Age allowed and Fitness
The age allowed is between 12 to 60 years. A fair degree of fitness is required as there are some steep sections, which together with a backpack can become tiring, especially after a few hours of hiking. One must be prepared to hike up to 13 kilometers a day, over rough terrain, steep ascents and descents and under any weather conditions.

Distances and Durations
The trail is 5 days and 4 nights. The following distances and durations are as follows:

Day 1 = 4.8 km ( 2 hours)
Day 2 = 7.9 km ( 4 hours)
Day 3 = 7.7 km ( 4 hours)
Day 4 = 13.8 km ( 6 hours)
Day 5 = 6.8 km ( 3 hours)
Total Distance = 42.5 km

Tides
It is important to be aware of the dates and the times of the high and low tides prior to hiking the Otter Trail. This is especially important when it comes to crossing the bigger rivers such as the Elandsbos and the Bloukrans Rivers.

The Bloukrans River
The Bloukrans River crossing is on the 4th day of the Otter Trail. It is approximately 10 km from Oakhurst Hut that takes about four and half hours (4.5) to reach. This river is best crossed during low tide. Once the river has been crossed it is approximately another 3.8 kilometers (two and a half hours) to the next overnight stop. It is wise to arrive well before low tide, so that enough time is available to plan your crossing.

If you are unable to cross the river, you can take the escape route labeled E6. This escape route branches to the right of the trail just before the Otter Trail descends to the Bloukrans River Mouth. The escape route climbs steeply to the top of the plateau where it leads to the N2. To reach the N2, it will take approximately 2 hours.

Safety precautions
Safety items that can be included are the following:
Small First Aid kit
Survival Bag
Thermal blanket   
Map of Trail
Cellphone
Rope                                           
                                                                        SANParks 2005