World → Africa → South Africa → Otter
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One of the best hikes in the world is the
Otter Trail
Sometimes called Otter Trail – Tsitsikamma or Otter Trail – Garden Route
The Otter Trail along the Tsitsikamma coast is probably the most popular hike in the country. Lush forests, rugged shorelines, mountain streams and waterfalls and fragrant fynbos make this a special one. It’s strenuous, with lots of ups and downs …
AT A GLANCE
- one of our top 10 coastal hikes in the world
- Storms River Mouth to Nature’s Valley
- 42km
- 5 days, 4 nights
- clean huts, no tenting
- permits are difficult to get as only 12 hikers start each day. December and Easter holidays are highest demand.
- Recommended to book 12 months in advance. (Because folks book so early, it’s often possible to get a last minute cancellation spot.)
Why We Like This Hike
- gorgeous cliff top walking, returning to sea level to cross many rivers
- side trips down rivers for swimming recommended
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- you can swim in the ocean, as well
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- consider bringing a snorkel
- named after the elusive otter, which is found in fresh water and in the sea.
- rich variety of bird and animal life including Cape Clawless Otter, Seal, Caracal, Genet, Leopard, Duiker, Bushbuck, Bushpig, Badger, Vervet Monkey, Baboon, Dolphin and Whale.
- there are two huts and a single toilet at each overnight stop. Each of the two huts contains 6 beds with mattresses – hikers must provide their own blankets/pillows/sleeping bags etc.
- cold showers are available at all huts
- trash bins are provided at each of the overnight stops. Field rangers remove the rubbish regularly.
- malaria free — though we saw almost no mosquitoes over the week.
- numerous streams and springs are suitable for drinking. But it’s still recommended to treat water. Rainwater tanks at each overnight hut. Due to erratic rainfall patterns, the level of these tanks may be low from time to time.
- each hut has braai with a steel grid. Within each hut there is a table on which food can be prepared. Hikers need to provide their own gas stoves and pots for cooking.
- mobile phone reception is intermittent along the Otter Trail. Reception may be picked up when the trail reaches up onto the plateau or when the coastline juts out to sea. There is no reception at the overnight huts.
Storms River Police – 10111
Park Headquarters – (042) 28 11 607
Considerations
- It is important to be aware of the dates and the times of the high and low tides to hike the Otter. This is especially important when it comes to crossing the bigger rivers such as the Lottering and the Bloukrans Rivers.
- tide charts are given to you at registration
- If you are unable to cross Bloukrans, there is a higher escape route. Check with Rangers if you get struck overnight on the wrong side.
- obviously, all water sensitive items must be kept in waterproof bags
- recommended age 12 (minimum) to 65 (maximum)
- there’s a good chance you’ll see poisonous snakes
- crows have been known to steal food
- In 2012 wardens offered to hike in meat and drinks for your last night. A menu with prices and a telephone was available in Day 3′s hut. A small service fee charged. By 2013 that service had been cancelled.
Before you scroll down, check this video. Ruth is an expert on Otter.
Cost
In 2013 for my booking from overseas I paid:
- 860 Rand ($95) – 4 nights in Camps
- 480 Rand ($53) – conservation fees
Sounds like costs were something similar in 2018.
Routes
Day 1 = 4.8km (± 2 hours) – tips
Day 2 = 7.9km (± 4 hours) – tips
Day 3 = 7.7km (± 4 hours) – tips
Day 4 = 13.8km (± 6 hours) – tips
Day 5 = 6.8km (± 3 hours) – tipsTotal Distance = 42.5km
Otter Trail is possibly the most desired hike in South Africa, but it’s only one of many treks along that coast. Check the other Garden Route Hiking Trails.
Trekking Guides
We don’t know of any company guiding this trip. Leave a comment if you hear of one.
Logistics
First check Otter Trail Availability
Next, pay online.
Telephone: +27 (0) 12 426 5111
Fax: +27 (0) 12 343 0905
Hikers Haven at Natures Valley offer a transport service for hikers starting the trail.(+27 (0) 44 531 6805
Otter Trail Transfers is another option 082 3911 140 or email glenn (a) ottertrailtransfers.co.za
On arrival at Storms River Mouth report to the park reception. Check in. Pay your conservation levy, if needed. And watch a video presentation.
You might want to stay at Storms River Mouth Rest Camp the night prior to starting the hike. As we did.
On finishing the adventure in Nature’s Valley, you could stay at a hotel or hostel there. Or arrange transportation away.
The Baz Bus does stop in Nature’s Valley on request.
Local Information
- South African National Parks – Otter Trail
Best Trekking Guidebooks
There are no dedicated Otter hiking guidebooks as of 2013.
But Hiking Trails of South Africa by Willie Olivier includes Otter. Get the most recent edition.
- Tsitsikamma National Park: Otter Hiking Trail and Storms River Rest Camp – A Photographic souvenir (hard cover)
Best Travel Guidebooks
- Lonely Planet Cape Town & the Garden Route
- Lonely Planet South Africa Lesotho & Swaziland
Other Recommended Books
- Insight Guide South Africa
Online Maps
- South African National Parks – Otter Trail map (PDF)
Best Web Pages
- Stingy Nomads
- Hiking South Africa – Otter
- Footprint Hiking Club – Otter
- Walkopedia – Otter Trail
- Geological Formations at Oakhurst Hut
- The Otter – one day trail run
- interesting photos on flickr tagged “Otter Trail”
- wikipedia – Tsitsikamma National Park
- CNN – Otter Trail
Best Trip Reports
- Stingy Nomads
- Arcteryx blog – Deborah Schäfer – Otter Trail
- BestHike editor Rick McCharles (2013)
- Tracking the Wild
- Otter Trail (what goes down, must come up again 2015)
- Roger Gordon photos (2005)
- Kelly Kidson – 10 things I learned on the Otter Trail (2012)
- Scott Ramsay (2012)
- Alison Westwood – The sabre-toothed Otter Trail (2010)
- David P. Anderson (1999)
Movies
Click PLAY or watch Darren Solomon’s 1st Otter trek on YouTube.
CLICK PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Click PLAY or watch Andrew Skurka on YouTube.
Click PLAY or watch Jens Niere’s Video trip report 2012 on YouTube.
Click PLAY or watch Arno Pouwels’ excellent edit on YouTube.
Click PLAY or watch the annual Otter African Trail Run on YouTube.
Questions? Suggestions? Leave a comment on this page. Our editors will reply.
Watch out for snakes on day five of the hike when hiking through the fynbos vegatation, also keep an eye on crows raiding your backpack when crossing esp the Bloukrans river. They are notorious for damaging packs in search of food. Also look out for smaller predators at esp Andre Hut at night. They will snatch esp meat from the barbecue area. Lovely hike.
Thanks for the tips, Bert.
Walking the beautiful Waterfall trail on my own on 20 April 2015, I met a group of 6 women on their frist day of the Otter trail. I am interested in how they liked the rest of the trail. In case you know any of this groups’ members, kindly e-mail llrr1957@hotmail.com. Walk on!
My husband and I plan to do the Otter Trail in March, 2016. Do you see any reason why we couldn’t combine day 4 and day 5? Especially if low tide is early? I understand staying on track on previous days because of the hut situation, but it would be nice to finish a day early to have a little more time to see other things in the area (we didn’t get our permits on the day we would have liked, are are a bit pressed for time). Thank you!
You certainly could finish a day early. Arrange transport on the far side in advance, however. Or you may be staying there overnight on your arrival.
Yep, loved the Otter Trail. I can see why i had to book a year in advance but really well worth it. I would love to hike it again but with so many trails to choose from in South Africa its a difficult decision. When i researched the Otter I found an app called Trail Guide South Africa that was very helpful finding trail info and other details. Maybe it will help someone else ? http://www.trailguide.co.za
Thanks Garth. I’ll check that out.
Rick, great site, thanks for the excellent info! Inspired by your enthusiastic trail description, we went off to do the trail ourselves last december – the trail’s indeed incredibly photogenic 🙂
(feel free to check out our impressions here: https://theboabnut.wordpress.com/home/otter-trail-what-goes-down-must-come-up-again/)
I’ll be following up on other recommended hikes here, especially in Canada!
brgrds
Thanks. We linked to your trip report. Happy New Year.