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    Tsitsikamma National Park

    South Africa

    Tsitsikamma National Park

    National Park

    The Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park stretches along a steep rocky coastline between Nature's Valley and the mouth of the Storms River.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. South Africa
    7. Garden Route
    9. Tsitsikamma National Park
    The Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park stretches along a steep rocky coastline between Nature's Valley and the mouth of the Storms River. Dense primeval forest with Yellowwood trees extends here right to the ocean, and off the coast lies one of Africa's oldest marine protected areas. The park is known for the suspension bridge at Storms River Mouth and the multi-day Otter Trail.

    Sehenswürdigkeiten

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Blue Duiker Trail

    1Blue Duiker Trail

    A circular trail in the Storms River Mouth area, leading through dense coastal forest and less frequented than the path to the Suspension Bridge. Sturdy footwear is required, as roots and steps define the path. Another option is the Waterfall Trail on the first section of the Otter Trail.
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    Paul-Sauer Bridge

    2Paul-Sauer Bridge

    The N2 arch bridge spans the Storms River gorge over 100 meters high. At the rest stop on the west side, a short path leads to a viewpoint from which you can gaze into the forested gorge and at the bridge.
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    Big Tree
    Attraction

    3Big Tree

    An Outeniqua Yellowwood tree, approximately 36 meters tall, estimated to be around 800 years old. A short boardwalk leads from the N2 through humid primeval forest to the tree; a longer circular route follows.
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    Storms River Mouth Suspension Bridge

    4Storms River Mouth Suspension Bridge

    The park's most popular trail begins at Storms River Mouth Rest Camp: A roughly one-kilometer boardwalk leads along the rocky coast to the suspension bridge spanning the river mouth. From here, kayak and stand-up paddle tours also depart into the gorge. A daily fee is required for park entry.
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    Essen & Trinken

    Misty Mountain Reserve Lodge and Self Catering Chalets

    Holzgetäfelte Studios und Chalets mit 2 Zimmern, eigener Terrasse, Meerblick und Außenpool.
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    Forest, Coast and Hiking

    Hiking TrailsThe Otter Trail, stretching from Storms River Mouth to Nature's Valley, is one of South Africa's most famous multi-day hikes. Its five daily stages span roughly 45 kilometres along the coast, including several river crossings, only passable at low tide. Spots are strictly limited and often booked months in advance. For day visitors, shorter routes are available, such as the Mouth Trail to the suspension bridge or the Waterfall Trail.WildlifeDolphins inhabit the waters offshore, and Southern Right Whales pass by in winter. On land, you might encounter rock hyraxes, Cape clawless otters if you're lucky, and many forest birds like the Knysna Turaco.

    Getting There and Around

    The park is located on the N2 between Plettenberg Bay and Jeffreys Bay. A turn-off from the N2 leads to the Storms River Mouth Rest Camp; accommodation and restaurants can be found in the nearby Storms River Village. The western part of the park is accessible via Nature's Valley. Public transport does not operate within the park; you will need a car or a guided tour.

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    Nearby

    Storms River Village

    Storms River Village

    Storms River Village is a small village in the forest, near the mouth of the Storms River. It's the base for the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park and for adventures like Canopy Tours and Tubing.
    Nature's Valley

    Nature's Valley

    Nature's Valley is a small holiday village on the Garden Route, nestled between a lagoon, sandy beach, and the forest of the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park. There are hardly any shops, but instead peace and beautiful hiking trails. This is where the multi-day Otter Trail ends.
    Plettenberg Bay

    Plettenberg Bay

    Plettenberg Bay, or Plett for short, is the Garden Route's most popular seaside resort. Long sandy beaches, the hiking trails in Robberg Nature Reserve, and whales in the bay define the town.
    Garden Route

    Garden Route

    The Garden Route is the coastal stretch between Mossel Bay and the Storms River, a good 200 kilometers along the N2 and about four to five hours' drive east of Cape Town. Lagoons, ancient forests, long sandy beaches, and small seaside resorts like Wilderness, Knysna, and Plettenberg Bay make it the country's most popular self-drive route.
    Knysna

    Knysna

    Knysna is located on a large lagoon, its outlet to the sea formed by two sandstone cliffs, the Knysna Heads. Surrounding it are South Africa's largest continuous forests.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Unsplash, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI