Other areas in Western Cape:

Tsitsikamma Albertinia Arniston Beaufort West Bergvleit Bettys Bay Bishopscourt Bloubergstrand Boulders Beach Breedekloof Caledon Camps Bay Cape Agulhas Cape Peninsula Cape Town Cape Winelands - Wine Routes Cederberg Ceres Clanwilliam Clifton Constantia Dana Bay Darling De Hoop Nature Reserve Durbanville Elandsbaai False Bay Franschhoek Gansbaai Garden Route George Gouritsmond Green Point Greyton Heidelberg Hermanus Herolds Bay Hout Bay Kalk Bay Karoo National Park Kenilworth Keurboomstrand Kleinmond Knysna Kommetjie Lamberts Bay Langebaan Loerie Malmesbury Montagu Moorreesburg Mossel Bay Mowbray Muizenberg Newlands Noordhoek Oudtshoorn Overberg Paarl Plettenberg Bay Prince Albert Pringle Bay Redelinghuys Riebeek Kasteel Riversdale Robertson Route 62 Saldanha Sandringham Sedgefield Simons Town Somerset West Stellenbosch Still Bay Struisbaai Swartberg Pass Swellendam Table Mountain Tsitsikamma Tulbagh Velddrif Vleesbaai Wellington West Coast Wilderness Witsand Worcester Yzerfontein

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Tsitsikamma

Tsitsikamma National Park

Tsitsikamma Accommodation

Second only to the Kruger National Park is Tsitsikamma National Park. The best time to visit this area is between November and February but be aware that it does rain throughout the year. The park itself is split into two sections both of which are only accessible from the N2.

To the West you will find De Vasselot which includes the Nature's Valley (see photo) resort. Here you will find quite a few short walks through forest and across rivers and a wonderful stretch of sandy coastline. To the East is Storms River Mouth where the wild Storms River meets the Indian Ocean via a deep gorge. Walking here is very popular with some really lovely hikes across the forest covered cliffs. If you enjoy birdwatching then there is an array of birds to be spotted here including the Knysna Lourie which you can spot by its flash of red in its wings. If you are lucky you may even spot a rare African black oystercatcher which has black feathers and red eyes, beak and legs.

The coast here is rocky and reminiscent of parts of Cornwall in England if you have ever visited there. This area of rainforest is the last remnants of a rainforest that used to cover this coastal area. If you are taking in the Garden Route then this is a must stop along your way.

The whole area covers some 80kms of land and also extends 5km out to sea providing essential protection to the fish and mammals found here. One of the most popular trails for hiking in this area is the Otter Hiking Trail. It is so popular that you have to book well in advance (one year sometimes) to take in an amazing 5 day hike across rivers, though forests, and passing waterfalls. If you stop at the restaurant at the Storms River Mouth, you can take a short walk to a suspension bridge which provides some amazing views. This area is extremely well catered for in terms of accommodation with something to suit all budgets.

Other hiking trails include the Dolphin Trail and the Tsitsikamma Trail. There are two to six day hiking trails available on the Tsitsikamma Trail which passes through the mystic forest, fynbos and of course the many rivers that exist in the Tsitsikamma Mountains.

It is also worth paying a visit to the village of Joubertina which has a Dutch Reformed church dating back to 1911. The church itself is made of sandstone and has a wonderful yellowwood interior. Also in Joubertina is the Kloof Hotel which has a wonderful history and also a collection of some 1,000 miniature car models.

Other towns close to Tsitsikamma include:

• Kareedouw
• Krakeelrivier
• Langkloof

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Places to stay in Western Cape | Itineraries in Western Cape