Our next stop was the tiny coastal village of Nature’s Valley, tucked away within the Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park, between Plettenberg Bay and Storms River. Surrounded by the Tsitsikamma Mountains and the Groot River, this peaceful corner of the Western Cape offers a wonderful combination of dense indigenous forest, towering yellowwood trees, fynbos-covered hills, quiet lagoons and rugged ocean cliffs.
Nature’s Valley (🎟️165 ZAR) is a wildlife haven, with birds, bushpigs, and Cape clawless otters inhabiting the surrounding wilderness. Offshore, you may occasionally spot dolphins and whales passing along this beautiful stretch of coastline. Unlike some busier Garden Route destinations, the village has retained a wonderfully laid-back atmosphere, making it an ideal place to slow down and enjoy nature.
Visitors have plenty to do all day, from canoeing on the tranquil waters to exploring the numerous hiking trails. The 4.5-kilometre Kalander Kloof Trail is a lovely circular route that climbs quite steeply through indigenous forest and fynbos, rewarding hikers with beautiful views over the surrounding landscape. Another option is the 6-kilometre Groot River Trail, which follows a circular route around the mouth of the Groot River, taking in picturesque beach sections and The Point, the coastal endpoint of the famous Otter Trail.
We took the 5-kilometre moderate circular hike from Nature’s Valley to the mouth of the Salt River, an excellent introduction to the area’s scenery, with great viewpoints, and luckily, we hit a low tide to cross rocky reefs.
Nature’s Valley may be small and relatively quiet, but that is precisely its charm. Here, forest, river, and ocean come together, offering a refreshing escape from the busier stops along South Africa’s spectacular Garden Route.
Parking location – Nature’s Valley: 33.9709961S 23.5625916E (🚻,🚿,💦,🔌,🅿️300 ZAR/2 pax)