GEORGE NEWS - The popular Half-Collared Kingfisher Trail in the Wilderness section of the Garden Route National Park has reopened to hikers after being closed due to heavy rains and storm damage.
SANParks confirmed this week that the hiking trail is once again open to the public after high water levels along the pathway leading to the waterfall made sections of the route unsafe.
Maintenance teams had been assessing conditions and carrying out repairs before the trail was declared safe for visitors.
The trail is one of the Garden Route's most popular day hikes, attracting nature lovers, birdwatchers and families throughout the year. The route meanders through indigenous forest alongside the Touw River before leading hikers to a picturesque waterfall and natural rock pools.
It begins near the Ebb and Flow Rest Camp, where hikers cross the Touw River on a manually operated pontoon before continuing along the Giant Kingfisher Trail to the waterfall. The mostly shaded route follows the river for much of the way, offering numerous picnic spots and opportunities to enjoy the area's rich biodiversity.
Depending on which section is measured, the return hike is between 7km and 8km and generally takes between three and three-and-a-half hours to complete at a leisurely pace. The trail is considered suitable for most fitness levels, although visitors should wear sturdy footwear as sections can be uneven and slippery after wet weather.
The indigenous forest is home to an abundance of birdlife, including the elusive Half-Collared Kingfisher from which the trail gets its name, as well as Giant Kingfishers, Knysna Turacos, Fish Eagles, Black-headed Orioles and numerous other forest species.
Visitors may also encounter bushbuck and towering yellowwood trees along the route.
Although the trail has reopened, SANParks encourages hikers to remain cautious, particularly after periods of rain, and to stay on the marked pathways while enjoying one of the Garden Route's most scenic forest walks.
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