trails, culture & exploration
Cape Town,
South Africa
Trail Adventure
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Lobo Adventures invites our tribe of global co-wanderers to humanity’s genetic birthplace -- AFRICA, where we will awaken our inner invincibility.
For good reason, many call Cape Town, South Africa the greatest city in the world--also known for the lion-spirit of Nelson Mandela. Unconquered by racism, hate, and his prison cell of 27 years on Robben Island, Mandela took inspiration from the beauty of Table Bay and the poem "Invictus." It famously roars the sentiment of our quest:
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole…
…I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
Cape Town has EVERYTHING it takes to feed a hungry soul--high design, rhythmic beats, pulsating life, deep history, and perfect weather. But what makes Cape Town so unique among its international peers is its over-the-top natural beauty. It is home to the iconic Table Mountain, two converging oceans, Stellenbosch vineyards, great white sharks, The Cape of Good Hope, and most remarkable of all--South Africans themselves.
We make base camp at Ocean Gulf Resort in the picturesque foothills of Chapman’s Peak and the great coastal highway, (reminiscent of California’s Highway 1). Noordhoek Beach is just a short walk from home, whether by flip flops down the street or by horse hooves through the dunes.
Daily nourishment consists of poolside morning mindfulness/ gentle movement; delicious, healthy meals (with some un-healthy options too, of course!); sweaty trail excursions (hike or run) led by Chris or Susie; night-time happy hours in the tree house; great conversations and guided reflections by the fire pit with some extraordinary people.
The cultural bedrock will be a boat trip to Robben Island where Mandela was jailed. Here our tour will be led by a former political prisoner. In the come-back spirit of Mandela, who masterfully used the sport of rugby to unite his nation, we too will employ the magical power of physical challenge to unleash our inner lion pride.
The physical climax of our journey will be a super-challenging trail hike/run, up-and-over Table Mountain for one hell of a picnic view. (Or, if you wish, there is also the option to take a cable car.)
The Location: Noordhoek, Cape Town, SA
Noordhoek is a beach-town suburb of Cape Town known for its vineyards, horse farms, rustic cafes and laid-back way of life. Chapman's Peak drive, which cuts through the town, is one of the country's most stunning scenic drives, offering striking mountain and ocean views.
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The Lodging: Ocean Golf Guesthouse
The accommodations are set in two acres of natural terraced gardens on the stunning Chapman’s Peak mountainside with breathtaking views over the Atlantic Ocean and the white sands of Long Beach (only a five-minute walk away). The guesthouse is a villa-style home with accompanying thatched-roof huts and apartments. It has two pools, 9-hole putting green, game room, tree-house deck and extensive gardens in a peaceful, secluded setting.
The Inclusions: Basically Everything
We want you to be able to dive deeply into the adventure of South Africa, so we've taken care of the details. As experienced professional running and wellness coaches, we are excited to help you discover a new level of physical power. Not only will we coach you through the adventures, but we will make sure the following is covered: airport transportation, 8 nights of lodging at Ocean Golf Guesthouse, all breakfasts, almost all lunch/ dinners (free day is the big exception here), shuttling for our adventures, Robben Island tour and a sunset dinner at Cape Point Vineyard.
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The Exertion: Moderate-Challenging
Though everything will be OPTIONAL, physical movement is a major aspect of this adventure. We expect to have a thorough mix of adventurers who are interested in either daily hiking or trail running. We will provide various options for exertion each day, including for our physical climax = CHALLENGE day on Table Mountain.
Most of our guided trail excursions will be done with time blocks instead of absolute mileage requirements. But, expect to be moving at least 3-5 miles per day with the option to do double digits each day, if desired. In addition to the daily staple of our trail time, we will lead morning movement rituals as well as other sessions to help the body recover.
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What to Expect: General Itinerary
Saturday--Travelers arrive morning-afternoon, evening welcome reception
Sunday--Late morning trail adventure, afternoon picnic & sunset dinner at local winery
Monday--Full-day adventure to Victoria Harbor, boat ride & tour on Robben Island & Lion's Head trail/ picnic
Tuesday--Noordhoek village & beach, afternoon trail adventure, Table Mountain prep pizza party
Wednesday--Sunrise "challenge day" on Table Mountain with evening pool party & celebration bonfire
Thursday--Free Day with options for rest, pool/beach time, Kirstenbosch gardens, "township" tour, Hout Bay, Cape Winelands, horseback riding, shark cage diving, golfing, paragliding, bike riding, architectural tours & whatever your heart desires
Friday--Adventure to The Cape of Good Hope & closing ceremonies
Saturday--On to other travel or airport departures
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Your Tribe: Connected & Personal
We are keeping our journey to SA very small (max of 15 participants) to ensure personal attention with each adventurer. On a week-long trip like this one, we appreciate the power of a group connection as well as the need for alone time. We believe unique fruits can come from a tribe that coalesces but we also want this adventure to fill you up personally. We promise to provide a balance of both.
Your Responsibilities: Getting There & Extras
Flights--We know everyone has their own timing for travel so we think it's best to meet us in Cape Town. We will be arranging airport pick-up for most of the day on 3/10/18. Transportation to Ocean Golf Guesthouse outside of the provided pick-up window is up to you. We also recommend buying travel insurance.
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Personal Extras--alcohol (except for our winery night), additional tipping, activities before/after programming, personal purchases
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Free Day--The transportation and activities on this day will be up to you. You are more than welcome to hang at the Guesthouse, beach, etc. if you don't want to add cost.
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Trail Hiking & Running Gear---We will send a recommended (not required) list of gear to bring for our trail adventures.