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Basic Trail Description:

The Cannibal Trail is situated 5km from Clarens on the road to Fouriesburg. It is 300km from Johannesburg and 280km from Bloemfontein. This beautiful farm is situated in the Rooi and Witte Berg Mountains of the Eastern Free State. Legend has it that a cannibal was active in this area and kept his captives in one of the many caves, where he fed them for later consumption.

The first night is spent in a neatly restored cow barn with electricity. The second night one sleeps in an overhang cave with rock art; a true wilderness experience.

The route is a circular. It takes you through varying landscapes, from distant mountain views, to river walks, forest ambles to boulder hopping in and along gorges with numerous picnic spots and a swimming place. On the 1st day (9 km) the trail passes 5 overhang caves with rock 'kraals' where there are still remains of bushman paintings in some of them. The 2nd day (7 km) offers breathtaking views of the Maluti's, as well as Horeb, Woodhouse, Generaalskop, Visierskerf and George's Pimple.

Thereafter one descends and walk through a valley along a mountain stream where the trail crosses the Little Caledon River by meanss of a suspension bridge. The last part of the trail leads one through the shade of a poplar forest. Before you cross the river for the second time, you can leave your backpack at the crossing to climb up to the spectacular Mushroom Rock..