Experience the TsiTsikamma Forest

The Best of South Africa's Famous Garden Route on the East Coast

Mar 27, 2008 Sharon Lesley Davis

TsiTsikamma, in the heart of the Eastern Cape's Garden Route, is a place of staggering beauty incorporating ancient forests and special marine protected areas.

South Africa's Tsitsikamma Forest is the jewel of the Eastern Cape's Garden Route. It is place where ancient Outeniqua yellowwoods keep sentinel over the forest and flowing gorges remind us of the power of water and the origin of the word Tsitsikamma - place of water. Dark, tannin rich waters gush through meandering rivers to the protected shoreline. It is the perfect place for a quiet escape - or high adventure.

Tsitsikamma National Park

When the Tsitsikamma National Park was established in 1964, it became Africa's first marine reserve, preserving a narrow stretch of land with a spectacular rocky coastline that runs some 68kms from Oubosstand to Nature's Valley and meanders slightly inland to a remote mountainous region with high forests and secluded valleys covered in fynbos with deep river gorges cutting a path down to the pounding Indian Ocean.

Stretching 5.5km out to sea the park has a "no take" policy (including fishing) and hosts an underwater tail open to snorkellers and licensed scuba divers. The park conserves 11 percent of South Africa’s temperate South Coast rocky shoreline and provides a "laboratory" for research on endangered fish species.

Although Tsitsikamma boasts a magical world of inter-tidal life and reefs in its marine part, there is more to the park in the form of ancient and indigenous forest, delicate fynbos, steep gorges and sheer cliffs. The park is divided into two sections, De Vasselot (incorporating Nature's Valley) to the west and Storm's River to the east. These two sections can each only be reached via winding tar roads off the N2. There is no connecting road between the two, only South Africa's famous five-day Otter Trail hike.

Natures Valley

Natures Valley is the place to head to if you are looking for a quiet and secluded escape. There is a languid lagoon, long soft beaches and plenty of good walks, most of which start from the De Vasselot camp site 1km from the old fashioned village. Here you can listen to the whispers of ancient forests and admire the profusion of huge Outeniqua yellowwoods and hear the call of the Knysa tauraco.

There is a large variety of accommodation options ranging from camping through rustic forest huts to your basic B&B and self catering. You can spend leisurely days walking in the forests, fording the dark tannin-rich rivers to special picnic spots, or simply relaxing anywhere along 20km of pristine shoreline.

The Nature's Valley village has a small restaurant and trading store that also serves as an information bureau - 044 531 6835

Storm's River Mouth

Most people stop on the N2 at the Paul Sauer Bridge (more commonly known as the Storm's River Bridge) for a view up and down the gorge, but if you have the time, the 18km trip to the river mouth is well worth the trip. The dark Storm's River comes churning out of the deep gorge and crashes headlong into the ocean, spewing ocean spray.

Accommodation at the Storms River Mouth Restcamp (042 281 1607) is all well appointed with spectacular ocean views and there are a number of walks catering for all levels of fitness - from steep climbs up forested cliffs to see 800-year-old yellowwoods to a one-kilometre stroll along a board walk to the wiggly suspension bridge across the Storm's River mouth; look out for the musty Strandloper cave on the way.

There is also a three-kilometre hike along the start of the Otter Trail to a pool at the base of a 50m waterfall, as well as some of the most exciting adventure sports you can wish for. There's a swirling and drenching black-water tube ride down the Storm's River canyon, as well as guided hikes, mountain biking trails – even quad bikes and horse riding.

But the most exhilarating adventures are partly airborne. There's the world's highest commercial bungee jump, abseiling, and a zip wire canopy tour that whizzes you through the forest, 30m above the ground. (It is good to note that the canopy wires were erected without hammering a single nail into the trees).

  • Bloukrans Bungy Jump, just beyond the Tsitsikamma Forest Village. Descend a mind-blowing 216 meters in a mere seven seconds by taking the bungee plunge off the Bloukrans River bridge – 042 281 1458 / 082 231 3528.
  • Stormsriver Adventures offers black water tubing down the Storms River canyon to the sea, as well as guided hikes, scuba diving and snorkelling. If zipping through the forest 30 meters above the ground on an exciting canopy tour appeals to you – its available, along with marine tours and a journey into the past on the woodcutters trail – 042 281 1836.For Animal and Nature Lovers
  • Monkeyland, near The Crags, is open from 08h00 - 17h00 daily. Enjoy the informative and entertaining conducted 'safaris' within the primate sanctuary, visit the bird sanctuary and raptor centre, or brave crossing the longest rope bridge in the southern hemisphere – 044 534 8906.
  • Tsitsikamma Wolf Sanctuary, near Kareedouw, is open from 08h30 - 16h00 daily – 021 657 5859
  • The Big Tree, just before the Storms River Village – 042 541 1157
  • Khoisan Cultural Village in the Tsitsikamma Forest Village is open from 09h00 – 17h00 daily – 042 281 1458
  • Tsitsikamma Tourist Information – 042 280 3561

The copyright of the article Experience the TsiTsikamma Forest in Sub-Sahara Africa Travel is owned by Sharon Lesley Davis. Permission to republish Experience the TsiTsikamma Forest in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Zip wire fun - enjoying a canopy tour, Stormsriver Adventures Zip wire fun - enjoying a canopy tour
Lush green forest, Stormsriver Adventures Lush green forest
 
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