The first part of our walk through the Plaatbos Nature Reserve took us on various trails through the forest before taking a halfway break next to the Storms River by the old low water bridge. This left us with the walk back up to the village on the Storms River Pass.
In 1879 the famous pass builder Thomas Bain was busy surveying the area east of Plettenberg Bay and found it to consist of almost impenetrable forests and deep river gorges. To get through the imposing Storms River gorge, Bain followed the ancient elephant trails which took the easiest and most gradual way down towards the river and built the road along those contoars. The pass was built by convicts and completed in 1884. Travelling down the pass some of those ancient trails can still be spotted next to the road.
A kilometer or so before the end we crossed another stream and couldn’t help stopping again for a break. The Kidz had their shoes off immediately to enjoy the fresh forest stream.
I took the opportunity to trek up and down the stream a bit for a couple of pictures capturing one of my favorite things – a forest stream.
The end was in sight and nobody was complaining. It was an awesome morning out and we topped it off with ice cream sundaes at Marilyns Diner in the village.
I'm glad a pass was built yet wonder how the elephants felt about it. Gorgeous Tsitsikamma. Can't wait.