Hiking the Otter Trail: A Day by Day Account of South Africa’s Most Iconic Trail
This is an iconic trail that people book for years in advance and I can fully understand why.
The Otter trail will quite literally and figuratively take your breath away. This is an iconic trail that people book for years in advance and I can fully understand why. The trail is 45 km over 5 days and runs along the eastern coastline from Storms River Mouth to Natures Valley in the Garden Route of South Africa. The Otter trail is rated as a moderate hike, with many steep inclines and declines through the rugged coastline and lush Afrotemperate forest. It’s a bucket list kind of hike and undoubtedly worth every single uphill.
Day 1: The waterfall
The first day of the Otter trail is 4,8 km and starts with a steep descent through the forest until you reach the coast. The trip down can be a bit of a shock if you aren’t used to carrying your backpack; by the time I reached the ocean my knees were shaking. A short walk later and you arrive at a shimmering black waterfall that plunges into the ocean. The waterfall is one of the best swimming spots that you will encounter along the Otter trail so rest your legs and take your time here. We packed an indulgent lunch for the first day which we ate at the water’s edge after a swim in the dark cool water. Don’t leave your food in the open, an unassuming seagull took off with one of our croissants never to be seen again. The first camp is set in the forest and is a short walk from a rocky beach. This is the best time to whip out that bottle of wine and the extra food you packed for the first dinner; you are going to want to lighten your bag for the next day.
Source: conservationmag.org
Related Articles
