BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Eventin//Event Calendar//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:519f3e14b4ad14a3a31858f9ea078ecd@adventurejunkies.africa SUMMARY:The Legendary OTTER TRAIL Hike – 2026 &\; 2027 Adventure Serie s DESCRIPTION:Available Dates: Please select your preferred departure date in the booking section below.\n\n\n𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 / 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 - 𝐎𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥 - 𝟒𝟓𝐤𝐦 - 𝟓 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 / 𝟒 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 - 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞\n\n\nStart: Storms River Mout h\nFinish: De Vasselot Rest Camp (Nature's Valley)\nDistance: 45km of pure coastal magic over 5 days and 4 nights.\nFitness Level: Moderate to High (e xpect technical terrain)\nScenic Rating: 5/5 (World-Class)\nAccommodation: Rustic hiking huts (mattresses provided\, no electricity)\nOur Pro-Tip: Pac k extra socks! Numerous river crossings mean wet feet are part of the fun.\ nBooking Policy: No cancellations or refunds. Substitutes are always welcom e.\n \n\n\nWhat'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- Virtual Briefing on how to navigate the trail- River Crossing planning (Tide Sched ules)\n\n \n\nWhat's Excluded (Not Included)\n\n\n- Luggage Transfer/Porte rage (Not available but can be arranged at an extra fee)- Meals and beverag es- Alcohol- Equipment- Conservation fees (You pay upon arrival)- No shuttl e (Not available but can be arranged at an extra fee)\n\n \n\nGeneral Info rmation\n\nCheck-in: Allow some time to weigh your bag and watch the 20-min ute Otter Trail DVD in the Otter Room next to the Storms River Reception bu ilding. The Otter Trail DVD provides a brief outline of changes recently ma de to the trail.\nCheck out: Compulsory check out at De Vasselot Rest Camp where Otter Trail certificates will be issued.\n\nThe Otter Trail is locate d 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 th e Garden Route\, another one of South Africa’s most famous attractions\, and is named for the Cape clawless otter in this region.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe O tter Trail is a hiking trail along the Garden Route coast of South Africa a nd is named for the Cape clawless otter which inhabits this region. You wil l sometimes spot the otters as they live in the many estuaries and streams in the area. This trail is widely regarded as one of the finest in the worl d 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 comfortab le huts with superb views. The route is located entirely within the Garden Route National Park\, which protects an 80 km-long strip of coastal mountai ns\, forests\, and beaches. The trail traverses a very scenic landscape\, n ever straying far from the shoreline\, but often climbing steeply and desce nding to the beach or a river crossing.\nVegetation along the way is either fynbos\, dense gallery forest\, 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 V alley Beach\, De Vasselot Rest 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 hutsDay 4 = 13.8km (± 6 hours) André hutsDay 5 = 10 .8km (± 5 hours) Nature’s ValleyTotal Distance = 45km\nParking\, Shuttle Service and Porterage Services\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 Valley (De Vasselot Rest Camp). In any case\, yo u’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 group of hikers and drive in two cars\, you can l eave one car on each side.\nAs for the Shuttle and Porterage Services\, t here are a few providers\; you can contact any listed below\; Burton: +27 7 3 800 6811\, Eli: +27 63 933 7010\, Wild Compass Experiences: +27 61 009 36 43\, Vernon & Emmerentia: +27 72 658 9858\,  +27 72 089 0893.\nIf it’s t oo far to drive from your hometown to the Storms River Mouth or you are a t ourist 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 numerous streams and springs throughout the length of the Otter Trail that is suitable for d rinking purposes. Please note though that water from the Kleinbos River is not suitable for drinking (2nd day of trail). However\, it may be wise to u se purification tablets especially if you are not used to this water and wh ere streams/rivers pass through communities such as the Coldstream/Witels R iver (3.6km mark of the 4th day) and the Lottering River (7.5km 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 tank s may be low from time to time. Water quality is monitored on a quarterly b asis.\nFirewood\nFirewood is provided\, however\, it is not covered from ra in and therefore may be wet. Hikers are required to carry their share of wo od 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.\nCooking facilit ies\nEach 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 the ir own gas stoves and pots for cooking.\nOther Facilities\nThere are two hu ts and a single toilet at each overnight stop. Each of the two huts contain s 6 beds with mattresses – hikers must provide their own blankets/pillows /sleeping bags etc. Rubbish bins are provided at each of the overnight stop s. Field rangers remove the rubbish regularly. There are benches present. P lease only use biodegradable soaps on the trail. Hikers are not permitted t o remove mattresses from the huts.\nTides\nIt is important to be aware of t he 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 ri vers such as the Elandsbos and the Bloukrans Rivers. It is the hiker’s re sponsibility to obtain tide tables in order to prepare for their hike.\nThe Bloukrans River Crossing\nThe Bloukrans River crossing is on the 4th day o f the Otter Trail. It is approximately 10km from Oakhurst Hut which takes a bout four and a half hours (4.5) to reach. This river is best crossed durin g low tide. Once the river has been crossed it is approximately another 3.8 km (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 .\nIf you are unable to cross the river\, you can take the escape route lab eled E6. This escape route branches to the right of the trail just before t he Otter Trail descends to the Bloukrans River Mouth. The escape route clim bs steeply to the top of the plateau. In the case of an emergency\, hikers are advised to make their way to the top of the escape route and wait for c ollection 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 weigh your bag a nd watch the 20-minute Otter Trail DVD at the Otter Room next to the Storms River Reception building. The Otter Trail DVD provides a brief outline of changes recently made to the trail.\n\n\n\nStarting Point:   Storms River Mouth\nEnd Point:   De Vasselot Rest Camp\nActivities:   Trekking\nPri ces From:   R3417.97\nProvince/Territory:      Western Cape LOCATION:Eastern Cape DTSTAMP:20260802T225245Z DTSTART:20261108T080000Z DTEND:20261112T110000Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR