HIKING TRAILS AND WALKS - THE GARDEN ROUTE

The entire Garden Route is a paradise for hiking with some of the most spectacular hiking trails in the world, through forest, fynbos and along its pristine cosatline.

Some of the well know trails in the Garden Route include the Otter trail, The Tsitsikamma Hiking trail, Outeniqua trail and Natures valley trail

This five-day trail was the first official trail to be opened in South Africa and is one of South Africa's most famous hiking trails. The trail meanders through an unspoilt coastal stretch of the garden route in the Tsitsikamma National Park. The trail takes 5 days and, as this hike is extremely popular, reservations for it need to be made well in advance, preferably a year.

The trail starts at Storms River Mouth and ends in the prestine Nature's Valley.

Bookings :

Email : bridgetb@sanparks.org

Telephone : 012 426 5111

The Outeniqua hiking trail is situated in the Outeniqua mountains between George and Plettenberg Bay in the Garden Route. The main features of this trail are the beautiful Knysna forests with their numerous bubbling streams cascading through glades of Tree Ferns and the Cape Fynbos that the trail traverses along the mountain ridges. The trail in total covers a distance of 106.5 Kms and there are eight overnight huts provided for the hiker.

Bookings :

SA National Parks

PO Box 3542, Knysna, 6570

Tel.+27(0) 44-302-5606

Fax +27(0) 44-302-5627

E-mail cathyv@sanparks.org

The Tsitsikamma Hiking trail is situated in the mountains of the coastal region of the Eastern Cape and is a 6-day linear trail, starting at Natures Valley and ending at the Storms River Bridge or village. The trail passes through extensive patches of indigenous mountain forest and fynbos. The mountains form the watershed for a myriad of streams and rivers, many of which are the source of the rivers that gush into the sea along the popular Otter Trail. There are people, in fact, that do the Tsitsikamma and the Otter Trails as a combined trail and for those who have the time, this option should be considered.

Bookings :

Telephone 044 874 4363 Fax 044 874 6397

e-mail: ivy@cyberperk.co.za

Harkerville Coastal Hiking Trail

Knysna

Starting Point : Harkerville Foresty Station

End : Circular Route

Distance : 26.6 km

Rating : Difficult

Permit : Forestry office - 044 382 5466

Features : forest, coast and fynbos