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The Storms River Mouth Waterfall Trail leads you along the beautiful, rocky coastline. After a few kilometres, you reach a waterfall cascading down the cliffs and into a peaceful pool, perfect for swimming and right on the beach.
Location
This hike starts at Storms River Mouth Rest Camp in the middle of the Garden Route. You can read more about how to get there in our guide to Storms River Mouth. If you don’t have a car, check out the options for car hire* from Cape Town.
This hike is in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park. If you don’t have a Wild Card, you’ll need to pay a conservation fee when you enter – R65 for South Africans and R262 for international visitors (both half price for children).
Tips
- The sign at the start of the trail recommends that you don’t set off on this hike later than 14:30 in summer or 13:30 in winter. This is to make sure you will return before dark.
- This hike follows part of the multiday Otter Hike trail, so you may see several groups with big rucksacks.
- This hikes involves walking over boulders on the beach which can be slippery if wet.
- Trekking beyond the waterfall is not allowed without a valid permit (for the Otter Hike).
- The rest camp is very long and narrow, so if you start walking from the eastern end by the shop and restaurant, it will add 3 km to this walk.
- Want another hike? Try our Storms River Mouth Bridge Trail.
The hike starts from the far western end of the rest camp. You can either walk here from your accommodation or drive to the start where there is a small car park. The hike starts by heading out the far end of the car park and down a few steps. There is a sign for ‘Waterfall Trail Hikers’ warning that the way is uneven can be slippery.
The coastline is beautiful in both directions. There’s not much chance of getting lost as the sea is always on your left, and steep cliffs on your right.
Sometimes the path disappears and you have to walk over the pebbles and boulders on the beach. Often you will be able to see a walkway, stairs or bridge in the distance so you can aim for them.
There are some minor bits of scrambling and sometimes the rocks on the beach can be loose. There are various interesting features on the beaches, such as caves and rock pools that you can peer into.
At the Waterfall
After 2.5 km you reach the waterfall cascading down the cliffs and into a large, fairly deep and still pool. It’s a wonderful place to swim, much safer and more relaxing than attempting to swim in the wavey, rocky ocean on the other side.
It’s also the perfect place for a picnic or snack, or a quick sunbathe.
This is the furthest point on the Storms River Mouth Waterfall Trail. The route returns the same way back to the car park and the rest camp.
Trekking beyond the waterfall is not allowed without a valid permit.
For more information about other things to do and where to stay, read our guide to Storms River Mouth Rest Camp.
Discover more of South Africa with Chasing Ostriches: A Two Month Road Trip through South Africa
We did this hike near the beginning of our two-month road trip around South Africa which we wrote up as a book, Chasing Ostriches*. Discover many other amazing places in South Africa and see more photos here.
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