Kayaking Adventure at Storms River Mouth in Tsitsikamma National Park
Don’t leave the Garden Route in South Africa before booking this adventure! If you’re looking or A hidden gem in South Africa - I’d like to introduct to you the Tsitsikamma National Park. Here, you will find a unique opportunity to kayak up a gorge, surrounded by some of the most stunning scenery in the country. Our journey began with an overnight camp at the Storm River Mouth, a quick two-minute drive to where the untouched adventures of the kayak tour would unfold. I booked our adventure through Viator for $43 USD each, or 1620 Rand for both of us. The area is currently under construction. We visited June of 2024. Just follow the coast that wraps around and you'll eventually reach the Untouched Adventures kiosk. There is an additional fee for renting the wetsuits and booties, but I highly recommend it as I wouldn’t have wanted to go in there without a wetsuit and sneakers. A final piece of advice: make sure to visit the restroom before heading over to the Untouched Adventures kiosk as there are no facilities there, and it's about a five-minute walk back to the parking lot where the restrooms are located.
The Preparation
Upon arrival, we were greeted by the friendly team who hosted the kayak tour. We were fitted with a wetsuit, booties, a jacket, and a helmet. After a quick safety briefing, we embarked on a short, 10-minute hike towards the gorge. Right from the start, the beautiful views were a sight to behold, as we walked upon a set of suspension bridges, where most visitors stop to enjoy the view. But for us, the real adventure was just about to begin - kayaking farther into the gorge.
The Kayaking Experience
This was the moment we had been waiting for - hopping into a tandem kayak, with my boyfriend assuming the role of captain at the back, and me, relishing the views at the front. This spot is particularly interesting as the ocean waves flow in and out of the channel, meeting with the freshwater from the river. This causes the water level to rapidly fluctuate, making the experience even more thrilling. The guides were incredibly helpful and ensured our safety at all times. Unless you're 100% comfortable with it, I would advise against bringing your phone or camera. However, they do offer wet bags which proved to be extremely useful.
Enjoying the pictures?
I am a professional photographer turned travel creator so naturally I love to help others with their photography game. You can find out exactly what is in my camera bag here.
You can also purchase my custom KP Preset Pack for Lightroom to guide you to get a similar look to the images I share on social and in my blog.
As we paddled further into the gorge, the scenery became even more breathtaking. We were surrounded by steep cliff sides, with the light beaming in off the cliff, creating a magnificent sunrise view down into the canyon. The water was filled with foam and bubbles, adding to the surreal experience. We even had an opportunity to do some cliff jumping, adding an extra dose of adrenaline to our adventure.
Once inside the gorge, we encountered a small rapid. This is where we temporarily disembarked our kayaks to learn more about the area and its wildlife. Interestingly, many sharks come to this part of the river to cleanse themselves of parasites that they contract in the ocean. There are numerous types of sharks, and our guide assured us there was a 110% chance we had kayaked over some on our way to the spot. However, he was quick to reassure us that he had never seen a shark approach a person, as they are more afraid of us than we are of them.
After this enlightening interlude, we navigated a few rocks and hopped onto some inflatable rafts to paddle even further into the gorge. For some reason, the water was filled with foam and bubbles from the churning of the water down the rappids. We floated back down towards where we had left our kayaks, and then were given the opportunity to do some cliff jumping. From there, we floated down the rapids, which was a thrilling experience, and then we re-boarded our kayaks and headed back to the opening of the gorge. After our adventure, we stopped for lunch at the restaurant situated at the Storms River Mouth. The area is under construction it’s still offering service at Cattle Baron. The coffee was exceptional, scoring a perfect 10 out of 10, while the food was just okay - I had a veggie ‘chicken’ patty and Colin had a cheeseburger, and we shared a Greek salad.
Follow on Social!
