S1 - Ep 198 -Tsitsikamma National Park - A Beautiful Protected Area on the Garden Route!

Our next stop was the Tsitsikamma National Park. Words cannot describe the beauty of this protected area. Waiting in line to enter the park already gave us an idea of how special it was. Then the absolutely gorgeous steep descent which is lined with the bright green forest and the sounds of birds and insects all the way down to the ocean. Driving around at the bottom looking at all the different campsites, amazing wooden cabins and forest huts was fantastic. How lucky we were to spot a buck grazing close to some of the chalets. I think it was a rhebuck. This is a place I would love to come and camp for a few days, it can only be an awesome experience! On our way out, we stopped at the reception building and wow, what a pretty building that is. SANParks really tries their best to make everything work with nature. The beautiful Garden Route is always a great visit! #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #southafricavlog #tsitsikamma #nationalpark #gardenroute
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[@nelsonvocal8435]

I must say I love your conversations in the car there so nice. 👌☺️

[@tinasutton4245]

So nice to see there are no people around, you don't mind a few, but when it's crowded, it's not nice.

[@samanthashepheard]

Wow I've always heard about how beautiful Tsitsikamma is but I've never been there. My goodness I'm blown away with the beauty of this place. Thank you for sharing ❤

[@deeharris1856]

I always watch your travels...and I enjoy traveling with you as I watch..Dee Strand WC..👌

[@joekieverster-oc3qi]

Thank you for the tour ❤❤❤

[@geraldboyd2034]

My favorite place on Earth. A must do it to hike up to the look out point. Stunning views.

[@DustBugsTravel]

No hiking for me anymore. My wife is unable to hike due to major knee issues and I won't do it without her. I can only imagine how beautiful it must be from up there though. 🌳🌊

[@deonzar]

It is so great to see that there is one thing in South Africa that is still going strong and that is the South African National Parks. Thank you.

[@DustBugsTravel]

We agree! It was fantastic to see the long line of vehicles waiting to enter the park. They really do a splendid job of maintaining the parks in great condition. Glad you enjoyed this episode! 👌🏻🌳

[@Deontjie]

Great video. But you need to play the game where you take witblits every-time they say "hey".

[@tinasutton4245]

That rocks looks like someone havin their mouth open, shows you what is there, that we don't always see! !

[@marialiebenberg3739]

Baie dankie julle twee,pragtig soos altyd..

[@DustBugsTravel]

We appreciate that and are so glad you enjoyed this episode! 🌳😍

[@TonyNelsonCamping]

Ek mis die tuinroete, dis in my oe een van die mooiste streke in ons land. Dankie vir die herhinnering. 😍🙏

[@DustBugsTravel]

We fully agree with you! The combination of ocean and forest is simply stunning! Glad you enjoyed this one! 🌊🌳

[@munesumangava9751]

Nope! Not going in them ablution blocks deep in the bush! My fear of the unknown plus known(snakes) will not let me😂 Beautiful cabins though👌👌👌👌

[@hannahperlotto139]

Curtis, I watched video where you saved a Tortoise yesterday,catching up on Ur trips. Just something I learned recently. When you don't know a plant open Google and on the right hand there is a camera. Press on it now aim on plant you need the name of take a pic and wait for the name. You have to have Wifi tho. But it opens up as new world. I love nature but don't know all the plants@trees names. This is the most beautiful place to be in at December. That bridge is just stunning!!!!! Could you perhaps put the dates you've visited a place on here? Just so we sort of get what the weather was like at the time. It's helpful😜Sonia you have such a lekkerrr laugh. Stop being shy! 🥰 But I with you girl hate camera

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for the info on how to identify plants online. 👌🏻🌿 We very often don't have any cellphone signal on our travels, but we'll certainly keep it in mind for the times we do. We don't put dates on our videos, but they always go live between one and four weeks after our visit to a specific place or area. So if you look at when a video was uploaded, we would definitely have visited there in the previous four weeks or so. We appreciate you watching! 😁🚗

[@frederikbrits9559]

Do the same route in 2017........it's breath taken. It's a small world, to meet people from Pietersburg

[@DustBugsTravel]

Indeed, so happy to have met someone who watches from Limpopo! Sonia was born in Tzaneen and she is still very partial to that province! 🤩 Only five short years since you've been in the Ttsitsikamma area, it's as beautiful as ever. Thank you as always for your comment, we so appreciate it! 🌊🌳

[@charlietreston4035]

Lush vegetation sea views spectacular 5 star accommodation a camp site with a millionaire's view and what a great idea the campsite already set up for you I know I have said it before only in South Africa Amazing place fantastic video guys

[@DustBugsTravel]

You're right! Those are really millionnaires' views, but they're totally free for everyone to enjoy (once you've paid the entrance fee of course). This is such a magnificent area of the country, the natural beauty is almost overwhelming. Always so happy to hear when you enjoy our videos, thank you! 🌳🌊

[@munesumangava9751]

Amazing rock formations……Wow!!!

[@munesumangava9751]

Well kept Park…… well done! Beautiful to boot!

[@RyanDH]

Tsitsikamma is amazing to visit. I did the Otter Trail about 5/7 years ago. An excellent trail that also gets booked out very quickly. Toughest day is day 4 as you have to cross the Bloukrans during low tide, which could mean you'll be hiking as early as 1:00 in the morning. Luckily for us it was 11:00 during the day, however the water was still quite high. Most of the time when people cross they'll either wade through ankle high water or not even need to take their shoes off. When I crossed it water was waist high and the waves were very rough, and I got chucked around by the waves. I almost lost a sandal (unfortunately I lost my hate, which the sea is still probably wearing) while crossing, the waves washed the sandal back into the little beach you need to get onto. One individual in our group was shoved against the rock and bruised his toe. There have been people who were washed out to sea while trying to cross the Bloukrans, thankfully they were rescued...

[@DustBugsTravel]

That sounds intense! 🌊😱 Thank you for sharing that memory, it was fun to read. We didn't see your hat, otherwise we would've brought it back for you! 🤠 I love hiking very much, but would need to increase my level of fitness tenfold before I would attempt a trail like that. It must be an experience of a lifetime though. A safari vehicle from one of the local game farms dropped off a group of foreigners on the day we visited and they were starting the hike the next day. They were all smiling from ear-to-ear, but we saw the wind pick up from a breeze to a very strong wind in the space of a few minutes, so I can't help but wonder how their trek went.

[@RyanDH]

@@DustBugsTravel it definitely was a great experience, some really amazing beaches. The 4th day hut you can hear the little rocks rolling as the waves wash in and out. And the beach encountered after crossing the Bloukrans, wow, the shells that one can collect, not tiny shells either, whole large shells, probably the best mementos I've collected on my trips. When you visit Knysna again, you must visit the Blue Rocks Restaurant in Nature's Valley. They have a tree filled with old hiking boots, many of which the soles started coming loose of the unfortunate hiker. Best advice I can give to any hiker, don't wear ten year old shoes that have been sitting in your closet 😅. LOL...I've seen that happen to too many people

[@michaelfairall5812]

Such a pity you only saw half of the park ....so much more to see

[@DustBugsTravel]

We hope that the road will be open again for vehicles when we visit again. We're not able to do long walks or hikes with my wife's problematic knee. What we did manage to see, was beautiful though and we thoroughly enjoyed our drive through. 🌊🌳

[@haydenisaacs]

Great video as always guys. I agree, i would put my own tent up.

[@DustBugsTravel]

100%! That's part of the whole experience! 😁 I just love camping and there are some pretty neat campsites in this park. ⛺🚗

[@patshes1951]

So beautifull.

[@DustBugsTravel]

It is indeed! 😍🌳

[@montenell7940]

Dit is nou regtig 'n netjiese video. Ek sal als gee om vir 'n jaar langs die see te kamp. Dit lyk so skoon en glo die ablusie blokke ook. I hope you two spend Christmas in the Western Cape somewhere. Absolutely the best province to live in. Travel safe please!

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, it's really a neat place and I wouldn't mind camping there for an extended period either. ⛺😁 We love being on the road every fifth week, but we will most definitely spend Christmas in our beautiful hometown of Strand. ✨🎄

[@flodillon991]

This was stunning just loved the strange holes in the rock formations and those images, if you use your imagination. The lush green can only be the garden route. Really beautiful never been there thank you for this episode. The buck and monkey were beautiful for I am really a nature person whether it be animal or plant. Well done.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Glad you enjoyed seeing the two little critters, the wildlife is always our favourite part of any visit to a National Park. 🐒🦌 This part of the country is so green, lush is just the perfect word to describe it. We found the rock formations so interesting and just loved seeing the 'leopard' and the 'dragon'! We're happy to have another nature person on our travels! 😁🚗

[@Neil1952100]

Thank you for yet another wonderful video. Pity you weren't able to go to the suspension brige over the river mouth. You said you'd like to do the Otter Trail. I did it in 1974 and I will never forget that adventure. With the utmost respect, I say to you, plan, book, plan, do the trail. Its an unforgetable experience. Thanks again for your videos.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm glad you enjoyed this one, the scenery in the park is just beyond spectacular. Your Otter experience sounds awesome! Although I'd love to do it too, my darling wife has a major knee issue and won't be able to join me, so I might just have to put that one on hold for now. It will remain on my bucket list though. Our limited mobility was also the only reason we couldn't walk to the suspension bridge, we believe it's about a 30-minute hike away, which is just too far for us at the moment. We appreciate you watching! 😁🌳

[@henrysteenkamp5309]

Mooi

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you! 🌳🚗

[@Afriqueleblanq]

Awesome place, a frequent stop in days gone by. I once took a photo there, and when the film was developed, saw a rugby ball that looked as if it was riding atop a huge wave that was breaking over the rocks. Sadly, life happened and we lost all our old photos, plus another ten thousand or so digital ones. Eventually, even our camera with its 960mm 35-mm equivalent optical zoom was stolen while my wife visited the Golden Acre. It has been further developed since our last visit and we wouldn't have recognized it from photos alone. SANParks is the only Govt entity that seemingly functions rather well in 2022. They can be very proud of what they are achieving indeed. Acting upon faith alone, I started my YT channel last night, after we took a few bad photos and a short video at sunset when we visited Milton Beach. @StofLus We last visited that park on our 3rd anniversary, in 1990. My own name for it is Heaven's Front Door. We then did braai some very nice, thick Boerewors that we had bought in Sedgefield, the one place in South Africa where you could still buy proper wors. I get so annoyed by the thin wors that one cannot even bite into. I buy braai wors per metre, as I then know how many I can feed. As some wors is very thing, it makes no sens to buy per kg, after all. One portion is 15cm, or six inches. I can even feed Americans, see?? :) One can hike towards a beautiful waterfall, without having to do the Otter Trail. I did that lovely trail in 1982, but visited the waterfall upon so many occasions. The restaurant inside the park was above average back then, as was the curio shop, where I bought my Darlingmost Wificle a beautiful little piece of jewellery made of poua shell. SANParks introduced an underwater trail well after our last visit. With the onset of disability, I don't think I will be snorkelling that far anytime soon, although I am not in a wheelchair - just limited mobility. People should get out there while they can, as tomorrow is never guaranteed. I hiked up to Thomas Hut a few times and slept in a shallow cave directly below a waterfall. Google that hut. Pity Sonia might not be able to physically get there, as I have read between the lines that she also seem to have limited mobility. You two have given a new dimension to our lives indeed. Thanks for sharing all the wonderful content. It is so good that you travel and record your lives instead of living in 7de Laan or just play on your phones like so many do.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I've subscribed to your channel and wish you only the best on your KZbin journey. It's still a new experience for us, but we're enjoying every moment. We shall have to disagree on the sausage situation, we're great lovers of thin sausage, so a perfect example of different strokes for different folks! 😁 Sonia has a hugely problematic right knee, which several surgeries have been unable to resolve, so she has great difficulty with uneven surfaces and stairs. That's why we do most of our exploring by vehicle. I still have a few 35mm spools in storage somewhere and can't wait to have them developed, I'm sure they'll tell a few stories. We're so happy to have along for our journey and we look forward to sharing yours! 🤩🚗

[@SirLesMeyer]

Myself and 7 mates did the Otter trail this time of year in 1987 (wow 35 years) time does fly. One of the most spectacular areas in SA. We saw whales and dolphins most of the 5 days on the trail. Western Aus has nothing like this.

[@DustBugsTravel]

That sounds amazing! 🐳🐬 I think it will remain one of South Africa's top hiking trails and has been for such a long time already. It must've been interesting to see the park now and compare to what it looked like all those years ago. I agree with you fully that the scenery in this part of the country is absolutely breathtaking! Thanks for watching all the way from Aus!

[@thepenelopejones]

I'm sure you must have seen a huge change in the area since you were last down here - I know I sure do. As a child there were only a handful of cabins near the restaurant (which got burnt down) , camping within the trees and the flat land where caravans parked plus the steep 1st gear incline, of the main road, which is now beautifully paved. In spite of the growth to a more "civilized" look, SANP has worked long and hard to retain as much of the "wild experience" as possible, blending in the rustic look with a splash of luxury. Precious nature that should and must be protected forever! Thank you DBT for a wonderful trip down memory lane 📷

[@CharlesJHin]

Loved this video. Brings back many memories. We have camped, stayed in the forest huts and in the chalets. The toilets in the bush are for the forest huts in the forest, you can see one of the forest huts when you cross over the stream at about 13:11. Beautiful park. You should have done the walk to the suspension bridge.

[@jacobavisser4158]

Dit is seker een van die mooiste plekke in Suid A Was daarso 40 jaar gelede Die geboue i(chalets) ongelooflik mooi en smaakvol maar waak teen oordoen

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for watching! We can't help but be enthused by what we saw, we always feel overjoyed when we get the opportunity to visit a National Park. 😁🌳

[@hannahperlotto139]

If you look at all the water everywhere in EC you cannot believe that there is water restiction by us in Jeffrey's bay!!!🙈 I my word I hate camping. Did that as a child got the T-shirt for it. No thanks

[@DustBugsTravel]

One of us loves camping, the other one less so! No prizes for guessing who is who! 😁⛺ We were also surprised that it's so green in the Eastern Cape in the midst of a drought. I hope you guys get enough rain soon. 🌧️

[@antonynaude3372]

9:44 godzilla!

[@DustBugsTravel]

Indeed! 😁🦖

[@hilberryable]

Oh dear you missed out seeing the suspension bridge across the river mouth and the other bays which were further along the road to the eastern side. There is a short half-an-hour walk through the forest to the mouth and the bridge. However it is still a very beautiful area to see for the first time.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm not sure if you watched our whole video, but the road was closed due to construction and we couldn't go further by car. Unfortunately my wife has a major knee issue and she wouldn't have managed the walk. We would love to visit again though, it's such a spectacularly beautiful area. 🤩🌊

[@hilberryable]

@@DustBugsTravel Yes, it will still be there for the next time you are in that area .... and the travel bug bites again. Thanks to both of you for taking us on your journey through our beautiful country.

[@majbudricks5404]

Tsitsikamma NP has changed since I last visited with my Late Brother 2011 -History tells One there was a Heard of Elephants roaming the Forest -have not been sighted for decades -2017 One male Elephant was sighted deep in the forest on the Otto Hiking Trail .

[@DustBugsTravel]

Wow! I didn't even know there were elephants in the park at one time! Now that must be a sight, to spot one while hiking the Otter Trail. Really sad that they're no longer around. 😥🐘 Thank you for watching our video.

[@pieterbeukes1411]

Julle maak mooi deure oop DAnkie

[@DustBugsTravel]

And we're happy to do so! 🌳👌

[@simphiwe.dyantyi]

Ncooo so sad i cant come with my Dog

[@DustBugsTravel]

Not here, but there are many other places your dog will be welcomed! 😁🐶

[@Deontjie]

Just put a pair of dark glasses on and play blind.

[@tinasutton4245]

How long for???

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm not sure what you're asking. 🤔