The Tsitsikamma woodcutter journey

Take a journey through Stormsriver Pass, surrounded by indigenous Tsitsikamma forest where woodcutters once worked. You’ll board our open-sided safari-style vehicle, which is pulled by a tractor along forested paths, for the three-hour tour. The route takes us through an ancient elephant migratory route that’s full of huge yellowwood and stinkwood trees. Along the way, we’ll tell you all about the history of this area and its indigenous flora and fauna.

Guests love being out in the wilderness, with the sound of insects and colourful birds rustling in the leaves. We’ll listen out for fish eagles and the colourful Knysna Loerie and Narina trogon. At one time, this forest was home to hunter-gatherers called the Khoisan people, who lived off the land. In fact, Tsitsikamma is a Khoi word that means ‘place of many waters’. We’ll stop the vehicle at certain points so you can get out and see specific plants, including the knob wood tree which was used by the Khoisan people for toothache, as well as bushman’s bedding, a natural insect repellent.

A highlight of the trip is meeting the Forest Guard, a nearly 500-year-old tree that has a human-like face on the trunk and is said to watch over the area. You’ll also get to stand next to a giant hard pear tree – these can live for up to 800 years – and see one of the oldest buildings in Stormsriver, a former stone hunting lodge.  At the end of the tour we stop at a beautiful picnic site where wagons used to park over a century ago, for some drinks and snacks. If you’re an adventure seeker and want to spend more time in the forest, we can also arrange an exciting ziplining tour.