Tsitsikamma National Park, located on the Garden Route in South Africa, is the perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts. It’s a beautiful stretch of unspoiled nature where you can easily spend three days enjoying yourself. Below we have listed the things do in Tsitsikamma, how to get there, and where to stay. We spent five full days here and have listed a few hidden gems and important tips for Tsitsikamma below.
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Hiking in Tsitsikamma, the main thing to do
If you’re looking for things to do in Tsitsikamma, hiking is undoubtedly the number one activity. With four beautiful hikes ranging from 1 hour to 5 days, there’s something for everyone.
The must-do hike in Tsitsikamma: Storms River Mouth Trail
The Storms River Mouth Trail, also known as the Suspension Bridge Trail, is the most famous hike in Tsitsikamma. It takes 20 to 30 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the three iconic suspension bridges.
The view from the suspension bridges and the sound of the raging sea below you are impressive. You can see the waves crashing against the rocks across from you and look right through the clear water. After crossing the last suspension bridge, don’t turn back right away—instead, look closely for a small path that leads uphill. Follow this path, and you’ll arrive at the most beautiful view in Tsitsikamma. Chances are you’ll have it all to yourself.
Waterfall Trail
Another great hike in Tsitsikamma is the waterfall trail. This one is a bit more challenging, though. At 6 kilometers round-trip, it’s not that far in terms of distance. Still, it takes a total of 3 hours to complete the round-trip.
You’ll be climbing and scrambling over the rocks along the coast for much of the way. This is relatively manageable if you’re in average shape and don’t have any balance issues. We’ve seen people ranging in age from 8 to 70 do this hike. The hike is beautiful and definitely worth the effort. At the end, you’ll arrive at the waterfall. The water is dark brown/black, but it’s safe to swim—though we can tell you from experience that it’s very cold.
Be sure to pay close attention to your surroundings during the hike. We’ve actually spotted a large otter, lots of aardvarks, and even dolphins! It’s best to take this hike at low tide. If necessary, check the tide times at the SAN Parks office in Tsitsikamma.
Blue Duiker Trail
A lesser-known hike is the Blue Duiker Trail. In about 2 hours, you’ll hike to a small waterfall and the Agulhas lookout point, walking through the fynbos and along small streams. Along the way, you might—as you’d expect—come across a blue duiker. This is a small species of antelope that’s very shy. So the chances of seeing one aren’t very high, but keep your eyes and ears open to spot one.
The 5-Day Otter Trail Hike
Finally, you can also go on a multi-day hike in Tsitsikamma: the Otter Trail. Over the course of 5 days, you’ll cover 42 kilometers along the rugged coastline. You’ll need to bring everything you need yourself: a sleeping bag, food, and drinks. You can find more information and arrange a permit on the official SANParks website. Please note that permits often sell out months in advance, so be sure to plan your visit well in advance.
The Waterfall Trail overlaps with the first few kilometers of the first day of the Otter Trail. An extra nice bonus: we also spotted an otter on the Waterfall Trail—completely by chance.
Start: Storms River Mouth
End: De Vasselot Rest Camp (Nature’s Valley)
Distance: 45 km in five days and four nights
Fitness Level: You need to be reasonably fit; it can be challenging
Otter Trail daily itinerary
Day 1: 4.8 km, approx. 2 hours of hiking, from Storms River Mountain to Ngubu Huts
Day 2: 7.9 km, approx. 4 hours of hiking to Scott Huts
Day 3: 7.7 km, approx. 4 hours of hiking to Oakhurst Huts
Day 4: 13.8 km, approx. 6-hour hike to André Huts
Day 5: 10.8 km, approx. 5-hour hike to Nature’s Valley
Total distance: approx. 45 km
Water Activities in Tsitsikamma
In addition to the beautiful hikes, a water activity is a must-do in Tsitsikamma. You can choose between two activities: kayaking or tubing. As far as we’re concerned, one of the two is enough because you’re going to the same area.
Kayak & Inflatable Tube Tour
You get into the kayak in the ocean and then paddle leisurely toward the gorge. Rocks several meters high tower above you. When the gorge gets too narrow, you switch to the lilo. This is a kind of small air mattress that you use to continue further into the gorge.
Along the way, you’ll marvel at the grandeur of nature, enjoy an interesting explanation from the guide, and have the chance to swim and jump off rocks. The kayak & lilo tour costs about €45 per person and can be booked online here. It takes about 3 hours.
Blackwater Tubing in Tsitsikamma
Instead of the kayak & lilo tour—or you can do both if you want—you can also go tubing. You can choose between the 3-hour tour or the 6-hour tour. We chose the 6-hour tour, and it was absolutely awesome. You sit on your own tube and float downstream through the canyon. Along the way, you see the landscape change, sometimes go through rapids, and can jump off the rocks. The guides are really fun and share lots of interesting facts.
Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour: Ziplining Over the Rainforest
The canopy tour is a nice change of pace from the strenuous activities in Tsitsikamma. All you have to do here is enjoy the zipline and look around in wonder, easy, right? Even Noëlle, who’s afraid of heights, had a blast here.
It’s a wonderful way to explore Tsitsikamma. On these 10 ziplines, you’ll zoom through the air at dozens of kilometers per hour while watching the rainforest fly by beneath you. The guides ensure your safety and that everything runs smoothly. You can book online at Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour to reserve a spot.
ATV Riding in Tsitsikamma
Riding a quad bike is always fun, but when you do it in a deserted nature reserve where no other tourists go, it feels even more adventurous. The guide lets you ride as fast as you want while taking fun photos and videos. You can choose to ride together on one quad bike or each have your own. You’ll find the quad bike rental spot to the left of the entrance to Tsitsikamma National Park. You don’t need to make a reservation in advance.
Mountain biking or Eezi scooter
You can also explore the Tsitsikamma area by mountain bike or scooter. You can rent a mountain bike with or without a guide, but the Eezi scooter is available only with a guide. You’ll find the rental shop for both mountain bikes and the Eezi scooter across from Marilyn’s 60 Diner in Storms River.
Bungee Jumping from the Bloukrans Bridge
Technically speaking, this isn’t part of Tsitsikamma anymore, but we couldn’t resist mentioning it anyway. You’ll find the Bloukrans Bridge between Tsitsikamma and Plettenberg Bay. The Bloukrans Bridge is the highest arch bridge in Africa and the highest bungee-jumping bridge in the world. Not afraid of heights? Then this is a must-do in South Africa. It’s best to book the bungee jump online in advance to ensure you can go during your time slot.
Even if you don’t want to go bungee jumping, it’s worth stopping here for a bit. There’s a nice little café here with a great view of the bridge. Every 15 minutes, you’ll see someone jump off, and you’ll hold your breath. By the way, you can’t stop on the bridge itself—it’s “just” a highway. So you really have to go to the little café to take a photo and watch the bungee jumpers. It’s a nice stop if you’re on your way from Tsitsikamma to Plettenberg Bay or vice versa. Check out the time slots here and book right away.
Big Tree Tsitsikamma
The final thing to do in Tsitsikamma is a visit to the Big Tree, just outside Stormsriver. This tree, which is hundreds of years old, is enormous and stands in the middle of a beautiful forest. It’s a lovely stop if you have some time to spare, or if you’re driving to Tsitsikamma from Plettenberg or Jeffreys Bay.
Entrance to Tsitsikamma National Park
The entrance fee for Tsitsikamma National Park is quite high, about €18 per person. You pay this at the office at the park entrance. We therefore recommend heading to the park early in the morning so you can make the most of your time and avoid the crowds. Do you have a Wildcard? If so, admission is free.
Not all activities in Tsitsikamma take place within the national park. Only the four hikes mentioned above and the kayak & lilo tour are within the national park, so you’ll need to pay the entrance fee for those. For tubing, you start outside the national park and end up inside it, but you don’t have to pay an entrance fee—which saves you some money. You also don’t have to pay an entrance fee for quad biking, mountain biking, or the canopy tour.
Please note that as a day visitor (i.e., if you are not staying in the national park itself), you may only be in the park between sunrise and sunset. To be on the safe side, check at the entrance to confirm the specific hours, as the park is open longer in the summer than in the winter.
Things to do in Tsitsikamma in 1 Day
Do you only have one day in Tsitsikamma? If so, here’s how we’d plan it:
First thing in the morning, hike the Storms River Mouth Trail across the suspension bridges. This takes 1 to 2 hours. When you return to the parking lot, you can enjoy breakfast or lunch at the only restaurant in Tsitsikamma National Park: Cattle Baron. Afterward, you can choose between the kayak & lilo tour or hiking the Waterfall Trail. You can easily combine these two hikes in a single day.
Where to stay in Tsitsikamma or Storms River?
Tsitsikamma is the name of the entire national park. Storms River is the nearest village, located a 15-minute drive from Tsitsikamma. If you’re camping, we recommend staying overnight in Tsitsikamma National Park itself, specifically at Storms River Mouth. You can book a campsite, which is truly beautiful, through the SANParks website. We had a wonderful time here for 5 days with our rooftop tent.
For hotels and guesthouses, Storms River is the place to go. There are a number of good, affordable options to choose from here. You’ll also find a few restaurants and breakfast spots in Storms River.
Continuing Your trip from Tsitsikamma
Tsitsikamma is located on the Garden Route, between Jeffrey’s Bay and Plettenberg Bay. If you’re driving from Tsitsikamma to Plettenberg Bay (or vice versa), we recommend setting aside a full day for the trip. There are so many beautiful places to stop along the way.
From Tsitsikamma, first drive to the Bloukrans Bridge and watch the bungee jumpers while enjoying a drink. Then continue on to Nature’s Valley. This is a beautiful stretch of unspoiled nature. Relax on the beach, take a refreshing dip, and above all, marvel at the silence here. Then drive on to the Nature’s Way Farm Stall, where you can enjoy a delicious lunch and, with a little luck, see calves and goats. You can also buy various homemade products here.
Next, continue on toward Plettenberg Bay. You can choose to stop at Birds of Eden and Monkeyland, but that will easily take up two hours. You can also visit Bramon Wine Estate to get a taste of the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek wine regions. Or enjoy the beautiful Keurboomstrand and the delightful restaurant at Nice Neighbor Cafe. There’s a market at Nice Neighbor Cafe every Wednesday morning, but it’s highly recommended to visit on other days as well. We’ve listed all our tips for Plettenberg Bay here for you.
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