Hanglip Forest Reserve Day Hike

Hanglip, which translates to ‘hanging lip’ in Afrikaans is located just outside Louis Trichardt in Limpopo. This area is known to provide some of the most informative birding in the entire province, making it the perfect hike for budding enthusiasts. Don’t forget to pack your binoculars and camera!

Both the forest and the mountain forms part of the Hanglip Forest Reserve, which is a combination of commercial pine plantations, raw bushveld and natural forests. The characteristic ‘lip’ serves as a landmark, but also boasts with some of the highest peaks of the entire Soutpansberg.

There are picnic spots along the way which is perfect for some more bird-spotting, and one can’t help but be transported by the sounds of the mountain streams and call of birds throughout. Be sure to take enough UV protective gear as the forest tends to provide a micro-climate of its own during the summer, offering cool shade and moss-covered rocks to use when gathering your breath or stopping for a snack.

As a lengthy day hike, this trip can easily be extended to two days, however, we recommend that experienced hikers tackle the +-15km stretch by starting early and pacing themselves moderately throughout.

Not sure what to pack? Get the comprehensive kit list for winter day hikes here.