South Africa » Garden Route Sea Kayaking Trails

Garden Route Sea Kayaking Trails

Paddling in South Africa has a fairly long history stretching back at least 50 years. It developed a competitive edge with marathon events such as the Dusi Canoe Marathon, held in KwaZulu-Natal, and the Berg River Canoe Marathon in the Western Cape becoming popular endurance events. The surf life-saving community also produced the East London to Port Elizabeth Surfski Marathon, held in the Eastern Cape.

The commercialisation of river running using safe and user-friendly inflatable craft and Indian canoes introduced a recreational element to paddling in South Africa and increased its popularity, a trend which is being expanded by sea kayaking.

Sea kayaking has been popular in North America for many years but the first boats were imported into South Africa only relatively recently. Sea kayaks are stable and comfortable sea-going paddle craft designed for exploring and touring. They provide a stable platform to explore South Africa’s magnificent coastline and estuaries as well as to indulge in related activities such as bird watching, fishing and photography.

This stability and ease of use is also potentially their biggest danger, however, since it is easy for the inexperienced paddler to get out of his or her depth. Southern African climatic conditions are also notoriously fickle so it is vitally important to be well trained and equipped and knowledgeable about the trip you plan to undertake.

The Recreational and Commercial Sea Kayaking Association of South Africa (Recskasa) is a good place to start your planning. They have collected the information used in compiling the routes featured on this site and are able to give you the detailed information and training required to undertake a successful sea kayak trip. They can also put you in contact with operators offering organised excursions. For more information, visit their website at http://www.recskasa@.org.za.

We have selected a number of sea kayaking routes which showcase those parts of our coastline most suited for paddling and exemplify the huge variety of experiences available. From the harsh beauty of the west coast with its fishing villages and birdlife to the tall forests and black water of the Garden Route and the tropical lushness and warm waters of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa can offer a paddling experience suitable for almost everyone.

Background information on the Garden Route Sea Kayaking Trails:

These trails are situated along the famous Garden Route. This stretch of coastline runs from Mossel Bay in the south to Port Elizabeth in the north and is served by the N2 national road. The Garden Route offers the visitor a mild climate, long stretches of beach, lakes, mountains and lush indigenous forests.

But it is severely threatened by over-development and unless substantial controls are put in place, it will be overwhelmed by its own popularity and South Africa will lose a unique and irreplaceable part of its heritage.

The Garden Route offers visitors a huge selection of accommodation options, from camping to luxury lodges and a myriad guesthouses and bed and breakfasts. There is also an endless variety of activities, from gentle hikes in the forests to adrenaline-pumping abseils, steam train excursions and visits to cultural sites such as the rock shelters of the Khoisan (the original inhabitants of the area). 

Nature is the real drawcard here and there are a number of stunning private, municipal, provincial and national nature reserves. From a paddling perspective, this area offers warm-water sea paddling with its associated marine life, as well as numerous opportunities for exploring the many lakes and estuaries.

Nearby routes

Baviaanskloof Route

The Baviaanskloof Route encompasses the broader Baviaanskloof area, which contains a newly proclaimed World Heritage Site, and offers a mix of sights and activities relating to nature and culture.

eScape Route

This area has so much to offer and many stories to tell.  Stutterheim, at the heart of the area, has a very interesting political  past which allowed people to think that there was a way to deal with inequalities of the past.  We also have a range of adventure tourism and cultural attractions and a large amounts of arts and crafts all waiting to be discovered.

Inyathi Buffalo Route

Buffalo City boasts a variety of tourist attractions and is rich in cultural and natural resources. The 68km coastline includes 10 estuaries, conservancies, natural heritage sites, rocky shores and 14 sandy beaches. There is a long-standing tradition of beadwork in the area.

Maloti Route

This route spans the borders between South Africa and the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, providing travellers with the opportunity to experience a diversity of cultures – Basotho, English, Xhosa and Afrikaans.

Mbodla Eco-Heritage Route

The Fish River (Nxuba) Valley is located adjacent to a thriving game-farming area of the Eastern Cape. The Mbodla Eco-heritage Route adds an original, Afro-centric, environmental, cultural and heritage dimension to the region’s offerings.

Mid-Karoo Route

This route is surrounded by dramatic mountains in the heart of the great Karoo and falls within the Nama Karoo Biome. This region is recognised for its herbal plant life, an exceptional variety of scarce birdlife and rock art from the San Bushmen. It is also one of the few, and best, places in the world where fossils are found.

Port St Johns Open Africa Route

En-route from Durban to Buffalo City, Port St Johns has numerous estuaries, bays and headlands. Small sandy bays and long stretches of open beach are found here, often near the mouth of large rivers like Umzimvubu River and Umngazana.

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