SA's 'Camino' a hit

03 May 2016 - 08:54 By DAVID MACGREGOR

A 1,150km "pilgrim trail" from Grahamstown to Nelson Mandela's Robben Island prison cell is pulling in hikers, even though only half the route has been plotted so far.A 1,150km "pilgrim trail" from Grahamstown to Nelson Mandela's Robben Island prison cell is pulling in hikers, even though only half the route has been plotted so far.After hiking along similar pilgrim trails around the world, Rhodes University professor George Euvrard has spent years planning a South African route that will rival the best.Although a health crisis during his scouting walk several years ago scuppered his plan to finish in Mandela's cell, the first 575km of the trail has been established and plans are afoot to open up the rest of the Indlela yoBuntu pilgrimage route next year."I only got as far as Uniondale on my solo pilgrimage because I had a detached retina and needed three emergency operations. So there was no triumphant ending."Euvrard said walks along all sections of the trail were attracting nature lovers."They come from all over South Africa. Mainly strong, independent, women in their 60s," he said.The final two legs, to Robben Island from Knysna, will be plotted and open to walkers soon.Each leg is completed within two weeks and hikers walk every day, irrespective of the weather.Instead of carrying everything hikers take only what they will need for the day. Accommodation and food are provided along the route.The distances covered vary between 18km and 32km a day, depending on the terrain.A support vehicle carries the hikers' food and personal effects.Euvrard said anyone with a reasonable level of walking fitness who has trained beforehand should be able to manage the trail comfortably, but should be prepared to "climb over gates and under electric fences along the way"...

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