SummitX

October Hikes

Spring is on our doorstep, and October is bringing three great hiking weekends with SummitX.

🥾 2–4 October
Golden Escarpment Lite via Fanie Botha
Hutted accommodation
• Slack pack
• Swimming
• Mount Anderson experience
Almost full!

⛰️ 16–18 October
Eswatini 3-in-1
Base camp accommodation
• Three peaks
• Two new mountain trails
• Game viewing

🌿 23–25 October
Lekgalameetse Hike
Easy hiking
• Two nights camping
• Private bush camp nearby

Join us for one, two or all three weekends.
📲 To book: WhatsApp 083 501 7662

As the competition starts getting serious, we’re adding a few day hikes to give you the chance to catch up on missed opportunities and increase your gain.

⛰️Missed our Devil’s Contour earlier this year? Or the Stone Calendar Hike? This one gives you the opportunity to catch up — both in a single outing.

And if you’ve already done one of them, don’t worry. You can still earn the gain.
Or, if you’re not chasing the leaderboard and simply want to join us for a great day in the mountains, you’re more than welcome.

The competition is heating up. Time to climb.

To join, WhatsApp 0835017662

Bearded Man Overnight Trek

This past weekend, we trekked to The Bearded Man, a prominent peak along the border between South Africa and Eswatini.

Our journey began at Shiyalongubo Dam. We were slightly concerned about the prospect of a bitterly cold night in the mountains, but the clear blue skies gave us hope.

The hike starts with a steady climb that soon becomes steeper, leading to the first viewpoint overlooking the glimmering dam far below. From there, the trail levels out across rocky terrain, and before long our campsite came into view, with The Bearded Man rising beyond it.

We reached camp after about 2½ hours of hiking. Some pitched their tents while others took the opportunity for an extended lunch break. After an hour, we left the heavy packs behind and set off to tackle the summit.

We reached the top in the middle of the afternoon. As always, The Bearded Man takes your breath away — not only because of the climb, but because of the incredible panorama from the summit. The Great Escarpment stretches out before you, with peak after peak disappearing into the distance.

What a privilege.

After spending some time taking it all in, we made our way back to camp, where a fire had already been prepared for us. The evening was filled with laughter, good company and the satisfaction of a shared achievement before, one by one, everyone finally headed to bed.

The next morning, we hiked back down and were spoiled with the best jaffels I have ever tasted, prepared by local residents.

Moments like these are what make exploring the Great Escarpment so special — the mountains, the people and the communities that call these remote places home.

In September, we return to the Makhonjwas to take on Lufafa — the Wild Heart of the Makhonjwas — on another epic two-day trek.
Want to join us?

WhatsApp 083 501 7662.

Kick off the October mini break with a bang!

The Golden Escarpment Lite via Fanie Botha packs the most spectacular day of the famous trail into one unforgettable weekend. Expect breathtaking escarpment views, indigenous forests, waterfalls, and the chance to take on the legendary Mount Anderson—arguably the toughest summit on the Golden Escarpment.

The summit climb is optional, so whether you choose to conquer the peak or enjoy the regular trail, you'll still be part of an epic adventure and celebrate with those who stood on the summit.

With the warmer spring weather, the waterfalls along the route become the perfect place to cool off after a challenging day on the trail.

Your hike includes: • Safe undercover parking • Hutted accommodation • Slack pack service • Qualified guide and assistant trainee guide

📅 Bookings close: 30 August 2026 ✅ A 50% deposit secures your place.

The mountain is waiting. Will you answer the call?

Golden Escarpment Traverse via Fanie Botha

2027 BOOKINGS ARE NOW OPEN!

4 DAYS. 4 SUMMITS.

The Golden Escarpment Traverse is back.

Four days on the trail. Four summits to conquer. One serious mountain challenge.

⛰️ 4 summits
🛖 3 nights’ hutted accommodation
🎒 Slack pack
🚐 Shuttle available for the first-day transfer
🚿 HOT DIY camping showers
🏨 Optional 4th night at a Graskop lodge

Plan your strategy. Train for the challenge. And get ready to see what you’re capable of.

2027 bookings are now open.

Whatsapp 0835017662 or 064 079 9476 to book.

Kick off the October mini break with a bang!

The Golden Escarpment Lite via Fanie Botha packs the most spectacular day of the famous trail into one unforgettable weekend. Expect breathtaking escarpment views, indigenous forests, waterfalls, and the chance to take on the legendary Mount Anderson—arguably the toughest summit on the Golden Escarpment.

The summit climb is optional, so whether you choose to conquer the peak or enjoy the regular trail, you'll still be part of an epic adventure and celebrate with those who stood on the summit.

With the warmer spring weather, the waterfalls along the route become the perfect place to cool off after a challenging day on the trail.

Your hike includes:
• Safe undercover parking
• Hutted accommodation
• Slack pack service
• Qualified guide and assistant trainee guide

📅 Bookings close: 10 August 2026
✅ A 50% deposit secures your place.

The mountain is waiting. Will you answer the call?

Whatsapp 0835017662 now

Many of us don't come to the mountains because life is easy. We come because we need them.

The trail doesn't ask who you are, what you've been through, or what burdens you carry. It simply invites you to take the next step. And then another.

Somewhere between the aching legs, the steep climbs, and the quiet moments beneath an endless sky, something begins to change. The anxiety eases. The mind becomes quieter. Hope returns. You remember that you are stronger than your circumstances.

At SummitX, we've seen it time and again. People arrive carrying the weight of the world and leave carrying something different: resilience, perspective, courage, and a renewed belief in themselves.

The mountains won't solve every problem. But they have an extraordinary way of reminding us that we can survive difficult seasons, keep moving forward, and find beauty even in the hardest climbs.

Sometimes the greatest summit isn't the mountain in front of you—it's the one within you.

Upcoming hikes and booking deadlines:

• Bearded Man Wilderness Hike Intermediate
15-16 August 2026 Fully booked!
• Vulture Colony Hike Intermediate 5-6 September 2026 (Deadline: 20 August 2026)
• Lufafa Wilderness Hike Intermediate/ Difficult 19-20 September (Deadline: 8 September 2026)
• First Aid Course: 26 September 2026 (10 September 2026)
*Golden Escarpment Lite via Fanie Botha Intermediate/Difficult 2-4 October 2026 (Deadline:10 August 2026)
• Eswatini 3-in-1 Intermediate/Difficult 16-18 October 2026(Deadline: 15 September 2026)
• Lekgalameetse Wilderness Hike Easy 23-25 Oct (Deadline: 10 October 2026)

Kindly note that all our hikes are mountain hikes with the inevitable incline, with the exception of Lekgalameetse.

We can't wait to share these incredible adventures with you. If any of these hikes have been on your bucket list, now is the time to secure your place!

Golden Escarpment Traverse via Fanie Botha

Day 2 was unanimously voted the toughest – but also the most rewarding – day of the Golden Escarpment Traverse.

The day begins with a relentless 4 km climb through the legendary Maritzbos. For summit chasers, the challenge doesn't end there. An optional 10 km return detour leads to the summit of Mount Anderson, one of Mpumalanga's most iconic peaks.

It is a demanding day, but the dramatic mountain scenery, the sense of achievement, and the feeling of standing on one of the province's highest summits keep hikers coming back year after year.

Want to experience the highlight of the traverse without committing to the full four-day adventure?

Our Golden Escarpment Lite (2–4 October) includes this incredible section on Day 2, with the optional Mount Anderson summit for those wanting to push themselves that little bit further.

Or join us on the full traverse in July next year. We can add you to our growing waiting list until bookings open later this week.

📲 To book your place, WhatsApp 083 501 7662.