Tsitsikamma is a Khoi word meaning “place of abundant or sparkling water”, and it may be a mouthful to say, but Tsitsikamma is something you won’t want to miss on your trip to South Africa.
The region is considered to be the end of the Garden Route and forms the biggest section of the Garden Route National Park. For many centuries, the forest was left relatively untouched, mainly due to its inaccessibility. It was only really when a road was cut through to the Keurbooms River in the west that the forest really became under threat. Not only were the highly-prized indigenous trees cut down, but in many areas were replaced with fast growing alien species such as the pine and gum trees. These have a terrible effect on the slower growing indigenous trees, as they have a fast water consumption rate and in essence, starve the other trees.
The area was proclaimed a Marine National Park in 1964 (the first in Africa) and ultimately as part of the Garden Route National Park in 2009.
The park covers approximately 80 km of coastline, and stretches from the Bloukrans River in the west to the Tsitsikamma River in the East. To the north it is overlooked by the imposing Tsitsikamma Mountains (a continuation of the Outeniqua Mountain Range) and to the south the beautiful warm waters of the Indian Ocean.
The closest sizeable towns are Plettenberg Bay in the West and Cape St Francis in the East, although Tsitsikamma Village should be able to handle your most basic needs.
The Tsitsikamma region is pleasant throughout the year. However, if you are considering doing the Otter Trail, it’s best to go between September and March, as you do walk along the coastline and cross a number of rivers. Getting wet in the cold is not much fun.
Temperatures range from 15 – 28 degrees centigrade in summer to 3 – 17 degrees in winter. The cool breezes off the ocean ensure that it does not get particularly hot in summer, but winter mornings can be quite chilly.
The wettest months are November to February, but even this does not mean continual rain (unlike some countries in the northern hemisphere).
The Tsitsikamma region is a haven for the active and, as well as those who seek a bit more adventure - the #thrillseekers. What really makes it special, though, is the incredible beauty of pristine indigenous forests, rushing rivers and the crashing waves of the ocean.
There are more than enough activities to keep children entertained from tube-riding down the river to trying your hand at riding a Segway (one of those weird two-wheeler chariot things).
For the naturalist, Tsitsikamma is heaven on earth and unlike anything else in the world. The forests are so thick that new species of plant are discovered all the time, and they in fact, shelter a number of indigenous elephants (although nobody knows exactly how many).
Hikers (and non-hikers) have a whole menu of trails available from gentle trails of 1.8 km through the fynbos to the world-renowned (and tough) Otter Trail which covers 46km from Storms River Mouth to Natures Valley.
