Tsitsikamma National Park - Firefly the Travel Guy

Storms River Mouth walk to the suspension bridge

The Tsitsikamma National Park, these days called the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park, must be one of the most scenic places in South Africa. I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder and some people are going to say, "But what about the Wild Coast or the West Coast?" So let's just say, the Tsitsikamma coastline is right up there. And the easiest way to see and experience it is on the Storms River Mouth…

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10/08/2025

Firefly the Travel Guy

Following the Storms River Pass road through the Tsitsikamma forest

The Tsitsikamma is a combination of beautiful indigenous forests, a rugged coastline, craggy mountains and rivers flowing through the region via deep gorges. All of this made the Tsitsikamma quite a tricky area to travel through in the early days. Life in the Tsitsikamma was tranquil and peaceful, with the animals living in total harmony with the San hunter‐gatherers who periodically lived in this area, migrating back and forth as the seasons dictated. Then the hunters started to arrive in…

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22/05/2025

Firefly the Travel Guy

Meandering along the Goesa Forest Trail in the Tsitsikamma

The forest is a place I go to recharge my soul. I don't always have time to venture too far down the old Storms River Pass or onto the Plaatbos forest trails, but just sitting by the stream flowing under the road inside the gate is often enough. On my last visit around I had some time on my hands in the late afternoon and decided to give the Goesa Trail a shot. The Goesa Trail is a nice easy…

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12/07/2023

Firefly the Travel Guy

Fungi in the Tsitsikamma forest

The Big Tree is one of the Tsitsikamma's most iconic attractions. To get to this 1000-year-old Outeniqua Yellowwood tree you have to walk about 500 meters through the forest on a wooden boardwalk. It takes you less than 10 minutes to get to the tree. Unless you're there on a quiet day with no other visitors around and you keep an eye out for interesting little tidbits next to the path. I did just that on my last visit, with…

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19/06/2022

Firefly the Travel Guy

Plaatbos forest and Storms River Pass

The Tsitsikamma is one of my happy places. It is where I go to recharge my soul and get close to nature and that is what we as a family did a couple of week ago. It wasn't a comprehensive charge, but a quick visit one just to breath in the fresh Tsitsikamma air and get away from lockdown at that stage. One of our stops for the day was the Plaatbos Forest section of the Garden Route (Tsitsikamma) National…

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29/09/2020

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Exploring the old Storms River Pass

I have a special connection with the Tsitsikamma forest. It is where I go to plug in my soul for a bit of a recharge. It doesn't even have to be an extended recharge. Just a couple of minutes sitting in the forest next to a stream taking in the forest with all my senses is enough. There are various ways to explore the forest with trails being the most effective way to leave everything behind. One of these "trails", the biggest…

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13/10/2015

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10 not to miss activities, restaurants and accommodation in the Tsitsikamma

Ahh, the Tsitsikamma..... My favorite Sho't Left destination for a couple of days' breakaway. Beautiful indigenous forests to sooth my soul, mountains on the horizon, streams running past ancient indigenous trees and forest giants to a rugged coastline where the blue ocean crashes as white waves on black rocks at the foot of sheer cliffs. This part of the Garden Route must be one of the most beautiful places in South Africa. Truly paradise. The Tsitsikamma is a lot more than natural…

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13/01/2015

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Forest scenes and senses from the Tsitsikamma

The Tsitsikamma is famous for its stunning scenery, magnificent forests and exciting adventures. I often wonder how many people visit here and marvel at the big things but totally miss the little ones. Ferns with new leaves opening up, soft moss growing on a rock, bracket fungus on the side of a log, the sound of a forest stream slowly flowing through the underbrush and over a little waterfall and the call of baboons in the distance. What about the sound of the…

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03/11/2014

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A thousand years in the making -The Tsitsikamma Big Tree

One of the best know attractions in the Tsitsikamma is The Big Tree, one of the giants of the forest and thought to be up to 1000 years old. The Garden Route from the Tsitsikamma through Knysna to Wilderness is famous for its indigenous forests and precious trees, amongst them the Yellowwood. The Outeniqua Yellowwood tree is also South Africa's national tree which makes this particular Outeniqua Yellowwood even more special. Getting to the Big Tree is very easy. First of all…

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17/10/2014

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Waterfall reflection

The Tsitsikamma is a world of indigenous forests bordered by mountains and a rugged coastline. One of the most beautiful places there is. At the heart of it lies the Tsitsikamma National Park. The Mouth Trail takes visitors from the park's restaurant area to the Storms River Mouth with its three suspension bridges. Just after you start off on the trail there is a little waterfall on the left hand side flowing into a pool. A tranquil spot even with tourists…

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01/10/2014