Last Updated on February 12, 2024 by Travelationship
Our road trip of South Africa’s Garden Route continued from Jeffreys Bay to Tsitsikamma National Park. I knew absolutely nothing of this area. I had somehow skipped researching the area between Jeffreys Bay and Gansbaai. We were going to wing it through this area, but we were sure we had a full gas tank!
Entering Tsitsikamma National Park
As we drove the GR, we stopped to take in all the glorious views—amazing green forests, mountains, cliffs, waterfalls, rivers, and endless coastlines for miles. Parts reminded me of the California coastline, and other features a mix of the Washington/Oregon coastlines. The GR was better than I had expected. Maynard had found this area in a magazine, but I think we decided on this area after passing the road advertisements for Zip Lining and Bungee Jumping. However, we chose to stay in the Tsitsikamma National Park. It didn’t matter because we did, and it was awesome.
We stopped into Tsitsikamma Falls Adventure, a zip-line oasis, to grab a brochure about their waterfall zip-lining costs and ask some questions. They were so helpful. Not only did we sign up for an afternoon of zip-lining, but they also raved about the rest camp, which made our confidence in this place shoot through the roof.
Tsitsikamma National Park Rest Camp
The rest camp has a few different accommodation options – a tent camping area, a space for RVs, duplex-type cabins, and multiple living cabins. Almost all accommodations have direct ocean views and easy walking distance to all the trails. If you like to camp and are looking for an active, outdoorsy holiday, I can not recommend this place enough.
We stayed in a duplex cabin (oceanette) at the end of the coast, so we had views of the suspension bridge area and the ocean coastline. Parking is free with a rental. The cabin we stayed in was huge. It had a full kitchen, dining area, sitting room with TV, a separate bedroom, bathroom, and an ocean-facing deck.
The grounds house a small grocery store, tourist shop, and restaurant. I recommend stocking up on food and water before entering the park because the limited food choices and prices are a bit high. During your stay, expect to see many birds and critters, especially chubby marmots, everywhere. We read that it was possible to see dolphins, porpoises, and whales off the coast, but we didn’t see any significant ocean life.
We Go Hiking
The hiking trails within the park range from easy to difficult, with the more challenging courses moving into the cliffs above and away from the coast. Pack sturdy hiking shoes and carry water with you. We hiked the suspension bridge trail and some of the Otter Trail. Both were excellent hikes. The suspension bridge hike was easy. The Otter Trail is pretty easy from the campsites to the right before the 1st waterfall. There was some boulder climbing and steep areas before the waterfall. We were told that the Otter Trail does get more complex in places as you move further along the trail. Give it a try and go as far as you feel comfortable; it is worth the effort. We plan on returning soon to hike the entire Otter Trail.
If you get tired of hiking, relaxing, and watching the crashing waves, within a short drive of the park were great zip-lining courses, the world’s tallest bridge bungee jump (we will be posting about these soon), restaurants, shops, scuba diving, snorkeling, canoeing, tubing, and kayaking.
Heather’s Thoughts
Our experience at the Storms River Mouth RestCamp was AHHmazing. Hands down one of our favorite adventures – EVER. It was romantic, adventurous, relaxing, and beautiful, wrapped up in one little area. My favorite part was sitting on the deck with a glass of wine, watching and listening to the crashing waves.
[Matthew’s View]
While sitting in our hotel lobby in Port Elizabeth, I spotted a book on the Garden Route in South Africa. I began thumbing through the pictures and spotted one that immediately caught my eye. It was an image of a dramatic coastline amplified by sharp rock formations and a suspension bridge leading over a river emptying into the ocean. I decided we had to see this place. I showed Glinda and announced I wanted to go there as I stabbed at the photo with my finger, indicating my decision’s importance. She returned a smile and said OK. Little did we know, but this would be one of the most beautiful places we had ever seen.
I don’t know how to pronounce it, but it was called Tsitsikamma National Park, synonymous with extraordinary. The N2 carves a path straight through the park and the Garden Route. The road to Storms River Mouth Rest Camp, where we stayed, branches off the N2 and cuts through a heavily wooded area towards the coast. Over the last mile or so of the drive, you drop off a steep rim and find yourself in a relatively narrow strip of land boxed in by the ocean on one side and massive cliffs on the other.
Our Tsitsikamma National Park Arival
There were two main groupings of cabins and camping spots, followed by an administrative building and a combination general store/ restaurant, which also housed the lodging desk. We were able to secure one of the cabins directly off the ocean. I highly recommend you do the same for two reasons. 1) Falling asleep listening to the ocean crashing into the rocks was relaxing. 2) Opening the sliding glass door onto the ocean first thing in the morning and then returning to bed with your partner was heavenly.
Hiking in Tsitsikamma National Park
There are four options for hiking when staying at the rest camp: The Mouth Trail (2km), The Lourie Trail (1km), the Blue Duiker Trail (3.7km) or The Waterfall Trail (6km) Additional Trail Info. The Waterfall Trail is a specific section of the much larger Otter Trail that leads from the rest camp roughly 3 km into view of the Jerling River waterfall and then returns to the starting point. We completed two of the four trails: The Mouth Trail and The Waterfall Trail. The Mouth Trail takes you to a suspension bridge over the mouth of Storms River and originates behind the rest camp restaurant. This was a pretty easy trail to hike due to the small amount of elevation change and the fact that it was a wooden walkway.
The Waterfall Trail shadows the Otter Trail, which connects to the easternmost parking lot of the facility. This trail requires you to scramble over rocks and pick your way along the coastline but will reward you with a beautiful waterfall about 3 km in. The Otter Trail is a 42.5-kilometer trail that runs through the Garden Route, taking you over various terrains and providing gorgeous views. To complete the whole trail, you must check with the park service here, as a permit is required. If you plan on hiking the Otter Trail, do your research.
Logistics
Money: South Africa uses the Rand (ZAR), and the best exchange rate is given at the ATM. You would be advised to carry a mixture of cash and cards. Cards will be accepted almost everywhere, but if the occasion calls for money, ATMs are not as readily available outside the major metropolitan centers. Keep foreign transaction and conversion fees in mind when making transactions. Travel cards with no foreign transaction fees are advised for all international travel.
Recommendable: Heck Yeah! Perfect for singles, families, or couples. This place is a haven if you love cabin living or camping, nature, hiking, and general outdoor adventure. Pack sturdy hiking shoes, water, and your camera.
Have you been to Tsitsikamma National Park? Would you visit?
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