What should I pack for the Otter Trail?
By Linda, Linda Hikes South Africa · Updated 14 November 2026
The short answer
On the Otter Trail you carry everything for five days: sleeping bag, food, a stove and cooking pot, rain gear, warm layers, a headlamp and first aid. The huts give you a bed and a roof, not bedding or meals, so pack light and plan your food carefully.
The essentials
- A comfortable pack with a rain cover, and dry bags inside it
- Sleeping bag and a light pillow (the huts have mattresses, no bedding)
- Stove, gas, pot, lighter and a mug
- Food for five days, plus a little extra
- Rain jacket and a warm layer: Garden Route weather changes fast
- Shoes with good grip for wet rocks, and something light for the huts
- Headlamp, first aid kit, sunscreen and a hat
- A way to keep things dry for the river crossings
Keeping it light
Every gram matters on the steep climbs in and out of the river valleys. Share the stove, pot and first aid kit across the group, repack food out of its boxes, and leave the extras at home.
More questions
- Do the Otter Trail huts have bedding?
- No. They have bunks with mattresses; bring your own sleeping bag.
- Is there a porter service on the Otter Trail?
- Hikers on the Otter Trail carry their own packs. If you'd rather not carry everything, look at the Tsitsikamma Trail, which offers porterage.
- Why pack for river crossings?
- Several rivers meet the sea along the route; some are crossed by wading or swimming depending on the tide, so pack so that your things stay dry.