Hike the Karomino
To walk the Camino in Spain remains a goal and dream for many, although often an unrealistic one. Obviously, Covid hasnʼt helped. In our own backyard, the rugged beauty of the Karoo offers alternatives that are both accessible and affordable.
At the age of 72, the two of us took on the Karomino challenge at Bosch Luys Kloof Private Nature Reserve. We are the previous owners of this reserve and developed most of the routes over the past 10 years but were always so busy we never got around to doing them, or bringing the idea of the Karomino to fruition. It was a wonderful experience to finally have the time to do it and something quite special (apart from our unending love for Bosch Luys Kloof, we have no more vested interests there).
The Karomino covers 102km along 10 diverse trails. We completed it over the course of a week. You can also split the journey up into two trips of four days each, if you prefer. The reserve is large – almost 14 000ha – with great diversity. The trails traverse mountain fynbos, valley bushveld, riverine thicket and Nama Karoo vegetation types. Coming across some kudu, gemsbok, even baboons and a wonderful diversity of birdlife adds to the experience.
We approached our hikes at a leisurely pace, not a race. You determine your own approach. Your footwear must be durable as you hike through bush, rough tracks and Karoo veld. A good pair of hiking boots will not go amiss. We are both sporting some blue toenails as a result of hiking boots that have become a bit too small for us. We hiked a total of 31 hours – 3.5 to 5.5hrs per day.
We chose the option of self-catering but booked a few meals at the lodge, where we enjoyed delicious threecourse meals such as venison tarte, oxtail and lamb shank in the evenings. The chalets are spacious and well equipped. You enjoy access to the lodge, swimming pool area and guided nature drives should you wish to book. The sunrises and sunsets in the Karoo are hard to describe – those who have experienced them will know. Annchen and Gerhard Rademeyer Mossel Bay