Forge Maps
Explore with confidence with the free Forge app
Fear of getting lost or separated from your hiking group, and not knowing where to hike can be daunting when wanting to explore the Western Cape’s beautiful mountain trails.
Since 2021, CapeNature has partnered with Forge to bring you accurate and up-to-date trail maps that give you the confidence to explore more of the very best that CapeNature’s exquisite trails have to offer.
What is Forge?
Forge is a South African mapping and geospatial solutions start-up founded in Cape Town. Their main focus is creating accurate trail maps that are maintained in collaboration with trail managers. These maps are packaged with helpful essential information of different parks and reserves, and made available to the public via their free mobile app and website (plus on each of our reserve pages!).
They believe that by simply having an app with accurate hand-curated trail maps that show your location, along with downloadable offline maps and emergency call functionality, users of the app can explore with confidence whilst doing so safely.
Ultimately, Forge is a tool to help you find your path and explore more.
How did they start?
Michael Halley, Forge's founder moved to Cape Town in 2016 and began making his own digital hiking maps to help him explore the mountains with confidence. The concept of Forge was born out of the need for high quality and reliable trail data for recreation in the mountains surrounding Cape Town. Forge was established in 2017 and the first version of their mobile app was released in May 2019.
Vision
Forge aims to be a catalyst for the development of a better-informed and safety-conscious but adventurous outdoor community by providing high quality, accurate digital trail maps and helpful supporting information and functions.
Mission
To create and maintain an intuitive, battery friendly, “one-stop-shop” application for all levels of hiking enthusiasts and a supporting website that:
- is built on highly accurate data,
- encourages outdoor activity that is informed and safety-conscious,
- removes the effort in looking for an area to hike,
- exposes people to the rich biodiversity and recreational value that South Africa’s parks and open spaces have to offer in a country blessed with good weather almost year-round.
Download the Forge app today, available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Forge in the news
Forge and CapeNature: What is a digital mapping partner and why is it important?
Forge has been CapeNature's official digital mapping partner since 2021, ensuring visitors receive accurate and engaging maps during their stay at nature reserves. Forge's maps are hand-curated and updated in collaboration with CapeNature, reflecting changes in landscapes, infrastructure, and trail closures. The partnership also empowers visitors by bridging the gap between them and trail managers.
Plan Your Next Trip by Exploring the New CapeNature Reserves Map
With CapeNature’s new reserves mapcrafted by Forge, planning your next CapeNature adventure just got even simpler. The easy-to-use map neatly highlights all CapeNature reserves, accompanied by links, photos and helpful information.
Hikers Can Now Report Trail Issues With Ease Using the Forge App
We have all experienced this at some stage; you’re hiking down a trail that becomes overgrown, the sharp Fynbos is lashing at your shins and moments later you’re basically leopard crawling while cursing beratingly, through a Sugarbush tunnel that’s grown over the path at chest height.
Three Stunning Circular Hiking Routes to Tackle This Spring With Forge
After the cold of winter, the blossoming of Spring brings with it longer, warmer and flower-scented days that lull us away from under the warm blanket and back onto the trails. There were murmurs at Forge HQ of a Spring blog post along the lines of the best hikes to swimming spots for Spring.
Hiking: Get the most out of your Forge App
In July 2021, CapeNature announced a partnership with Forge, the 100% Made in Mzansi mobile hiking maps app. The digital maps include super accurate trails and important points of interest, like camping sites, waterfalls and mountain peaks among others, as well as information on opening hours, facilities, contact details and more.
Forge your path on CapeNature trails
CapeNature is excited to be partnering with Forge. With Forge’s accurate and up-to-date digital trail maps, you can feel confident and reassured whilst out on trails across several CapeNature reserves.