Fodor's Expert Review Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park

If you want to hike through some of the most fantastic scenery along the Garden Route, head to this park between Nature's Valley and Plettenberg Bay. One of the best ways to experience it is the five-day Otter Trail, one of South Africa's most popular hikes. However, it’s usually booked out a year ahead. The somewhat easier Dolphin Trail is also incredibly popular. 

A less strenuous option is to visit Storms River Mouth, where the river enters the sea through a narrow channel between sheer cliffs. From the Tsitsikamma Visitor Center, a trail descends through the forest and over a narrow suspension bridge strung across the water. It's a spectacular walk, a highlight of any trip to the Garden Route. On the other side of the bridge, a steep trail climbs to the top of a bluff overlooking the river and the sea. Other trails, ranging from 1 to 3 km (½ to 2 miles), lead to a cave once inhabited by hunter-gatherers or through the coastal forest.