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  INFORMATION:
  TSITSIKAMMA NATIONAL PARK

Hiking
Province: Eastern Cape

The Otter Trail 


The Otter Trail is justifiably considered by many to be the top trail in South Africa. It is only 41Kms long but it is not an easy trail. Bookings for the trail can be made through South African National Parks http://www.parks-sa.co.za This is a very popular trail and more applications are received for bookings than can be accommodated. It is however, well worth the perseverance needed in obtaining a booking.

Undoubtedly the most popular of the South African hiking trails, the Otter trail must rank alongside the best trails in the world. The trail follows the spectacular Eastern Cape coastline from Storms River Mouth to Natures Valley in the Tsitsikamma National Park

The trail is 41kms long and takes 4 1/2 days to complete. It follows the rugged, rocky shoreline ranging in elevation from sea level to a height of more than 150m. Most of the trail follows cliff tops returning to sea level to cross rivers.

DAY 1
STORMS RIVER MOUTH to NGUBU HUTS - 4,8Kms-3 Hours
The trail starts from the South African National Park's Storms River restcamp. The first part of the trail to Ngubu hut is 4,8kms long and normally takes about 3 hours to accomplish. 

DAY 2
NGUBU HUTS to SCOTT HUTS - 7,9Kms- 5,5Hours
The second day of the Otter trail is probably the most varied and beautiful walk of the whole trail. It starts with a steep climb away from Ngubu and then follows a walk through a beautiful area of virgin forest. 

DAY 3
SCOTT HUTS to OAKHURST HUTS- 7,7Kms- 6Hours
The third day of the trail starts of with the crossing of the Geelhoutbos river which flows next to the huts. The trail follows the rocky coastline until the Elandsbos river is reached at about morning tea time

DAY 4
OAKHURST HUTS to ANDRE HUTS- 13,8Kms- 7Hours
The fourth day of the Otter trail is also the longest. The need to reach and cross the Bloukrans river at low tide makes this day probably the most difficult depending on the time of the low tide. 

DAY 5
ANDRE HUTS to NATURE'S VALLEY-6,8Kms- 2Hours
The final leg of the trail is a relatively easy walk to Nature's Valley. 


http://www.footprint.co.za/otter.htm
http://www.parks-sa.co.za/tsitsikamma/otter.htm