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06 December 2016

Tsitsikamma fire update – Temporary restaurant and shop up

Temporary restaurant and shop

A temporary structure for the Park”s restaurant is close to the popular “skietklip” in the Storms River Rest Camp, Tsitsikamma. The “skietklip” is where booming breakers of the Indian Ocean relentlessly pound rocky shores.

The restaurant and shop were gutted down a month before Christmas day on Black Friday on the 25th November 2016. The fire is said to have started in the kitchen of the restaurant. A helicopter was dispatched and the fire was prevented from spreading to the nearby forest area and rest camp. The rest camp remains unaffected and safely tucked away as mop up operations are underway to clean the affected site.

“We expect all clean-up operations to be completed by the end of this week” says Paddy Gordon, Park Manager of the Garden Route National Park. All necessary certificates that comply with health and safety regulations were obtained.

Visitors were advised to bring their own food and drinks or use facilities at the nearby Storms River Village. But now the temporary structure is up and will be operating from this weekend.

The Gate Project

“We wish to thank visitors to the Park for their patience and support.”

The upgrade project will be partially completed by mid-December 2016. The gate can only be fully operational by the end of February 2017. The delay was caused by recent rains which resulted in the road material becoming waterlogged and unfit for road construction.

We look forward to the upgraded gate being far more efficient to enter and exit the Storms River Rest Camp.

For the upcoming season, visitors will use the newly constructed side road to enter the Park constructed to ensure access to the Park without hindrance.The lanes will be open but cubicles will be ready in February 2017.

Other upgrades that form part of the +R17 million project include a newly completed office block, development around the Big tree (which is ongoing) and the restaurant area. All work is adhering to environmental legislation and standards and visitor experience and safety will not be compromised.

The Big tree project

There are 2 aspects to the construction project of the Big tree just off the N2, some 10 minutes from the Storms River Rest Camp, both happening concurrently.

  • Provision of bulk services such as reticulation, water and sanitation. This project is expected to be completed in early February 2017
  • A tourism hub at the big tree (bigger project) is expected to be completed in August 2017.

Although construction is progressing well at the entrance of the Big tree, visitors walk a few minutes on a boardwalk away from the construction site to view one of the Tsitsikamma forest”s giant affectionately known as “the Big tree”. The +800 year old tree is 40 meters high and about 9 meters in diameter.

There are security guards and ample parking space provided for visitors to the Big tree.

Media contact: Nandi Mgwadlamba, 044 302 5633, 078 702 9663, [email protected]