Tsitsikamma: raw yet serene

The Tsitsikamma National Park is a natural wonderland on South Africa’s Garden Route. I visited recently and spent some time hiking around the coastal reserve and exploring the trail that hikers walk on the first day of the Otter Trail.

What struck me about this area is how it is simultaneously raw and serene. Along the shoreline the rocks are sharp and rugged. Powerful waves smash into the rocks just metres away from where you are scrambling over jagged stone, blasting vertical walls of whitewater high into the air. The sound of a wild ocean is constant. The salty air is heavy and raw. It’s not difficult to imagine what would happen if you were washed off the rocks and pounded by a set wave.

But when you enter the shade of the indigenous forest a softness prevails. The ancient trees dampen the roar of the ocean and create a magical quiet that asks to be enjoyed in silence.

Photographing in the park, I was reminded of how we are always moving between periods of intensity and calm in life. Transitioning between these phases is not easy. Intensity can be overwhelming. But there is calm to be found — most often in silence — and it’s well worth pursuing.

I’ve put together a series of six images that speak to this sentiment. (As ever, if you’d like a print please contact me).

All images copyright Brendon Bosworth, 2021.