Diepwalle Forest Station

#DiepwalleForestStation #SANParks #camping #thelazycampers

Camping R270 for 4 people Location: Western Cape of South Africa on the Garden route, between Knysna and Plett.

Intimately nestled among the towering trees of the Knysna coastal forest are the camping decks of Diepwalle Forest Station. A tranquil setting where nature lovers can immerse themselves in their surroundings, enjoy the peaceful rustling of the trees and chirping of the birds.

Getting there
Getting to the Diepwalle Forest Station is really easy and although the last few kilometres are dirt road it is easily accessible by any type of vehicle.
- if you are coming from the Port Elizabeth side you will travel on the N2 and a little bit before Knysna you will take a right turn onto the R339.
- If you are coming the Knysna side then just after Knysna you will take a left onto the R339.
- Follow the tar road which will become a dirt road; then follow the Diepwalle (SAN Parks) signs and you should make it there quite easily.
Watch out for animals on the road as well as big logging trucks.

The Campsite
The Diepwalle Forest Decks offer a unique camping experience: all the campsites are elevated on wooden decks and offer deck space for one 4-man tent or two 2-man tents as well as neat braai facilities, electrical points and an undercover counter with stools and under-counter storage. The decks are set into the forest so they are protected from any wind and shaded from the midday sun The ablutions are nearby and offer simple but clean facilities for showering and washing.
One thing to be aware of is the presence of monkeys, so you need to ensure that all your food stuffs are stored safely away.

Things to do - Self-guided forest walks: The forest reserve has quite a few walks that you can do that vary in length and difficulty. All walks begin at reception near to the campsites. We did the 7km red route Elephant walk and wandered through the forest where the trees create a continuous canopy and the floor is covered in mushrooms and mosses. The walk was so peaceful: all we could hear was the wind whispering, the crunching of the leaves under our feed and the birds chattering in the trees; interrupted periodically by the activity at the quarry a little way away.

7km Red Route, Elephant Walk.

 - Museum visit: there is a small museum near reception at the Diepwalle Forest Station. It is worth a half hour of your time to mosey through the small house and learn a little about the area, the local forestry industry and the elephants that used to roam the Knysna forest.

- Birds of Eden & Monkeyland: these two enclosures are spectacular. We spent 4 hours strolling around Birds of Eden and were completely mesmerized by the variety and animation of the aviary. My highlight was the giant fruit bat and the blue duiker. Monkeyland was a lot of fun and the monkeys were very entertaining. Hold onto your loose items though as we did see one of the tourist’s spectacles get stolen by one of the monkeys. *Note: it is cheaper to buy a combo ticket for both places than to buy them separately.

Birds Of Eden

Monkey Land

- Bungee jumping: My husband was brave enough to do the bungee jump at Bloukrans. Once we had paid for his jump (well for him to jump and me to walk out onto the bridge) we had to sit around for 45 minutes, waiting for the next time slot, stewing in our nerves. The walk out onto the bridge is exiting, nerve-racking and really beautiful. Once on the bridge the jamming tunes and the enthusiastic staff get everyone really excited for their jump and they are very efficient. The next thing you know it is your turn, you are clipped in, have had your photo taken and are standing on the edge - 3, 2, 1 Bungee...

Bloukrans Bungee Jumping

There are so many activities to embrace in the Tsitsikamma area but time constraints only allowed us to do a few. Some others that come very highly recommended are: - Knysna Elephant Park - Tenikwa Wildlife Centre - Tsitsikamma Canopy Tours There is so much to do in this area that you could easily spend a week exploring and you would not run out of activities to amaze, excite and enthral you.

The Garden Route/ Tsitsikamma area is absolutely stunning and the Diepwalle Forest Station is a fantastic place for camping, especially if you live between George and Port Elizabeth as it is close enough for a weekend away. Diepwalle Forest Station is the ideal place to escape the bustling concrete jungle for the serenity of the forest and spend some quality time with friends and family.