What it is
A five-day, four-night coastal trail through Tsitsikamma (Eastern Cape) — the country's most famous multi-day hike, and one of the best in the world for the price. Huts are basic (no beds, bring a mat), the distance is real (~42km with serious ups and downs), and the river crossings at the Bloukrans and Elands depend on the tide — you plan your day around them.
Booking
It's a SANParks trail, it books up roughly a year ahead, and you take what dates are left. If you want a specific week, watch the booking window and grab it. Permits are limited to twelve hikers a day — that's the whole charm and the whole problem.
Fitness and fear
You need real fitness — not mountaineering, but five consecutive days of 6–9 hours on steep coastal path with a pack. The river crossings can be waist-deep and are the part that scares people; check tide tables and go early on the crossing days. There's no rescue on a cliff path; you carry your own first aid.
Why it's worth it
Old-growth forest, waterfall pools, a coastline with no road and no houses, and the pride of finishing something hard. It's not a luxury trip — it's a proper walk that ends at Nature's Valley with a swim and a beer you've earned.