Garden Route National Park: Storm Surge in Tsitsikamma! [update #2]

update (19 September 2023): South African National Parks (SANParks) has released an update on the storm surge and high spring tide in Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park:

• Nature’s Valley Rest Camp in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park is now open to the public.
• Storms River Mouth Rest Camp remains open to the public. Accommodation facilities have not been affected by the storm surge and accommodation is still available for visitors who would like to overnight in the National Park. All the hiking trails are now open and accessible to the public including the Otter trail, Waterfall hiking trail and Mouth trail (Suspension bridge).
• The restaurant is closed until further notice. SANParks management is working on strategies for reconstructing temporary dining facility. In the meantime, SANParks is advising visitors to bring their own lunch. The Park shop remains open and operational to offer a convenient selection of drinks, snacks and cooking essentials, ensuring visitors have easy access to refreshments and supplies during their stay at the Camp.
• The Park telephone lines are now fully restored and operational. 

update (18 September 2023): South African National Parks (SANParks) has released an update (17 September 2023) on the storm surge and high spring tide in Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park, which mainly occurred on 16 September 2023.

• the Storms River Mouth Rest Camp remains open to the public
• the temporary restaurant structure within the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park has sustained severe damage and has been washed out by the storm surge. The restaurant remains closed. The Park shop is open and operational at this stage.
• All guests on the Otter Trail have been successfully evacuated through designated escape routes, ensuring their safety throughout the storm surge.
• The Waterfall hiking trail and the Mouth trails (Suspension bridge) have been temporarily closed. This decision has been made to ensure the safety of our visitors
• Nature's Valley Camp remains temporarily closed due to flooding experienced last night. Park management is actively addressing the situation and conducting necessary assessments. The camp will be reopened as soon as it is safe to do so.
• The Wilderness and Knysna sections of the Garden Route National Park are also affected by the storm surge and high spring tide with minimal damage to infrastructure. The sections are accessible to the public and remain on high alert. Park management is currently assessing the damage.
• No injuries are currently reported in the Garden Route National Park. Members of the public are urged to exercise caution when visiting this area and also check South African Weather Service for weather alerts and warnings.
• As a result of the ongoing storm surge, park communications remain offline. 

South African National Parks (SANParks) has informed the public that a storm surge is currently happening around the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park due to adverse weather conditions in the region. The management of the National Park and local authorities are assessing the situation as far as safety is concerned. All visitors and staff have been evacuated at this point to a safe area. The safety and well-being of all individuals within the Tsitsikamma section is of utmost importance. The management of the National Park is working diligently with local authorities to ensure the situation is managed effectively and that visitors are kept safe during this storm surge.
Visitors planning to visit the area are urged to exercise caution. SANParks communications in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park is currently down due to the storm surge. We'll keep you posted!