The Tsitsikamma Waterfall Hike
The Tsitsikamma Waterfall Hike is a beautiful 6km, out and back hike along the ocean in Garden Route National Park Tsitsikamma Section. This moderate trail’s waterfall pool is perfect for jumping into as well. I did this trail with my brother and sister during our Garden Route Road Trip. It took us 3 hours to complete the hike, including a 20-minute swim break.
Our hike started off rainy, but luckily the skies cleared. Be warned that you’ll be hiking through many rocky paths and so it will be slippery if you hike in/after the rain.
After the Waterfall hike, be sure to visit the suspension bridge as it’s just 5 minutes away!
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The Basics
- 3 hours, 6km
- Moderate hike
- Out-and-back hike
- Highlights: Great coastal views and the waterfall
- Park entry cost: R272 for international visitors / R68 for locals and residents with ID
Tsitsikamma Waterfall Hike Parking
Enter the Garden Route Tsitsikamma Section entrance to pay your entry fee. If you need them, there are bathrooms at the visitor’s center on the left-hand side of the road about a minute or two after you enter.
The entrance to the waterfall trailhead is the first turn-off on your right at the Otter Trail Caravan site. Park as you enter the site. We ended up driving to the very start of the trail because parking was full. Although we parked in a “no parking” area, there were two other cars there… So we did it as well.
Tsitsikamma Waterfall Hike
The Beginning
The start of the trail is a steady downhill that will eventually lead you to clamber up and around rocks and boulders for 40 minutes. The rocks are very slippery when wet so be careful.
You’ll come across a bat cave before a staircase. The mossy rocks here are also very slippery. We didn’t go far into the cave, but my brother saw a bat fly across in the distance.
The views are beautiful. I saw an otter in the distance so keep your eyes open! Can you spot the little white head on the right side of the rocks?
The Middle
After you reach the bat cave, head up the staircase and follow the yellow arrows through the forest and back down to the rocky seaside. It should take you about 50 minutes to reach the waterfall from here. If you’re a pro at bouldering over rocks, then it won’t take you as long.
At the waterfall, you can slide into the water! It’s not as cold as other pools I’ve jumped into in South Africa. The waterfall pool is not connected to the ocean so that may be why.
I believe in you! You should definitely get in the water after making all the effort to hike out here.
You’ll notice that the pool water is slightly orange. This is because of the tannins released into the water from the surrounding pine forest and oak trees. It’s nothing dangerous, but if you drink the water it’ll probably taste weird. In fact, tannins give that bitter taste to wine!
The End
As the Tsitsikamma Waterfall hike is an out-and-back hike, you’ll take the same way back to the trailhead. We spent around 20 minutes hanging out by the pool, taking pictures, and getting into the water.
From my googling, other bloggers spend up to an hour here. It was cloudy for our hike, so we didn’t have enough incentive (basically, heat) to get us to jump in the water multiple times.
You may find that your balance is better on the route back—ours was! We felt surer of which rocky paths to take and so it took us just about an hour and 10 minutes to return.
Who should do this hike?
Almost anyone. Although the hike is not long, it does require a lot of Billy-goat-style maneuvering for about half the trail length. People with bad knees should avoid the trail as there will be a lot of pressure on the knees jumping across rocks and crouching down to make your way on the path. We saw kids as young as 8 on the trail (some barefoot) as well.
What to bring?
Depending on when you do the hike, you may not need that much. We hiked right after breakfast. I had brought a sandwich and apple, but I wasn’t hungry by the time we reached the waterfall at 10:30am. We ate after the hike at the parking viewpoint at 12pm instead when we finished the hike.
I always suggest bringing water. I had 1.5 liters with me but didn’t drink as much as I may have otherwise because it was a cloudy day. In the heat, I probably would have drunk more.
There is minimal shade cover so bring sunblock in case you burn easily.
I suggest wearing hiking shoes that you’re comfortable climbing rocks with. Tevas or otherwise could also work but your foot will probably still slip a bit compared to sneakers.
Other Things to do Around
We stayed in Stormsriver, which was my favorite town along the Garden Route. The town is a base for other adventures like ziplining, segway tours (yes, we saw these people zoom through town!), bungee jumping at the famous Bloukrans Bridge, Blackwater tubing, and paddle boarding!
What did you think of the Tsitsikamma Waterfall Hike? Let me know in the comments!