SANParks.org Forums

hi,

I was wandering If you can get to the begining of the otter with a car? and if there is a parking place where you can leave your car during the 5 days hike?
and finaly - how usualy hikers get backe to the begining point where they left their car?

thankes in advance!

The trail starts at the end of the Storms River Mouth rest camp, so yes you can drive here.

i say this under correction, but I'm pretty sure you can park your car somewhere at that rest camp.

How you get back from Nature's Valley I'm not sure, but I'm confident someone else will come along and answer. (When I did it, some of our group evacuated halfway through and drove our car to Nature's Valley).

thankes:)

another option I concidered is parking at Nature's Valey and find a way to get to the begining of the trail.. I'm not sure which option is better?:)

Hi Zeyphod,
I've recently done the Otter and can help you out with the detail.
The Otter does not start at the mouth any longer - it starts at the reception - right inside the entrance to the Tsitsi park.
Opposite from the reception (where you have to pay conservation fees and get your Otter map) is the Otter Room, where you also visit to get a tide table and can watch a video of the Otter. That is the start of the trail.
Parking is right next to the Otter Room. We've parked our car at Nature's Valley - at the Otter parking site - very nice and clean ablution facilities where you can change into your hiking gear - we had overnight at the Storms River the night before the hike.
We got transported from Natures Valley by Natures Valley Guest House - just google them - arrange with Pat Bond - they pick you up at the Otter parking in Natures Valley - very reliable and reasonable tariffs.
If there's anything else you'd like to know, I'll try & answer them.
Enjoy the hike and prepare well!
Andrè

Yeah, just confirming the trail does commence at the reception nowadays on the opposite side of road. This change actually eliminates a huge stretch of boulder hopping which one would have found when starting at end of the chalets car park. As you know boulder-hopping can make a hiker's life bit of misery so early into hike.So good move by SANPARKS for implementing this change.
My tip would be allow time to watch the DVD in Otter Room - excellent footage and informative. And of course you can get yourself sorted there as well including a shower if you desired!
Re:Car park - Definitely leave vehicle at Natures Valley(NV) if you can.Enquire at reception as we did who may be able to provide information on options. Otherwise NV Guest House may be only one providing service.
Luckily for our group we drove our vehicles there the day before hike only because there were family members remaining at the chalets for rest of week to return the 'drivers' back to Storms River.You can only do it this way if you have a return driver/vehicle. Good luck and enjoy!