Home Park Home

• Tourism
  • Accommodation
  • Activities & Facilities
  • Availability
  • Reservations
  • How to get there
  • History
  • Map
  • Tariffs
  • Vital information
• Flora and Fauna
  • Birding
  • Mammals
  • Vegetation
• Information for
  • People with disabilities
  • School groups
• Contact us
  • Contact details
  • Feedback
  • Find contact

All-In-One

Tsitsikamma National Park

Otter Trail

General Information about the Otter Trail

Age allowed and Fitness

The age allowed is between 12 to 65 years. A fair degree of fitness is required as there are some steep sections, which together with a backpack can become tiring, especially after a few hours of hiking. One must be prepared to hike up to 13 kilometers a day, over rough terrain, steep ascents and descents and under any weather conditions.

Distances and Durations

The trail is 5 days and 4 nights. The following distances and durations are as follows:

• Day 1 = 4.8 km (± 2 hours)
• Day 2 = 7.9 km (± 4 hours)
• Day 3 = 7.7 km (± 4 hours)
• Day 4 = 13.8 km (± 6 hours)
• Day 5 = 6.8 km (± 3 hours)
• Total Distance = 42.5 km

Map of the Otter Trail (pdf 2mb)

Distances are indicated per kilometer for each day on the Otter Trail Map that is available on sale in the park.

Water

There are numerous streams and springs throughout the length of the Otter Trail that are suitable for drinking purposes. However, it may be wise to use purification tablets especially if you are not used to this water and where streams/rivers pass through communities such as the Coldstream\Witels River (3.6 km mark of the 4th day) and the Lottering River (7.5 km mark of the 4th day). There are rainwater tanks at each overnight hut that may also be used. However, due to erratic rainfall patterns, the level of these tanks may be low from time to time.

Firewood

Firewood is provided, however it is not covered from rain and therefore may be wet. Hikers are required to carry their share of wood from a woodpile, close by on the trail. However, it sometimes happens that there is a buildup of excess wood not used by previous hikers that is placed under the steps of the huts, which is usually dry.

Cooking facilities

Each hut has a braai place with a sturdy 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.

Other Facilities

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. Rubbish bins are provided at each of the overnight stops. Field rangers remove the rubbish regularly. There are benches present. Please only use biodegradable soaps on the trail.

Tides

It is important to be aware of the dates and the times of the high and low tides prior to hiking the Otter Trail. This is especially important when it comes to crossing the bigger rivers such as the Elandsbos and the Bloukrans Rivers.

The Bloukrans River Crossing

The Bloukrans River crossing is on the 4th day of the Otter Trail. It is approximately 10 km from Oakhurst Hut that takes about four and half hours (4.5) to reach. This river is best crossed during low tide. Once the river has been crossed it is approximately another 3.8 kilometers (two and a half hours) to the next overnight stop. It is wise to arrive well before low tide, so that enough time is available to plan your crossing.

If you are unable to cross the river, you can take the escape route labeled E6. This escape route branches to the right of the trail just before the Otter Trail descends to the Bloukrans River Mouth. The escape route climbs steeply to the top of the plateau where it leads to the N2. To reach the N2, it will take approximately 2 hours.

Safety precautions

Safety items that can be included are the following:

• Small First Aid kit
• Survival Bag
• Thermal blanket
• Map of Trail
• Cellphone
• Rope

Cellphones and Reception

It is advisable that a cellphone is taken together with the following numbers:

• Storms River Police - 10111
• Park Headquarters - (042) 28 11 607

Cellphone 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.

Tariffs

Check Availability

Emergency procedures

There are several escape routes that lead to the top of the plateau where there are access routes that lead to the N2. The escape routes are indicated as E 1 – 6 on the map. Cellphone reception may be reached here.

Otter Trail Reservations

Telephone: +27 12 426 5111
Fax: +27 12 343 0905
E-mail

Have a question? Why not ask at the forums?