Otter Trail
Storm's River Mouth near Plettenberg Bay

The Otter Trail is undoubtedly the best known and most popular of the South Africa hiking trails. And the Otter trail must rank alongside the best trails in the world. The trail follows the spectacular Eastern Cape coastline from Storms River Mouth to Natures Valley in the Tsitsikamma National Park.

The Otter Trails runs through the Tsitsikamma National Park which stretches for 80 km along the scenic southern Cape coast and 5,5 km out to sea. The Storms River Mouth rest camp, at the start of the Otter trail, provides overnight accommodation and has a shop and a restaurant, information centre, swimming pool for resident visitors, caravan and camp sites. Accommodation for the nights prior the and on completion of the trail, is not included in the otter trail reservation and should be reserved separately. This tip for Otter trail hikers is one that nearly everyone gets caught by. Should they require accommodation the evening before they start hiking they should contact Merle  a good recommendation is Natures Valley Guest House. The accommodation is very reasonable and you don't have to worry about organising a lift to your car. The Parks Board is charging us quite a bit for accommodation the night before and you still need to organise your own lift back to your cars! 

The Otter Trail

This famous Otter trail - flagship of hiking trails in the parks - traverses 42 km of rugged coastline, with the booming breakers of the Indian Ocean on the one side and fynbos and indigenous rain forest on the other, crossing 11 rivers on route to Nature's Valley. The five-day trail with four overnight stops run from the Storms River Rest Camp to Nature's Valley. The Otter trail starts just west of the oceanettes at the western end of the Storms River rest camp and is clearly marked with blue otter signs and painted otter spoor in rocky areas.

There are two overnight huts at each of the overnight stops. Each contains sleeping bunks with mattresses for six persons. Barbecue facilities and chemical toilets are provided. Firewood is left at the roadside from where it has to be carried to the huts. Water is available at the huts or in nearby streams. Hikers are advised to fill their water bottles at the streams they cross. They have to carry the essentials, such as gas stoves, cooking utensils, crockery, cutlery and sleeping bags, themselves. Otter Trail hikers should be reasonably fit as the Otter trail follows a rugged coastline with steep inclines. Several rivers and estuaries also have to be crossed. No person should hike alone. A minimum of four people is recommended. Weather conditions should always be taken into consideration as it could change rapidly. Reservations should be made long in advance because of the popularity of this trail, this trail is a real winner and booking should be considered about a year in advance. Direction: Nearing the Paul Sauer Bridge over Storm’s River, a signpost on the N2 indicates the turnoff to the entrance of the Tsitsikamma National Park (approximately 11 km).