Storms River Mouth

The Storms River comes out of a narrow forested gorge and meets the Indian Ocean at a point where the swell hits rock without any beach to soften it, and the result is the most photographed piece of the Tsitsikamma coast. A boardwalk of about a kilometre runs from the rest camp along the shore through milkwood and over rock, ending at three suspension bridges strung across the mouth; the main one is around seventy-seven metres long and moves underfoot as the water surges below. Beyond the bridges a steep climb leads to a lookout over the gorge. The river runs dark brown from forest tannins, so the meeting of black water and white surf is stark. The rest camp cabins sit right on the rocks. The area is also where the Otter Trail starts, heading west along the coast to Nature's Valley.

Highlights

• The suspension bridges - three spans over the river mouth, the main one about 77 metres.
• The black-and-white water - tannin-dark river meeting white ocean surf.
• The shore boardwalk - a kilometre of walkway through milkwood over the rocks.
• The Otter start - the trailhead for the five-day coastal hike west.

When to go

All year. Half a day. The boardwalk closes in heavy seas, and swell can send water over it.

What to expect

The bridges get very busy midday with tour groups. High seas close the boardwalk without notice. The path is wet and slippery in places. Swimming at the mouth is dangerous - the surge is strong. Cabins book out months ahead.

Nearby

Nature's Valley is west along the Otter Trail; the bungee bridge at Bloukrans is nearby.

Key facts