BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Eventin//Event Calendar//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:e24864ad4852cb6bf803334e414a9ca4@adventurejunkies.africa SUMMARY:The Ultimate Otter Trail Experience: August 2026 DESCRIPTION:Event Dates:  16 - 20 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐6\n \n𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 / 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 - 𝐎𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥 - 𝟒𝟓𝐤𝐦 - 𝟓 𝐃 𝐚𝐲𝐬 / 𝟒 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 - 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞\n\n\nStart: Storms River MouthFinish: De Vasselot Rest Camp (Nature's Valley)Duration: 45km over five days and four-nightsFitness : Need to be moderately fit\; some may consider it toughBeauty: 4/5Self-Gu ided: YesOur tip: take extra pairs of socks as there are numerous river cr ossingsAccommodation: Basic huts\, mattresses\, no electricityCancellation s / Refunds: No cancellations or Refunds. Substitutes welcome.\n\n \n\nWh at's Included:\n\n\n- Trail Permit- Accommodation (4 Nights) on the trail- Info on what to park and how to prepare for the hike\n\n \n\nWhat's Exclud ed (Not Included)\n\n\n- Luggage Transfer/Porterage (Not available but can be arranged at an extra fee)- Meals and beverages- Alcohol- Equipment- Cons ervation fees (You pay upon arrival)- No shuttle (Not available but can be arranged at an extra fee)\n\n \n\nGeneral Information\n\nCheck-in: Allow s ome time to weigh your bag and watch the 20-minute Otter Trail DVD in the O tter Room next to the Storms River Reception building. The Otter Trail DVD provides a brief outline of changes recently made to the trail.\nCheck out: Compulsory check out at De Vasselot Rest Camp where Otter Trail certificat es will be issued.\n\nThe Otter Trail is located entirely inside the Garden Route National Park. The trail is right in the middle of the famous Garden Route and is hiked from the coastal side of the Garden Route\, another one of South Africa’s most famous attractions\, and is named for the Cape cl awless otter in this region.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Otter Trail is a hiking trail along the Garden Route coast of South Africa and is named for the Cape cla wless otter which inhabits this region. You will sometimes spot the otters as they live in the many estuaries and streams in the area. This trail is w idely regarded as one of the finest in the world and stretches from Storms River Mouth in the east to Nature’s Valley in the west\, it is 26 km long as the crow flies and 45 km as the hiker walks.\nWalking the trail takes 5 days\, and the 4 nights are spent in comfortable huts with superb views. T he route is located entirely within the Garden Route National Park\, which protects an 80 km-long strip of coastal mountains\, forests\, and beaches. The trail traverses a very scenic landscape\, never straying far from the s horeline\, but often climbing steeply and descending to the beach or a rive r crossing.\nVegetation along the way is either fynbos\, dense gallery fore st\, or open\, rocky sections near the sea with an abundance of wildflowers .\nTrail landmarks: Storms River Mouth\, Ngubu huts\, Oakhurst huts\, Scott hut\, André huts\, Grootrivier\, Nature’s Valley Beach\, De Vasselot Re st Camp\nDistance and Duration\n Day 1 = 4.8km (± 2 hours) Ngubu HutsDay 2 = 7.9km (± 4 hours) Scott HutsDay 3 = 7.7km (± 4 hours) Oakhurst hutsDa y 4 = 13.8km (± 6 hours) André hutsDay 5 = 10.8km (± 5 hours) Nature’s ValleyTotal Distance = 45km\nParking\, Shuttle Service and Porterage Servi ces\nYou have two options: to leave your car at the starting point\, Storms River Mouth (Garden Route National Park)\, or at the finish\, Nature’s V alley (De Vasselot Rest Camp). In any case\, you’ll need a shuttle to get either to the trail or back to your car. Both parking spots are inside the National parks and is quite safe to leave your car there. If you’re a gr oup of hikers and drive in two cars\, you can leave one car on each side.\n As for the Shuttle and Porterage Services\, there are a few providers\; y ou can contact any listed below\; Burton: +27 73 800 6811\, Eli: +27 63 933 7010\, Wild Compass Experiences: +27 61 009 3643\, Vernon from Tranquility .\nIf it’s too far to drive from your hometown to the Storms River Mouth or you are a tourist and don’t have your own car\, you can fly to George and rent a car at the airport or get local transport.\nWater\nThere are num erous streams and springs throughout the length of the Otter Trail that is suitable for drinking purposes. Please note though that water from the Klei nbos River is not suitable for drinking (2nd day of trail). However\, it ma y be wise to use purification tablets especially if you are not used to thi s water and where streams/rivers pass through communities such as the Colds tream/Witels River (3.6km 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 th at may also be used. However\, due to erratic rainfall patterns\, the level of these tanks may be low from time to time. Water quality is monitored on a quarterly basis.\nFirewood\nFirewood is provided\, however\, it is not c overed from rain and therefore may be wet. Hikers are required to carry the ir share of wood from a woodpile\, close by on the trail. However\, it some times happens that there is a buildup of excess wood not used by previous h ikers that is placed under the steps of the huts\, which is usually dry.\nC ooking facilities\nEach hut has a braai place with a sturdy steel grid. Wit hin each hut\, there is a table on which food can be prepared. Hikers need to provide their own gas stoves and pots for cooking.\nOther Facilities\nTh ere are two huts and a single toilet at each overnight stop. Each of the tw o huts contains 6 beds with mattresses – hikers must provide their own bl ankets/pillows/sleeping bags etc. Rubbish bins are provided at each of the overnight stops. Field rangers remove the rubbish regularly. There are benc hes present. Please only use biodegradable soaps on the trail. Hikers are n ot permitted to remove mattresses from the huts.\nTides\nIt is important to be aware of the dates and the times of the high and low tides prior to hik ing the Otter Trail. This is especially important when it comes to crossing the bigger rivers such as the Elandsbos and the Bloukrans Rivers. It is th e hiker’s responsibility to obtain tide tables in order to prepare for th eir hike.\nThe Bloukrans River Crossing\nThe Bloukrans River crossing is on the 4th day of the Otter Trail. It is approximately 10km from Oakhurst Hut which takes about four and a half hours (4.5) to reach. This river is best crossed during low tide. Once the river has been crossed it is approximate ly another 3.8km (two and a half hours) to the next overnight stop. It is w ise to arrive well before low tide so that enough time is available to plan your crossing.\nIf you are unable to cross the river\, you can take the es cape 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 esc ape route climbs steeply to the top of the plateau. In the case of an emerg ency\, hikers are advised to make their way to the top of the escape route and wait for collection by SANParks Rangers once contact has been made. Do not attempt to walk to the N2.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  5 Days / 4 Nights           Self-Guided Hike          DIFFICULTY:7/10\n\n   \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAt a glance\n\n\n\n\nCheck in: Allow some time to w eigh your bag and watch the 20-minute Otter Trail DVD at the Otter Room nex t to the Storms River Reception building. The Otter Trail DVD provides a br ief outline of changes recently made to the trail.\n\n\n\nStarting Point:   Storms River Mouth\nEnd Point:   De Vasselot Rest Camp\nActivities:   Trekking\nPrices From:   R3417.97\nProvince/Territory:      Western Cape LOCATION:Eastern Cape DTSTAMP:20260802T230054Z DTSTART:20260816T080000Z DTEND:20260820T110000Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR