How to hike the Otter Trail? (2024)

The Otter trail is probably one of the most famous hikes in Africa and definitely one of the most beautiful treks we’ve ever done together with the West Coast Trail in Canada and the Fisherman’s Trail in Portugal. The scenery on the Otter trail is spectacular, every day it surprises you with breathtaking views, white-sand beaches, dramatic cliffs, and an endless coastline. Not to mention overnight huts in the most beautiful locations.

The hike’s difficulty is easy to moderate, daily distances covered are quite short, total distance 45km over 5 days, which gives you a lot of time to admire the nature and enjoy the beauty of the area. If you’re looking for a relatively easy hiking trail in South Africa, the Otter Trail on the Garden Route is the best option.

Otter Trail hike route overview

• The trail starts at Storms River Mouth National park and ends at De Vasselot Rest Camp (Nature’s Valley).
• Total distance – 45km.
• Total elevation gained (over 5 days) – 2600m.
• The trail is well-marked and easy to follow, no GPS needed.
• 4 river crossing; Kleinbos River – day 2; Elandsbos and Lottering River – day 3; Bloukrans River – day 4.
• 4 overnight stops with two 6-bed huts each.
• Difficulty level 6 out of 10; distances are quite short but there are many ups and downs not very long but quite steep. Moderate level of fitness required.
• Don’t pack too much otherwise your back will suffer at every single uphill. Our backpacks were quite light, 8kg and 10kg.

At the office, we were warned about monkeys and baboons trying to steal food but in fact, genets were our biggest problem. If you leave a window or a door opened (close only security gate) these guys can easily sneak through, we had them several times in our hut. Once it ate the dinner leftovers that we kept for breakfast. We saw baboons only once in the last morning a huge male was stealing rubbish bags from a bin.

How to book the Otter Trail?

You can book a trail no longer than one year beforehand, spots for December and Easter holidays are the first to be booked so if you want to hike in these periods rather book in advance. We got our 2 spots by chance just two days beforehand due to a cancellation. The other 8 people from our group got cancellations as well and booked the hike less than a month beforehand.

It’s easy to get a spot if you’re 2 to 4 people and you’re flexible with dates. For bigger groups, it’s advisable to book as early as possible. Check for Otter trail availability and cancellations HERE or over the phone (012)428-9111. Maximum group size 12 people. If you’re consistent and check availability almost every day you might be lucky.

The cost of the Otter Trail hike

• Daily conservation fee – ZAR54 pp for South Africans, ZAR108 for SADC citizens, ZAR216 for foreigners. Wild Card Holders don’t pay the fee.
• Trail cost in 2018 – ZAR1232/per person includes staying in 4 overnight huts serviced every day, a trail book with maps, and a tides table.
• Shuttle service (optional) – ZAR200 pp if two, negotiable if more people.

Best season for hiking

You can do it all year round there are some advantages and disadvantages of hiking in different seasons, the weather in the Storms River area changes very quickly.

Rain. In this area you can get rains at any time, the most rainfall is in August, October, November, and April, on average of 10 rainy days a month, with 50mm precipitation per month. In other months you get between 7-5 rainy days, with 30mm precipitation. Any month you hike it’s quite likely that you get at least one rainy day.

Temperature. The hottest months are December – March, average day temperature +25C, av. night temperature +16C. The coldest months are June – September; +19C during the day and +8C at night time, it can get down to +4C or so some nights.

Shuttle service and parking on the trail

You have two options; to leave your car at the starting point, Storms River Mouth National park or at the finish, Nature’s Valley National park. 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 it’s quite safe to leave your car there. If you’re a group of people and drive in two cars you can leave one car on each side.

As for the shuttle service, we contacted Burtin 073-800-6811, we got his phone number in the park office, his car can fit 6 people. We took it back from Nature’s Valley to the Storms River and paid ZAR600 for six of us, plus the toll of ZAR50 per car. We did bargain down the price as originally it was ZAR750. If you’re only two he charges ZAR200 per person. You can do it the other way around and park at Nature’s Valley and take the shuttle to the starting point.

If it’s too far to drive from your hometown to the Storms River Mouth Park or you’re a tourist and don’t have your own car you can fly to George and rent a car at the airport.

If you’re looking for more multi-day coastal routes inside SANParks I can recommend hiking the Cape of Good Hope trail at Cape Point National Park near Cape Town.

Where to stay before and after the hike?

The best place to stay before the hike is Storms River, it’s the closest town. There are many accommodation options there. You can stay in Plettenberg Bay as well, it’s a bit further away from the trail but it’s a much bigger town with many amazing things to do.

• Budget | Guest Lodge on the Edge | Tsitsikamma Backpackers |
• Middle price | Tsitsikhaya Lodge | Tsitsikamma Manor |
• High-end | The Village Lodge |

The trek finishes in Natures Valley, it’s a very beautiful quiet place with a spectacular sandy beach.

• Middle price | Four Fields Farm |
• High-end | Hideaway in the Forest | Kamma-Otter |

If you like camping we’d highly recommend camping either at Storms River Mouth campsite or at De Vasselot Rest camp in Nature’s Valley. Both places have great facilities and are located in beautiful spots.

Storms River campsite is right at the sea with a stunning view that offers great chances to spot dolphins and even whales. Dassies running around all over the campsite and occasionally otters may be in the proximity. There are a couple of day hikes nearby as well as a snorkeling trail.

De Vasselot Rest camp is 15min. walk or 5min. drive from the beach, at the river bank. Grassy spots, good ablution complex, kitchen, braai place, table, and benches at each site. There are several short hiking trails around, kayak rental is available at the reception ZAR80 per hour. The place is beautiful but the monkeys are there very annoying.

If you like hiking you might enjoy the Outeniqua Trail, another stunning trekking route on the Garden Route, or the Amatola Trail, a multi-day trek near Hogsback.

Tours and activities at Stormsrivier

If you decide to spend some time before or after the hike near Stormsriver there are many great activities there to keep you busy for a couple of days.

• Tsitsikamma National Park: Blackwater Tubing
• Tsitsikamma National Park: 1 or 2-Hour Segway Tour
• Garden Route National Park: Tsitsikamma Zipline Canopy Tour
• Tsitsikamma Guided Hikes

If you live in Cape Town and like hiking you might enjoy some of these amazing hikes in the city that offer breathtaking views and fantastic scenery including Lion’s Head hike and several trails up Table Mountain.

Otter Trail packing list

You can download and print our complete packing checklist for the hike including both must-have and optional items.

Otter trail packing list

Food for the trek

For the Otter Trail, we packed food for 4 breakfasts, 4 dinners, and 4 lunches (5 if you’re planning to have lunch on the last day). Our food packing list; instant flavored oats and coffee/tea for breakfast, biltong/droewors and nut mix/energy bar for lunch, and pasta/smash, tomato sauce, and tuna (can) for dinner. Take chocolate, cookies, or nuts for snacking.

Water on the Otter trail

Tap water at the huts is potable no need to take purifying tablets or UV filters. Don’t drink water from Kleinbos, Elandsbos, and Lottering rivers as they warn at the reception. Water from the Bloukrans river is not potable either it’s too salty. There are several falls and creeks on the way to refill your water bottles. We refilled every morning both our 1,5l bottles at the huts and it was enough for the hiking day. To add some flavor bring flavored instant drink mixes.

You register at the office where they explain to you some details about the hike, river crossing, give you a small book about the trail, it has a lot of info; distances, diagrams, estimated walking time, river crossing tips, information about local flora and fauna, park rules as well as a trail map – very helpful, small and easy to use book.

Overnight huts on the hike

There are four overnight stops on the Otter Trail; Ngubu, Scott, Oakhurst, and Andre, each stop has two huts with 6 beds (two 3-level bunk beds). The huts are located at sea level no matter how high you climb you’ll have a downhill at the end of every day. The huts are situated in the most beautiful spots overlooking the sea.

Every hut has the same facilities

• 6 beds with mattresses.
• Big table.
• Bench.
• Hooks.
• Security gate.
• No electricity.
• Braai place at each hut.
• Outside flush toilet.
• Outside cold shower (Ngubu and Andre huts – open-air showers).
• Roofed kitchen area with braai place, wood, grid, tables, and benches. The wood is stored outside and gets wet if it rains bring firelighters (blitz) with.
• Washing lines.
• Rubbish bins.

Otter Trail hiking itinerary

Day 1. Start (Otter House) – Ngubu Hut. 4,8km, 2 hours

Highlights of Day 1

• Guano Caves.
• The waterfall.

The shortest day on the hike you don’t have to start early, some people drive the same day all the way from Cape Town. You can easily start after midday. The trail starts in the forest and meanders down to the coast. The second part along the coast is more tricky you walk on rocks and boulders be careful they can be slippery when it rains. Once you reach the waterfall take your time there, go for a swim Ngubu huts are not far.

At Ngubu huts we saw a bushbuck in the bush, dolphins jumping out of the water, giant snails, and genets. Don’t miss the sunset it’s beautiful. There are a couple of rock pools at the beach where you can snorkel, we saw a lot of fish and sea stars.

Day 2. Ngubu hut – Scott hut. 7,9km, about 4 hours

Note! Water from the Kleinbos River is not potable.

Highlights of Day 2

• Skilderklip quartz outcrops and viewpoint, short detour at 1,9km mark.
• Blue Bay, detour at 6km mark all the way down to the sea over the rocks to the stunning beach.

In the beginning, steep up all the way to the top, then walk along the coast with some incredible lookouts. Take a detour to the quartz outcrops. Steep down to the Kleinbosh River though it’s narrow it was a bit of a mission to cross it as the water was waist-deep (we crossed it close to high tide). Steep up, at 6km detour down to the beautiful Blue Bay after long steep up all the way to the top. On the top don’t miss a wooden deck lookout it gives you incredible views. After all the way down to the sea to Scott hut.

Day 3. Scott hut – Oakhurst hut. 7,7km, about 4 hours

Note! Water from the Elandsbos and Lottering rivers is not potable.

Highlights of Day 3

• The Elandsbos River, wide sandy beach.
• The Lottering River, nice for swimming, beautiful beach.

A normal day on the Otter trail, with some ups and downs. Two river crossings; Elandsbos river, the river is quite wide we crossed it 1 hour after the high tide in knee-deep water, the bottom is sandy. After the river a steep up and later down to the Lottering River. To cross it wasn’t a problem, we did it 3 hours before the low tide when the water was just over knees, the bottom is mostly sandy, some big rocks close to the shore. Oakhurst hut is just 5 – 10min. walk from the river.

Day 4. Oakhurst hut – Andre hut. 13,8km, about 6 hours

Highlights of Day 4

• Several waterfalls (if it rained a bit).
• Bloukrans River.

The longest day with the main challenge on the trail – Bloukrans River crossing! The trail starts from the steep uphill and continues meandering between the coastline and the jungle with a couple of waterfalls and small creeks on the way. For this day it’s important to cross the river at low tide. The distance from the hut to the river is about 10km, it took us 3 hours to get there. We had lunch at the river while waiting for low tide and crossed it 3 hours after the high tide, it was waist-deep. From Bloukrans River it’s about an hour’s walk to Andre hut.

Bloukrans River crossing

The best way to do it is to cross right at low tide, you just walk in knee-deep water but if you’re unlucky and low tide is too early or too late try to cross the Bloukrans as close to it as possible. At the office, you get a tide timetable if you want to know beforehand check the tides timetable.

Attention! If the Bloukrans River is too full after heavy rains and the crossing is dangerous don’t risk rather use E6 escape route, 500m before the river. Through the forest to the plantations, till you hit a gravel road where you have cell phone reception, phone rangers and they will assist you. Emergency number 072-917-4474.

Challenges

• Waves, at high tide they are quite big.
• Current when the tide goes down, it gets strong to make sure it doesn’t drag you out into the sea.
• Rocky bottom, ensure every step you make to prevent slipping.
• Leaking survival bags, all survival bags (different brands) in our group leaked some more some less, make sure all your valuable stuff (camera, wallet, phone etc.) is secured in an additional plastic bag or better in a dry bag.

Day 5. Andre Hut – De Vasselot. 10,8km, about 5 hours

Highlights of Day 5

• Stunning view from the look-out on Andre Hut.
• Rocky cliffs and drops.
• Nature’s Valley beach.

On the last day no more river crossing, only the Klip River a small and shallow river next to the hut. Steep uphill in the beginning to the top with a breathtaking view of the area. Long walk on the plateau along the coast with light ups and downs till you reach the beach. The view from over the beach and Nature’s Valley from the top is incredible! You walk a section on the beach and then the trail turns right into the forest and continues for about 3,5km till you reach De Vasselot Rest camp.

The trail used to end on the beach at Nature’s Valley but it was extended. We were told the reason for this is that it’s not safe to cross the Groot River. We walked a new route through the river crossing that didn’t look any dangerous, some of our group members crossed it. When walking the beach section again the next day we found the river was ankle-deep. All our group members finished the hike by 11am.

At De Vasselot office you sign out and get an Otter trail certificate. According to the tradition after the trail hikers go to the restaurant to celebrate. It’s about 3km from De Vasselot in Nature’s Valley town. There is a tree in the garden where hikers hang their old shoes, bags, caps etc. Here you can get one more certificate that you completed the Otter trail (free) and get special shooters (not free).