Tsitsikamma National Park

Tsitsikamma is the dramatic, wave-battered coastal heart of South Africa’s Garden Route: dense indigenous forest and fynbos rolling down into sheer ravines, where the Storms River cuts a dark gorge before spilling into the Indian Ocean. Proclaimed in 1964, this coastline became the first Marine National Park in Africa and remains globally significant for its long-term protection of intertidal habitats, reefs, and temperate coastal ecosystems. It’s also one of the country’s most iconic “high-impact, low-effort” parks: you can get world-class scenery, short hikes, and serious adventure activities in a single day—while still having the option to go deep with multi-day trails.

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The Storms River Mouth area is the main access point for day visitors and overnight guests, pairing rugged seascapes with forest boardwalks, viewpoints, and the park’s landmark suspension bridges. From here, the Storms River Mouth Trail (about 1 km / ±1 hour) leads you through indigenous forest to the famous bridge system and key viewpoints; the bridges span a combined 77 metres and form part of a circular route option along the rocky coastal cliff. The mouth area is also a hotspot for marine sightings—dolphins are often seen in the breakers, and southern right whales visit seasonally along this coast.

For hikers, Tsitsikamma scales from “easy win” to bucket-list commitment. The park’s headline trek, the Otter Trail (42 km over 5 days), starts at Storms River Mouth and ends at Nature’s Valley, staying close to the pounding surf while rising onto coastal plateaus and dropping into river gorges. If you want a taste without the full logistics, the Waterfall Trail (6 km / 3–4 hours) follows the first section of the Otter route to a waterfall that plunges into a deep pool before flowing into the sea—beautiful, but more strenuous on uneven coastal terrain and best planned with tide and timing in mind.

Tsitsikamma is also built for adventure: guided kayaking and lilo trips on the Storms River Gorge are well-known, and boat excursions operate depending on sea conditions. Whether you’re stopping for a quick suspension-bridge loop or building a multi-day itinerary around the Otter, this park delivers a rare combination: accessible infrastructure, raw coastline, and protected marine life in one compact, unforgettable stretch of the Garden Route.