Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 52, November 2013 | Seite 25

GREAT TRAILS O

DASSIE

SOUTHE

RN CAP

E

F SOUTH AFRICA

TRAIL

25

BROUGHT to you by

WORDS & PICS BY
JACQUES MARAIS,
AUTHOR OF

WHY GO

The OTTER African Trail Run marathon is unfortunately
reserved for the cream of the trail running community on
just two days a year, but its DASSIE ‘little brother,’ which
is used for the OTTER Prologue, is open to all runners
year-round. And it’s one of the finest routes I have done!

WHAT YOU GET

The beauty of the circular DASSIE Route is that it gives
you a chance to test yourself along the terrain which has
made The OTTER famous. Take note, however, that the
prologue ends on a ?oating bridge, which is not normally
there, so I would recommend you continue on the jeep
track to the beach for a finish at the lagoon car park,
resulting in an extra 2km for a total of 13km, or finishing
in De Vasselot, making it 2km shorter at 9km.

You start on the beach just below the restaurant in
Nature’s Valley, on soft beach sand for the first 500m.
This quickly morphs into a rugged and testing section of
rock-hopping and scrambling along sharp-edged coastal
rocks. Take it easy on the next 1.2km section, as the trail

DASSIE TRAIL FAST FACTS:

At 5.4km, you cross the tarmac road, so beware traffic,
and about 1km later, the downhill kicks in as you wind
your way down to the valley adjacent to the tar road.
Enjoy the ancient yellow-wood giants, keeping an eye out
for Knysna touracos and slippery tree roots! At the 9km
mark, you pass to the left of the National Parks campsite,
where you could call it a day, or otherwise cross the
Groot River and continue along the jeep track to the east
of the estuary. This adds 3km to the route, taking you
onto the beach adjacent to The Heads, before you circle
back to either the finish at the campsite, or your original
start point.

WHERE TO RUN

disappears in places at high tide and can be slippery and
dangerous. Just before the 2km mark, you will reach the
Salt River estuary and, depending on the tide, you may
have to wade across here. Stick to the trail as it starts to
head uphill into the indigenous forest – ignore the trail
forking off to the right at 2.6km, as this will take you
back to the start point at the beach. For the next 2km,
you will traverse a stunning single-track footpath through
indigenous forest and along the occasional fynbos ridge
above Nature’s Valley beach.

GETTING THERE

GRADING: Moderate to extreme coastal terrain
TERRAIN: Steep single-track, rocks, beach and forest
MAP: www.magneticsouth.net or at De Vasselot
Campsite
ACCESS: Permits at De Vasselot Campsite
TRAIL MARKINGS: Hiking trail markers
FACILITIES: All amenities in Nature’s Valley
CELL RECEPTION: Intermittent
BEWARE: Slippery rocks, high tide

Both Storms River Mouth and Nature’s Valley are easily
accessible and well-signposted along the N2 between
Plettenberg Bay and Port Elizabeth.
GPS COORDINATES: S33° 59’ 06.1” / E23° 32’ 51.5”
LOCAL INFO: www.naturesvalleytrust.co.za or
www.sanparks.org / 044 531 6700

STAY HERE

Check out www.lilypond.co.za for the perfect spot if
you’re keen to explore the area on foot or a mountain
bike!

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