At Sole Mates, our mission is simple: have fun, explore beautiful places, and enjoy the magic of the trail — all at a pace that feels good for you.

Because when you hike at your own speed, you get to take in the scenery, breathe the fresh air, and actually enjoy the adventure.

How Fit Do I Need to Be?

Good news — we’re not an elite trail-running army.
Most of us fall somewhere between “pretty active” and “still learning to love hills.”

We recommend an intermediate level of fitness, which basically means:

• You can comfortably hike 10 km,

• You can handle steady ups and downs,

• And you don’t need an oxygen tank at the top of a hill.

A perfect example: the 10 km Groenkloof trail — if you can handle that without weeping, you’ll be fine.

Rabbits, Tortoises… and Torbbits

Every Sole Mates hike is split into two groups:

🐇 Rabbits

For hikers who like a quicker, more challenging pace. Fewer stops. More sweat. Big smiles.

🐢 Tortoises

For hikers who enjoy taking their time, snapping photos, and appreciating every view. Still steady — just gentler.

🐢🐇 Torbbits (our very own invention)

A happy little hybrid who floats between the two groups depending on the moment.
Too fast for Tortoises? Too chilled for Rabbits?
Congratulations — you’re a Torbbit.

For safety reasons, we ask hikers to stay with one of the groups or in that lovely middle space.

What About Cheetahs and Snails?

If you want to go faster than the Rabbits (Cheetah mode) or slower than the Tortoises (full Snail energy), you’re welcome to join us at the venue — just know we can’t expect the official groups to match your pace.

If you know this at the start:

• Please tell an organiser.

If you realise it halfway up a mountain:

• Let another hiker know you’re breaking away, and

• If possible, drop a message in the hike’s WhatsApp group.

Cheetahs and Snails hike at their own responsibility, and should check back in with the group when they finish.

Not Sure About Your Fitness Level?

No worries — start with an easy or moderate hike.
Every event on Meetup has a Hike Difficulty rating to help you choose the right one.