Putting Sarabi’s latest build through its paces brought us to Storms River Mouth Rest Camp in the Tsitsikamma section of Garden Route National Park. We found a site right in front of the ocean, with the sound of waves rolling over the rocky shoreline as the backdrop to camp.
The evening sky had all the signs of a storm building. I kept expecting the weather to turn at any moment, but it held off. Instead, we had a calm enough arrival to take in the pink light over the sea and settle in without racing the rain.
Camp and a Test Run
The next morning gave us the right conditions to set up properly and see how the new arrangement worked. With the rooftop camper open, the rear kitchen and storage accessible, and the solar panels catching the sun, Sarabi felt well at home on the paved oceanfront site.
We even managed to get some work done between exploring, although the connectivity was not great. That is a story for another time. The camp’s ablutions also made the stop easy: not private in the way we usually prefer, but clean and really well kept.
Down to the Mouth
Storms River Mouth has the kind of coastline that keeps pulling you back outside. The Indian Ocean was hitting the dark rocks with real force, turning the edge of the park into white water and spray.
We explored the walking routes around camp, including the trail towards the waterfall and the famous suspension bridge at the river mouth. The bridge crosses above the dark water below steep, forested cliffs, giving a good look at the meeting point between river, gorge and sea.
SANParks describes Storms River Mouth as a place where indigenous forest and fynbos meet the sea, and it shows. The rest camp is a useful base for the short walks, longer hikes and river-mouth scenery, with a shop, restaurant and laundry on site. The suspension bridge and waterfall walk were easy ways to explore without needing to move camp.
The storm never came, so the dramatic weather will have to wait for a return visit. For this stop, a front-row ocean site, a successful test of the latest build and a few hours among the forest and surf were more than enough.
Destination details
For current campsite facilities, activities, access conditions and booking information, visit Storms River Mouth Rest Camp.