The Tsitsikamma Trail is a Southern Cape hiking paradise, journeying through extensive
indigenous afromontane forest and mountain fynbos. Ancient river gorges and abundant rivers
and streams continually remind us of the creative power of water and the origins of the word
Tsitsikamma. This is an enchanted world where echoes of past giants such as elephant and buffalo
can still be felt. Some of the finest specimens of South Africa’s national tree, the Outeniqua
yellowwood, keep sentinel over the forest canopy while hikers clamber over their enormous roots
beneath.

Beginning in Nature’s Valley and ending 60-km further at either the Storms River Bridge or Village,
this six day, unidirectional trail takes hikers through the heart of the Tsitsikamma Mountains.
Shorter variations (2,3,4 or 5 days) are possible as each of the five overnight huts has its own
unique access route with safe parking at the start.

Optional equipment porterage (slackpacking) now provides hikers with the chance of having all
their equipment transported between overnight huts, allowing the luxury of carrying only daypacks
on each day’s journey. This makes the trail accessible to a wider range of people and provides all
with more time for swimming, photography, birding and other activities usually limited by time or
weight constraints. It also means fresh food and drinks each night at the overnight huts, allowing
hikers to bring a variety of goods not normally going into the backpacks. Field guides and
binoculars are definitely recommended along this exciting and unpredictable journey. Many of the
forest giants are labeled with their tree names and hikers can have much fun with guessing and
identification games along the route.

Other activities now permitted include vehicular and mountain bike access to certain overnight
huts and informative guided day walks. We also provide a transport service for hikers between
huts and various other points along the trail.

ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES:

The trail's overnight accommodation facilities have been upgraded to an excellent standard with
truly magnificent views. Relaxation in comfort can be enjoyed at each of the five overnight huts.
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.
Additional firewood at overnight huts can be pre-arranged on request. (There is sufficient firewood
in place for cooking and showering at each hut, - this request refers to additional wood for other
reasons).

Along the route little contact is made with the outside world, except for the odd forestry activity
here and there. Baboon, vervet monkey, large-spotted genet, bushpig and bushbuck are often
encountered along the route and at overnight huts. Leopard, caracal, honey badger and blue duiker
also occur, but are seldom seen. The forests provide ideal habitat for lesser seen bird species,
such as rameron pigeon, narina trogon, sombre bulbul, forest buzzard, and colourful sunbirds and
flycatchers. The fynbos harbours elusive endemics such as Victorin's warbler, protea canary and
the Cape siskin.

ACCREDITATION:

The Tsitsikamma Hiking Trail was South Africa’s first officially accredited hiking trail. (It
may possibly be the world’s first officially accredited hiking trail as well).
It is accredited by The South African Trail Owners Association (SATOA) as a trail:

• In a pristine environment,
• With standard to luxury accommodation,
• With a moderate - difficult grading,
• With excellent trail facilities.

The trail is a Green Flag accredited trail http://www.trailinfo.co.za/hiking/tsitsikamma/index.html

Location:

The trail’s starting point is in the Devasselot Restcamp of Tsitsikamma National Park which is
situated in Nature’s Valley. This can be easily found by traveling along the R102, - follow the
clearly marked signposts to Nature’s Valley from the N2. If approaching from the west
(Plettenberg Bay side), the Nature’s Valley turn-off will be to your right a short distance after the
Kurland Estate entrance. If approaching from the east (Storms River Village), the Nature’s valley
turn-off will be to the left immediately after going through the N2 toll-gate. The Devasselot
Restcamp is situated adjacent to the R102 and is clearly marked with large green and yellow
signage.

Directions to any of the other four trail starting points can be easily obtained through contacting
the MTO Ecotourism office in George or Tsitsikamma.