Welcome to the fairy village in the Amathole mountains of the Eastern Cape. We spent 5 days here and it completely stole our hearts and calmed our souls. Although relaxing is first prize, there are so many things to do in Hogsback as a couple or family.

This magical village is known to be loved by the “earthy folk” and hippies. We see it as a destination for anyone who loves nature and is seeking calm, simple wonders with fresh mountain air.

Top 10 Things to Do in Hogsback as a couple

One: Mindful walks through the labyrinth

Hogsback is home to one of the largest labyrinths in the world. You can find it at ‘The Edge Mountain Retreat’.

Two: Craft beer dates

We loved this friendly brewery in the main road. A great place to sit outdoors and enjoy a local craft beer tasting experience.

Three: Chasing waterfalls

We decided to walk down to the ‘Madonna & Child Falls‘, just one of Hogback’s many waterfalls. Located in the Aukland Nature Reserve, this is South Africa’s oldest forest. Our hike down was magically lush! We were lucky enough to spot the rare Samango Monkeys.

Further down you can walk to the ‘Big Tree’ (a 800 year old Yellowwood).

Four: Walks with the birds and fairies

During one of our walks we discovered the ‘Crystal Corner‘. An eccentric crystal shop and fairy garden. When in Hogsback!!

Spotting the small clay fairies, labyrinths and umbrella trees was quite fun, but our favourite part was the bird watching!

Hogsback is home to some of the last Cape Parrots in the world. They live in the tall Yellowwood Trees which are plentiful in this area. We spotted at least ten parrots while exploring this garden!

Five: Sunsets at ‘The Edge’

Out of all the things to do in Hogsback as a couple, this was our favourite! We stayed at ‘The Edge Mountain Retreat’ and walked to “the edge” every evening and morning.

These viewpoints are open to anyone who knows about them.

Six: Dates at the ‘Chocolate Shoppe‘

This ice cream/ belgium chocolate shop in the main road is everything, especially after a morning of hiking or exploring!

Hogsback is filled with so many of these cute shops! One worth visiting is the local pop-up at ‘The Edge’. Everything in this store is handmade by the locals that live in Hogsback.

Seven: Drinks with a view

We popped down to the ‘Away with the Fairies’ backpackers to check out their famous cliff bath. We soon realised it’s also a great spot to grab a cold drink to enjoy at their forest viewpoint.

Eight: Take a bubble bath in nature

Rudolph and I are always looking for romantic experiences during our travels. This private bath that overlooks an entire forest was one of our main reasons we added Hogsback to our South African bucketlist!

You just book your bath slot at ‘Away with the Fairies Backpackers’ reception and off you go. There’s a little rope you can put across the entrance pathway to ensure your privacy. We packed with our wine and bubbles – my excitement for this date was next level!

Unfortunately, when we got there we realised the bath was closed due to a severe drought that had hit the Eastern Cape. We completely understood their need to preserve water, but it was hard to not be disappointed.

We got over the initial disappointment and decided to poor drink and enjoy the bath views either way. It was still a really great experience.

Nine: Stay in a cosy, romantic cabin

We stayed in a chalet at ‘The Edge Mountain Retreat’. We loved our accommodation choice so much and actually cannot wait to return. Although basic, our chalet was warm and romanic. They are well spaced out so we felt very secluded.

The interior was quite old fashioned but it made it feel really cosy, especially with the indoor fire place. We spent a lot of time making food, playing cards and lighting candles!

There is a 3km ‘Bluff Scenic Trail’ which starts at this retreat. It makes for a nice morning stroll. On Saturday mornings at 8am is serves as the local Parkrun route.

Ten: Breathe in and enjoy the views

There are more things to do in Hogsback as a couple than what we’ve mentioned above.

We personally spent a lot of our four days here just relaxing. The village is so quiet and calm. After a busy few months of work we couldn’t have chosen a better destination to simply unwind and spend quality time together.

So when you come here, remember to schedule in lots of time to just sit and breathe in the fresh mountain air, together!

View our South Africa page for more on our favourite destinations.

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