Stay Safe, Take Heed of Temporary Closures on the Garden Route

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Safety first, adventure later! Here’s what you need to know before heading out along the Garden Route National Park in the inclement weather.

Garden Route, South Africa (07 May 2026) – The Garden Route, recently named as the world’s greatest road trip, is currently in the grip of some wild weather. SANParks is asking everyone to please take note of closures across the Garden Route National Park as the region braces for what could be a rough few days ahead.

The South African Weather Service has issued an Orange Level 8 warning. Reports have also shared that more than 120 schools across parts of the Garden Route in the Western Cape will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday due to the weather.

Prolonged, disruptive rainfall is forecast from 5 to 7 May, with rainfall expected between 100 and 200mm, and possibly even higher in some areas. Catchment areas are already saturated from recent rain, so there is a risk of rapid runoff, flash flooding, and damage to infrastructure.

Here is a breakdown of what is currently closed and what remains open, as per SANParks.

Wilderness Section

All water-based recreational activities, including canoeing and boating, are temporarily suspended, and hiking trail activities are also closed for now. The good news is that accommodation and camping at the Ebb and Flow Rest Camp remain open, so if you are already settled in, you can stay cosy, be safe and wait out the weather.

Knysna Section

All hiking and cycling trails in the Knysna Section are temporarily closed. So if you were planning a trail run or a cycle through the fynbos, that’ll have to wait for calmer skies.

Tsitsikamma Section

The Otter Trail and the Waterfall Hiking Trail are both temporarily closed. SANParks has already been in contact with guests who had Otter Trail bookings to help arrange alternative dates. Accommodation and camping at Storms River Mouth and Nature’s Valley Camp remain open, but all water-based activities at Storms River Mouth Rest Camp are currently suspended.

Touw River and Swartvlei Estuary

SANParks is following established estuary management protocols, prioritising natural breaching where possible and only moving to artificial breaching when absolutely necessary. Plant machinery is on standby for the duration of the severe weather, and all decisions are being guided by water levels, flood risk, and sea conditions.

SANParks has been clear that the closures are in place to protect us and reduce damage to infrastructure, and they will only be lifted once the weather has passed and conditions are confirmed safe. Updates on reopening will be shared as they become available!