Hiking Wolfberg Arch in South Africa: an overnight hiking guide

Aliasgher
Oct 31, 2025
5 min read

Every serious hiker has that list of epic trails they absolutely need to tackle. The Wolfberg Arch in Cederberg is definitely one of those legendary must-do adventures for anyone hiking in South Africa or the Western Cape. It's tough, thrilling, and takes you through some seriously stunning landscapes that'll leave you speechless. Your reward at the finish? Getting to see one of the most incredible natural rock formations we've ever been lucky enough to witness. So here's everything you need to know to make this amazing journey happen.

Planning Your Adventure for an overnight hike in South Africa

You've got options for how to approach this trail. If you're into stargazing and epic sunrise views, the overnight route to the arch is the way to go - that's what we chose. But if you're planning a single-day adventure, everything we're sharing here will still help you out.

Before anything else, you'll need a proper backpack loaded with all your essential hiking equipment. Since this was our first overnight trail experience, we decided to rent everything from a place called Scuttle. They've got all the gear you could possibly need with a really straightforward booking system. They carry different packs designed for men and women, and we really recommend picking based on your gender since the fit is totally different. Aliasgher went with a 55L men's pack and Saleha chose a 45L women's pack, and together they handled almost 19 kgs of hiking equipment. Since we were splitting a tent between us, the 55L pack carried the tent while everything else got divided up. But if you're tackling this solo, definitely go with the 55L option. Here's what we packed:

Tent: Different sizes work for different group sizes. The larger it is, the more people can fit inside. Checkers Outdoors in South Africa has some really budget-friendly choices, but Scuttle has rental options too.
Backpacks: Osprey, North Face, Cape Storm, and First Ascent all make different models. We used Osprey and North Face for our hike. They're pretty pricey though, so renting makes sense if you're not doing these big trips regularly.
Water: We brought 4L each - this covers drinking plus cooking something like instant noodles. First Ascent makes a 3L hydration bladder that works great for these kinds of adventures.
Food and snacks: Biltong, protein bars, energy gels, and simple cooking meals are all smart choices
Sleep gear: A sleeping bag rated for really cold temps (-8 degrees), an inflatable pillow, and an air mattress are absolute must-haves. Checkers Outdoors has lots of affordable options, while First Ascent and Outdoor Warehouse stock other great gear.
Warm layers: You won't need heavy jackets during the day, but once evening hits, you'll want every warm piece you can get. We got thermal base layers that really help with the cold. Insulated jackets, especially down ones, are perfect. Warm socks and gloves are other items that'll be incredibly useful for keeping the chill away.
Sun protection: Get SPF 50+ to stay protected. There are tons of affordable brands like Nivea and Every Sun. We really like Techni Block - it's not sticky and does the job well. Our only complaint is that the pump can be temperamental.
Camera equipment: We're serious about this - the scenery during and at the end of this hike is absolutely breathtaking. You need quality camera gear to document it, so a DSLR is ideal, but other equipment like Insta360, GoPro, and a high-quality phone camera are essential for capturing what you're experiencing. You're not going to do this trail regularly, so make sure you get the photos right the first time.
Extra items: A massage ball for muscle soreness, trekking poles to reduce impact on your knees, a hat for sun protection, spare socks to keep your feet fresh and dry, change of clothes for day two of hiking.

Overnight hike South Africa Wolfber Arch

Permits You'll Need

This trail requires two separate permits to access. The Cape Nature conservation permit costs R200 per person and you can arrange it online by emailing reservation.alert@capenature.co.za. Before entering the protected area, there's an additional R100 permit you'll need to purchase from Sandrift Reception. This one can only be bought and collected on your hiking day, since they want to monitor how many people enter the area to prevent overcrowding at the summit. The turnoff to Sandrift is a bit tricky with not many signs, but look for it on your right once you're in the reserve. They'll provide you with a PIN for the gate access - this is crucial because you literally cannot get through the gate without it.

Trail Duration and Timing

If you're doing the overnight version, the backpack creates an extra challenge since the weight will slow your pace and put strain on your hips. The trail also includes some serious uphill sections that take time to navigate with a heavy pack. It took us 7 hours to reach the arch and another 7 to come back down. Without the pack though, this hike can definitely be completed in one day. We got a late start because our vehicle had issues and we missed the permit turnoff - ah, the adventures of outdoor adventures (haha!) - but we really recommend getting there early and beginning your hike before 10 am if you can manage it.

The Famous Cracks

One more thing that makes this trail absolutely unmissable is the rock cracks you need to navigate through. You can choose between the narrow and wide crack routes. If you have any issues with tight spaces, the narrow route definitely isn't for you. It's also nearly impossible to get through the narrow cracks with a big backpack - many hikers drop their packs, squeeze through, then return to retrieve them. In our opinion, that's way too much hassle, so just take the wide cracks for overnight trips. The views are stunning either way, and the whole experience is worth every step you take.

Getting There

The trailhead is in Cederberg, about 2.5 hours from Cape Town. We recommend taking a vehicle with lots of cargo space to fit all the gear bags you'll be carrying. There are several rest stops along the route for snacks and meals. Bring a spare tire and other road trip essentials. Check your tire pressure, oil levels, and fuel up before heading out. You can also camp at the trailhead if the morning drive seems too long.

Happy Hiking!

Have you done this overnight hike in South Africa?