The Paul Sauer Bridge, also known as the Storms River Bridge, is 160 km from Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape and spans the impressive Storms River Gorge on South Africa's Garden Route.The reinforced concrete arch bridge is on the N2 (National Route 2), connecting Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.The river passes 128 m below the road. The reinforced bridge deck is 191 m in length and the bridge's arch span is 100 m. It is a marvel of architecture and engineering, designed by Italian Riccardo Morandi. The bridge-building project was completed in 1956. An arch bridge transfers the weight of the bridge down along the arch to the abutments where, in the case of the Paul Sauer Bridge, the arch meets the gorge/ canyon walls.
Visitors can not only enjoy the sight of the Storms River Gorge below, but can also engage in a number of adventure activities offered in the region. Among other activities, mostly operated from the nearby Storms River Village, you can abseil down an 80 m cliff face into the Gorge below the bridge, do black-water tubing in the Storms River at the base of the Gorge or ride a 22 km mountain bike trail through forests and plantations to the mouth of the river (eastern bank).
The German-guided version of our tour that covers the highlights of South Africa (link to English tour provided as well). It provides a mix of cities, countryside, historical sites, scenic drives, nature, wildlife, culture and people. The southbound tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town.
Highlights:
Panorama Route
,
Blyde River Canyon
,
Kruger National Park
,
Swaziland
,
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve
,
St. Lucia
,
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
,
Transkei
,
Garden Route
,
Storm’s River Mouth
,
Knysna
,
Cango Caves
,
Route 62
,
Cape Winelands
,
Stellenbosch
,
Paarl
,
Cape Town
.
Storms River Mouth is the main camp within the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park. This section comprises a coastal stretch roughly 5 mm wide. It includes the Tsitsikamma rain forest that drops down to the rugged coastline with a marine conservation region of approximately 80 km.
The Tsitsikamma National Park is a section of the broader Garden Route National Park, a coastal Nature Reserve that stretches eastwards for 80 kilometers from Natures valley. It is known for its indigenous forests, mountains and rugged coastline. The Park offers a number of accommodation facilities, walking trails and a diversity of adventure activities.