Galeo Saintz

We asked the founder of the Garden Route Walking Festival, and one of the key role players behind the 650 km Rim of Africa Trail, what he loves most about hiking.

Tell us about your childhood. I grew up on a smallholding outside Joburg, today known as Broadacres. My grandfather lived close by and my first memories of walking are with him. He would take us around the block or to the open veld that ran along a small river not too far from the house. My folks were also outdoorsy. I did the Otter and Tsitsikamma trails with them when I was a teenager.

Why should people hike? Research shows that walking is good for the brain and a natural anti-depressant. You don't have to be super fit to reap the benefits. Just put on your shoes and walk out the front door.

Where did the idea for the Garden Route Walking Festival come from? I first came across walking festivals in the UK and wondered why we didn't have something

similar at home. South Africa has so much to offer, especially along the Garden Route. There are few other places in the world where you can access such diverse walking terrain in such a small area, from high peaks to rich forests, coastal cliffs and pristine beaches. The 2016 festival had 75 different walks – we tried to include routes for everyone, young and old.

Favourite local trail? The 9 km circular route in the Robberg Nature Reserve near Plett. It's an easy hike with lots to see and it's always fun, whether you're hiking alone or with friends and family.

Favourite international hike? The short route I hiked on my own to Monte Fitz Roy in Patagonia, on the border between Argentina and Chile. I loved the wild peaks, the extreme weather, the glaciers and the forests.