I’ve spent quite a bit of time in the Cederberg over the years, but the BokPad still managed to surprise me. Maybe it’s because it takes you into parts of the Cederberg that most hikers never see. Maybe it’s the ancient rock art, enormous rock formations, hidden waterfalls and icy rock pools. Or maybe it’s the fact that you spend a night in Langkloof, meeting the people who have called this place home for generations.
Actually, it’s probably all of it.
The BokPad is a new five-day, four-night excperince, fully catered slack-packing experience in the central Cederberg, between Meitjiesrivier and Langkloof. There are around 30km of hiking spread over three days, but this isn’t a race to tick off kilometres.
It’s about slowing down, eating ridiculously good food, sleeping under huge Cederberg skies, swimming in rock pools, walking through landscapes that feel almost lunar, and connecting with the people and stories that make this part of the world what it is.
And yes, there is a fair amount of walking too.
A trail years in the making
The BokPad is the brainchild of chef, adventurer and Cederberg lover Justin Bonello, who has been dreaming about and working on this route for years.
I’ve had the privilege of being involved in a small way along the journey, from walking sections of the route with Justin and Mark, chatting about what could work, looking at how the trail could be built sustainably and, most importantly, how it could create meaningful opportunities for the people of Langkloof.
Because that is what makes the BokPad different.
This isn’t simply a new hiking trail through a beautiful landscape. It has been designed to bring hikers into the community and, in doing so, allow tourism to become part of supporting the people who have lived here for generations.
The trail officially launched in August 2026, and having now recce’d the route and guided guests along it, I can honestly say: Justin and the team have created something pretty special.
Day 1: Arrive, switch off and eat
The BokPad starts at Keurbosfontein.
You arrive, meet the incredible host team, settle into your accommodation, have a swim, eat something delicious and start doing what most of us desperately need to do more often:
Nothing.
There is something about arriving in the Cederberg that makes your shoulders drop a few centimetres.
At Keurbosfontein, that feeling is amplified by the hospitality, the food and the setting. You have time to relax, have a drink and get yourself ready for the next three days.
It’s a gentle beginning to what is going to be a pretty epic adventure.
Day 2: Wolfberg Arch, Gabriels Pass and Langkloof
Day two starts early.
Sunrise coffee. Breakfast. Boots on.
Then a short drive to the start of the trail.
The first objective is one of the Cederberg’s bucket-list landmarks: the Wolfberg Arch.
And it doesn’t disappoint.
The trail climbs towards the enormous rock formations and eventually delivers you to the Arch, where the scale of the landscape really hits home. We had perfect weather on our hike, which certainly helped.
We stopped for lunch beneath the Arch, taking in the endless views before heading towards Langkloof via Gabriels Pass.
And then came the swim, in an icy Cederberg rock pool.
From there, the trail winds down into Langkloof, where the experience changes completely.
Langkloof is a small, often-forgotten community tucked away in the heart of the Cederberg. This is where the BokPad becomes much more than a hike.
The local community hosts you, cooks for you and shares their home with you.
And there is something incredibly special about sitting down around a table with people you’ve only just met, eating a meal prepared for you in a place that has been home to their families for generations.
You aren’t simply passing through the Cederberg anymore.
You’re getting to know it.
Day 3: Rock art, waterfalls and roosterkoek
Wake up to the sound of a kettle whistling and the smell of coffee, for sunrise.
Not a bad way to start a hiking day.
Day three is a gentler, flatter walk, but don’t confuse that with boring.
The route takes you through the Langkloof community and past the new Langkloof Community Tented Camp before heading towards a spectacular cave.
Inside, you’ll find ancient rock art and a natural opening in the roof that lets the sunlight pour in.
It feels like a place designed for a story.
From the cave, the trail continues towards the Langkloof Waterfall.
And this is easily one of the best swimming spots in the Cederberg.
There is something wonderfully ridiculous about hiking through an arid landscape and suddenly finding a waterfall and a deep pool waiting for you.
So, obviously, you swim.
From there, it’s onwards towards Klipwerf.
But this is the BokPad, so expect a few surprises along the way.
I’m not going to give everything away, but let’s just say that freshly baked roosterkoek in the middle of nowhere tastes very, very good.
Klipwerf Camp is really special.
Wooden and stone cottages. A big boma fire. No roads. No crowds. No noise, just you and mountains.
The Keurbosfontein team are waiting with drinks and food, and once again, you realise that food isn’t just an added bonus on this hike.
It is a very important part of the experience.
Day 4: Following an old path through the mountains
Day four is the big one.
You climb onto a ridgeline on private property that is only accessible as part of the BokPad.
And the views are ridiculous.
On a clear day, you can see from the Kouebokkeveld across towards Heuningvlei, with layer upon layer of mountains stretching into the distance.
The landscape changes with every step, and if you’re hiking in the right season, the flowers add another layer of colour to an already spectacular landscape.
But what makes this section particularly special isn’t just the view.
It’s the history beneath your feet.
The trail was built by Mark Jansen and his team from Langkloof, following old routes that were used more than 100 years ago to move sheep and cattle from the Cederberg towards the Karoo.
Along the way, you can still see signs of this history, old beehives and traces of the annual migrations that once formed part of everyday life here.
You’re walking a route that people have been using for generations.
And then, almost before you realise it, you’re heading back towards Keurbosfontein.
Champagne awaits.
As does food.
There is something special about arriving back after three days and roughly 30km of walking, knowing you’ve seen a side of the Cederberg that most people never experience.
So you eat.
You drink.
You tell stories.
And you celebrate.
Day 5: Don’t rush
The final morning is deliberately slow.
More coffee.
More food.
A little more time to enjoy the mountains before packing up and heading home.
And perhaps that’s the best thing about the BokPad.
It doesn’t feel like you’re trying to squeeze an adventure into a weekend.
You have time.
Time to walk.
Time to swim.
Time to eat.
Time to sit around a fire.
Time to listen to stories.
Time to meet people.
And time to look up.
A trail with a bigger purpose
For me, this is what makes the BokPad so exciting.
The Cederberg doesn’t need another trail simply because we want another trail.
It needs experiences that help protect the landscape while creating meaningful opportunities for the people who live here.
The BokPad brings those things together.
It gets people into the mountains, but it also brings them into a community. It creates work, celebrates local knowledge and hospitality, and gives hikers a deeper understanding of a part of the Cederberg that is often overlooked.
And you get to do all of this while walking and eating some of the best food you’re ever likely to taste on a hiking trail.
The BokPad is an adventure, but it is also an invitation to slow down and experience the Cederberg differently.
