It’s the festive season, baby! And for many families across South Africa, that means packing the boogie boards and hiking boots and heading out of town. CapeNature reserves are naturally a first choice for family vacations over the festive season, and we want to help you get the most out of your next trip.

Forge, CapeNature’s official digital mapping partner since 2021, recently introduced a new ‘Routes’ feature to their maps that you find on the CapeNature and Forge websites as well as the free Forge mobile app (under ‘Layers’). For each reserve, you can find all the official trail routes, which include the total distance and elevation gain, helping find the right kind of trail to suit your day’s outing.

Explore the new Routes feature by taking the whole family out for a hike on your next trip to a CapeNature reserve (PS: post-hike ice creams are a great incentive to get kids onto the trail!). Here are five family-friendly hikes to do this festive season:

1. Sterna Trail, De Mond Nature Reserve

Distance: 5.5 km

Elevation gain: 18 m

Est. Time: 1h30

The Sterna Trail weaves around the Heuningnes Estuary and offers great views of both the ocean and estuary from the summit of the coastal dunes. This route is reasonably flat, making it ideal for hiking with younger (or just fussier) kids. The Sterna Trail starts and ends at a picnic site, where the family can relax after a rewarding hike.

2. Guarrie Trail, Rocherpan Nature Reserve

Distance: 7.6 km

Elevation gain: 15 m

Est. Time: 2h30

Are your kids budding birders? Well, make sure to pack your binoculars for the Guarrie Trail. Circumnavigating the Rocherpan, you’re bound to see several interesting waterbird species, including pelicans and even flamingos if you’re lucky! There are three bird hides and a picnic spot along this route, so there’s no need to rush back to camp.

3. Guarrie Trail, Rocherpan Nature Reserve

Distance: 9 km

Elevation gain: 183 m

Est. Time: 4h30

Walking through Fynbos and along white-sandy beaches with a snorkel in a rock pool. Sounds like a pretty kiff family hike, right? Geelkrans Nature Reserve, on the outskirts of Stilbaai, is a great destination for a day’s outing. Be sure to pack the towels, sunscreen, and snacks when you tackle the circular loop. Be careful, however, to keep an eye out for the rising tide and sharp coastal rocks.

4. Duiwelsbos Waterfall, Marloth Nature Reserve

Distance: 1.7 km

Elevation gain: 187 m

Est. Time: 1h15

Duiwelsbos Waterfall will enchant your children and ignite their imaginations. The trail up to the waterfall leads through the Duiwels Forest, evoking scenes from a fairytale, and remains cool even at hotter times of a Summer day. The waterfall is a great reward for the youngsters after a short but sustained climb.

5. Klipspringer Loop, De Hoop Nature Reserve

Distance: 4.7 km

Elevation gain: 121 m

Est. Time: 2h00

Although De Hoop is renowned for the multi-day 50 km Whale Trail, the reserve is also home to a handful of delightful day hikes. The Klipspringer Loop is essentially the first few kilometres of the Whale Trail before splitting off to Black Eagle Cave. This is a great beginner hike and perhaps a clever way to inspire a future Whale Trail expedition when the family is all big and strong enough? There is a picnic site at Potberg, where the trail starts, where you can enjoy the cold drinks and snacks you’d never forget to bring along, of course.

Don’t forget to download the map of your chosen reserve onto your Forge app so you can navigate your route with confidence, even without a cell phone network. As always, if you have any comments or feedback on the app or map, you can get in touch with Forge directly via email at info@forgesa.com. Or, if you’d like to spread the love, leave a review on your mobile app store.

One last thing - stay safe out there. Don’t forget to take enough water for your ventures, wear a hat, and lather on some sunscreen (find more essential safety tipshere). From the Forge family to yours, we wish you a wonderful festive season.