News

The Garden Route National Park is closely monitoring forecasted severe weather conditions expected over the coming days following an Orange Level 8 Warning from the South African Weather Service and has implemented precautionary measures to ensure the safety of visitors, staff, and infrastructure.

In the Tsitsikamma Section, all hikers on the Otter Trail have been safely evacuated, and all water-based activities and hiking trails have been suspended due to the increased risk posed by unstable trees and potential windfalls resulting from the recent storms.

At Nature’s Valley, the river mouth remains open, and there has been no flooding reported within the rest camp. However, both Nature’s Valley and Bloukrans are currently experiencing power outages. Due to saturated ground conditions, the Waterfall trail and all hiking trails within the Storms River Mouth Rest Camp have been temporarily closed.

In the Wilderness Section, the Swartvlei and Touw River mouths remain open, which currently reduces the risk of flooding in surrounding areas. However, as a precaution, all hiking trails and water-based activities have been suspended until conditions are deemed safe.

In the Knysna Section, weather conditions remain relatively mild, with light rainfall and increasing wind speeds being experienced. All trails, hut facilities, and deck camps have been closed in Diepwalle and will remain inaccessible until Friday, 5 June 2026.

All hiking and cycling trails in Harkerville are temporarily closed.

SANParks will continue to monitor weather conditions and make operational decisions based on conditions experienced on the ground. Visitors are urged to exercise caution, adhere to all safety notices and closures, and stay informed through official park communication channels for the latest updates.