Visit the extraordinary Tsitsikamma – the perfect location for adrenaline junkies, adventure seekers and lovers of the peace and quiet.
Visit the multi-dimensional Tsitsikamma National Park.
‘Escape the ordinary’, ‘what is life but one grand adventure’, ‘let’s wander where the WIFI is weak’. If these quotes resonate with you then it’s time to experience the extraordinary Tsitsikamma for an exciting adventure. Tsitsikamma is a Khoi word meaning place of abundant or sparkling water and sits on a 200m high plateau that stretches from the Bloukrans River in the west to the Tsitsikamma River in the east. It is the perfect location for adrenaline junkies and adventure seekers and even those who seek out peace and quiet of nature and wilderness.
The Tsitsikamma National Park is an area of the Garden Route National Park , on South Africa’s southern coast. It is a multi-dimensional destination that encompasses dramatic coastal scenery, reefs, rivers, lush forests, deep gorges and local vegetation. This National Park is a hiking and water sports paradise where you can experience the wonders of the outdoors and encounter unique marine life. There are many different activities to partake in, but the Tsitsikamma National Park’s top five sightings are:
● Dolphins and porpoises who play and surf in the breakers
● The African Black Oystercatcher – a large wader and resident breeder on the rocky coast and islands of southern Africa
● The Knysna lourie – a large green bird with a short hooked bill and brilliant red wings
● The Cape Clawless Otter – the second-largest freshwater species of otter
● The blue duiker – the smallest antelope in Southern Africa
The Tsitsikamma National Park has two rest camps, one at Storms River Mouth and the other at Natures Valley. Storms River Mouth Rest Camp is ‘the place of much water’. The heartland of the park stretches some 5km to the sea, protecting a wonderland of inter-tidal life, reef and deep-sea fish. Natures Valley Rest Camp is situated in the De Vasselot on the banks of the Groot River, about 30km from the town of Plettenberg Bay and about 40km from Storms River rest camp. This camp is a bird watcher and hikers paradise with a variety of trails to choose from.
There is a multitude of activities for visitors of the Tsitsikamma National Park, one of them hiking trails of varying lengths, the most famous of them being the Otter Trail hiking adventure that takes 5 days and 4 nights to complete. Conservative walkers have a “slackpacking” route they could choose, called the Dolphin Trail which includes full portage. There are many other hiking routes like the Tsitsikamma hiking trail that is a 2 to 6 day hike amongst beautiful mountain scenery also with the option of equipment portage.
Other activities within Tsitsikamma Park including diving, snorkeling, river adventures, whale watching, kayaking and tubing. Why not try your hand at the highest bungee jump in the world at Bloukrans Bridge Bungee or do a tree-top canopy tour. A sublime way to relax and enjoy the stunning scenery is to take a cruise on the ‘Spirit of Tsitsikamma’ or loosen up and catch some sun on the small beach, and swimming pool.
There is a multitude of accommodation in Tsitsikamma to choose from. Self-catering seaside accommodation, manors nestled at the foothills of the Tsitsikamma mountains, lodges where ocean and forest meet and cottages set on 235 hectares of unsullied landscape with magnificent dunes, woods, river deltas, beaches, wetlands, lagoons and home to free-roaming horses and extensive birdlife.
If you’re looking for an adventure for the whole family and to escape the ordinary, visit Tsitsikamma, the hiking and water sports paradise of South Africa.
Find out more about Tsitsikamma and start planning your fun-filled adventure
