Whether you are inspired by the history, the architecture, the landscape, or deeply rooted spirituality, you will leave with something more than you arrived with. This is a pilgrimage… a true camino. A 9 day and 8 night trail, approx. 129km, slackpacking experience following in the footsteps of the Trappist Monks.
The Abbot Pfanner trail is a historical camino visiting Trappist missions all built a day’s horse ride apart from each other – thus a 2-day walk on foot for us. This is a unique hiking trail, with spectacular scenery, following cattle track used for years to connect little villages with each other and giving us a true walk through rural Africa, with welcoming local villagers. On trail, we will be visiting some of the Spaza Shops, and although very basic with mostly basic offerings we will be able to purchase cool drinks to enjoy on trail.
The full trail is 9 day and 8 nights or a more budget and time friendly trail length can be structured to suit the needs of the guest’s itinerary. Over the 9 days, we will be walking from Reichenau to Umzimkulu, and we will be visiting Reichenau, Kevelaer, Centocow, Lourdes and Mariathal mission stations — which are all steeped in a rich history of Trappist ways, still evident in the beautiful buildings they made from materials they created and formed themselves. All accommodation is included and will be hosted in the missions or lodges, and all meals are included unless otherwise stated.
If you wish, you are welcome to also bring your own wine for the trip. Bring some extra cash with you to support some of the Spaza Shops along the way by purchasing cool drinks and sweets and for donations towards the driver and other staff if you wish to do so. Please note: bring snacks and something for your lunch on the days where sandwiches are not provided. Remember to bring a towel, soap, small pillow and sleeping bag.
A minimum of 6 to 8 people is needed to make this trail possible.
Detail:
Day 1. We will all meet at the Mariannhill Mission where we will have a short tour of the Mission and learn a bit of the history of the Trappist Monks in South Africa. After out introduction we will be traveling by bus to Donnybrook where we will stay over in one of the local B&B’s.
Day 2. Reichenau to Plantation Depot – 18.2 km (Easy walk) Sibeko will fetch us at 7:30 to drive us to Reichenau.
This is a long but beautiful section through farmland and forests with a total ascent of 432m. Reichenau Mission was the first outreach mission built by Abbot Pfanner and his monks from Mariannhill in 1886. We will first visit the Old Water Wheel and the Church, before picking up our trail that will follow part of the Sani 2 Sea route. Sibeko will meet us on the R617 or the Plantation Depot, and drive us to Myddleton Farm for the night. The farm is in a beautiful setting next to a lake. We will be sleeping in the ‘Shed’ that can sleep up to 40 people on pallets with mattresses. Sibeko will collect our luggage and drive it to Myddelton.
Day 3. Plantation Depot to Kevelaer Mission – 19km (Moderate) Sibeko pick us up at Myddleton Farm at 7.30 am and drop us off at Depot and we walk to Kevelaer and then afterwards Sibeko will drive us back to Myddleton Farm. The start of the walk follows plantation roads and we walk through a small village were we will stop of at the Spaza Shop. The path will take us down to a second shop for our lunch stop before we climb back out and follow foot paths and cattle track to Kevelaer Mission.
Day 4. Kevelaer to Myddelton Farm – 23 km (Long, but moderate walk) Today’s walk be one of the longest, however its easy going. After breakfast we start early. The path takes us through a magical indigenous forest and then thorough plantations most the way.
Day 5. Myddleton Farm to Centocow – 21 km (easy to moderate) This is another long day as we walk through commercial farmland, followed by forest and finally a descent to the road leading up the hill to Centocow were we will be spending the night. It can be hot in summer as there is no shade on the last 4 to 5 km.
Time permitting, we will visit the Gerard Bhengu Museum, mass is at 6am every morning for those that wish to join.
DAY 6. Enyasweni Village to Lourdes – 17 km. Sibeko collects us from Centocow and drives us to the village of Enyasweni. From Enyasweni village we pick up the cattle trail that leads up to St. Bernard’s – unfortunately destroyed by fire. From here we will walk through grass fields and wattle plantations, and as we get closer to Lourdes, we get our first glimpse of the Mission Station in the distance. Sibeko will meet us at Lourdes and drive us to Emaus where we will spend the night. There is no electricity at Emaus but solar energy provides plugs in the rooms to charge phones only. The water is heated by solar power and is piping hot. There is just one very small fridge in the lounge. Towels are provided but no soap.
DAY 7 Lourdes to Dumisa – 8.2km Sibeko will meet us after breakfast (7:30), and drive us back to Lourdes from where we will start our walk to Dumisa. This stage is mainly along rural roads through Tribal lands, passing numerous villages along the way. The principal road between Lourdes and Emaus is currently under construction so at this stage, this route is carrying more traffic than normal, and thus we will be picked up at Dumisa and driven back to Emaus.
Bring a book to read and being a relatively short day, it allows us to walk the highlight of Emaus, climbing up the Stations of the Cross on the hill behind Emaus to reach the big Cross at the top. The Stations of the Cross: built by hand by Abbot Pfanner himself and he walked this this route daily until his death.
DAY 8 Emaus to UMzimkhulu – 16.5 km (easy) A beautiful downhill walk where the route alternates between open grassland and spread out rural communities, passing through three villages along the way. There is a Spaza shop in one of the villages, where you can buy a cold drink. Sibeko will meet us in UMzimkhulu and drive us back to Emaus for our final night.
Day 9 Mariathal Mission to Kings Grant – 5.8km (easy) This is a very short and easy way to end the walk. Sibeko will pick us up at 7:30 and drive us to Mariathal Mission. After visiting the church, we walk, through a forest and cross over a dam wall before arriving at Kings Grant. Here we will enjoy a cup of coffee and/ or a light meal. Time permitting, we will visit the old mill and museum on the premises as well as Si Isadore church. Sibeko picks us up and drives us back to our vehicles (All meals and drinks here will be for the clients account – fully licenced.)
Routes and pickup points may change due to weather conditions, path conditions and the ability of the clients.
Costing subject to changes due to availability of lodges and number of PAX.
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