Pick A Trail

Sole Mates

Hiking Group

Types of Hikes

Sole Mates offers a full calendar of adventures — from quick local escapes to bucket-list weekend trips. Here’s how our different hike types work throughout the year.

Local Hikes

Twice a month, we explore the trails right here in our own backyard.

  • 1st Sunday: Pretoria

  • 3rd Sunday: Johannesburg

We do not repeat local hikes within the same calendar year.
Miss it? You’ll have to wait for next year’s rotation — unless one of our favourites returns as a Holiday Hike.

Local Hikes are not pre-paid.

  • You pay your own trail fee at the venue (if applicable)

  • Your Hike Admin Fee / Annual Membership Fee must be paid to Sole Mates before the hike via EFT

Please reserve your entire morning for Local Hikes.

Holiday Hikes

Public holidays are perfect for stretching your legs — so we often slip in a bonus hike.

Holiday Hikes are usually:

  • light and easy-going,

  • held at popular local spots,

  • and designed so you can still enjoy the rest of your day.

Keep an eye out — they appear throughout the year and are always a great way to get some fresh air.

Please reserve your entire morning for Holiday Hikes.

Pre-Paid Remote & Limited Hikes

Two or three times a month, we venture beyond the city to enjoy the incredible hiking terrain around Gauteng.

These hikes take place on the:

  • 2nd Sunday: 13 Peaks

  • 4th Sunday

  • 5th Sunday (when applicable)

Remote hikes take more travel time and offer more varied terrain.
Limited hikes have permit restrictions, meaning only a set number of hikers may join.

We do not repeat remote hikes within the same year.
However, popular Limited Hikes may be repeated — and if the repeat hike fills up, hikers who already did that trail earlier in the year may be removed to give other members a fair chance.

13 Peaks Challenge

The 2nd Sunday of every month is dedicated to a 13 Peaks Challenge hike.

To earn your passport, you must complete all 13 peaks within a single year.
Because there are only 12 months, one peak will take place on a 5th Sunday during a long month.

More information:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1562128914596491/posts/2037998353676209/

Please reserve your entire morning and afternoon for Remote, Limited, and 13 Peaks hikes.

Overnight Hikes

Once a month, we go big — exploring destinations that are too far for a day trip.

Overnight adventures come in three types:

  • Base Camp

  • Slackpacking

  • Backpacking

We aim for 2 Base Camps and 1 Slackpacking/Backpacking trip per quarter.

Meals, accommodation, and permits are bundled to create an affordable and memorable getaway.
Overnight hikes typically run:

  • Arrival: Friday evening (please arrive before dark if possible)

  • Return: Sunday afternoon

During long weekends, we extend these adventures into multi-night getaways.

Overnight trips are highly social, and accommodation is usually basic hiker huts or tents.
Everyone is expected to help with:

  • Setup

  • Meal Preparation

  • Other Activities

  • Cleanup

  • Packing Up

Overnight Hikes are limited to Annual Members only, including guests.

Overnight Base Camp & Slackpacking

These trips include group meals:

  • Breakfast

  • Lunch

  • Dinner

Everything is planned to make the weekend run smoothly and sociably.

Overnight Backpacking

Backpacking trips include:

  • Group dinners (ingredients shared equally among hikers)

  • Supplies such as coffee sachets, tea, sugar, and creamer, distributed at the trailhead

Backpackers must provide their own:

  • Breakfast

  • Lunch

  • Trail snacks

Sole Mates reserves the right to adjust hike types and schedules as needed to keep our adventures fun, fair, and well-organised.