SOUTH AFRICA OUTDOORS

The Tsitsikamma Trail is a southern Cape hiking paradise, journeying through extensive indigenous afromontane forest and mountain fynbos. Ancient river gorges and abundant rivers and streams remind us of the creative power of water and the origins of the word Tsitsikamma. This is an enchanted world where echoes of past giants such as elephant and buffalo can still be felt. Some of the finest specimens of South Africa’s national tree, the Outeniqua yellowwood, keep sentinel over the forest canopy while hikers clamber over their enormous roots beneath.    

Beginning in Nature’s Valley and ending 60-km further at either the Storms River Bridge or Village, this six day, unidirectional trail takes hikers through the heart of the Tsitsikamma Mountains. Shorter variations (2,3,4 or 5 days) are possible as each of the five overnight huts has its own unique access route with safe parking at the start.

Optional equipment porterage (slackpacking) now provides hikers with the chance of having all their equipment transported between overnight huts, allowing the luxury of carrying only daypacks on each day’s journey. This makes the trail accessible to a wider range of people and provides all with more time for swimming, photography, birding and other activities usually limited by time or weight constraints. It also means fresh food and drinks each night at the overnight huts, allowing hikers to bring a variety of goods not normally going into the backpacks. Field guides and binoculars are definitely recommended along this exciting and unpredictable journey.

Many of the forest giants are labeled with their tree names and hikers can have much fun with guessing and identification games along the route.

Other activities now permitted include vehicular and mountain bike access to certain overnight huts and informative guided day walks.

We also provide a transport service for hikers between huts and various other points along the trail.  

ACCREDITATION:
The Tsitsikamma Hiking Trail was South Africa’s first officially accredited hiking trail. (It may possibly be the world’s first officially accredited hiking trail as well).
It is accredited by The South African Trail Owners Association (SATOA) as a trail:

      ● In a pristine environment,

      ● With standard to luxury accommodation,

      ● With a moderate - difficult grading,

      ● With excellent trail facilities.

Location:    

The trail’s starting point is in the Devasselot Restcamp of Tsitsikamma National Park which is situated in Nature’s Valley.

This can be easily found by traveling along the R102, - follow the clearly marked signposts to Nature’s Valley from the N2. If approaching from the west (Plettenberg Bay side), the Nature’s Valley turn-off will be to your right a short distance after the Kurland Estate entrance. If approaching from the east (Storms River Village), the Nature’s valley turn-off will be to the left immediately after going through the N2 toll-gate.

The Devasselot Restcamp is situated adjacent to the R102 and is clearly marked with large green and yellow signage.

Directions to any of the other four trail starting points can be easily obtained through contacting the MTO Ecotourism office in Tsitsikamma.  

The Tsitsikamma Trail porterage team will meet your group at any of these starting points, and a brief talk with regard to safety, river-crossings, porterage procedures and so forth will then take place.

Food and drinks:

We have refrigeration and freezer storage capacity at the Lottering Forestry Station. Your group is therefore welcome to bring along foodstuffs and drinks requiring freezing or refrigeration during your journey in the mountains. This allows the luxury of bringing meats, vegetables, cheeses and a variety of drinks and so on.

Please place the different food/ drink items for each different night in separate containers/ cooler boxes before handing the items over to us.

Please ensure that each different container is clearly marked with regard to when required on which particular evening/ day.

Please remember to purchase all food and general hiking supplies prior to your arrival at Nature’s Valley, as the local shop only stocks basic supplies.