Things to do in Hogsback

Hogsback is a picturesque mountain village located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. With its mystical forests, cascading waterfalls, and breathtaking scenery, Hogsback is a popular destination for nature lovers, hikers, and adventure seekers. Not only does it attract South African holiday seekers but also international travelers on road trips across the country.

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How long should You Stay in Hogsback?

We spent a long weekend from Thursday evening to Monday evening. This was a perfect amount of time for both some adventure and relaxation. We had mixed luck with the weather, which is apparently normal we had two days of sun and two of rain!

Three days (of perfect weather) would make for a great stay as well.

Restaurants in Hogsback

We had most of our meals at the Edge’s restaurant, where we were staying, mostly because we were limited because we did not have a car to get around.

The Edge Mountain Retreat

The hotel’s restaurant offers delicious meals with something for everyone. The menu includes an entire page of veg+vegan food. Food is a little on the pricey side but it’s well-prepared and delicious. For breakfast, we spent about R350 each day and for dinner, it was around R470. This included drinks and tip.

Red Clay Cafe

Red Clay Cafe is a cute cafe, and also home to Hogsback Adventures. There are some small items for sale as well as plastic-free food goods. It has a cozy vibe with families, people working, and couples enjoying the space with the fireplace on. We didn’t eat here but the brownies looked so good!

Woltree Restaurant and Crafts

Woltree has local goods (think creams, jams, and pickles!) and friendly owners that serve great food. We ordered a veggie burger and mushroom soup to share and then got some cheese and tomato toasties to take away.

Hogsback Brewing Company

Hogsback Brewing Company is the top thing to do in Hogsback! Get a flight of the classics in the cozy space inside or sit outside in the beer garden.

Away with the Fairies

At Away with the Fairies, you can grab lunch at The Wizard Sleeve Inn bistro.

Where to Stay

Hogsback is known for its bathtub views. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, do a little Google search. There are SO many lodges, hotels, and accommodation options in Hogsback. I’m sharing the ones that stood out to me.

The Edge

We stayed at the Edge in the Heaven’s Above cottage, which came with its own bathtub. It was a fabulous stay and we totally enjoyed our experience. Read all about our long weekend at The Edge.

The Edge Lodge in Hogsback Review

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Away with the Fairies

The most popular bathtub is at Away with the Fairies Lodge where you’ll need to book a session at their bathtub. There are self-catering cottages, dorms, and camping options.

The Hogsback Inn

The Hogsback Inn is the heart of Hogsback Village.

Terra Khaya Eco Backpackers

This backpackers lodge is known for its resident goat, activities, and rustic experience.

The Magical Teepee Experience

You can stay in a literal teepee in Hogsback at the Magical Teepee Experience.

Hogrock Falls

Hogrock Falls is a series of self-catering cottages nestled in the forests. It’s also a wedding venue and there are magical waterfalls around. This is a little bit out of town so you’ll need a car to get around.

Places to Visit in Hogsback

Starways Art Center

If you’re into pottery (and shopping), you should stop at Starways. I suggest you drive as the biking will take time as there are a lot of uphills and downhills. I bought a tiny mug that I love! You can also take pottery classes.

The Edge

Even if you’re not a guest at The Edge, you can visit to go around the labyrinth (one of the longest in the world), see the viewpoint, and do some shopping at the two shops. I bought a book of local poetry for my grandma, who is also a poet!

If you’re visiting during the weekend, at 10am on Saturdays there is a little market with some handmade goods, food, and trinkets.

Hiking Trails

Hogsback is most known for its waterfalls and gorgeous views that people say remind them of Lord of the Rings.

The Arboretum

This was the only trail we did while in Hogsback. This trail takes you through the botanical garden filled with redwood trees, berry plants, and even cows. The trail is well-marked, and there are plenty of benches to rest and take in the beauty of the surroundings. A short 10-minute walk will take you to the 39 Steps waterfall.

The Madonna and Child Waterfall

The Madonna and Child Waterfall trail is one of the most popular in Hogsback. The trail takes you through lush forests and across streams before reaching the stunning Madonna and Child waterfall.

The Big Tree

This Big Tree hiking trail is perfect for families and takes you to one of the oldest trees in the area. The Big Tree is over 800 years old and is an impressive sight to see.

Waterfall Hikes

You can also visit Kettlespout Falls and Swallotail Falls.

The Amatola Hike

The Amatola hike is a 6-day, 100km hike that will take you through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the region. The trail starts and ends at Maden Dam, which is about 25 kilometers outside of Hogsback. The first day of the hike is the toughest, as it involves a steep climb up to the escarpment. However, the effort is well worth it, as hikers are rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. You must book in advance.

Activities

Hogsback Adventures

Hogsback Adventures has several activities with friendly staff.  We rented bikes and biked around town ourselves, but you can also go on guided tours.

You can also go waterfall abseiling, horse riding, archery, or fly fishing! I had quick and easy responses with Hogsback Adventures over WhatsApp to book my bike rentals.

Hobbiton Adventure Center

Unfortunately not a movie set recreation from Lord of the Rings, Hobbiton is an outdoor adventure center with an indoor climbing wall, abseiling, ziplining, and more. You can also go on hikes with guides to the surrounding waterfalls.

How to get to Hogsback

You can fly into East London Airport and then rent a car or take a private transfer up to the mountains. I suggest you rent a car. The ride will take around 2 hours and 15 minutes from Hogsback to the Airport.

The road to Hogsback from the airport is paved for the most part, except for some potholes as you approach the mountain. There are also cows out on the road at all hours so watch out—especially in the dark. The paved road ends and turns into gravel just as you reach Hogsback.

There are no transfer services in Hogsback to take people around to the start of hikes or around. One day we walked into town from The Edge and it turned into an 11km trek. The other day we rented bikes from Hogsback Adventures; the roads are fine to bike on but there are a lot of hills which made our biking journey longer than expected as I had to get off a walk for a lot of ride.

Contact JM Transport at 078 846 4022 for a private transfer.