South Africa is an amazingly beautiful country to explore and from the north to the south, you will find breathtaking scenery that words cannot describe. One such place is the magnificent Storms River Mouth and if you have not been there before, make sure it is on your bucket list. Whether you want to enjoy nature, history, bird watching, walking trails, canoeing or reading on your veranda, Storms River Mouth will cater for all your needs.
In 1879 the now-famous pass builder Thomas Bain first surveyed the area known as Zitzikama and by 1884 the pass through the Storms River gorge was completed and the village of Storms River surveyed and laid out.
To travel across the impressive gorge, Thomas Bain followed, in many places, the trail of ancient elephants that had centuries earlier navigated a way across the ravine. Today we can still in places see the remains of these ancient trails and admire the courage of the elephants and the determination of Thomas Bain and his people.
As the years went by, and the forests of Storms River began to take a heavy toll via the axe of woodcutters, the State decided to step in and begin the preservation of these gorgeous trees.
Today Storms River Village is a little town full of activity with a very special ambience and feel, where one may wander through the streets where elephants once roamed, admire the giant forest trees where once woodcutters rested in their shade and enjoy a cool drink at one of the restaurants.
The Storms River Rest Camp is known as the “the place of much water”, and stretches some 5km to sea, protecting and displaying a wonderland of marine life, a photographic and marine lovers paradise!
The family-friendly rest camp is a place where dolphins cheerfully play in the breakers, and the gentle giants of the ocean, the southern right whale, make their annual migration, coming inshore to breed.
The luscious canopied landscapes of green trees are the setting for the Storms River Mouth Rest Camp. Where the booming breakers of the Indian Ocean relentlessly pound rocky shores, where fynbos roll down to the sea in an unspoilt carpet, where ancient rivers carve their paths to the ocean down rocky ravines, you will find your peace.
But if peace-and-quiet is not for you, there is a wide variety of entertainment – canoeing, bungee jumping trips are made to the nearby Bloukrans River bridge daily, the highest bungee jump fall in the world, as well as abseiling and climbing, hiking loops, mountain biking trails, tractor-trailer rides and 4 x 4 trails, and stunning treetop tours, where guests can soak in the gorgeous surrounds of this amazing one-of-a-kind natural area.
The many walking trails may reward you with experiencing some of the local wildlife like dassies, dolphins, Cape Clawless Otter, duiker, bushbuck, the famous Knysna Loerie, the African Black oystercatcher and the ubiquitous baboons.
The suspension bridge that hangs over the foamy waters of the Storms River Mouth spans 77 metres and remains one of the most popular tourist attractions. It hangs just seven metres above the churning waters of the river as it enters the Indian Ocean.
The walk leading to the suspension bridge covers 900 metres of the Tsitsikamma forest. There are plenty of steps to negotiate, but it remains a fairly easy route, particularly if covered slowly. The walk is well worth the magnificent views and there are several lookout points and places to have a seat and rest while enjoying the birds and the views. Standing on this dramatic piece of engineering, enables you to take in the unspoilt surrounding beauty.
Don’t miss out on this, one of South Africa’s nature gems.
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