‘I did it, and I’m glad of it!’ If you love nature then get out there and do this walk.