The drive from Natures Valley to Plettenberg Bay doesn’t take more than an hour – but it’s filled with diverse hiking trails and gorgeous beaches.
Spending the night in Plett, as locals lovingly refer to the town, means there are many options for restaurants, shops, and accommodations as it is a bustling town. If you’re looking for a place to stay, try airbnb get a discount using my referral code on your first booking.
+Nature’s Valley Rest Camp is another parcel of the Tsitsikamma section in Gardens Route National Park. See how things can get a bit confusing?
Take the winding road down descending the valley. When I visited, the main entrance to the rest camp was closed, so I took the dirt road through the woods of the campsite to find the main desk and show them my Wildcard, they didn’t seem to care about collecting fees or handing out maps – but I was able to grab one.
Maps are not found online so planning is a bit difficult, and everything surrounding the Kalanderloof Trail was a bit aloof, including where to begin! The hike is a 2.7 mile loop and it is on the opposite side of the street from the rest camp entrance.
It is not entirely marked, but not the worst either (and worth the mild confusion). There were two spots where I was confused, one around the summit where a few forks went unmarked, and towards the end of the trail where there were some ambiguous turnoffs and I ended up taking the last quarter mile on the quiet road back to the parking lot. However, if you endeavor on this trail you will be rewarded. Not many people do, and we had it all to ourselves. The trail begins through the forest and climbing up to an exposed mountaintop where the views of the Groot River and Indian Ocean are astounding.
The wildflowers were unique and plentiful, adding a pop of color against the dense blues and greens.
I was extremely excited to see my first instance of my favorite flower in the wild – the exquisite protea.
Fun Fact: the protea is the national flower of South Africa. Descending steeply back down into the woods you will pass remarkable Yellowwood trees which must be hundreds of years old.
I certainly think the payoff outweighs the confusion in this case.
+The Salt River Nature Valley Lookout hike begins on the edge of the quaint little town of Nature Valley. It is located right across the way from the Nature’s Valley Restaurant and Pub, and has a restroom at the trailhead.
Start by walking out onto the expansive beach, which would be great for an entire day of fun under the right conditions.
It was a bit windy and cool on this day making it sparsely populated, but nonetheless beautiful for explore the rocky coastline.
Walk west, or when looking at the ocean to the right, and it won’t be long until a sign beckons you into the maritime forest.
A short set of switchbacks climbs through the shade of the woods up to a truly magnificent vista of a perfect crescent cove!
You can head back the way you came, or keep onward and upward. A look at the map above shows the Salt River Route connects to other trails such as the Kalanderkloof for a longer hike. There are no fees from this trailhead.
+The Cathedral Arch Rock is just over a mile roundtrip along the coast of Keurboomstrand Beach. A large and free parking lot with informational signs can be found next to Ristorante Enrico (296 Main St, Keurboomstrand, 6600, South Africa). Take the boardwalk path which rests closely beside the restaurant to the east (when facing the ocean to the left).
Upon leaving the boardwalk and hitting the sand, the beach was windy, really blowing hard on this day – but the walk was well worth it. Stop at the lagoon along the way if you are a birder.
In the parking lot one of the signs gave information about African Black Oystercatchers, a threatened and endemic species. There were many of them feeding along the shore of the lake, make sure to watch from a distance as not to disturb them.
Continuing on the shore becomes even rockier, and I found a mini arch due to the route I chose – it was a lucky spy because I could have easily walked around any other boulder.
Finally, the main event – Cathedral Arch Rock appeared – unavoidable in its massive splendor.
After admiring, continue along the beach further if you please or head back the way you came. Important: You do need to be aware of the tides on this walk, because the arch will be unreachable if they are high. Go at low tide.
+The Robberg Nature Reserve is one of my favorite memories from the Gardens Route road trip, and a top hike of all time.
The full loop around the peninsula is just under seven miles roundtrip, though two shorter loops are possible if you only have time for a taste (hiking to the Gap is just over a mile & to Witsand dune is 2.4 miles). Initially the hike is level with stunning coastal views that stretch into Plett, and even some relaxing boardwalk.
On the north side of the island the wind was extremely strong, some hills and rougher terrain materialize as the trail continues, and most noticeably the scent of cape fur seals fills the air long before you spot them in the sea.
Other wildlife sightings included a lizard that would have been well camouflaged except for its pretty blue markings,
and in addition a pair of amorous locust caught in the act.
Upon reaching the point, the wind ramped up so hard I truly thought I would be blown away! Keeping a low center of gravity was helpful, using a camera wasn’t even a possibility, but it was an experience I’ll never forget even without a picture. Rounding to the south side of the peninsula, the scenery was even more astounding.
Some ropes are in place to help with a narrow descent, now closer to the coastline you are up close and personal with the spraying waves and vibrant orange lichen that paints the sandstone boulders.
Here you may spot a dassie or two, or three – also known as the rock hyrax and aptly situated.
Further ahead is an exceptional sight, an island connected to the mainland through a spit – positively glistening in the sunlight.
When you reach it the dunes are even taller than imagined, and if it weren’t so windy it’d be a lovely beach to lay on. Exploring the island is an option (but after a long day of hiking, we decided to push on).
From this point it is an uphill climb to the end of the hike, with stairs and still great views behind you – never a dull moment on this picturesque adventure. Admission fee or Wildcard required.
This is the Guide to Day 2 of Gardens Route National Park, click the link to help plan the rest of your road trip.