Tsitsikamma Black Water Tubing, A.K.A. “Storms River Tubing” is a unique tubing, swimming, rock jumping & hiking adventure through the world renowned Tsitsikamma National Park on the Garden Route in South Africa

Currently the Black Water tubing trips are done from 1 September to the end of April

The Black water Tubing venture is based at Tube ‘n Axe Backpackers Lodge in Storms River Village (Garden Route South Africa) where the tubing trips start and finish.

The roughly four hour Black water Tubing adventure is conducted on sectors X,1, 2 and 3 of the Storms River Gorge running through the Tsitsikamma National Park in the heart of the Garden Route.

The gorge (currently managed by SANParks and The Department of Water and Forest Affairs The DWAF) is known for its spectacular scenery of high fern-clad rock walls, indigenous forests and bird life.

The river is classified as ‘Swiftwater’ and on medium to high water level, it holds little more than grade two rapids. These do however make for loads of fun and rock jumps are also optional up to approximately 8m in height.

The Tubing experience is one of scenic adventure and fun filled hours of swimming, rock hopping, rock jumps, bouncing down small bubbling rapids, kloofing and hiking Black Water Tubing is weather dependant and is closed on days when it is raining.

If a booking is cancelled due to rainy weather, upfront payments are refundable or the activity is switchable other activities in the surrounding area but price differences may apply. (See www.tsitsikamma.info)

During dry periods, river levels drop to such an extent that most rapids are too shallow to run, and the excursion becomes more of a kloofing experience.

At times like this, groups will need to get out and walk along the riverbanks for short distance where the river becomes too shallow to float in a tubeThe operation is currently seasonal and runs from 1 September to 30 April...

Tsitsikamma Black Water Tubing…AKA Stormsriver tubing. And what makes it unique is the fact that you tube through the Tsitsikamma National Park in the lush green Garden Route. All tours start inn Storms River village about 70 km East of Plettenberg Bay. Please see our map under directions if you do not know your way around za or read further for directions.

Free lunch is included into the price of the storms river tubing trip so no need to worry about buying lunch after the awesome TSITSIKAMMA BLACK WATER TUBING experience. So let’s get back to the travel deals we have on offer…Book the STORMSRIVER TUBING TRIP through Tube n Axe and we will reward you with a great discount deal on your accommodation with us in storms river...contact us for more info.

The Blackwater tubing operation is coherent with all criteria laid out by SANParks, our public liability insurance policy and APA (African Paddling Association) standards.All our guides are trained, certified and registered as professional Swiftwater guides. They are fully trained in level three First Aid which provides them with the theoretical information, and practical skills necessary to initiate and apply first aid treatment in any eventuality and environment.Our tubes and safety gear is purposely designed and developed by professionals for swiftwater activities like Black water tubing. Our first aid kit forms an important part of our equipment list that goes along on each trip.Before entering the river, a full safety briefing will be done to familiarize all clients with important safety aspects and procedures.During tubing trips, the group always get led by a qualified assistant guide who will set the pace according to the slowest person in the group. The main guide will be covering the back of the group ensuring that the group stays together at all times. Our tubing guides have been training with the local Mountain search and rescue team to familiarize them with all the necessary emergency procedures in the event of an incident.The Tube n Axe operation scouted and developed a all new escape route just before the Witteklip confluence adding a important escape route from the river.Tsitsikamma Blackwater tubing does not operate the tubing during periods of rainfall or after a minimum rainfall of 15 mm as contractually agreed with South African National Parks.

Tsitsikamma Black water Tubing, A.K.A. “Storms river Tubing” is a unique, four hour fun adventure, filled with splashing, swimming, rock jumping, kloofing and hiking.

Under low water conditions (0-20mm rainfall) the Stormsriver Black Water Tubing experience is similar to kloofing where one paddles the pools and walks the shallow sections.

On medium to high water (20-600mm rainfall), Black water Tubing is packed with action as rapids become runable. Grade 3 rapids and rock jumps are optional and our trained swiftwater safety guides are always ready to assist the feint hearted negotiating the fast flowing sections