As a popular Garden Route destination, the Storms River area has become synonymous with outdoor adventure.
The river which lends its name to the area is surrounded by tall indigenous trees and flows through the Tsitsikamma National Park, which is one of the oldest marine reserves in the country.
Author Johan Brink says that, centuries ago, long before the Storms River Village was ever dreamt of, herds of elephants traversed the land on which it now stands.
“Every year, for thousands of years, they would migrate across this area en route to the drier lands north-east of the now Port Elizabeth to return at the turn of the following season to the cool tranquillity of the coastal forests. Living in total harmony with these gentle giants were the San, hunter‐gatherers who periodically lived in this area and at the coast, migrating, like the elephants back and forth as the seasons dictated,” he writes in the his article titled, The Story of Storms River Village.
These days, however, it is backpackers and adventure seekers who roam the area. The village is known for a number of adventure activities like canopy tours, biking trails, fishing excursions, blackwater tubing and kloofing. It also boasts with what is known as the one of the world’s highest bungee jumps at Bloukrans River Bridge. The jump is 216m making it one of the five highest bungees in the world.
The lure of adventure and beautiful natural surroundings has meant that many who have come to visit, have chosen to stay.
Today Storms River Village has become a bustling little town with a very special ambience and feel. The homes in the area range from quaint cottages that look like they were picked out a Hans Christian Andersen story book to large estates that would not look out of place on a Texas ranch.
The lure of adventure and beautiful natural surroundings has meant that many who have come to visit, have chosen to stay
Things to do:
- Birdwatching in Tsitsikamma National Park
- Visit Bitou Art Gallery
- Storms River Centre Arts and Crafts
Area attractions:
- Blackwater tubing
- Bunjee jumping off the Bloukrans Bridge
- Water sports on the Storms River
Best in food:
- Marilyn's 60's Diner: for a memorable meal, snack or milkshake in an American-style diner
- Rafters Restaurant: for real South African food with a hint of the Cape Malay influences
- Tsitrus Cafe: a family-friendly restaurant known for great pizza
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
