Tsitsikamma National Park

/ Tsitsikamma National Park in the Garden Route, South Africa
Garden Route Game Reserves

Tsitsikamma National Park, Garden Route

The Tsitsikamma National Park
The Tsitsikamma National Park

The Tsitsikamma National Park is situated at the heart of the picturesque tourist region known as the Garden Route, found in the Southern Cape of South Africa. Tsitsikamma is a Khoisan word meaning, “place of much water". The Park incorporates 80 km of rocky coastline with spectacular sea and landscapes, a remote mountainous region with secluded valleys covered in mountain Fynbos and temperate high forests with deep river gorges leading down to the sea.

The Tsitsikamma’s spectacular scenery includes the Indian Ocean breakers, pounding rocky shores beneath 180 m high cliffs, ever-green forests and fynbos (proteas and heath) rolling down to the sea in a lush carpet where ancient rivers have carved their path to the ocean through rocky ravines. All this conspires to attract large numbers of international and local tourist to the Park.

Tsitsikamma National Park protects a wonderland of inter-tidal and marine life. This is one of the largest single unit ‘no take’ (including fishing) Marine Protected Areas in the world, conserving 11% of South Africa’s Temperate South Coast rocky shoreline and provides a 'laboratory' for fisheries baseline research on endangered fish species. In 1964 when it was proclaimed, it became the first Marine National Park to be proclaimed in Africa.

The Tsitsikamma National Park
The Tsitsikamma National Park
Approximately 30% of the park is covered in fynbos, scattered amongst the forest vegetation, boasting a wide variety of beautiful flowers, including proteas and heath. Many species of forest, fynbos and sea birds are present. The Tsitsikamma area has a long history of Marine and Forest utilisation and most of the local communities relied mostly, in one form or another, on these two ecosystems for their survival.

Cormorants, Kelp Gulls and African Black Oystercatchers are prominent along the coastline. Pied and Giant Kingfishers can both be seen hunting fish at tidal pools or in the rivers that drain into the Indian Ocean. More inconspicuous, but also inhabiting these rivers are Half-collared Kingfisher and African Finfoot. The Tsitsikamma Forest is the haunt of the Knysna Loerie. Other forest species to watch or listen for include Emerald Cuckoo, Narina Trogon, Knysna and Olive Woodpecker, Chorister Robin and Grey Cuckooshrike.

Although Tsitsikamma boasts a magical world of inter-tidal life and reefs in its marine part, there is also the famous terrestrial part of the park with its lush forest, delicate fynbos and sheer cliffs. One of the most conspicuous trees is the Outeniqua yellow-wood, Podocarpus falcata. Additional Reading:
For more info see our articles on the SA Travel News Blog:
Hiking Trails in the Tsitsikamma
Things to Do in the Tsitsikamma Forest
Things for Nature Lovers to Do in the Tsitsikamma
Ziplining over the Tsitsikamma Waterfalls
Blackwater tubing on Storms River

Tsitsikamma National Park

Accommodation nearby

For accommodation nearby, see these towns which border the reserve:
Tsitsikamma Accommodation or Tsitsikamma Hotels
Storms River Accommodation or Storms River Hotels
Eersterivier Accommodation or Eersterivier Guest Houses

Or to see all accommodation in the region, visit Accommodation in the Garden Route.

Tsitsikamma National Park

Featured Attractions / Activities

Tsitsikamma Segway Experience

Where: Storms River
How much (per person): On Request

The Tsitsikamma Forest is a wonderful place to explore with an abundance of plant and animal life around you and a varied terrain. Grab a ... more information

Tsitsikamma Canopy Tours

Where: Storms River
How much (per person): R201 to R500

'Me Tarzan, you Jane.' Swing from the treetops across the forest canopy of the place named by the ancient San, Tsitsikamma (place of ... more information

View Game Reserves in this Region

Did you know?
Tsitsikamma National Park is one of the largest single unit ‘no take’ (including fishing) Marine Protected Areas in the world.

Garden RouteGarden Route