National park · South Africa
Tsitsikamma National ParkTsitsikamma Section, Garden Route National Park
Give Tsitsikamma one full day: walk the Mouth Trail to the suspension bridges early (before 9:00), then the Waterfall Trail if you have 3 hours and dry rock; skip it as a day trip from Cape Town — sleep at Storms River Mouth or in Storms River village instead.Give Tsitsikamma one full day: walk the Mouth Trail to the suspension bridges early (before 9:00 AM), then the Waterfall Trail if you have 3 hours and dry rock; skip it as a day trip from Cape Town — sleep at Storms River Mouth or in Storms River village instead.
Map to the park
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Area
80 km²31 sq mi
approximate
Established
1964
Best months
Feb–Apr, Sep, Nov
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive befor…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- Southern Africa ↗A rental car may leave its home country only with the rental company's cross-border letter, the registration papers and paid road taxes at each post; driving into Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Angola without them ends at the border.
- Southern Africa ↗Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive before sunset: livestock, wildlife, pedestrians and unlit trucks make night driving the main cause of serious visitor accidents.
- South Africa ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport with the Department of Home Affairs or a South African mission before booking; exemptions depend on nationality, and the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is optional for most visa-exempt visitors in 2026.
- South Africa ↗Travelling with children: accompanied foreign children no longer need a birth certificate, but unaccompanied minors, South African children and some passports that omit parents' names still do; check with Home Affairs and your airline before you fly.
- South Africa ↗Driving is on the left. If your licence is not in English or has no photo, get an International Driving Permit before you travel; rental companies also check it.
- South Africa ↗National park gates open and close at fixed times; you must be inside your camp before the gate closes, and speed limits in parks are enforced.
At a glance
- Country
- South Africa
- Area
- 80 km²31 sq mi
- The Tsitsikamma section of Garden Route National Park covers a coastal strip of land plus a marine protected area; published land and marine figures vary by source and boundary revision, so treat 80 km² as an approximate land figure only (check).
- Established
- 1964
- Best months
- Feb–Apr, Sep, Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
Tsitsikamma is the coastal section of Garden Route National Park: a narrow strip of temperate forest, fynbos and cliff between the Indian Ocean and the Tsitsikamma mountains, cut by the Storms River gorge at Storms River Mouth. It is a walking park, not a driving park — the road ends at the rest camp and everything beyond is on foot. The famous Otter Trail starts here and is booked out months ahead; the short trails need nothing but an entry ticket. Rain falls in every month, so plan around showers rather than around a dry season.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1964.
Size and age
80 km²31 sq mi · national park since 1964
The Tsitsikamma section of Garden Route National Park covers a coastal strip of land plus a marine protected area; published land and marine figures vary by source and boundary revision, so treat 80 km² as an approximate land figure only (check).
Why go
- The Storms River mouth: black rock, white water and two suspension bridges over the gorge, reached in 15 minutes from the car park.
- A genuine coastal forest walk — yellowwood, stinkwood and Cape fynbos — on trails that stay close to the sea.
- The Waterfall Trail is the first section of the Otter Trail, so you see the route most people only read about.
- Whales and dolphins are visible from the cliffs in the right months, without a boat.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayCaution
- JunGo
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctCaution
- NovBest
- DecCaution
- JanWarm 23/17°C and one of the rainy months; busy school holidayWarm 23/63°F and one of the rainy months; busy school holiday
- FebWarm and often clear; busy school holiday
- MarSettled weather, thinner crowds
- AprMild, good walking, whales arriving
- MayOne of the wettest months; slippery rock
- JunDriest month; cool 17/10°C, quietDriest month; cool 17/50°F, quiet
- JulDriest month; cold nights, rain still possible
- AugCool and clear spells; whale season
- SepWhales peak, fynbos flowering, mild
- OctWettest month; storms and mist
- NovWarm, long days, good visibility
- DecHot and one of the rainy months; very busy, book beds early
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern right whales from the cliffsJun–Nov · Best from August to October; bring binoculars, the animals are usually well offshore. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Dolphins and Cape fur sealsAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Knysna lourie (tauraco) and forest birdsMar–May, Sep–Nov · Listen for the call in the forest canopy; they are heard far more often than seen. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Fynbos flowersAug–Nov | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Chacma baboons and bushbuck near the rest campAll year · Baboons raid bins and bags — keep food inside. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Cape Town
Drive the N2 east via Knysna and Plettenberg Bay; leave the N2 at the Storms River Mouth turn-off.
about 6 h
Open the page →
From Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)
N2 west past Humansdorp and Storms River; the turn-off is about 5 km west of Storms River village.N2 west past Humansdorp and Storms River; the turn-off is about 3.1 mi west of Storms River village.
2.5–3 h
From George airport
N2 east via Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, then the Storms River Mouth turn-off; the airport is about 130 km away.N2 east via Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, then the Storms River Mouth turn-off; the airport is about 81 mi away.
2–2.5 h (check)
From Garden Route self-drive
Where Tsitsikamma fits in a one-way Cape Town to Port Elizabeth route.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Storms River Mouth rest camp | Gate, reception, shop, restaurant, chalets and the start of every short trail. | Open to day visitors with a ticket; the road ends here. |
| Storms River gorge and suspension bridges | The river mouth, the walkway and the two suspension bridges. | Open; 15–20 min on foot from the car park. |
| Waterfall Trail coastline | Cliff path east towards the waterfall, the first leg of the Otter Trail. | Open with a ticket; a latest start time applies. |
| Nature's Valley and De Vasselot | The western end of the park, a village, lagoon and beach with a separate rest camp. | Open; reached by the R102 from the N2. |
| Marine protected area | The sea strip along the cliffs, fished and dived under park rules. | Open for shore diving and snorkelling; no collecting. |
Sketch map
- 1Storms River Mouth gate and rest camp · Gate≈-34.022, 23.896Map ↗
- 2Storms River suspension bridges · Viewpoint≈-34.020, 23.899Map ↗
- 3Waterfall (Otter Trail day one) · Trail≈-34.013, 23.925Map ↗
- 4Nature's Valley and De Vasselot · Village≈-33.981, 23.558Map ↗
- 5Storms River village · Town≈-33.973, 23.888Map ↗
- 6Paul Sauer bridge and N2 petroport · Ranger station≈-33.968, 23.935Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservation fee, South African residents and citizens | ZAR 60–100 | person per day | 2026 estimate; SANParks reviews fees each year and resident rates are lower than international rates (check current rates). |
| Conservation fee, international visitors | ZAR 120–300 | person per day | 2026 estimate; the international rate is roughly double the resident rate, and children and pensioners pay less (check). |
| Otter Trail, per person for the 5-day hike | ZAR 1,000–1,500 (≈ US$60–90) | person | 2026 estimate; covers 4 nights in the trail huts, booked through SANParks (check). |
| Storms River Mouth Rest Camp camping, 2 people | ZAR 250–350 | site per night | 2026 estimate; powered sites cost more (check). |
| Storms River Mouth Rest Camp chalet or oceanette, 2 people | ZAR 700–1,200 | unit per night | 2026 estimate; larger family units cost more (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Otter Trail permit or guide
Diving and snorkelling in the marine protected area no permit
Park rules
- Stay on the trails
- Cliff edges are unfenced and the rock is loose; the Waterfall Trail has exposed sections.
- Do not feed the baboons
- Keep food and bags closed and never leave a car window open in the car park.
- No collecting in the marine protected area
- No spearfishing, shell collecting or bait digging along the park coast.
- No drones
- Not allowed without permission from SANParks (check).check
- No fires outside designated braai areas
- Use the rest camp braai stands only; open fires on the trails and beaches are not allowed.
- Latest start times on the Waterfall Trail
- Turn-around times are enforced so hikers are not on the cliffs after dark; ask at reception for the current time.
Where to stay
In the park
Storms River Mouth Rest Camp
SANParks camping, forest huts, cabins, chalets and oceanettes above the water; the only beds inside the mouth section.
In the park
Nature's Valley Rest Camp
Smaller, cheaper camping and forest huts at the western end near the village and lagoon.
Near the park
Storms River village
Guesthouses, backpackers and restaurants about 10 km from the gate, on the N2.Guesthouses, backpackers and restaurants about 6.2 mi from the gate, on the N2.
Near the park
Nature's Valley village
Holiday homes and a pub between the forest and the beach.
Safety
Slippery rock on the Waterfall Trail medium
Baboons in the car park and at picnic spots medium
Cold water and strong surge when swimming or diving medium
Sudden rain and mist low
Long waits for the Otter Trail low
Accessibility
- The boardwalk to the suspension bridges is the most accessible walking in the park; the first stretch is level and firm.
- The rest camp shop, restaurant and reception are reachable by car with short, mostly level walks.
- The Viewpoint, Waterfall and Blue Duiker trails involve steep, uneven and sometimes slippery ground; not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Pay the conservation fee at the gate — it funds trail maintenance and the marine protected area.
- Do not buy or collect shells, plants or seed from the fynbos; the forest takes centuries to recover.
- Take all rubbish out with you; bins at the rest camp are for camp waste, not trail litter.
- Keep to marked paths so fynbos and young forest edge are not trampled.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Tsitsikamma National Park?
Day visitors pay a SANParks conservation fee at the Storms River Mouth gate. South African residents pay a lower rate than international visitors; as a 2026 estimate, budget roughly R60–100 per resident and R120–300 per international adult per day (check current rates). Children and pensioners pay less. The fee covers the short trails, including the Mouth and Waterfall trails.
What are the best hikes in Tsitsikamma National Park?
For most visitors the Mouth Trail to the suspension bridges (30–45 min return) and the Waterfall Trail (6.4 km, 3–3.5 h return) are the two to do. The Viewpoint Trail adds a steep climb and a lookout over the mouth. The Blue Duiker Trail is a 5.5 km loop if you want a longer walk without committing to the waterfall. The Otter Trail is the 42 km, five-day route and needs a booking months ahead.
When is the best time to visit Tsitsikamma National Park?
February to April and September to November give the best mix of mild weather and manageable crowds. June and July are the driest months but cool. December and January are hot, wet and busy, and May and October are the wettest months. Rain is possible all year, so pack a waterproof layer whenever you go.
Can I walk the suspension bridges without a guide?
Yes. The boardwalk from the rest camp to the Storms River suspension bridges is signed and easy, and no guide or permit beyond the entry fee is needed. Go early in the morning in summer to avoid the car park filling up.
Do I need to book the Otter Trail in advance?
Yes. The Otter Trail takes a limited number of hikers per day and bookings open about a year ahead through SANParks. It is frequently full; cancellations do come up, so it is worth checking close to your dates. You carry your own food and sleeping bag and sleep in trail huts.
Is Tsitsikamma a good day trip from Cape Town?
No. It is about a 6-hour drive each way from Cape Town. Treat it as a stop on a Garden Route self-drive and sleep at Storms River Mouth rest camp or in Storms River village, then continue east towards Plettenberg Bay and Port Elizabeth.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go