Thaba Trails: Where Your Soul Melts Faster Than You Can Say 'Winter Hikes Rule!'

Can anyone please enlighten me as to why group hiking is so much more popular in summer than winter?

I’m new-ish to hiking, so maybe I missed the memo - but I genuinely thought extreme heat would discourage large gatherings of humans voluntarily climbing hills.

Nope—it's the complete opposite. I can barely keep up with all the hikes happening......when the sun’s trying to fry us alive! .

Why?

Who started this?

No better time to dive into the delight that is Thaba Trails with the Boksburg Hiking Club.

Oh my soul—well, actually, my soul packed its bags and checked out about 3 km into the 10 km hike.

Probably found shade somewhere sensible.

Why, you ask? Because it was 33°C, the sun was out for blood, and the inclines felt like they were personally designed to test your will to live.

Scenic Views vs Slow Roasting

Was it scenic enough to make the suffering worthwhile?

Sure, for about two kilometers, if you squint real hard and pretend the rest of it wasn’t just nature's way of slow-roasting you alive.

It’s the kind of hike that’s perfect for people who don't want to travel far - but don’t be fooled, this isn’t some casual stroll through the neighbourhood.

.

Would it have been less soul-crushing in cooler weather? Maybe.

The Never-Ending Hike Illusion

This is one of those hikes where you’re convinced it’s over… repeatedly.

You round a corner - this must be it.

It’s not.

Group Hiking: Misery Loves Company

To be fair, the group aspect does help.

There’s something comforting about collectively suffering.

Everyone’s equally confused about why they signed up, and there’s a quiet solidarity in shared regret.

At one point, we seriously considered climbing a fence just to reach a pool on the other side.

That’s where we were mentally.

Team bonding - but make it desperate.

The Sweet, Delusional Finish

Then you sit down at the cafeteria. You get a drink. Maybe food - and suddenly develop selective amnesia, convincing yourself it was “actually beautiful.”

You know, when you swear "never hiking again," then conveniently forget and end up doing it all again.

The establishment is top-notch, offering loads of amenities and activities.

But the hike? Eh, it was okay.

AREA: Mulbarton

COST: R 40—very reasonable

DIFFICULTY

Lots of inclines, nothing technical,

LENGTH:

10 km (but with the heat, felt like 20)

TIME:

4 hours... because stopping to coax your soul back into your body takes time

ELEVATION

204 m

MARKERS: Excellent, except for the one spot where we may have been hallucinating from heat exhaustion and took a little "detour"

HIGHLIGHT:

The cold bottle of water at the end.

Seriously.

ABLUTIONS

SAFE FREE PARKING:

AMENITIES:

Plenty to keep you entertained - if you're still standing, that is.

The food at Just Darling? Top-notch.

The name alone earned points, but the food sealed the deal.

ON A FINAL NOTE

It’s one of those hikes where you’ll curse it while you’re on it and praise it when it’s over,