The quaint little suburb of Schoenmakerskop is the home of the Sacramento Hiking Trail. With uninterrupted coastal views, it is one of my favourite spots in Port Elizabeth. With a few small and easily accessible beaches on the rocky coastline, it is a great place to fish, snorkel, enjoy picnics and for the kids to run around and explore. It boasts beautiful sunsets most evenings, the perfect place for sundowners with family and friends. There are only a few houses and a restaurant in the area, making it a great place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the coastline.
The Sacramento Hiking Trail is an easy to walk coastal trail through the Sardinia Bay Nature Reserve. It is 8 km long and a comfortable 3-hour walk with time to stop and enjoy the views. The trail is a popular activity for a family or group in good weather. Starting at the Sacramento cannon, the trail skirts the coastline, and returns slightly inland, through indigenous coastal dune bush. The area adopts the name Sacramento, after the wreck of a Portuguese galleon, that ran aground there in 1647, called the Sacramento. The cannon, salvaged from the wreck, can be seen at the start of the trail.
There are often whales and dolphins spotted along the route. Keep a lookout for some of the other smaller wildlife, like the scorpion in the gallery below. This one was aggressive, irritated and not impressed with us having a picnic near his home. Don’t forget to bring a costume (swimming gear), sunblock, a hat and some drinking water. You may also want binoculars for whale and bird spotting, as well as a warm top or windbreaker, in case the wind picks up. I suggest, as with most hikes to start in the early morning, as this is often the best weather, and avoids the midday heat. Hiking in a group is recommended, as the area is isolated.
There are several bird species in the area, both on the coast and inland sections. Look out for the old whale bones from a whale that washed up on the rocks a while ago. Take your time looking for shells on the beach, our kids spend hours scratching around in the shells. It is a reserve though, so leave everything as you found it, and don’t take anything home, except your litter. No fishing is allowed in the Sardinia Bay Reserve. As a family, we thoroughly enjoyed this hike and highly recommend it.