MARCH 2004 – A hiker follows the narrow path of the Otter Trail at the Tsitsikamma National Park in South Africa. © Mark Zanzig/zanzig.com
The story behind the image
Tsitsikamma National Park is one of the small National Parks in South Africa. The masses of tourists who intend to see ‘The Big Five’ (Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Buffalo, and Leopard) usually pass this park, because none of these animals can be found here. 🙂 They head to Addo Elephant Park instead or just skip the Garden Route altogether and travel directly to Kruger National Park.
However, we wanted to experience the beauty and tranquility of a National Park that is situated at the seaside. Tsitsikamma offers several on-site attractions (like the Suspension Bridge or the restaurant) and beautiful hikes.
This image shows Petra as she walks the narrow path of the so-called Otter Trail, a five-day hike that closely follows the coastline. At the time of writing, you needed a special permit to access and hike the entire trail. But you may have a glimpse at the wonders of the trail by hiking up to the waterfall. This trail is a free public trail that belongs to the Tsitsikamma National Park and does not require a permit.
The guidebook said “just follow the yellow painted footprints” – which was easier said than done: one time we lost the trail and could be seen scanning the area for the footprints. But, hey, it was fun anyway. So, it’s a good idea to plan about 45 to 60 minutes (one way) for the Waterfall Hike. Once you’ve reached the waterfall, you may not proceed further west without the Otter Trail permit.
Finally, please feel free to bring your swimsuits as you can take a bath at the waterfall.
Design ideas
The high resolution image
| Capture Date | 12-MAR-2004 |
| Location | Tsitsikamma National Park, South Africa |
| Camera | Canon AE-1 Program |
| Image Source | Fuji Slide Film |
| Digital Image Source | EPSON Perfection 4870 Photo |
| Digital Image Source Format | TIFF, 48 bits/pixel, sRGB |
| Edited Image Format | JPEG, 24 bits/pixel, sRGB |
| Edited Image Dimensions | 6496 x 4183 Pixels |
| Copyright | © by Mark Zanzig/zanzig.com |
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