The Alexandria Hiking Trail is one of South Africa's most distinctive and rewarding multi-day hiking experiences — a two-day loop through the Alexandria dunefield and coastal forest of the Addo Elephant National Park's Woody Cape section in the Eastern Cape. Towering coastal dunes, ancient dune forest, pristine beaches, and the extraordinary marine environment of the Algoa Bay coast make this a trail unlike any other in South Africa. Here's everything you need to plan your Alexandria Trail adventure.
Where Is the Alexandria Trail?
The Alexandria Hiking Trail is situated within the Woody Cape section of the Addo Elephant National Park, approximately 70 km south-west of Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) near the town of Alexandria in the Eastern Cape. The Woody Cape section is a separate, coastal component of Addo — distinct from the main elephant park further north — and encompasses one of the most extraordinary coastal landscapes in South Africa: the Alexandria dunefield, the Woody Cape coastal forest, and a stretch of pristine Eastern Cape coastline that forms part of the Greater Addo Marine Protected Area.
The Alexandria dunefield is one of the largest and most active coastal dune systems in the southern hemisphere — a vast, shifting landscape of sand dunes up to 150 m high that stretches for approximately 120 km along the Eastern Cape coast. Walking through this dunefield is one of the most surreal and physically demanding hiking experiences in South Africa.
The Alexandria Trail: Overview
- Distance: Approximately 36 km
- Duration: 2 days / 1 night
- Difficulty: Challenging — the dunefield sections are physically demanding; walking on deep sand is significantly harder than walking on firm ground
- Terrain: Coastal dunes (up to 150 m high), dune forest, pristine beaches, rocky coastline, and coastal fynbos
- Type: Loop circuit — starts and ends at the Woody Cape trailhead
- Maximum group size: 12 hikers
- Best season: April to October (avoid peak summer heat; the dunefield can be extremely hot in December–February; the Eastern Cape coast is beautiful year-round)
- Start/End point: Woody Cape trailhead, Addo Elephant National Park
What Makes the Alexandria Trail Unique
The Alexandria Trail is unlike any other hiking trail in South Africa. Several factors combine to create an experience of extraordinary character:
The dunefield: The Alexandria dunefield is one of the largest active coastal dune systems in the southern hemisphere. Walking through dunes up to 150 m high — climbing steep sand faces, descending into dune valleys, and navigating a landscape that is constantly shifting — is a physically demanding and visually extraordinary experience. There is nothing else like it in South African hiking.
The dune forest: The Woody Cape coastal forest is one of the finest examples of dune forest in South Africa — a dense, tangled forest of milkwood, dune fig, and other coastal species that has colonised the older, stabilised dunes. The contrast between the open, shifting dunefield and the enclosed, ancient dune forest is one of the trail's most striking features.
The marine environment: The Woody Cape section of Addo is part of the Greater Addo Marine Protected Area — one of the largest marine protected areas in Africa. The waters off the Alexandria coast are extraordinarily productive, supporting large populations of whales, dolphins, seals, and seabirds. The trail's coastal sections offer some of the finest marine wildlife watching in the Eastern Cape.
The overnight hut: The trail's overnight hut is set in the dune forest above the beach — a basic but perfectly positioned shelter that gives hikers the beach and the dunefield entirely to themselves after the day visitors leave.
Day-by-Day Trail Breakdown
Day 1: Woody Cape to Overnight Hut (~18 km)
The trail begins at the Woody Cape trailhead and immediately enters the Alexandria dunefield — the trail's defining feature and its greatest physical challenge. The dunefield section of Day 1 is demanding from the start: climbing steep sand faces, descending into dune valleys, and navigating a landscape of extraordinary scale and beauty.
The dunes on Day 1 are at their most dramatic — towering sand faces dropping to the beach below, with the Indian Ocean visible from the dune crests and the Woody Cape forest visible to the north. The views from the highest dune crests are extraordinary: the Eastern Cape coastline stretching in both directions, Algoa Bay to the west, and the open Indian Ocean to the south.
The trail descends from the dunefield to the beach for a section of coastal walking — a welcome change of terrain after the demanding dune climbing. The beach is pristine and almost entirely deserted; the Alexandria coast sees very little human traffic outside of the trail itself.
The overnight hut is set in the dune forest above the beach, approximately 18 km from the trailhead. After a demanding first day in the dunefield, a hot freeze-dried meal and an early night are essential. The sound of the Indian Ocean outside the hut and the stars over the beach make for a memorable first night on the trail.
Day 2: Overnight Hut back to Woody Cape (~18 km)
Day 2 returns to the Woody Cape trailhead via a different route — through the Woody Cape dune forest rather than the open dunefield. The dune forest is a completely different environment from the open dunes of Day 1: enclosed, cool, and rich with forest birds and plants. The contrast between the two days' terrain is one of the trail's most satisfying features.
The dune forest on Day 2 is extraordinary — ancient milkwood trees (Sideroxylon inerme) with gnarled, wind-sculpted trunks, dune figs, and a dense understorey of coastal forest plants. The forest is home to bushbuck, blue duiker, and a rich diversity of forest birds including the Knysna turaco and the Narina trogon.
The return to the Woody Cape trailhead completes the circuit, with the dunefield visible to the south and the forest closing in on all sides. The Alexandria Trail is one of those rare hiking experiences that leaves you wanting to turn around and do it again immediately.
The Alexandria Dunefield: A Landscape in Motion
The Alexandria dunefield is one of the most dynamic landscapes in South Africa — a coastal dune system that is constantly moving, constantly changing, and constantly surprising. Here's what to know:
- Scale: The dunefield stretches approximately 120 km along the Eastern Cape coast and reaches up to 150 m in height — among the highest coastal dunes in the southern hemisphere
- Movement: The dunes are active — driven by the prevailing south-westerly winds, they move slowly northward, burying the dune forest at their leading edge and exposing ancient forest remnants at their trailing edge
- Ghost forest: At the trailing edge of the dunefield, the bleached trunks of trees buried by the advancing dunes centuries ago are being exposed as the dunes move on — a haunting "ghost forest" of dead trees emerging from the sand
- Navigation: The dunefield has no fixed landmarks — the landscape changes with every wind. The trail is marked with poles, but careful attention to the route is required
Wildlife and Flora
- Southern right whale (June–November) — frequently seen from the dune crests and beach sections; Algoa Bay is excellent whale watching territory
- Humpback whale (November–March) — passing through on their annual migration
- Bottlenose dolphin — pods frequently seen in the coastal waters below the dune crests
- African penguin — St Croix Island in Algoa Bay hosts the largest African penguin colony in the world; penguins are occasionally seen on the beach sections
- Cape gannet — Bird Island in Algoa Bay hosts one of the largest Cape gannet colonies in the world; gannets are frequently seen diving in the coastal waters
- African black oystercatcher — on the rocky shoreline sections
- Knysna turaco and Narina trogon in the dune forest sections on Day 2
- Bushbuck and blue duiker in the dune forest
- Milkwood (Sideroxylon inerme) — the dominant tree of the dune forest; its gnarled, wind-sculpted form is one of the most distinctive features of the Woody Cape landscape
- Dune fynbos — coastal fynbos species on the older, stabilised dune sections
What to Pack: Hiking Food & Gear for the Alexandria Trail
The Alexandria Trail's dunefield terrain is the most physically demanding aspect of the hike. Walking on deep sand requires significantly more energy than walking on firm ground — plan for higher caloric expenditure than a comparable distance on a mountain trail.
Hiking Food for the Alexandria Trail
Two days in the dunefield and dune forest requires careful food planning. The dunefield sections are hot and exposed — hydration and consistent fuelling are critical.
Freeze-dried hiking food from Nature's Intention is the ideal choice for the Alexandria Trail — lightweight, fast to prepare, and genuinely satisfying after a demanding day in the dunes.
- Breakfast hiking food: Freeze-dried fruit porridge or smoothie powder sachets — fast and energising before the day's first dune climb
- Lunch hiking food (no cooking): Cold-soak freeze-dried meals, nut butter sachets, freeze-dried fruit, and energy bars — eat on the dune crest or on the beach without stopping to boil water
- Dinner at the hut: A hot freeze-dried meal — curry and rice, lentil dhal, or pasta bolognese after a demanding day in the dunefield
- Snacks: High-protein freeze-dried snacks and electrolyte sachets — essential in the exposed dunefield; dehydration is a real risk on the sand
- Water: Carry at least 3–4 litres per person per day; there are no reliable water sources in the dunefield
Shop our hiking food packs and snacks here →
Gear Checklist
- Backpack (35–45 L for 2 days)
- Sleeping bag rated to 10°C (Eastern Cape coastal nights are mild)
- Waterproof jacket (the Eastern Cape coast can be windy and wet)
- Gaiters — strongly recommended; the dunefield sections fill shoes with sand within minutes; gaiters keep the sand out and make the dune walking significantly more comfortable
- Trail shoes or hiking boots with good grip (the dune forest sections are slippery when wet)
- Trekking poles (strongly recommended for the steep dune climbs and descents)
- Lightweight stove and fuel
- All water for the overnight (3–4 litres per person minimum)
- Sunscreen (SPF 50+) and wide-brim hat — essential; the dunefield is fully exposed with no shade
- Sunglasses (sand and UV protection)
- Headlamp + spare batteries
- First aid kit
- Binoculars (for whale watching and coastal birding)
- Navigation: SANParks trail map + compass (the dunefield has no fixed landmarks)
Permits and Bookings
The Alexandria Hiking Trail is managed by SANParks as part of the Addo Elephant National Park. Permits are required and must be booked in advance.
- Permit required: Yes — book through SANParks (sanparks.org)
- Overnight hut: Included in trail permit (basic facilities; carry all water)
- Group size: Maximum 12 hikers
- Fires: Strictly prohibited throughout the reserve
Tip: Book well in advance for school holidays and peak season (April–October). The Alexandria Trail is one of the Eastern Cape's most popular multi-day hikes and the limited group size means permits sell out quickly. Confirm current trail conditions and water availability with SANParks before your trip.
Getting There
- From Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha): Take the N2 west towards Grahamstown, then the R72 south towards Alexandria and the Woody Cape section of Addo. Total distance approximately 70 km (about 1 hour).
- From Grahamstown (Makhanda): Take the R72 south to Alexandria. Total distance approximately 60 km (about 45 minutes).
- Nearest airports: Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) Airport (~70 km) — the most convenient option.
Combining the Alexandria Trail with Addo Elephant National Park
The Woody Cape section of Addo is separate from the main Addo Elephant National Park, but combining both in a single Eastern Cape trip makes perfect sense. The main Addo park — approximately 70 km north of the Woody Cape section — is home to the largest elephant population in the Eastern Cape and one of the finest game viewing experiences in South Africa.
A long weekend combining the Alexandria Trail (2 days) with a game drive in the main Addo park (1–2 days) is one of the finest Eastern Cape itineraries available — hiking through the dunefield one day, watching elephants at a waterhole the next.
Tips for First-Time Alexandria Trail Hikers
- Wear gaiters — the dunefield fills shoes with sand within minutes; gaiters make the dune walking significantly more comfortable
- Use trekking poles on the dunes — the steep dune faces are much easier to climb and descend with poles; they are strongly recommended
- Start early on Day 1 — the dunefield is exposed and hot; the dune climbing is best done in the cool of the morning
- Carry more water than you think you need — there are no reliable water sources in the dunefield; carry all water from the trailhead
- Look for the ghost forest — the bleached trunks of trees buried by the advancing dunes are one of the most haunting and memorable features of the Alexandria dunefield
- Watch for whales from the dune crests — the elevated viewpoints over the ocean are excellent for whale watching, especially in winter (June–November)
- Pack out all waste — leave no trace in this extraordinary coastal wilderness
- Combine with the main Addo park — elephants and dunes in the same Eastern Cape weekend
Why the Alexandria Trail Is Unlike Any Other South African Hike
The Alexandria Trail is not South Africa's most famous hiking trail. But it offers something that no other trail in the country can match: the experience of walking through one of the largest active coastal dune systems in the southern hemisphere, in a marine protected area of extraordinary biodiversity, with the ghost forest of the advancing dunes as a constant reminder of the landscape's dynamic, ever-changing character.
The dune crests at dawn. The ghost forest emerging from the sand. The whales in the bay below. The dune forest closing in on Day 2. And the extraordinary satisfaction of completing a trail that most South Africans have never heard of — in a landscape that exists nowhere else in the country.
Wear gaiters. Carry water. Watch for whales. And go find the ghost forest.
Fuel your Alexandria Trail adventure with Nature's Intention. Shop our freeze-dried hiking food packs →
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