Just follow the yellow footsteps over rock and trail, past flowers and birds, lichens and logs, and a cave, to discover the Tsitsikamma waterfall, and eventually we got there.
It’s on the other side of that far point, somewhere.
This is my fourth visit to Tsitsikamma National Park along the Garden Route of South Africa and I’ll never tire of the place. I’ve hiked the Suspension Bridge trail twice and gazed at the crashing waves for endless hours but I’d never hiked the Waterfall trail, partly because I was traveling there alone and it’s considered a “difficult” trail. But this time Joan and I tackled it together and although it is rather challenging in places the scramble over rocks was worth it when we got to the end for the magnificent waterfall.
The trail starts out easy enough through some open land with dramatic coastal views of the Indian Ocean.
Plus there’s a few stairs and trail through the indigenous forest.
Then suddenly the rocks appear. At the first upward climb we had our doubts and talked to a woman who had decided to wait for her husband as she didn’t like heights and knew her limits. But onward we went, climbing like monkeys. We just kept following the yellow arrows and footsteps over the recommended best route and sometimes found our own chosen path.
The 4 mile (6.4 km) round trip trail comprises the first 1.86 miles (3 km) of the world-renowned Otter Trail which requires 5 days and 4 nights over 42.5 km. The sign said to expect to take 3.5 hours round trip. But us lollygags stopping to smell the flowers and explore the tide pools and such took 3 hours to get there and 2 hours back.
Plus there’s a shallow cave to explore along the way.
Now 2 miles (3.2km) isn’t all that far but the trail seemed to go forever and we were beginning to wonder if there really was a waterfall or had we missed it.
But the Dassies encouraged us to go on, go on.
And finally we rounded another rocky point and saw it.
This spectacular waterfall plunging into a deep pool then flowing into the sea.
Maybe we should have brought our swim costumes. But a cool breeze came up and the sky clouded over.
So in order to protect the cameras from possible rain we headed back to camp at a little faster pace. Next time, an earlier start plus pack a lunch and hang out for a while.
What a great looking place – so much to see!
Cheers – Stewart M – Melbourne
Wow, what an adventure!!
That it was.
What a beautiful, beautiful place! The rock climbing looks a little scary, but well worth it.
Really wasn’t too scary, but often confusing as to which way to climb. But certainly worth it.
I was with you there! And I’ve added this to my bucket list! What a gorgeous reward at the end of a fascinating walk. Love the lollygagging – that’s the way I walk too. In fact was thinking about writing something like “Reasons to walk”! I practically can’t walk any longer with some friends, because I want to stop so often for one reason or another.
Gaelyn is the only person I take walks with Linda as we both stop and show each other things along the way and it does not matter how long we take or even if we actually reach our destination, we enjoy so much along the path.
All of life is about the journey including a walk or hike. I’m rarely in a hurry to get anywhere. And as Joan said, we walk together well because we both stop frequently to look at the little things along the way. I too have friends I won’t walk with. This is definitely a place to put on your list. And if you travel to South Africa I highly recommend Joan as a guide.
Absolutly beautiful!!! Thanks for posting your photos.
You’re welcome. It was gorgeous.
That is one beautiful place. But those jagged rocks are not for the faint-hearted, for sure. I can feel the gashes… And those cute little dassies are vaguely eerie. Add a few more just staring at you like that and it would be straight out of a Stephen King novel…
I only ended up with one gash from a nasty branch attack on the return walk. The Dassies are really cute and not scary at all. 😉
Truly awesome, Gaelyn! Don’t know if I could do, so thanks for taking us along!
Glad you could join us, even if only cyberly.
Fantastic post Gaelyn. Love the pictures. This was not an easy trail but a wonderful one and I like the idea of taking lunch with us next time as well as something to put the cameras in in case it does rain then we will not have to hurry. 🙂
Yup, next time we’ll go more prepared.
Spectacular and I guess worth the climb. MB
Most certainly worth the climb.
Such a beautiful and rugged landscape. There’s something so alluring about terrain like this!
It was gorgeous and a very fun hike.
I know I’ve said it before, but I’ve never walked to the waterfall. I would love to but just haven’t had the chance. It does look like its not just something you decide to quickly do so will plan a couple of days in the area at some stage again. A stunning spot
You really do need to do this hike, but maybe not with the kids yet.
You’re such a brave traveler. You don’t just see the tourist sights that’s for sure! Congrats on completing this beautiful hike and thanks for sharing it.
I don’t know about brave but I do like to see both tourist sights and not.
What a beautiful waterfall! Gonna check this out. Just followed you on Twitter as well – cool site. Looking forward to connect! Torsten
Thanks for stopping by.
This looks like a great trek. You got the wildlife, the ocean, rocks, a cave with the waterfall being the cherry on top. Great shots Gaelyn. I would be overwhelmed down there. I wouldn’t know which place to visit first. Well…maybe the penguins first and then go from there:)
You’d go crazy for the birds in South Africa, even I know a few of them.
Are you able to do this hike during high tide? Would it be too dangerous/hard for kids? We are considering going with our 2 boys (5yrs and 8yrs) when we are in South Africa at the end of the year. Both are quite used to walking (the 2.7km each way won’t be a problem) – and love rock scrambling…