Nature's Valley & The Crags

Garden Route, South Africa

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Information

Possibly the best part about staying in Nature’s Valley and The Crags is that, despite its being on the Garden Route and its overwhelming beauty, it has managed to remain relatively off the beaten track. The peaceful valley is situated in the heart of the Tsitsikamma forest, easily identified by its beautiful lagoon surrounded by mountains and forest, and miles of unspoilt white beaches when travelling all the way down to the coastline.

The area forms part of the Tsitsikamma National Park. Here the mountains are densely overgrown, and forests and deep river ravines are simply spectacular. It is also the end of the Otter Trail, one of South Africa’s flagship hikes that navigates 42 kilometres of coastline from Storms River before stopping here.

Nature’s Valley and The Crags has very few shops and farm stalls and no banks – so come well prepared for a nature retreat far from modern-world amenities. These are more than compensated for with scenic walks and hikes in the area through rainforest, along cliffs and through dry river beds.

If it is exciting activities you are looking for, there is a host available in close vicinity. Monkeyland, Birds of Eden, Jukani Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, AfriCanyon (prepare to get very wet!), AfriAbseil (amazing views!), The Bloukrans Bungy (216 meters of awesomeness), Hog Hollow Horse Trails and delightful canoeing trips in the area to name only a few.

Map

Accommodation

	Wild Spirit Backpackers
	Located deep in the unspoiled heart of South Africa's famous Garden Route, surrounded by the indigenous forests, pristine beaches and mountains of the Tsitsikamma National Park, is the unique and magical place we share with others and which we call Home. A family-run experience in Green Living and Alternative travel, Wild Spirit caters for conscious explorers and open-minded travellers who are seeking something slightly different and off the regular tourist track. Read More

Wild Spirit Backpackers

Located deep in the unspoiled heart of South Africa's famous Garden Route, surrounded by the indigenous forests, pristine beaches and mountains of the Tsitsikamma National Park, is the unique and magical place we share with others and which we call Home. A family-run experience in Green Living and Alternative travel, Wild Spirit caters for conscious explorers and open-minded travellers who are seeking something slightly different and off the regular tourist track. Read More

	Tsitsikamma Khoisan Village
	The Tsitsikamma Khoisan Villages offers a wide variety of self-catering chalets and a neat, completely new backpackers lodge, and caravan park. The area itself offers various picnic spots, forest hiking trails (including 600-year old Yellow Wood “Big Tree”) and many other exciting additions coming soon as this resort develops in the next few months. Read More

Activities

	AfriABSEIL
	Afri-Abseil is the result of our passion for the area, climbing and being outdoors. With the benefits of 30+ years of climbing and adventuring, this exposed route has been created to share the challenge, build confidence, empower and inspire. The single pitch abseil gives you the chance to experience the spirit of exploration and adventure. Read More

	Africanyon River Adventures
	AfriCanyon River Adventures was formed in order to share this multipart kloofing route, which lies in the hidden valleys of The Crags, near Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route. Safety, ease of access, and adventure are all core to the AfriCanyon experience – it is an adventure you’ll want to do again and again! Read More

	Birds of Eden
	Birds of Eden's unique two hectare dome (the World’s largest) spans over a gorge of indigenous forest. The sanctuary has its own mysterious ruin, which incorporates a walk-behind waterfall. Another feature is its amphitheatre, which has the ability to seat over 200 visitors. The decision to develop Birds of Eden stems from the need to create a safe environment in which to release a large collection of free-flight African birds and miniature monkeys. Read More

Birds of Eden

Birds of Eden's unique two hectare dome (the World’s largest) spans over a gorge of indigenous forest. The sanctuary has its own mysterious ruin, which incorporates a walk-behind waterfall. Another feature is its amphitheatre, which has the ability to seat over 200 visitors. The decision to develop Birds of Eden stems from the need to create a safe environment in which to release a large collection of free-flight African birds and miniature monkeys. Read More

	Face Adrenalin Bungy
	That pretty much sums up why we are doing what we do. How we do that is by keeping everyone safe, treating everyone with respect and helping people have fun! We do all this with a long bungy cord attached to Africa's largest bridge! The view from Africa’s highest bridge captures all the majesty and tranquillity of the Bloukrans River valley. But there is nothing tranquil about throwing yourself more than 200 metres down towards the river below. Read More

Face Adrenalin Bungy

That pretty much sums up why we are doing what we do. How we do that is by keeping everyone safe, treating everyone with respect and helping people have fun! We do all this with a long bungy cord attached to Africa's largest bridge! The view from Africa’s highest bridge captures all the majesty and tranquillity of the Bloukrans River valley. But there is nothing tranquil about throwing yourself more than 200 metres down towards the river below. Read More

	Monkeyland
	Monkeyland – the world’s first free-roaming multi-species primate sanctuary (located in The Crags, near Plettenberg Bay) - offers tours (we call them monkey safaris) during which you’ll see more than 700 primates comprising of capuchin monkeys, ringtail and black-and-white ruffed lemurs, saki monkeys, squirrel monkeys, vervet monkeys, 2 species of langur, howler monkeys, gibbons, etc in their forest home. Read More

Monkeyland

Monkeyland – the world’s first free-roaming multi-species primate sanctuary (located in The Crags, near Plettenberg Bay) - offers tours (we call them monkey safaris) during which you’ll see more than 700 primates comprising of capuchin monkeys, ringtail and black-and-white ruffed lemurs, saki monkeys, squirrel monkeys, vervet monkeys, 2 species of langur, howler monkeys, gibbons, etc in their forest home. Read More

	Permitted Close Encounter Whale Watching
	Viewing these larger-than-life sea mammals is truly a majestic experience, come join us to see not only amazing whales, but a host of other indigenous sea animals on this fantastic tour. Get ready to be blown away! Read More

	Jukani Rehabilitation Centre
	Jukani provides the predators that live here sanctuary for the duration of their natural lives in an environment where they are respected and cared for, physically and emotionally. The harsh reality is that no predator that has been exposed to human interaction over a period of time, can ever be returned to the wild. However, that doesn't imply that they can be exploited by unethical wildlife facilities by allowing animal touching/petting or any other practise where these animals are exploited for human greed and financial gain only. Read More

Jukani Rehabilitation Centre

Jukani provides the predators that live here sanctuary for the duration of their natural lives in an environment where they are respected and cared for, physically and emotionally. The harsh reality is that no predator that has been exposed to human interaction over a period of time, can ever be returned to the wild. However, that doesn't imply that they can be exploited by unethical wildlife facilities by allowing animal touching/petting or any other practise where these animals are exploited for human greed and financial gain only. Read More

	Kayak and Lilo Adventure
	This two to three-hour kayak and lilo adventure on the Storms River is our most popular activity for good reasons. You’ll get to explore deeper into the hidden world of the Storms River gorge than most people ever do and experience the long, bottomless pools, deep caves and ancient forests with nothing but the quiet noises of nature around you. Read More

Buy Bus Ticket

How Do I Book My Ticket?

To book your ticket, you must go HERE.

The Mzansi Experience offers a live booking environment to buy your tickets. It is important that you follow the correct steps to purchase your tickets, in order to be able to reserve your bus legs easily.

Buying your desired ticket is very simple. You simply go to our booking engine, select your desired ticket, provide your information required and then proceed to checkout.

Please note that to book your seat / next bus leg, you must go HERE.

Our different ticket types

For your convenience, and to keep your travels within your budget, we have three different ticket types available:

Direct / Point-to-Point Ticket:

Simply book your ticket from one point to the next without hopping off in-between. Travel only within your current zone. Please note, compulsory overnight stops apply.

Zone Hop-On Hop-Off Ticket:

Buy one ticket to travel one-way in either direction within a specific zone. Hop-on and hop-off at any point on this route. Or buy a return ticket to travel both ways. Please note, compulsory overnight stops apply.

The Full Mzansi Hop-On Hop-Off Ticket

Buy one ticket to travel one-way in either direction between Cape Town and Johannesburg. Hop-on and hop-off at any point on any route. Or buy a return ticket to travel both ways. Please note, compulsory overnight stops apply.

Total Freedom with a Mzansi Pass

Travel in any format, in any direction and any zone for the duration of your Mzansi Pass. Options include 3 days, 7 days, 14 days and 21 days. Tickets are valid for the amount of days purchased after action (booking of first leg of your journey). Please note, compulsory overnight stops apply.