The sleepy town of Storms River is the de-facto adventure capital of South Africa – and not just because it’s home to the world’s highest bungee.
For me, marveling at the stunning nature in and around Storms River – it’s where the Tsitsikamma National Forest meets the Indian Ocean, with skyscraping mountains rising in the background – was thrilling in and of itself.
But with zip lining, mountain biking and river rafting among your adventure travel options, you will never be bored when you travel to Storms River, even if you aren’t as easily amused by flowers, sunsets and gently-flowing streams as I am.
One cool thing about Storms River, regardless of your appetite for adventure, is how awesome the natural surrounding are. Whether you stay in a hostel like Dijembe Backpackers, or splurge it up at one of the boutique hotels and B&Bs in Storms River Village, you will have majestic nature quite literally in your backyard.
I personally had no interest in bungee jumping in Storms River, even if the local bungee jump, at 700 feet, is the highest commercial one in the world. Instead, I opted for zip lining through the Tsitsikamma National Forest, which was pretty exciting on its own.
To be sure, the Tsitsikamma National Forest is a destination in and of itself. I spent an entire day biking its 20+ miles of trail, which take you from Storms River village, to the point where the mouth of the Storms River empties into the Indian Ocean.
Another popular Storms River activity I passed on was river rafting. This was less because I didn’t want to do it, and more because the water levels were apparently low – fellow travelers reported having to walk, rather than float, the river!
Speaking of water, one of the most striking aesthetic features of Storms River was the orange hue of much of the area’s water. I’m not exactly sure what causes this, but I assume it’s similar to the phenomenon of tea trees staining fresh water in Australia a deep brown.
As has been the case during most of the rest of my time in South Africa, I didn’t see a whole lot of animal wildlife in Storms River. Well, besides that baboon I saw walking down the road…
But whether screaming at the top of my lungs as I fly through the forest or careen down a mountain on a bike trail, or marveling at the fiery sunset and the infinite map of stars that blanket the vast skies of the Storms River region, it’s not a far cry to say this is my favorite place in South Africa thus far.
Robert Schrader is a travel writer and photographer who’s been roaming the world independently since 2005, writing for publications such as “CNNGo” and “Shanghaiist” along the way. His blog, Leave Your Daily Hell, provides a mix of travel advice, destination guides and personal essays covering the more esoteric aspects of life as a traveler.
