Hiking the Otter Trail in South Africa - Crossing the Bloukrans River - Day 4

The otter trail is a beautiful 45km coastal hike on the southern tip of Africa. It is arguably one of South Africa’s finest hiking trails and we were lucky enough to hike this incredible trail.
This is a vlog series of our otter trail hiking adventure.
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[@KhurshidsChannel]

Amazing video. The views are awesome. Thanks for sharing. 👍3

[@RyansNextAdventure]

Thank you 😊

[@neilberkowitz2799]

I am following your adventure while traveling in Leipzig,Prague and now in Israel visiting my family. This looks like a great trip with amazing scenery and videos. Well done!

[@RyansNextAdventure]

Thank you Neil, glad you enjoyed our video 😊

[@november151956]

Beautiful shot of moonlight on the ocean Ryan! I love camping under a full moon. The moonlight bathes the forest in a soft glow enough to see without my headlamp. I can see why they make hikers take a medical exam. Is that rope climb a permanent feature? You won't have that on the AT, but there are ladders where you have to "mountain goat" your way up a cliff. The hut location and amenities are awesome; comparable to the AT shelter known as the Fontana Hilton overlooking Fontana Lake in North Carolina. Wish I was there with you and Di and your tramily. It is so hot and humid here in Northeast Georgia with no rain in the forecast.

[@RyansNextAdventure]

It is incredible hikibg at night when it’s a full moon, I’ve done it quite a few times now and it is an amazing experience every time. That rope bit was the main trail, there were a few technical bits all along this trail. Definitely need to be careful with your footing as it’s very easy to injured on this type of hike. It’s great that the way this trail is set up you get to hike as a group of 12 people, very cool 😎

[@desireelevin8822]

Loved your crossing of the Bloukrans. Your narration brought back many happy memories of our days at Sani Pass and the river there. This hike is truly beautiful with stunning views.

[@RyansNextAdventure]

Glad I could bring back some happy memories for you 😊 happy you enjoyed it.

[@fehmidakola2617]

In which month was this hike taken

[@RyansNextAdventure]

We hiked the Otter Trail in April this year

[@kaajalsukeri1335]

I been waiting for this day...needed to see your crossing. The river crossing got my adrenaline going. But loved the adventure

[@LifeofDi-alternative]

Awww, thanks for the support and glad the adventurous spirit came across! To be honest, I was also waiting for it all day (week) as I hadn't seen it either! Some groups after us did swim the 6 or 7 metres in the deeper channel where Ryan turned around but that was because he didn't have his bag in a survival bag and we could cross relatively easily that little but up the river!

[@RyansNextAdventure]

Glad you enjoyed our Bloukrans River crossing, it was a lot of fun and it added to the adventure of this hike 😊

[@LifeofDi-alternative]

I feel like I was transported back there in this video. I just wish to be back there longer...so I'll have to watch again😅 That river and the untouched beaches and spectacular fynbos were incredible!

[@november151956]

Di, I didn't know South Africa had anything like this. Figured it was all Tarzan and safaris and jungles and lions and elephants and such just like in the movies. Want you to know I stand with Israel.

[@LifeofDi-alternative]

@@november151956 Thanks soo much 🙏 haha, SA has ocean and rivers coming into it on 2 sides but yes, it's uncommon to wade river mouths on hikes here🤩! The coastal forests (jungle like) that we hike through are actually very rare! SA isn't a small country and the only forest we have is in this area and a little near the north east coast. Also the fynbos (sandy path with green, fine-leaved plants is endemic and only occurs in this province (Western cape) and no where else in the world 😍 So you're right, the scenery is amazing and rare which is why the Otter Trail is so iconic and difficult to book!

[@stellamanyi3258]

Well captured, thank you.

[@RyansNextAdventure]

Thank you. I hope it gives people an insight to what to expect from the Otter Trail.

[@janetteclaassen4103]

Beautiful video and you made it looked so easy! Sure it was not that easy. Were your hiking shoes still wet the next day? Thx for sharing hope you had a wonderful rest that evening? O yes and Di, I saw you made real Jewish coffee in proper cups as well, wonderful, it brought back beautiful memories of people making that coffee on the INT.

[@LifeofDi-alternative]

Janette, you make me laugh for associating that coffee with the INT: Actually, I was more awake than most and our pot and gas were accessible, so I boiled the water but the two people who feature with us are a couple from Haifa and it was their coffee and cups so yes, 100% INT style😂😍 I'll admit it was far from the sugar and Cremora (South African coffee creamer) coffee we normally use😜 Re shoes: I'm trying to recall if they were completely dry or just mostly in the morning🤔 I definitely don't recall the cold, wet shoe feeling in the morning and I think the 4km after the crossing pretty much dried them already. But, after the river crossing, I used a face cloth/flannel and soaked up the moisture and squeezed out the innersoles. I used the face cloth probably 4 times rubbing it into my shoes inside everywhere and squeezing it out each time until it wasn't absorbing more water. Then, because they are trail shoes (breathable and light), and we had a sunny, dry afternoon, they get pretty dry ...and I nearly forgot: We all dried out clothes and shoes on that lovely fire at the end of the video😂 Ryan and I slept in a pretty much in tact tent that night left over from COVID when they couldn't put 6 strangers in a hut😂 so it was indeed a wonderful sleep facing the sea and hearing the waves 😍

[@janetteclaassen4103]

Thank you for explaining all! All made complete sense. Glad you used the tent, much more private and the way you like to hike. Thx for all the tips Di❤

[@RyansNextAdventure]

I see Di has replied with an essay 😂 she covered everything nicely. My soaks and shoes were still wet when I got to camp, I put my socks and shoes next to the camp fire that evening which dried them nicely. Then shook all the sand out of the them and they were perfect for the morning hike to the end of the Otter Trail 😊

[@janetteclaassen4103]

Great stuff Ryan​@@RyansNextAdventure