TOUW, DUIWE & HOMTINI RIVERS
HIKE & SWIM
There are lots of day hikes on the Garden Route, but not all of them have a soundtrack of burbling water and frog song. These three trails all follow rivers.
Half-collared Kingfisher Trail
This well-known trail follows the course of the Touw River. It’s about 7 km long and sees lots of foot traffic, especially over weekends. It’s one of SANParks’show ponies, with boardwalks and wooden stairs, shade all the way, and two waterfalls with big rock pools at the end.
Early in the morning, mist rises from the river and shrouds the forest in mystery. Greens look greener, shadows are darker… It feels like the bushbuck have been radioed to your location, ready to step out of the thickets and greet you with big, friendly eyes.
Information boards on the western side of the Touw River tell you more about the tree species of the area. For example, the Outeniqua yellowwood is the tallest tree in the region and can be identified by its sickle-shaped leaves and dark green bark – the bark peels off the older trees in flakes.
On the other side of the river, you’ll find more boards with photos and facts about bird species. But before you get to this point, you have to cross the Touw on a pont. About four hikers can fit onto the platform at a time, and you pull yourself across with ropes.
When you reach the waterfall, you’ll be glad that you brought swimming gear and snacks. This is a place you’ll want to linger. The pool under the upper waterfall is small and calm; the second waterfall is for those who want to jump from high up; and you can float in the lower,
