Goegap Red Route Hike

By Vicky · Published Sep. 26th, 2025 · Updated Sep. 29th, 2025

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This beautiful hike in Goegap Nature Reserve has gorgeous landscape, wildflowers and quiver trees, with two opportunities for shortening the walk.

Goegap Red Route Hiking Map

Location

The Red Route (and Yellow or Green Routes) start at the campsite in Goegap Nature Reserve. For more details on how to get there, see our Guide to Goegap Nature Reserve.

Tips

Don’t forget a sunhat and plenty of water.
The Red Route is 7.5 km (350 m climb), the Yellow Route is 6 km (270 m climb) and the Green Route is 5 km (200 m climb). They all start the same way, but the green and yellow route cut back earlier.
The path is not clear in all places, so get an offline hiking App such as Organic Maps.
Check out another hike near the reception, or our Guide to Goegap Nature Reserve.
Find more hikes in our South Africa Hiking Guide.

Goegap Red Route Hike

At the campsite you’ll see a hiking signpost showing the red, yellow and green routes. They all through the campsite, and along the path leading upwards out the back.

After about 300 metres, you reach a fairly steep section of granite rock. The route leads almost directly up here, with rocks delimiting the path. The rock is very grippy, so it’s actually quite grippy, but it could be slippery on the rare occasions when it rains.

At the top of the steep section, the path heads right and slightly downwards towards the valley floor. After about 800 metres, the path bends left and begins to ascend again. The trail heads through beautiful landscape, full of beautiful wildflowers in spring.

Shortcuts and Reaching the Top

Walking in Goegap Nature Reserve, Northern Cape, South Africa

After making a bend beneath some rocks, the Green Route heads off on the left along a small path. Take this if you want a shorter route. If not, continue further and upwards towards the bare rock at the top of the hill. There are great views from here. This is also where the Yellow Route bends off around the left side of the hilltop. Take this path to shorten the hike somewhat.

If you’re sticking with the Red Route, take the trail leading around the right side of the rocks. The route continues through a slightly rocky area and begins to head downwards. Again, there’s more beautiful landscape and views of the expansive valley far down below.

Quiver trees and sunset in Goegap Nature Reserve on a hike

Sunset in northern cape with quiver trees

Soon, the hiking trail bends left not far from the valley, and the route contours along the hillside to meet the path you were on before, just above the campsite. Turn right when you reach the junction, and you’ll soon be back at the campsite and the end of the Goegap Red Route Hike.