The Outeniqua Mountains behind George contain large areas of indigenous Afromontane forest accessible on both day hikes and the multi-day Outeniqua Trail. Day sections can be done independently from George without advance permits; the trail heads on the northern edge of town are clearly signed. Sturdy shoes are necessary — the paths are rocky and can be slippery after rain. CapeNature manages the trails; their office in George sells permits and maps.
Outeniqua Mountains Hiking
A story
The Outeniqua Mountains hold one of the last substantial tracts of indigenous Afromontane forest in South Africa — yellowwood, stinkwood, and Cape fig growing to full height in the sheltered kloofs. The main multi-day route is the Outeniqua Trail, an 8-day, 108-kilometre route with overnight huts, but the forest is also accessible on shorter day hikes from George without permits or advanced booking. The forest floor is dense with ferns and mosses, and the rivers running off the mountains are clean enough to drink from — something increasingly rare in the Cape.