National Parks and Nature Reserves

There are an abundance of National Parks, Nature Reserves and Game Reserves in the Cape Garden Route and especially so in the Plett environs. The most famous of all are the Tsitsikamma National Park and the Robberg Nature Reserve, the latter being earmarked as a world heritage site.

Where the booming breakers of the Indian Ocean relentlessly pound rocky shores, where temperate high forest and fynbos roll down to the sea in an unspoilt verdant carpet, where ancient rivers carve their paths to the ocean down rocky ravines. This, “the place of much water”, is the Tsitsikamma National Park.

Tsitsikamma National Park stretches 65kms along the coast from Natures Valley to Oubosstrand with the heartland of the park stretching some 5 km to sea, protecting a wonderland of inter-tidal life, reef and deep-sea fish. Dolphins frolic in the breakers, surfing and playing for the sheer joy of life and the gentle giant of the ocean, the southern right whale visits here, coming inshore to breed.

The most important of the nature reserves is Robberg Nature Reserve, offering great walking and hiking trails and is an excellent view site for cliff based whales and dolphins sightings. There are three circular walks of various lengths, caves, and extensive information about Robberg’s geology, archaeology and existing marine life.
Other nature reserves include Harkerville, Keurbooms, Wadrift and Wittedrift.