Garden Route National Park: Temporary closure of hiking trails due to rain!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has temporarily closed hiking trails, including the world-famous multi-day Outeniqua hiking trail, in the Diepwalle Forest and the Harkerville Forest in the Knysna section of the Garden Route National Park due to rain. According to the Park Manager for the Knysna section of the Garden Route National Park, Megan Taplin, "it is great to see rivers overflowing, the trails will be closed temporarily until after the rain. This is done to also protect hikers and nature walkers who use trails in Diepwalle and Harkerville forests".
The hiking trails in the Wilderness section of the Garden Route National Park remain open.

Southern Africa: Rainfall outlook (March - May 2019)! >>

Garden Route National Park: Progress in the Harkerville area after the Knysna Fires!

The Harkerville area in the Knysna section of the Garden Route National Park, an activity hub for nature and is known for its blue duiker population, was heavily affected by the Knysna fires in June 2017. South African National Parks (SANParks) just released an update on the current status of the activities available in the Harkerville area:

Kranshoek Picnic area

• The picnic area is open for use however there are portable toilets for visitors to use after the fire burnt the old toilet block.
• SANParks is fast-tracking the procurement process of new water tanks to provide drinking water by the 15 December 2017.
  

Kranshoek Trail

• The Kranshoek Trail is still closed, and maintenance work is currently underway.
• About 90% of the route is complete and the rest should be open by end of this week (week 46).
• Rebuilding and rehabilitating the route will probably continue until end of December 2017. The trail should be up and running by the end January 2018.
• There is a clear sign at the entrance and parking area to inform the public of closure and maintenance of routes.
  

Kranshoek Viewpoint

• Currently still closed and not accessible to visitors as yet until management and scientists have finalised urgent deliverables pertaining to the area.

Harkerville Trail

• The coastal portion of the trail is still closed.
• An alternative scenic route was opened along the coastal ridge
• Bookings the trail will be open as from 20 November 2017.

Garden Route National Park: Cycling & hiking trails in Harkerville open after fire!

South African National Parks (SANParks) announced on 04 July 2017 that most hiking and cycling routes in the Harkerville area in the Knysna section of the Garden Route National Park are accessible again.

• The Kranshoek Coastal Day Walk will most likely reopen on 07 July 2017
• The Perdekop Hiking Trail is open
• The Petrus-se-Brand Cycle Route is open
• Except for the Red Route, all MTB trails in the Harkerville area, including the Graspad Trail (Black Route), the Blue Route, Yellow Route and the Green Route, are open.
• The multi-day Harkerville Coast Hiking Trail and the Kranshoek Viewpoint and Picnic Site remain closed

Garden Route: Knysna forest not affected by the fire! >>

Knysna: The Pick n Pay 2017 Knysna Oyster Festival is going ahead as planned! >>