The Otter Hiking Trail
Length: 5 days.
Terrain: Coastal rocky paths with river crossings.
Difficulty: 7 out of 10 due to steep climbs and descents every day.
Max group size: 12 people.
The Otter Trail is regarded as one of the premier hiking trails in South Africa and the world. Covering 42 kilometers and taking 5 days to explore some of the most extraordinarily beautiful landscapes imaginable running through the rugged Tsitsikamma National Park coastline on the Garden Route near Plettenberg Bay.
Following the yellow Otter footprints painted along the route, you will experience the breathtakingly beautiful terrain along the coastline. Crossing 11 rivers along the way, and on day four crossing the Bloukrans River at low tide, where swimming is sometimes required (Download a tides timetable here).
A limit of 12 hikers a day keeps this nice and ‘personal’. Minimum age is 12 and requires being able to hike around 14 kilometers a day over steep up and down terrain.
WHERE TO SET OFF
Ensure you have your reservation papers and medical certificate handy for when you arrive at Tstistikamma National Park reception. If you have a Wild Card, take it along for free entrance and daily conservation fees. After registering, you will head to the Otter Trail hut nearby to watch the video (about 30 minutes if you watch all of it).
The hike starts here! It is no longer down at the coast, for those of you who did it a long time ago. The new start is from the top hut near the entrance to the park. Day trippers use the old portion of the 1st day hike to the water fall, but may not go further along the trail.
BRIEF OVERVIEW
The trail is steep up and down, but well maintained.
At the overnight stops, there are 2 huts which sleep 6 hikers each on three bunk beds with thin mattresses. There are communal areas with braai places with steel grids. Firewood is stacked under the huts. It’s a good idea to take a few firelighters along, as the wood can tend to be a little moist from the sea air.
A single flushing toilet and cold water shower at each stop. Take along your own toilet paper.
Rainwater tanks provide drinking water, which is apparently safe and potable. If you are unsure, use purification tablets. Water along the way should be safe to drink from the smaller streams/rivers, but not the bigger ones, like Lottering or Bloukrans.
Cell phone signal is patchy, but you should be able to find signal at higher points.
You will have to keep a sharp eye out for the elusive otter itself, as it is a very shy animal.
Booking
See Contact section for all these details. Don't forget that I can shuttle you to and from Otter Trail making your experience all the more enjoyable and hassle free.
Use the menu on the right to find out what each day has in store for you.
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