Footwear—or the lack thereof—didn’t stop more than 70 children from Nyanga from summiting Kalk Bay Peak on Sunday, thanks to the efforts of the Nyanga Hiking Club.
Kalk Bay-Muizenberg Peak/All Trails/Keagan Wiltshire
Founded to bring mountain adventures to children who don’t usually have access to such opportunities, the club continues to grow in impact and numbers, according to IOL.
According to organiser Dani Saporetti, “Depending on the bus and the desire,” they usually take up to 75 children on their monthly hikes.
The young hikers come from schools, aftercare programmes, or hear about the initiative through word of mouth. The group spans a range of ages and backgrounds, all bound by one thing: a chance to explore nature.
Saporetti, who fell in love with hiking a decade ago, said her inspiration was simple: to share the mountain with those who might never otherwise experience it.
“I always thought even though the mountain’s free, a guide to do it safely, water, snacks, transport, all those things cost, and they all add up,” she explained.
While the logistics aren’t always easy, she believes these outings should be part of everyday life for children in the area.
“These kids in Nyanga look at the mountain every single day, and now they have the opportunity to get onto it and experience nature,” she said.
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What started as a personal mission has since grown into a collaborative effort. Saporetti said she met like-minded people on the trails—including hike leader Justin Ashley, who helped bring the vision to life.
Now, they plan monthly hikes and even add other nature-based experiences when possible. “We’ve also done beach cleanups and swum in tidal pools,” she said. “The kids love swimming, so we often will hike and then go to a tidal pool and swim.”
The biggest ongoing challenge? Transport. The club operates entirely through sponsorships and donations, often piecing together what’s needed through community generosity.
“A shout out to Pick n Pay in Constantia, who have just recently come on board to give us 167 sandwiches a month. That’s been a huge relief,” Saporetti said.
“I’ve got a man by the name of Yaseen at Giant Hyper in Cape Gate who, since the start, has donated water and chips.”
With these donations, the team also buys fruit such as oranges, bananas, and apples to keep the children fuelled on the trails. But Saporetti has her sights set on more.
“I’ve got a huge dream to get sponsorship for new trainers for the kids, because not all of them have nice shoes,” she said.
And beyond better shoes, she hopes to offer even more memorable experiences this year. She also affirmed that she would love to get the children in the cable car and the aquarium.
Through community support and unwavering passion, the Nyanga Hiking Club is not only helping children climb mountains—it’s helping them see a world of possibility.
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