Otter trail tips - Advice from a hiker

The Otter Hiking Trail is a 5 day adventure of a lifetime that’s filled with sceneries of unimaginable beauty. The build-up to the Otter Trail hike along the Garden Route can be both exciting and nerve-wracking,  Here are some Otter Trail tips from Muazzam Rahim, that will help you prepare for this 5 day hike. Now you can make the most of your experience while not forgetting anything.

If you would like the freedom to do what you want, when you want to, you might want to consider hiring a car in Cape Town for your transportation needs.

Otter Trail tips to book your hike

  • Book well in advance to allow some planning and preparation for tackling the Otter Hiking Trail. Also plan your travel arrangements before booking the trail, particularly during peak times.
  • Check low tide times for the Bloukrans crossing on day 4 before booking the trail. Try and get a low tide time somewhere after 10 am so you don’t spend too much time walking during the night.
  • Try and get a full complement of twelve easy going buddies for the hike. Communal items and jokes are easier shared this way.

Otter Trail Tips - Bloukrans at low tide Above: Otter Hiking Trail Tips – Bloukrans at low tide

Otter Trail packing tips

  • Pack light! The Otter Hiking Trail is a 5 day hike, you don’t want to spend most of the time trying to catch up with the group because your bag is so heavy.
  • Trekking poles help on the way up and down. They also give you a third leg when crossing rivers.
  • Be prepared for water; pack all sensitive items in dry bags or Ziploc bags. Quality dustbin bags also work well.
  • Take along lightweight, quick drying, good wicking and UV resistant clothing. Avoid cotton rich garments which retain moisture and take forever to dry. Packing layered clothing will help in travelling light.
  • Pack a rope that you can also use while hiking the Otter Trail. You can also use it as a washing/drying line, take along a few pegs or even use your smaller carabiner’s as pegs.
  • Given the climate, a good raincoat is a must. Stay away from low-quality poncho’s which will tear in no time.
  • Powder and Vaseline in addition to good hiking socks will work well to keep the blisters away. Air your feet during breaks along the Otter Hiking Trail and consider two layers of socks if you are prone to blisters.
  • You can take along vacuum sealed meat for a braai. Pre-freeze and vacuum seal individually wrapped packs and keep them insulated near/in your sleeping bag.
  • Starting a camp fire can be difficult. Take along firelighters or candles to help you.
  • Cable ties and duct tape can fix many things, take some with.
  • Avoid too many simple sugars, particularly in the mornings. Go with low GI and high carbohydrate food for sustained energy throughout the day.  Protein at the end of each day’s trail also assists with recovery.

Otter Trail tips - The top of Skilderkrans Koppie Above: Tips to hike the Otter Trail  – The top of Skilderkrans Koppie

Some final tips for hiking the Otter Trail

  •  Take along a good camera, goggles, snorkel and a smile. They are all worth it.
  • Prepare a detailed food menu beforehand. This will assist against starving or taking too much food.

After reading these more than useful tips for hiking the Otter Trail along the Garden Route, you can now make the most of your adventure while knowing that you’re fully prepared. For further reading and more pictures, take a look at Muazzam Rahim’s blog.

If you would like to have the freedom to explore the area you are visiting independently, you might want to look into hiring a car for the perfect set of wheels.rent a car

Related Posts

5 great roadside restaurants to visit when travelling South Africa

Road tripping is always an awesome time to unwind, bond with family and friends and escape the city for a few days. However road food often doesn’t leave much to the imagination with literally hundreds of generic fast food chains being the only real option along many of the main routes in South Africa.

  • This however is a vague misconception as if the discerning road traveler takes a little time to get to know a few more of the places just off the highways, they will in fact come to the conclusion that there are a handful of quaint road side restaurants to experience which will definitely help fight the road food blues.
  • Here are 5 worthwhile places to experience great food whilst exploring the highways and byways of South Africa.

Read More

5 Great Places to Slack-Pack in South Africa

Imagine going on your favorite hiking trails and all you had to pack was enough food and water for the day, the right type of attire for the hike and respect for the environment. At the end of each day you’re met with a warm bed, a freshly prepared meal, and a hot log fire. […]

Read More

Green Season: Sustainable New Year Resolutions You Should Put into Practice

This year we enter into an entirely new decade. Whether you love the chance to start fresh or are not too keen on it, New Year’s resolutions are a great way to change your habits, mindsets and goals. Carpooling/lift sharing Not only does carpooling reduce the strain on our planet’s oil resources and greenhouse gas […]

Read More