News

The Garden Route region continues to experience heavy rainfall, although wind conditions have subsided compared to yesterday, 11 May 2026. Damage assessments and mop-up operations are ongoing across all sections of the Garden Route National Park as teams work to restore normal operations and ensure visitor safety.

The Thesen Island Office in Knysna has been closed due to the ongoing adverse weather conditions. In Harkerville, all tourism activities remain suspended until further notice, and the offices are currently unreachable due to a power outage.

In the Tsitsikamma section, the Otter Trail and overnight huts have been inspected, and no major damage has been reported. The trail will officially reopen on Friday, 15 May 2026 and visitors are advised to make use of escape routes should river levels become unsafe.

The suspension bridge remains open, with debris clearing currently underway. The Waterfall Trail remains closed due to high wave action, and other internal trails remain closed pending further clearing operations.

Nature’s Valley Camp remains closed due to power and network outages. Affected visitors are being accommodated at Storms River Mouth Rest Camp. Plaatbos and Goesa are open, and Storms River Old Pass and Akkerland Road have been cleared and are accessible.

The Wilderness Section is currently offline due to weather-related disruptions. Telephone lines and email communication are temporarily unavailable. All activities in the Wilderness section remain closed, while accommodation facilities remain open.

Visitors are encouraged to exercise caution and stay up to date on operational changes as weather conditions continue to be monitored.