Engineers are expected to issue a safety certificate this week after stabilizing the Storms River Rest Camp’s temporary restaurant structure. ‘
A final site inspection will happen this week’ according to Area Manager of the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park, Bulelwa Msengi. The engineers will realign the tent according to safety standards and if satisfied with the set up, will issue a certificate to proceed operating.
Last Thursday the Camp’s temporary restaurant was partly affected by strong sea swells as a result of a Spring high tide. Clean- up efforts are still underway in the Storms River Rest Camp, Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park.
The sea also damaged the stretch tent linked to the main tent of the restaurant. The barricade on top of the retaining wall of the Otter trail hiking camp site was also washed away. ‘The smaller stretch tent will be sent for fixing.’
Sea swells reached a height of 9m on Friday evening.
The restaurant is currently setup and operating outside the main Marquee. The old restaurant site is cordoned off and plans to rebuild a new restaurant are underway.
All other activities in the Park are open including the famous Otter hiking trail. Hikers of the 42-km thriller get to spend 5 days walking and 4 nights of sleeping in the wild.
They are fascinated by walking through the Park’s mountain fynbos areas, indigenous forests, lakes, crossing at least five rivers and viewing the scenic backdrops of the Marine Protected Area (MPA). The Park is also popular for its Green flag status day hikes, water activities and forest excursions (ziplining, segways) and others.
The Park’s shop is also open from early morning until late.