Leopard Trail Founder's Hike with Linden Booth
An exclusive hike with the trail's founder.
What makes the Leopard Trail more than just a hike?
As a relatively new trail, the Leopard Trail has become one of SA’s most sought after trails, with bookings completely sold out a year in advance. This is because the trail is more than just a hike: – it is a story and vision deeply interwoven into what is possible for a landscape and its community. When hikers walk the Leopard Trail, they can feel there is something different about this hike.
The Founder’s Hike is an exclusive opportunity for your family, group of friends or work team to hike the Leopard Trail with Linden and hear about the vision that started it and all the stories that made it happen. Tap into the passion and connection Linden has to the Baviaan’s and its people, and live aspects of the trail not experienced by most hikers – visit secret caves along the trail to see San paintings and sit quietly in the places where people lived thousands of years ago, walk a portion of each day in silence to connect to the landscape and environment, experience the excitement of downloading the data off the leopard camera’s positioned along the trail, and sit around the fire at night and share trail stories.
“The Leopard Trail itself is exciting, thought provoking, and tough – though walking it with Linden adds and exponential dimension otherwise unavailable. You will take away a canvas of memories that will colour your life forever.”
“Linden is deeply committed to the idea that people matter, and relationships matter. The types of conversations we naturally ended up having with him over the 4 days left us all thoughtful about our own lives, and our group came away feeling a deeper connection with each other. In his own quiet way he really impacted all of us.”
“I recently walked the Founder’s Hike for a friends 50th. It was a rare privilege to walk with Linden, and such a treat to hear the stories of how things happened and came about and also to be shown some hidden gems”
Get to know Linden
This video is a great introduction to Linden. In this interview with the Ozone Podcast team, Linden explains what the “Wow” factor – that is core to the Leopard Trail- is all about.
“Walking with Linden revealed the story behind the spectacular trail. It is a story of how he transformed a little visited wilderness into one of the SA’s most popular trails, and in so doing, how he supported a community of former farm labourers to become managers of the enterprise with title to their own land. For a good story – and a solid dose of feel-good inspiration – walk the trail with Linden for a once in a lifetime experience. “
“Hiking in one of the true wilderness areas of South Africa, guided by Linden with his deeply routed love for the Baviaans, should be on your bucket list. Life changing and inspirational! And to spend it with close friends makes it all the more worthwhile. “
“I’ve walked the Leopard trail 3 times now, what a privilege to get out into the untouched wilderness of the Baviaans Kloof. On this recent hike, I was lucky enough to walk the trail with Linden. Linden is the motivation and mastermind behind the trail. To chat with him along the way and hear some of the stories of the early days scouting the route, starting over after fires which destroyed almost everything including some centuries old habitat, and his amazing vision to uplift the people of the Baviaans (some of whom have never known anything but the harsh beauty of this rugged environment). Doing the trail the first time was incredible, and then doing it with Linden just added a whole new dimension to the experience. Thanks Linden for sharing. “
Price and Reservations
The Founders Hike is an exclusive experience that is only available on three dates in a year. The hike is catered, and follows the same logistical operations as a normal Leopard Trail Hike. A booking is for a single group of up to 8 people, and costs R80 000. All bookings are handled privately, please contact Emma on 076 921 9570 or emma@gobaviaans.co.za to find out availability or put your group on the waiting list.
About Linden
Linden is a dad, husband, business and social entrepreneur, and executive coach. As a social entrepreneur Linden founded his first Environmental Not for Profit Organisation 30 years ago, and his second, the Another Way Trust (which runs the Leopard Trail), a decade later. He is passionate about people, and the connection people have with each other, which has expressed itself through his 2 decades of coaching and personal development facilitation experience working with individuals and executive teams. Linden currently owns and manages a variety of businesses, though spends as much time as possible in the Baviaans at Cedar Falls Nature Reserve, and on the Leopard Trail.