South African National Parks (SANParks) has issued a fresh operational update (12 May 2026) for the Garden Route National Park as severe weather continues to impact parts of the region. While wind conditions have eased since Monday, 11 May 2026, heavy rainfall continues across several sections of the park, with clean-up teams carrying out ongoing damage assessments and recovery operations.
Travellers planning a trip along the Garden Route are advised to stay informed, as several facilities, hiking trails and tourism activities remain temporarily closed or affected by power and communication outages.
Knysna and Harkerville operations affected
SANParks confirmed that the Thesen Island Office in Knysna has been closed due to the adverse weather conditions.
In the Harkerville section, all tourism activities remain suspended until further notice. Offices in the area are also currently unreachable because of a power outage.
Otter Trail to reopen on 15 May 2026
Good news for hikers visiting the Tsitsikamma Section: inspections of the famous Otter Trail and its overnight huts revealed no major damage.
SANParks confirmed that the Otter Trail is expected to officially reopen on Friday, 15 May 2026. However, hikers are strongly encouraged to use designated escape routes should river crossings become dangerous due to rising water levels.
The iconic suspension bridge at Storms River Mouth remains open, although debris-clearing operations are still underway in the area.
Trails and camps temporarily closed
The popular Waterfall Trail remains closed because of dangerous wave conditions, while several other internal hiking trails are still shut pending further clearing and safety inspections.
Nature's Valley Rest Camp also remains closed due to ongoing power and network outages. Affected visitors are currently being accommodated at Storms River Mouth Rest Camp.
SANParks added that Plaatbos and Goesa remain open to visitors, while Storms River Old Pass and Akkerland Road have now been cleared and are accessible again.
Wilderness section still offline
The Wilderness Section continues to experience weather-related communication disruptions. Telephone lines and email systems are temporarily offline.
All tourism activities in the Wilderness section remain closed for now, although accommodation facilities are still operating.
Important advice for Garden Route travellers
Visitors travelling through the Garden Route over the coming days should exercise caution, especially near rivers, beaches, hiking trails and low-lying roads. Weather conditions remain unstable, and further operational changes may occur at short notice.
Travellers are encouraged to monitor official SANParks communication channels before travelling to affected areas of the Garden Route National Park.
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