I’m booked – Otter Trail, South Africa

by site editor Rick McCharles

I’m making my first pilgrimage to the hiking Mecca of South Africa.

One of our top 10 coastal hikes worldwide.

Otter Trail April 6-10th, 2013

The Otter Trail is a hiking trail along the Garden Route coast of South Africa and is named for the Cape Clawless Otter which occurs in this region.

… widely regarded as one of the finest in the world and stretches from Storms River Mouth in the east to Nature’s Valley in the west, is 26 km long as the crow flies and 41 km as the hiker walks.

Walking the trail takes 5 days, and the 4 nights are spent in comfortable huts with superb views. The route is located entirely within the Tsitsikamma National Park, which protects an 80 km long strip of coastal mountains, forest and beaches.

… an extremely scenic landscape, never straying far from the shoreline, but often climbing steeply and then descending to the beach or a river crossing. …

Jens Niere’s trip report video gives a good feel for what I have to look forward to.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Some serious water crossings.  😐

Skurka was there, too. (VIDEO)

• DAY 1: Storms River Mouth to Ngubu Huts – 4.8kms – 3 hours
• DAY 2: Ngubu Huts to Scott Huts – 7.9kms – 6 hours
• DAY 3: Scott Huts to Oakhurst Huts – 7.7kms – 4 hours
• DAY 4: Oakhurst Huts to Andre Huts – 13.8kms – 8 hours
• DAY 5: Andre Huts to Nature’s Valley – 8.3kms – 3 hours

It’s tough to get a hiking permit. But by applying solo, and being flexible on start date, I was able to nab one in high season only a couple of months in advance.

total cost – 1348.60 Rand ($150)