Tops walks around the Port Elizabeth area

Exercise... you either love it or hate. Either way, we still need to do it. So let's looks at some hiking spots or walks, particularly around the greater Gqeberha formely Port elizabeth area. The walks or hikes are rated according to their difficulty, beauty and accessibility. 1. The Sacramento Trail Probably the best kept secret, that's not realy a secret, in Port Elizabeth. This trail offers spectacular scenery as it hugs the coastline. Starting at Schoemakerskop it stretched all the way to Sardinia Bay. Offering amazing scenery and easy accessibility.

The trail is named after the Sacramento, a Portuguese galleon that sank 1647. This story is also particularly intriguing as the ship ran aground in the vicinity of Schoenmakerskop and Sardinia Bay, with only 72 survivors making it to the shore. Of those, just nine managed to trek the 1,300-kilometre distance to Delagoa Bay (Maputo) in Mozambique and only four of these men made the trip back home to Portugal.

2.Norm Hudlin Trails. Situated on Kragga Kamma road, the Norm Hudlin trails offer 3 different distances, the most popular being a 6.2km loop. The trails are single track within sandy patches and curves through tall vegetation and trees. The trails are easily accessible, starting a few metres from the carpark.

Facilities includes a small coffee shop and Burger Shack. Please note there is an entry fee and dogs are also welcome.

3. Cape Recife Trail. The Cape Recife hiking trail is set in the Cape Recife Nature reserve, and is a 9 km circular walking trail which starts at the entrance gate of the Nature Reserve and offers beautiful unspoilt beaches, natural dune vegetation, rocky outcrops, a lighthouse built in 1851, an old military observation post, as well as a bird hide. The Reserve is also regarded as one of the best bird-watching venues around Port Elizabeth.

Entrance permits available from Pine Lodge Resort located at entrance to Cape Recife Nature Reserve. Entrance only with permit, zero tolerance for diving thus no entry with diving equipment. Please note an entry fee is required

4. Maitlands Nature Reserve trail. Hidden on the western side of Port Elizabeth about 30 minutes drive from the city lies hidden a gem. The Maitlands Natue reserve trail. This trail offers unique experience through the lush indigenous coastal forest. The reserve offers three circular nature trails which provide easy access into the dense forest, a 2.8km trail , a 6.5km trail and a 3.1km trail

One of the biggest attractions is the Maitland sand dune, and the maillands beach close by, which not only provide breath-taking backdrops, but are also loads of fun to climb, sandboard, or simply roll down.

5. Sardina bay to Kini Bay This hike is not an official trail. It stretches from picturesque Sardina Bay Beach to Kini bay beach for about 8 km. The walk is not maintained and can be overgrown in areas. Accessibility is very limited and this walk is more for the experienced hiker. Having said all that it is stunning, unspoilt, due to the inaccessibility and well worth the effort.

Also be advised this is not a loop walk so arrange a pickup at the other end. Better yet make a day of it, either beach you end up on is worth staying at for a while.

So there you have it, just a few walks offered around the great little city. Much more can be found in and around the city and if you ask a local they all have their favourites. Don't forget to check put more articles in the PortElizabethchronicles blog.