Otter TrailTravel & Exploration
Last update 13 h. agoCreated on the 17th of May 2026
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Duration
~10.1 hours
Distance
36.6 km
Elevation gain
573 m
Difficulty
T2 — moderate mountain hike
High point
205 m
The Otter Trail
South Africa's oldest official hiking trail, a 45 km, five day coastal route through Tsitsikamma National Park on the Garden Route. The path drops in and out of ravines between Storms River Mouth and Nature's Valley, with overnight huts perched above the surf and the famous Bloukrans River crossing timed against low tide.
SANParks releases the 12 daily permits up to 13 months in advance and slots vanish within minutes, so diarise booking day. Check the Bloukrans tide table on day four and plan to cross around low water, the river is impassable at high tide after rain.