South Africa is full of wild corners that you can reach without scrambling across rocks or climbing steep hills. Hidden among forests, dunes, estuaries, and botanical gardens are wooden pathways and gentle trails that feel like private nature corridors.
These boardwalks allow you to wander over wetlands and riverbanks while keeping the landscape protected beneath your feet. Here are five quiet routes worth adding to your travel list, from the Garden Route to the far northern coastline.
Wilderness invites you into the riverside forest
Wilderness National Park/M.Uebel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Wilderness section of Garden Route National Park is best known for lakes, rivers and canoeing, but tucked behind the more familiar viewpoints lies the Waterside Boardwalk. This wooden pathway traces the edge of the Touw River and moves through pockets of riverine forest where the sound of water softens everything around you. SANParks recently began reinforcing the structure using more eco-sensitive materials, a project aimed at protecting the riverbank while keeping the walk accessible.
Further along the valley, the Half-collared Kingfisher Trail weaves over another boardwalk section that leads towards a waterfall. The trail covers roughly 5 kilometres return and includes shaded stretches, bird-filled clearings and quiet viewpoints where the forest folds in close. Despite being close to town, parts of these paths remain surprisingly secluded.
Zandvlei shows off urban wildness
Marina da Gama and Zandvlei in 2018/Jnanaranjan sahu/Wikimedia Commons
Not every secret trail sits deep in a park. Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve in Cape Town has a peaceful network of pathways that circle the water. The Zandvlei Estuary Boyes Drive Loop is a 5.3-kilometre route that brings you into contact with reed beds, coastal birds and the estuary’s changing water levels. Some areas use wooden boardwalk sections where the ground softens, especially closer to the water.
What makes this place special is the contrast. You can leave the noise of the city behind with only a few steps, then spend an hour exploring an estuary that feels worlds away. Early mornings bring calm water, small fish moving in the shallows and flocks of birds crossing the vlei.
Cape St Francis hides footpaths along the coast
The coastline around Cape St Francis is lined with low dunes, surf-filled coves and rocky points that are best explored on foot. While there is no major named boardwalk, the area has several lesser-known trails that feel just as intimate. The Two Harbours Trail is a short, volunteer-maintained route that links Granny’s Pool with Port St Francis. It winds past tidal pools, fynbos patches and stretches of wooden stabilisation structures used to protect the dunes.
For a longer outing, the Walk on the Wild Side covers up to 9 kilometres along open coastline where the path blends with dune sands and rocky outcrops. There are also boardwalk sections included in the town’s dune management plan, designed to guide walkers over sensitive areas. Add the Chokka Trail for those who want a multi-day coastal experience that includes wetlands, sand rivers and protected dune systems. This corner of the Eastern Cape rewards slow exploration and reveals more with every visit.
Mbombela Botanical Gardens lifts you into the canopy
Lowveld National Botanical Garden/Werner Bayer/Wikimedia Commons
The Lowveld National Botanical Garden in Mbombela is famous for tropical plant life and waterfalls, but not everyone knows about the aerial boardwalk suspended above the forest canopy. This walkway offers an elevated perspective of the surrounding trees and river valleys. As you move across it, you can spot the confluence of the Crocodile and Nels Rivers and experience the gardens from a completely different angle.
The boardwalk is shaded, peaceful and ideal for slow meandering. It is also an excellent way to appreciate the garden’s birdlife and the diversity of its lowveld vegetation without stepping off the path.
Kosi Bay immerses you in a protected wetland system
Kosi Bay/Richard Jenkinson from Harpenden, UK/Wikimedia Commons
Part of iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Kosi Bay is one of the most remote places in South Africa. The Kosi Bay Lakes Trail introduces you to mangrove forests, dune systems and reed-fringed waterways. While the trail is mostly natural terrain, it includes guided pathways and raised sections that feel similar to boardwalks, especially where you cross softer ground.
Slackpacking versions offered by local operators blend walking with boat crossings and estuary explorations. This region remains quiet and feels almost untouched. Few day visitors make it this far north, which gives the wetlands a sense of remoteness that is rare along the South African coastline.
Why boardwalks matter
These trails protect fragile landscapes by keeping foot traffic contained and allowing visitors of all fitness levels to experience sensitive ecosystems. Wetlands, fynbos, dune fields and riverbanks all benefit from raised pathways. Boardwalks also encourage a slower pace, making it easier to notice birds, small creatures and subtle shifts in vegetation.
Before you go
- Pack water
- A good pair of walking shoes
- A small snack to keep your energy levels up
- Insect repellent
- Binoculars for birding. Early mornings offer the best light and the quietest surroundings.
- Always stay on marked paths and keep to wooden sections where provided to protect the environment.
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