Fanie Botha Hiking trail - Is it still a South African classic?

In March 2023 we hiked the Fanie Botha Hiking Trail in Mpumalanga South Africa completing 46km's over a relaxed 3 nights and 4 days looking at whether it still deserves to be on every hikers must do lists.
The history of the Fanie Botha Trail dates back to the 1960s when Fanie Botha who was the minister of forestry, started exploring the area to create a hiking trail. The trail was officially opened in 1973 when 30 hikers hiked 45 km from the Lone Creek Falls over Mount Anderson to the Mac-Mac Falls, where Botha then officially opened the trail.
Botha’s plan was that this trail was to become part of a network of trails called the National Hiking way system, developing one long trail from the Soutpansberg along the escarpment to the Cederberg mountains in the Western Cape. This incredible plan however was never realised and is now a reminder of what could have been.

[@eckrun6449]

Hi Edwin
Thank you for your insight and clips.
I'm running the MacMac 100mile next week and have never hiked the trail.
So your video is much appreciated.
Hope to see more.

[@EdwinWatson]

Eck you are a real machine! This will be a walk in the park for you 😉 wishing you all the best. You will love it!

[@stellamanyi3258]

Brilliant, thank you for this, hiking fanie this weekend.

[@EdwinWatson]

Amazing Stella! Let me know how it goes and enjoy every second of it 🥾

[@stephenbray410]

Reminds me of the old Soutpansberg trail which I did decades ago but sadly no longer exists although 2 of the huts (Hanglip and Entabeni) can still be seen on Google Earth.

[@EdwinWatson]

Ah, Stephen, the number of trails I have discovered traces of in the history books that no longer exist pains me! It serves as a reminder that we must appreciate what we have in the now and to take the opportunities that are available to us today, instead of constantly saying "One day" as we often do.

[@ervinslens]

Great hike bud, you filmed and narrated this brilliantly! Love it 🥾

[@EdwinWatson]

Thanks so much Ervins. Safe travels!

[@hikesome]

That's another great hike Edwin! That's the best part of hiking, you can go from easy to hard and from short to long, as you define the path. Great video Fanie Botha looks epic.

[@EdwinWatson]

Thanks Mario. If you ever come through to South Africa let me know! Will be great to take you into the Drakensberg mountains and some other trails.

[@NatanyaSteyn-vd3qb]

Thanks for a great review Edwin! Do you think this hike would be safe for a small group of girl guides to do without adults?

[@EdwinWatson]

Hi Natanya. I doubt Safcol would allow it but even if they did I wouldn’t say so. This hike is fairly remote with limited signal in many spots, and you could get lost, and while I don’t think any of the loggers working in the plantations would do anything I don’t feel it’s worth the risk.
Also take into account that this is shared accommodation and any random person could be hiking and staying with the group.
I would highly recommend getting at least 2 responsible adults with experience to do this trail with the group. I am certain that Safcol will have someone they could recommend!

[@NatanyaSteyn-vd3qb]

@@EdwinWatson thanks so much!