Garden Route National Park
Nature’s Valley lies virtually in the heart of the Tsitsikamma Forest, the site of monkey ropes, old man’s beard dangling from trees, a beautiful lagoon surrounded by mountains and forest, and miles of unspoilt white beaches.
There is the stunning Groot River with its towering yellowwood trees, widening into a safe estuary perfect for swimming, fishing and paddling where it reaches the Indian Ocean; a truly spectacular beach rising up onto majestic and rugged sea cliffs; and of course, the secret, overgrown lanes meandering through the houses playing hide-and-seek amidst the profusion of milkwoods and other trees.
The De Vasselot section of the gorgeous Garden Route National Park is also situated here, and one can convincingly argue that this is the most beautiful part of this newly proclaimed park. Nature’s Valley remains an unspoiled and near-pristine eco-village, with any urban development firmly opposed by the environmentally-focussed locals.
A benevolent and balmy climate means minimal variation in weather between seasons, although most of the rain is in winter.
Champion Yellowwoods
Even though Yellowwood trees were heavily cut down to feed a growing nation, there are still many in Nature’s Valley today. The best known are the big Trees at Woodville, the Garden of Eden and Nature's Valley rest camp (formerly De Vasselot Campsite). These ones are best seen as you drive down into Nature's Valley from the Plettenberg side, where there is an excellent view of the majestic trees, covered with Spanish moss or old man’s beard lichen.
‘Big Tree’, off the N2 and just past Storms River Village is also worth a visit. This is one of South Africa’s more famous trees, being 1 000 years old and standing 36.6 m high. The tree started growing in 1190, and has witnessed many political and environmental changes in its time.
The Big Tree is an Outeniqua yellowwood – a wood that is in high demand for furniture and house construction. The trunks of these trees were once used as topmasts of ships; popular in the 1800s and brought out of the forests by the traditional woodcutters who lived and died in the Tsitsikamma Forests.
Tsitsikamma Bungee
In the scenic Tsitsikamma, adrenaline junkies can opt for an epic bungee jumping experience. The site is located at Bloukrans, at a whopping 216 m bridge making it one of the world's highest commercial bungee jumps. Get ready for the ultimate thrill as you are secured into a full-body harness before you walk along a specially designed catwalk to the top of the arch, a gut-thumping height above the Bloukrans River.
Here you’ll be given final instructions by the experienced jump crew before over-riding every impulse in your body by hurling yourself off the bridge. Bloukrans utilises pendulum bungee technology to ensure you the smoothest, most comfortable jump possible. Book online or just stop by next time you drive past along the N2. And if you just can't convince yourself to do it, just remember that ‘Fear is temporary, but Regret is forever!’
Storms River
The Storms River Rest Camp of the Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park is very scenic and a must-visit. A number of short hiking trails (2-6 km) allow you to explore the coastal bush and rocky shoreline. The heartland of the park stretches some 5 km to sea, protecting a wonderland of inter-tidal life, reef and deep-sea fish.
Dolphins frolic in the breakers, surfing and playing for the sheer joy of life, and the gentle giant of the ocean, the southern right whale visits here, coming inshore to breed. Storms River Village offers the visitor magnificent scenery, a small beach, a restaurant and shop. There is a lovely walkway through the forest to the dramatic Storms River mouth, which can be crossed on a suspension bridge spanning the mouth.
By Jacques Marais