Philocaly – for the love of beauty

Sometimes we are reminded that small people can do big things and that just by stepping out your front door with the correct intention, you actually can make a difference.

This is what the Philocaly Trail Walk, a coastal stage walk traversing 100 kilometres of the beautiful KwaZulu-Natal coastline is all about.

Following last year’s resounding success the Philocaly Trail Walk will see participants walking along the coast from Mtunzini to Sheffield Beach from July 29 to August 2.

The coastal walk traversing 100 kilometres of the beautiful KwaZulu-Natal coastline was the brain child of Nikki Williamson who wanted to raise awareness of the province’s pristine coastline while also addressing the plastic threat to our oceans.

The Philocaly Trail combines Williamson’s two great loves – nature and walking.

She said the pollution threat to the ocean and the devastation caused to the coastline during the floods last year prompted her to do something to raise awareness and at the same time raise funds towards ocean conservation.

Each person who joins the walk contributes R250 per day.

Last year’s participants who walked the trail (‘Philocaly’ means The Love of Beauty) raised more than R60 000 which was shared between KZN Beach Clean Up, WildOceans and Breathe Conservation.

Similar to Spain’s Camino de Santiago, participants are responsible for their own overnight accommodation and can opt in or out whenever they please.

Each day the group will walk around 20km, working out to a total of 100kms.

However participants are welcome to walk just one or two days, or even just a few kilometres.

Dogs are welcome, too!

While a 20km walk a day might not sound too intimidating, Williamson said the energy expended while walking on the beach is 2.5 times the energy required for road walking.

Participants are encouraged to get training, and Williamson will be hosting training walks on the weekends leading up to the walk.

Entries will open on April 1. For more information visit the Philocaly Trail Facebook page or contact Nikki at 082 302 4401.

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