Southern Africa 360 has introduced two new offerings along the Whale Coast in the Western Cape, the five-day G!ano Coastal Hiking Trail and the three-day Whale Coast Adventure, each taking advantage of the region’s pristine white beaches and coastal wilderness, allowing guests to immerse themselves in an authentic African experience coupled with adventure.

“With our vision to explore new and untapped destinations and experiences within Southern Africa and bring these to market in well-laid-out itineraries, we have discovered three exciting offers along the Whale Coast,” says Collin Thaver, MD of Southern Africa 360.

For hiking enthusiasts, the G!ano Coastal Hiking Trail offers either a 42km or 50km slack-packing route, taking in the coastal beauty of the Cape Whale Coast.

G!ano, which means ‘whale’ in Khoisan, is a four-day hiking trail where guests will spend each day with an expert exploring the coastline, rockpools and their inhabitants, all whilst being professionally interpreted with special insights into marine ecology, fynbos medical plants and flowers, an in-depth understanding of Khoisan history, as well as viewing the many shipwrecks in these waters.

The three-day Whale Coast Adventure caters for those looking for a little more action. This trip includes adventures such as a Fatbike Trail in the dunes of the Walker Bay Nature Reserve, with its secluded rolling sand dunes and turquoise-blue ocean.

There are options for experienced and adventurous bike riders, as well as for novice and more nervous riders who find the vertical dune faces too daunting to ride down.

Thaver describes the Fatbike Tour as: “A fun excursion, but it is the unique and spectacular setting of the stark white dunes against the blue sky and ocean that really makes the experience magical.”

Also included in this package is a horse-riding trail on Pearly Beach with Gansbaai and Pearly Beach Horse Trails, about 20 minutes from Gansbaai. “You feel as if you and the horses are the only ones for miles and miles. Even in the busy December time this beach rarely sees more than five other people at a time,” adds Thaver.

Riders can enjoy trotting and cantering up and down the beach freely, there are also handlers on the ground to assist inexperienced riders who prefer to keep to a walking pace. Half way through the ride, guests are afforded the opportunity to swim in the ocean with their horse. “A real bucket list tick-off,” says Thaver.

A value-add for both experiences is someone documenting the whole trip, taking photographs and videos, which one receives at no extra charge. The horses are also filmed with a drone.

Thaver explains: “Both of these activities are also operated personally by the owners, so you are guaranteed excellent service, personal care and attention.”

Southern Africa 360 has also included other Whale Coast adventures, such as shark cage diving, boat-based whale watching, zip lining, quad biking and some more sedate options like wine and gin tastings.

“We have tried to find the hidden gems and lesser known spots and eateries so that visitors feel more like locals than tourists,” concludes Thaver.