Tsitsikamma Mountain Trail
The Tsitsikamma Hiking Trail located in the Garden Route area of the southern Cape, is considered by many to be the country's most beautiful and rewarding hiking experience. The trail journeys through extensive patches of indigenous afromontane forest and mountain fynbos, where ancient river gorges and abundant rivers and streams continually remind hikers of the origins of the word Tsitsikamma. This mountain paradise is home to some of the finest specimens of South Africa's National Tree, the Outeniqua Yellowwood. Echoes of past giants such as elephant and buffalo can still be felt while clambering over the massive roots of these forest sentinels.
The Trail begins in Nature's Valley and ends 60-km further at Storms River Bridge or Village. This journey through the heart of the Tsitsikamma Mountains takes five nights and six days, with shorter variations (2-5 days) being possible, as each overnight hut has its own unique access route with safe and secure parking at the start.
The overnight accommodation facilities have been upgraded to an excellent standard allowing relaxation and comfort in magnificent surroundings. Each overnight hut has an adjacent lapa supplied with braai grids, cast iron pots and pans, kettles and washing up basin. There is both an undercover and outside braai/ fire-making area which are always fully stocked with firewood. The ablution facilities are far superior to most other hiking trails having two flush toilets, two showers (with hot water shower bucket) and wash basins.
The trail has recently been made more accessible to a wider variety of people than in the past. This is because equipment porterage has recently been introduced. Porterage allows hikers the option of having all their heavy equipment transported between overnight huts. Carrying only a day pack with the essentials means more space for other items not normally taken on mountain hikes, such as binoculars and camera equipment. More time for swimming, birding, tree and flower watching, photography and just playing and having fun in one of our country's greenest paradises. It also means cold drinks and fresh food supplies on arrival at overnight huts each day, allowing hikers the option of braaing or making pooitjiekos with cold beers and wine handy for the duration of the hike. (We have refrigeration and freezer facilities at the Trail Management Forestry Station). Hikers preferring not to walk between overnight huts can travel on the porterage vehicle.
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| General |
The Tsitsikamma Hiking Trail is a six day linear trail, beginning in Nature's valley and ending in the Storms River area of Tsitsikamma. It is in this part of South Africa, that the largest remaining stretches of indigenous afromontane forest can still be found. The name Tsitsikamma is of "Khoi-San" origin and refers to the abundance of clear and pure water in the area. Hikers will cross many rivers and streams on their journey through these mountains.
Old forestry service roads meandering through the mountainous terrain, provide access to all overnight huts, thereby making this a two - six day trail. All of these service roads have safe and secure parking at their starting points. |
| Camping | Each hut is supplied with bunk beds and mattresses accommodating a maximum of 24 hikers per night. Spacious balconies with undercover wooden table and chair combinations provide for a congenial patio setting.
Each hut has an adjacent cooking shelter/lapa and is supplied with braai grids, kettles, 2 cast iron pots, a large pan and washing-up basin. There is both an undercover and outside braai area at each lapa, affording hikers the opportunity to make a fire even in adverse weather conditions. Firewood is supplied at all overnight huts.
The ablution facilities at each hut have two flush toilets, two showers and a wash basin. A novel hot water shower-bucket is available at all five overnight huts. Clean, fresh water is readily available from the rain-tank taps and at basins. | | Hiking | The Tsitsikamma Hiking Trail is considered by many to be South Africa's best Hiking Trail. (Please contact us for more detailed information in this regard). | | Mountain Biking | Mountain biking on old forestry service roads to the three central overnight huts. Mountain bikers are then free to make use of the overnight facilities and go for scenic walks in the surrounding area. There are wonderful swimming opportunities right on the doorstep of each overnight hut. | | Mountaineering | The Tsitsikamma Trail journeys through magnificent and remote mountain regions. It is a hiking trail following a well maintained hiking path. There are magnificent mountain views and spectacular river gorge scenery. Afromontane forest and mountain fynbos are the dominant vegetation types. | | Swimming | There are magnificent swimming opportunities all along the trail. The river water has a characteristic whisky brown colour, and is perfectly safe for swimming and drinking. This colour comes from the leaching of tannins and compounds from surrounding vegetaion and soil. |
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| Targeted Activities |
Camping, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Swimming |
| Season Availability: |
All Year
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| Altitude: |
0-1000 meters |
| Area Size: |
25000 acres |
| Camping: |
Allowed in designated Camping Areas |
| Rescue Services: |
Mountain Rescue Services Present |
| Other Specifications |
Our tariffs are R60,00 per person per day for overnighting at any of the five huts. (There are special rates for group and school bookings during off-peak times as well).
A day hike along the Tsitsikamma Trail without overnighting will cost R20,00 per person per day. Should you wish your groups' equipment to be transported between overnight huts the cost will be R400,00 per hut for the first 6 people; R500,00 for 7 – 12 people, with an additional R35,00 per person thereafter. If you would like to drive to certain huts yourself, the cost will be R200,00 per hut. Guided day walks will be R400,00 per 10 people, with an additional R20,00 per person thereafter. (It is essential that reservations for guided day hikes are made at least two weeks in advance).
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| Starting Price: |
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Sorry, at this moment there are no services listed here. If you offer Mountaineering Services that target Tsitsikamma Mountain Trail then we invite you to join our Travel Partner Program and be the first to get your services listed here!
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