Struggling to make ends meet? Farmers have a golden opportunity to turn their land into a profitable ecotourism venture with hiking trails, write Emeritus Professor Leon Hugo and postgraduate student Jean Hugo
As urban residents increasingly crave fresh air, unspoiled landscapes, and the tranquillity of nature, many farmers – who enjoy these daily – are struggling financially. City dwellers long for experiences like stargazing by a campfire, swimming in rivers and spotting wildlife in its natural habitat.
Meanwhile, farmers facing economic pressure often find it difficult to sustain their way of life, despite being surrounded by the very serenity city-goers seek.
Developing hiking and nature trails offers a practical solution to two challenges: providing urban dwellers with nature escapes while boosting farmers’ incomes. With hiking’s rising popularity, now is the perfect time to invest in this low-cost, low-maintenance ecotourism opportunity.
Some farms generate over R500 000 annually, with larger trails earning millions. Many farmers report higher returns from hiking than from traditional farming – all with minimal effort and financial risk.
This article explores three key principles for successful trail development: ecological sustainability, hiker satisfaction, and practical construction.
Ecological sustainability
Before one can hope to create a successful path in the veld, one is (has) to look carefully at the ecology. Basic knowledge of the various types of soil is required. Soils can create many problems for the developer if the trail e.g. crosses a marshy area with clay soils.
Vegetation growing on sand is also trampled out very quickly and is difficult to re-establish. For the hikers, it is also difficult and tiresome to walk over loose sand. Soils that occur in forests are rich in humus and are easily compacted and displaced by the boots of hikers. Such sensitive areas need to be either avoided or special techniques such as boardwalks or stepping stones put in place.
The developer also needs to look at the gradient of a landscape. Mountain areas are exceptionally beautiful but pose the problem of steep slopes susceptible to erosion. Depending on the type of soil it is not recommended that gradients of more than 8% be used for trail layout after which steps are needed.
Moving parallel to the slope on gradients in excess of 25% needs a lot of cutting into the side slope of the hill and leaves an ugly scar in the landscape that can be seen from far off. On steep slopes, it becomes tricky to decide when to use steps or ladders or when to ascend by means of sig-sags.
Hikers very often take shortcuts in such places, and this leads to serious erosion. Ten centimetres of erosion results in 1 ton of soil over a stretch of 1km. Putting in regular water barriers to contain the downflow needs special attention.
Psychological experience of the hiker
Some types of vegetation are very sensitive such as dunes and marshes. Vegetation, however, can also be a very important asset. Even the desert vegetation of the Richtersveld has a magic of its own.
So does the atmosphere created by the bushveld – not even to talk of majestic baobabs of the Northern province, the fynbos flowers of the Western Cape, the green hills of KwaZulu/Natal, etc.
The presence of edible and medicinal plants can have important value for outdoor education. A trail must provide an enlightening experience to hikers. Walking through patches of invader plants such as wattles, khakibos, etc. is, however, not a pleasant experience and needs to be evaded.
If possible, avoid camps where cattle graze frequently and in notable numbers.
No place in South Africa can boost a Niagara Waterfall or a Grand Canyon – but luckily this is not what ordinary hikers expect. The basic requirement is … “just to get away from it all” and to come as close to nature as possible. Most farms in South Africa can offer at least something of this nature to hikers.
It is, of course, best if there is mountainous topography and perennial streams on the farm. A waterfall and natural swimming pool will enhance the value of the land for hiking tremendously, but these features are not a necessity in order to have a successful hiking trail.
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A successful hiking trail is more than just a cleared path – it should offer an element of excitement, like a challenging river crossing or a suspension bridge, to create memorable experiences. These “adrenaline rush” moments not only enhance the hike but also boost word-of-mouth marketing, all while ensuring safety is responsibly managed.
A hiking trail should offer urban dwellers a true ecotourism experience – remote, surprising, and enriching. It must be ecologically sustainable and more than just a link between two points. To create a sense of wilderness, avoid roads, buildings, and fences, and design the trail to blend naturally into the landscape, like a winding game path.
Having said all this, variation is essential to maintaining hikers’ interest. Even the most beautiful forest can become monotonous, so mix landscapes, vegetation, and scenery. Avoid long, steep climbs; instead, follow natural contours to provide breaks. Reward effort with a scenic view, swimming spot, or unique feature should follow a tough stretch.
Avoid unsightly areas like dongas, waste sites, and power lines. Keep trails away from homes to respect privacy and prevent disturbances. Use natural barriers like hills or vegetation to screen undesirable views. Direct uphill paths toward less attractive areas, as hikers tend to look down, and position scenic vistas along gentle descents for maximum impact.
Practical issues
There are many detailed planning “tricks of the trade”. Do not take the trail in an easterly direction in the morning because this will cause the sun to shine into the eyes of the hikers and make it difficult to appreciate the surroundings and take photographs.
See to it that the swimming places on the route are reached at midday when hikers are desperate for a drink of water or a swim.
While walking in the midday sun, try to place the trail on the southern side of the trees to maximise walking in the shade. Why not also rather use southern slopes instead of the hot northern slopes in hot climatic regions? Long straight sections are tedious to walk and tend to lead to erosion. These and many other small techniques make the difference between an average path and an excellent hiking experience.
Marking the trail
Urban dwellers have a notorious lack of sense of direction! Nothing is more devastating to either the trail owner or the hiker if hikers get lost – especially at night. Make sure that the trail is properly waymarked with footprints and (only) necessary additional information on notice boards. Remember that the hikers’ attention is on the scenery around them and they can easily miss a turnoff unless conspicuously marked.
Be careful also not to place markers amongst fast-growing shrubs and tall grass that can obscure it; nor on loose stones, which can be turned over by baboons. The golden rule is that it should not be too conspicuous but unmistakably obvious. The ideal is for a hiker to be able to always see from one marker to the next unless there is no possibility that he could get lost.
When the hiking trail turns off from another route it must especially be clearly indicated. Remember that the area is strange to most hikers. Instead of dots or arrows, rather use the standard white footprint as a marker. These markers should not have the appearance of graffiti.
Safety first
The developer must consider designing trails with safety in mind, as urban hikers may lack veld skills. This includes:
- Avoid areas known for snakes or dangerous animals like buffalo and rhinos.
- Clearly warn hikers of potential risks and require signed liability forms.
- River crossings must be safe – while bridges are costly, a simple structure like tree trunks with a rustic handrail can enhance the adventure.
A map is essential. This makes the hiker feel much more at ease and also creates a professional impression. Such a map does not, however, have to be an expensive colour map with photographs; a black-and-white map with contour lines drawn according to scale is sufficient.
A well-balanced difficulty level is crucial – too hard, and hikers are discouraged; too easy, and it feels unworthy of the trip. The Green Flag system (rated 1–10) helps ensure the right challenge and adds marketing value. Investing in a pre-construction assessment prevents costly changes later.
A hiker’s experience begins long before the trail – easy booking and secure parking matter. Traditionally, hikers were content with basic shelters, cooking spots, and toilets, but slackpacking has raised expectations. Many now seek added comfort, including luggage transport and even prepared meals, making trails accessible to families and older hikers.
A well-planned sustainable trail thus is: Ecologically friendly, experientially satisfying, financially viable, socio-culturally responsibly, and educationally enlightening.
- Prof Leon Hugo is an Emeritus Professor in the geography department at the University of Pretoria, and Jean Hugo is a post-graduate student in video technology at Tshwane University of Technology. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Food For Mzansi.
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