Nature’s Valley

Nature’s Valley is arguably the most secretive, unspoiled and enchanting place along the entire Garden Route. Little known to the hurried tourist, it is nonetheless regarded by many as one of the most beautiful coastal villages in South Africa.

A village outside of time Nature’s Valley is a tiny village — barely a few hundred inhabitants — nestled at the bottom of a lush valley, surrounded by dense indigenous forest, a lagoon and the ocean. There are no traffic lights, no supermarkets, no chain hotels. Just a small grocery store, a little restaurant-pub, a few guesthouses and holiday homes. Time seems to have stood still here, and that is precisely what makes it so irresistibly charming.

The natural setting The place is of rare beauty. The Groot River lagoon spills onto a long stretch of immaculate white sand, creating a postcard-perfect landscape where the calm waters of the lagoon meet the ocean waves. The Tsitsikamma forest descends almost to the water’s edge, wrapping the village in a cocoon of dense, humid greenery. The contrast between the dark forest, the turquoise lagoon and the white sand is simply spectacular.

Embedded within the national park Nature’s Valley is enclaved within the Garden Route National Park (formerly Tsitsikamma). This means the village is literally surrounded on all sides by protected nature — forest, mountain and sea. This remarkably rare situation guarantees that the area will never be encroached upon by property development. Nature here is omnipresent and completely untouched.

Hiking Nature’s Valley serves as the starting or finishing point of the Otter Trail, the famous 5-day coastal hike considered one of the most beautiful in South Africa. It connects Nature’s Valley to Storms River Mouth along a wild and rugged coastline, crossing rivers and forests along the way. Demand for spots is so high that bookings often need to be made more than a year in advance. For less committed hikers, shorter trails also depart from the village into the surrounding forest.

The beach and lagoon Nature’s Valley’s beach is long, wide and almost deserted even in peak season — a rare luxury in South Africa. The lagoon offers swimming in calm, shallow waters, perfect for children or a leisurely kayak. The ocean water is slightly cooler than around Plett, but the breathtaking setting more than makes up for it.

Wildlife In the forests surrounding the village, you may encounter Samango monkeys (rarer than vervets), blue duikers (small forest antelopes), numerous forest birds, and occasionally elephants that still make their way down toward the coast from the Knysna forests. In the lagoon, spotted-necked otters are sometimes spotted.

The atmosphere Nature’s Valley draws a very particular crowd: nature lovers, hikers, families seeking absolute tranquility, and South Africans who return year after year as if to a jealously guarded family secret. There is nothing to do in the tourist sense of the word — no organised activities, no shops — and that is exactly why people come.