Day 1 (4.8 km - 2 hrs)
Highlights: Waterfall and Rock Pool
Shortest and easiest day of the Otter Trail and will take approximately 2 hours to complete. However the first day is by no means an easy trek. at which you will be required to sign in. At the office a ranger will give you a short description of the trail, maps for each hiker, as well as the low tide time. This is very important for the river crossings on Day 3 and 4.
The start of the trail is a few meters from the office. The first day which starts at the storms river rest camp overlaps with some day hike trails. Do not underestimate the trail, since your pack is heaviest and your body and feet will not be conditioned for the extended walking.
You will want to start at the latest 12:00 to allow you to enjoy the various views and features of the trail. The waterfall and accompanying rock pool affords a good opportunity for a break and is situated at approximately half way.
The first hut is a welcome site. Tapped water is available at each of the two huts, and is piped from a rain water tank. Hikers are cautioned that the availability of water at the huts is dependent on the season and so enough water for drinking and cooking should be carried to the hut. There are no streams close-by. We did not have any problems and I assume that during most of the year there will be enough water in the tanks.
We were treated to a school of dolphins at the beach a few hundred meters in front of the huts.
Each hut has its own fire place which is constructed by 3 concrete walls in an open square surrounded by two benches. The fireplaces aren't covered, however there is a communal sheltered fireplace between the two huts that can be used in the event of rain. This is also the setup at all of the subsequent huts. In addition each fireplace is equipped with a movable grill.
Day 2 (7.9 km - 4 hrs)
Highlights: Blou-Baai
Day 2 is when you really get the full experience of the otter trail. Steep ascents and descents, magnificent views, and the sense of being deep into the wilderness. Its also the first day of extended hiking so an early start is recommended.
You'll want to have lunch at Blou-Baai. So look out for it, since there are numerous paths that branch out towards the sea. I am not sure if we did in fact find the bay (baai) since we did have lunch at some bay.
The hut at the end of Day 2 is magnificently situated
Day 3 (7.7 km - 4 hrs)
Highlights: Elandsbos and Lottering River Crossings
An early start on Day 3 is recommended to allow for an easier crossing of the Elandsbos River. The crossing itself takes place at the river mouth. Crossing at the right time will mean a short waste deep wade across the river mouth. We did not need to use survival bags as the packs were above the water line.
This section of the Otter Trail is in my opinion the most beautiful section of the hike. A magnificent expanse of ocean meats a wide flat beach flanked on either side by steep cliffs. The river snakes calmly upstream away from the crashing ocean to an eerily quite retreat. The early start will afford you not only an easier river crossing but also the time to relax on this beach a have a swim and take in the awe inspiring beauty.
One cautionary note: the Elandsbos River is not the only crossing on Day 3 and you will still need to cross the Lottering River. The hut at the end of day 3 is situated on the banks of the Lottering river mouth and you will need to cross this river to get to it. Since it is at the end of the hike, you will probably reach the river during high tide.
For us this crossing was more difficult than the Bloukrans River crossing due to the tide. When packing your equipment into your survival bag be careful of the sharp rocks poking holes into the bag. Try and pack the equipment on the water. When closing the bag ensure that you trap as much air as you can in the bag. This will allow the bag to float across. Sealing the top of the bag is not paramount as the trapped air will allow the bag to float easily across the river. We had two packs in our survival bag and did not have a problem. (Apparently packing your hiking poles in your survival bag is a bad idea and may lead to holes - who would've thunk it?).
Use the rope you brought a long and send a strong swimmer to the opposite bank tied to the rope. Once he is safely across he can then secure the rope for the crossing of the rest of the group.
Day 4 (13.9 km - 6 hrs)
Highlights: Bloukrans River Crossing. Fynbos
An early start is vital and will afford the opportunity to hike in the dark. Night hiking is truly a distinct experience and one well worthy of the 4 am wake-up call. Crossing the Bloukrans is not to be taken lightly. Being washed out to sea is a possibility if you are not realistic about the crossing and wary of the dangers. The same rules apply as those already discussed for crossing the previous rivers.
The escape routes are there for a reason and if the tide is too high, this should be your only option. Taking the escape route will mean hiking back to the top of the cliffs and then a further 2 km's to the highway at which point you would need to call the ranger on duty. The ranger will pick you up and take you by car to the next starting point on the opposite bank of the Bloukrans.
The opposite bank of the Bloukrans is a steep rocky cliff and you will have to scale the sharp rocky outcrops to get around to the where the trail begins again. There are two options here, one is to go straight up and the other is to go around. Do not try to do this barefoot especially since you will now have your backpack on. Once safely on the other side, it might be a good time for breakfast. You have just hiked 10 km, the bulk of the trail, and the daunting Bloukrans is behind you. However the remaining 4 km is intense not least due to the 10 km already covered. Take it easy, there is a massive ascent between you and the hut.
This is the only hut preceded by a woodpile. Hikers are expected to carry their share of wood from the pile down an excessively steep descent down to the hut. Eat up and reduce the weight on your pack, really no point lugging left overs back home. This is the time to be generous :)
At this hut you can order food and drinks which will be delivered to you. The numbers to call and menu are displayed in the huts.
Day 5 (6.8 km - 3 hrs)
Highlights: Viewpoints
