Garden Route
Garden Route
The Garden Route, a slender stretch of coastal plain between Mossel Bay and Storms River Mouth, bears a legendary status as South Africa's paradise - reflected in local names such as 'Garden of Eden' and 'Wilderness'. This soft, green, forested swath of nearly 200 km is cut by rivers from the mountains to the north, tumbling down to its southern rocky shores and sandy beaches.
Albertinia
In Albertinia, between the Langeberg Mountains and the Indian Ocean you can find some of the finest examples of Cape Fynbos, a unique collection of about 6500 different species of plants that grow on South Africa's Cape coast and nowhere else in the world. Albertinia has derived its motto 'Home of the Aloe' from the abundance of aloes growing in the district. On the historical Gouritz River Drift Route, you can experience the thrill of a 65m bungy jump or swing from the old bridge, the original African bungy site. Nature lovers will enjoy the Dunes Route - it passes through the largely uninhabited Canca Valley, where the famous Albertinia thatching reed is harvested and a great place for viewing leucadendrons and proteas in season. (September - October)
Oudtshoorn
Oudtshoorn is the ostrich capital of the world. Nowhere else are ostriches found in such great number and nowhere else do they produce feather of such fine quality - but the world's biggest bird is just one of many attractions in this area of enormous contrasts.
This small safe town is the commercial center of the Klein Karoo, an ancient rolling plain between the Outeniqua- and Swartberg Mountains. This unique position means that every road into the district follows a dramatically picturesque pass and all present the traveler - whether you're coming from the Garden Route, Cape Town or the hinterland - with interesting scenic drives through unspoilt areas of great natural beauty. Four ostrich show farms - Highgate, Safari, Oudtshoorn and Congo - offer daily tours and demonstrations during which you will learn about these unique birds, about their life cycle and about how they are farmed. Curio shops on the farms and in town itself specialize in the finest ostrich leather and ostrich feather products. A number of imposing sandstone 'ostrich palaces' have survived to bear witness to the opulence of the 'feather boom' early in the twentieth century, and the CP Nel Museum provides a glimpse of what life must have been like in those heady times. Oudtshoorn is a fun place to visit, with plenty of live entertainment - especially over weekends.
For nine days in April every year, 250 000 people stream into the town to enjoy a feast of South African cuisine, culture and music - the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (The Small Karoo National Arts Festival). They come for the craft markets and art galleries, to see and hear the best local and international acts in more than 50 venues, and for the revelry that goes on deep into the night at dozens of pubs, restaurants and temporary venues. The KKNK Festival is a mind-blowing experience.
The Cango Caves are the Klein Karoo's oldest most popular attraction - hardly surprising, as it is one of the great natural wonders of the world. Three systems of spectacular limestone caverns have been discovered - 'Congo One' is about 760 m in length, 'Cango Two' the Wonder Cave - is about 260 m , and the most recently discovered 'Cango Three' covers about 1600 m. All are filled with a wonderland of stalactites, stalagmites and helictites (limestone formations that grow in unusual directions), and, in order to protect the delicate natural system, only 'Cango One' is open to the public. Two tour options are available: the Standard Tour is an enchanting hour-long journey through the first six chambers and the 90 minute Adventure Tour, which follows a 1200 m route through the mountain, and is only recommended for the physically fit.
Oudtshoorn's outdoor attractions include walking trails, mountain biking and birding. 4x4 enthusiasts relish the rugged terrain of the Klein Karoo, where the South Cape Route Owner's Forum (S.C.R.O.F.) offers training, guided and self-drive tours and unique, challenging and interesting off-road experiences in your own or in rental vehicles.
The Klein Karoo is a fine wine-producing region, with a variety of different growing zones. Oudtshoorn and the Klein Karoo Wine Route form part of Route 62, the World's Longest Wine Route. Visit seventeen local wineries for tastings and purchases - Klein Karoo wines have a distinctive character, and the region produces some of the best dessert wines, including traditional red and white Muscadels. With its great variety of interesting curio shops that specialize in ostrich leather products, excellent restaurants and accommodation to suit every taste and budget, Oudtshoorn is the ultimate traveler's destination.
George
The City of George is the heart of the Southern Cape and its main business centre. With a sophisticated air, road and rail links to all major centers, it is a convenient base from which to explore the charms and attractions of Eden that is the Garden Route and Klein Karoo. Spectacularly located on a picturesque coastal plateau between the Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean, its mild climate invites year-round outdoor living. George boasts many of South Africa's top golf courses, a number of respected educational institutions, many popular sports clubs and extensive medical, legal and financial services. Many fine walks and trails have been laid out in the area. Follow the mountain passes by car or mountain bike for breathtaking scenery and some of the best opportunities for viewing unspoilt indigenous forests and the proteas, restios, ericas and Fynbos.
Plettenberg Bay
You'll never forget your first sight of this beautiful Bay. It's astonishing. With a backdrop of majestic mountains stretching from horizon to horizon, the town lies to one side under a sunny sky and amongst a c ollage of green forests and Fynbos that are separated from the blue of Indian Ocean by endless white and sandy beaches. Truly the stuff of picture postcards.
Closer inspection reveals that this is a tourist' paradise. In Plettenberg Bay, where the weather is eternally set to springtime and where warm, lazy days stretch into long, pleasurable evenings, you'll find rest and adventure in equal proportions. The waters of the bay itself hold an uncommon richness of marine life: this is where the cold and warm waters of the Indian Ocean's great currents meet and mix, and the result is a Bay unparalleled for its biodiversity. Plettenberg bay boasts vast schools of the delightfully playful common dolphins, pods of endangered Bottle-nosed- and shy Humpback dolphins, as well as resident Orca and Bryde's whales and the migratory Humpback- and Southern Right whales. And it's the only place in the world where scientists have seen and filmed the rare and enigmatic Tropical Beaked whale.
Many elevated lookout points offer excellent land-based whale watching, and regular boat-based whale watching tours and marine safaris provide a chance to see these gentle giants - and to experience the absolute beauty of Plettenberg Bay - at close quarters. If you prefer your encounters a little more personal, the Bay offers excellent scuba diving and, on the Tsitsikamma shore, brilliant snorkeling and guided snorkeling trails. But the Indian Ocean is just one of Plettenberg Bay's many natural wonders. The rugged Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma Mountains from a backdrop to a sub-region that boasts more than fifteen private and public nature reserves - an unparalleled wealth of fauna and flora that begs exploration. The Bay is dominated by the massif of the Robberg Nature reserve - a Cape Nature Conversation property. Offering sweeping views, superb whale and dolphin watching, excellent birding, three interesting hiking routes and the Nelson Bay Cave - an archaeological site with evidence of human habitation that stretches back for more than 120 thousand years - Robberg should be a priority on any list of things-to-do-in-Plett.
If it's big game you're after, join a guided drive or hike at Buffalo Hills Private Game Reserve: you could spot white rhino, buffalo, bontebok, impala, eland, sable, wildebeest, giraffe or any of a number of other mammals - as well as almost 150 species of birds. Learn about the monkeys and lemurs, gibbons and other primates at Monkeyland, the first sanctuary of the 'Touch a Monkey's Heart' Foundation. And find out the plight of the African elephant as you meet the rescued animals that now live in controlled, free range environment at the Knysna Elephant Park. Enjoy birding on the Keurbooms and Bitou River estuaries or explore our indigenous forests on Africa's first tree-top experience - the Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour - or on a Woodcutter's Journey at Storms River Township.
The greater Plettenberg Bay area offers vast expanses of unspoilt Cape Fynbos, lagoons and forests of unsurpassed beauty, pristine sand dunes, delicate wetlands and sun-bleached beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see - and much of this is accessible on horseback, on foot, by bicycle and by road. Plettenberg Bay offers one of the best ways of seeing the great outdoors on its luxurious Oxwagen and Dolphin Hiking Trails - with all meals, accommodation and porterage provided, you carry only a day-pack and you're accompanied by knowledgeable and experienced guides every step of the way.
Sport lovers can enjoy mountain biking, horse riding, polo, numerous forest trails, golf, the world's highest bungy jump (+_260m) and a wide variety of water sports as well as excellent saltwater- and freshwater fishing.
Heidelberg
With the Langeberg Mountain Range offering breathtaking views to the north, Heidelberg is an excellent base from which to explore the hidden wonders of the Garden Route.
The town has a treasure of beautiful old buildings of historical heritage, including a church with Gothic architecture. Heidelberg (Western Cape) is named after the German City of Heidelberg. Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve with its forest, Fynbos, animals and bird watching is a must for every nature-lover. Enjoy the 'platteland' hospitality in one of many B&B's, the historical hotel or self-catering cottages. Horseback rides around our beautiful historical town are a must see for all ages.
Riversdale
Riversdale is the home of the exquisite Garden Route. Home of the Sleeping Beauty Mountain peak, a landmark of the Langeberg Mountain range. A town full of surprises and contrasts, where you can experience the serenity of true country living. Feel the caress of a fresh country breeze and smell the fragrance of Fynbos in the sweet country air. Treat your taste buds to mouthwatering country cuisine. Cherish the memories of sincere country hospitality, where tradition and diversity blend to form richer character, charm and culture. This is a place where old meets new.
Riversdale is a favorite destination for adventure and nature lovers, and especially for Fynbos enthusiasts. Riversdale has earned its name from the floral paradise of the Garden Route because of the abundance of indigenous flora which covers the mountains and surrounding areas. Activities such as 4x4 routes, abseiling alongside waterfalls, horseback safaris, hang gliding, fishing and water sports are on offer and various Fynbos export farms offer guided tours.
Riversdale boasts a rich cultural heritage, especially in the fields of art and literature. Impressive examples of South African art can be viewed at the Julius Gordon Africana Centre - internationally known as one of its kind in the country and hosts artists such as Pierneef, Baines, Maggie Loubsher, Jan and Vera Volschenk and the second largest collection of Thomas Bowler paintings. Long Street, the oldest street in Riversdale, is where the elite of yesterday settled. All the houses on the northern end date back to the middle of the previous century. The many attractions are complemented by supermarkets, major retail stores, 24-hour banking facilities and a variety of accommodation and restaurants to suit every budget and taste.
Herold's Bay
Herold's Bay is a sough-after destination for its fishing, swimming beach, tidal pool and natural rock pools that provide hours of fascinating exploring. The steep cliffs of the Bay provide a dramatic setting for holiday bungalows, excellent vantage points for whale and dolphin watching and fine examples of coastal Fynbos. Herold's Bay is a perfect family holiday destination.
Sedgefield
It could be said that Sedgefield is an outdoor lover's paradise. A picturesque seaside village that offers space and peace for those who wish to relax, and the perfect destination for families who enjoy the great outdoors, Sedgefield is surrounded by the lakes of the Garden Route, Fynbos-covered dunes, the Swartvlei Estuary and the Indian Ocean. Bordering the Goukamma Nature Reserve which has some of South Africa's highest vegetated sand dunes, and the Wilderness National Park, which is one of the country's most important wetlands reserves, Sedgefield has a rich birdlife and fascinating fauna and flora for you to discover on a network of Fynbos, lakeside and forest hiking trails. With its high dunes and broad, open plains, Sedgefield is a sought-after paragliding venue.
It goes without saying that the choice of water sports here is unlimited - yachting, sail boarding, windsurfing, skiing, bathing, diving and surfing, whilst anglers will find excellent surf- rock- estuary- or deep sea fishing, and, in Groenvlei, some of the country's best black bass waters. For golfers, the village boasts a 9 hole 'mashie' course, with some of the country's most sought-after courses less than forty minutes away.
Scenic outings include a coastal steam train ride on the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe or a drive to Cloud 9 Ridge for panoramic views over the mountains, lakes and Indian Ocean. All these natural assets are complemented by a selection of restaurants, pubs, craft, clothing, specialty shops, hairdressers as well as grocery stores and home industry outlets. Sedgefield Tourism Bureau, in the village center, provides information about the area and a booking service for all types of accommodation. Situated conveniently close to the N2 National Road between Knysna and George, Sedgefield is a grand base from which to explore the many attractions of the Garden Route. A popular low-crime area that is experiencing major tourism growth, this charming village offers all visitors a warm and friendly welcome.
Knysna
Knysna is a place of beauty - lying on the banks of an enormous estuary, alongside South Africa's most famous indigenous forests. The locals will tell you that Knysna is one of the most scenically impressive towns in all of Africa, and strangely enough they are happy to share their good fortune with you.
Knysna is the Hub of the Garden Route Adventure. It's about enjoying a spectacular environment and natural beauty in a variety of ways, literally what-ever-your-fancy! From cycle races, forest marathons, regattas, bowls and golf tournaments, to adrenaline-thumping extreme sports and more sedate ecological activities - such as canoeing along the Knysna River. Enjoy a relaxing and instructional ferryboat or yacht cruises to the Knysna Heads or hire a boat or canoe for a more strenuous, but intimate adventure on the water. There's also excellent diving and snorkeling on the Eastern Head and at Thesen's Jetty, either on your own or preferably with a professional.
The Estuary, which is known as the Knysna National Lake Area, is managed and protected by South African National Parks Board. It is biologically rich and fascinating body of water, with salt marshes and deep-water channels that are home to such animals as the endangered Knysna Seahorse, an unusual fish that's found only in Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Sedgefield - and nowhere else in the world. Species can be viewed also at the Knysna Seahorse Aquarium and at 34' South at the Knysna Quays, the National Parks offices on Thesen's Jetty or at Featherbed Nature Reserve. Deep sea fishing trips are available for the sports angler and the area boasts excellent estuarine, rock and surf angling. Salt water fly fishing is popular in the Knysna Estuary and at the Goukamma Lagoon at Buffalo Bay, and the bass fishing at Swartvlei is considered to be amongst the best in South Africa.
Cyclists have long acknowledged that Knysna offers some of the very best off-road riding in the country, and the annual Knysna Oyster Festival Cycle Tour has become South Africa's biggest mountain biking event. A number of routes and trails - which vary from light-and-easy to strenuous and technically demanding - have been laid out. Knysna also plays host to the 'Cape Epic' - a unique 700 km ride from the Knysna Waterfront all the way the way through some of the most magnificent passes in South Africa, having been completed in every other continent.
Knysna stables provide well-schooled horses for outrides and their trails, which are suitable for both novices and experienced riders. If you feel like a homesick angel, perhaps you need to get airborne: various charter companies in the area offer scenic flights in motorized gliders, hang gliders, fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. The area is a popular paragliding destination, and, if you're a beginner, professional pilot training is available. Our local golf courses are both popular and challenging.
The Knysna Golf Club is built on the very edge of the Estuary, and its many water hazards have prompted more than one player to joke that he should have packed a canoe with his clubs! Knysna Forests are sub limely beautiful and spiritual; the forests are largely under the control of conversation authorities. Picnic sites and braai areas (the only places in which fires are permitted), swimming holes and river expeditions, walks and trails, mountain bike routes and scenic drives - these are just some of the forests many experiences. And you can enjoy them on your own or with trained and experienced guides. Enjoy your stay in Knysna - the place of people, beauty and mystery.
Still Bay
Everyone who visits Still Bay falls in love with its spectacular, unspoilt natural loveliness and harmonious, safe and tranquil lifestyle - that's why it's called the Bay of Sleeping Beauty.
Modern amenities include a well-organized and established business sector with shops, banks and medical services and a wide range of sporting facilities - from golf and bowls and to hiking and angling. For water sports enthusiasts, Still Bay offers a safe and placid coastline, a river that is navigable for 15 km and an abundance of natural springs. Experience a variety of farming enterprises and the unspoilt Fynbos of the region on two exciting excursions along mapped country routes between the Goukou- and Duivenhoks Rivers. Visit the redeveloped township of Melkhoutfontein - a recipient of the Nelson Mandela Masakhane accolade for social economic community development - and its unique and fascinating Soete Inval Botanical Garden and Soete Arbeid Craft center.
The historical little 'White House' serves as a local museum and information center. Jongensfontein, 12 km west of Still Bay, is a fast-growing seaside resort with beautiful scenery and a rocky coastline transforming it into an angler's paradise. See the whales that come to our shores to mate and calve between June and November. Or meet tame eels at Pilinggat. Step back in time at a number of historical sites and landmarks. Ancient shell middens dating back 3000 years are open for close viewing. Middle stone age artifacts and replicas of artifacts of the world famous Blombos Cave are on display in the visitor's center.
Conducted tours of the reachable sites on the outskirts of the town are arranged to coincide with low tide in order to also view the ancient fish traps. Enjoy a frivolous, happy occasion and meet the locals at the annual MTN Strandloper Festival. An astonishing richness of indigenous flora, hundreds of bird species, a mild climate and a wide range of accommodation - ranging from luxury B&B's to holiday apartments, camping and caravanning - make Still Bay your perfect year-round destination.
Mossel Bay
The seaside town of Mossel Bay basks on a sun washed peninsula, next to the N2 highway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, overlooking the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, with miles of unspoilt, north-facing beaches. Imagine waking up every morning to a view as beautiful as ours. If you did, you'd be just as laidback, peaceful and friendly as the folks here in Mossel Bay. A small harbor town with a big heart, Mossel Bay has always been a favorite holiday destination. Over the years we've developed a powerful tradition of unhurried hospitality to complement the natural beauty and rich cultural history of South Africa's Garden Route.
With long, sandy beaches, washed by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, boat rides and whale watching, big game viewing and extremely wild adventures, fascinating museums and excellent shopping, entertainment for the whole family, restaurants for every palate and top notch accommodation for every budget, it's hardly surprising that some people call Mossel Bay, "the Bay of Attractions". But it's the pace of life here that gives Mossel Bay that edge. Even with all its attractions, there's something about this town that invites you to sit back, relax and watch life as it happens. So, whilst its beauty may take your breath away, Mossel Bay is also the perfect place if you want to get it back.
Wilderness
Free your spirit and experience the warm soul of Wilderness. Explore the stark, rugged Outeniqua Mountains to the north, hike through pristine forests along clear gushing streams; take a canoe ride on the sparkling cool waters of our lagoon, rivers and lakes. Bathe in the warmth of the Indian Ocean or soak up the sun on glittering white sands while dolphin and whales frolic in gentle ocean swells and high in the deep blue skies the brilliant colors of paragliders drift by...
Experience the friendly hospitality and tantalizing aroma of pastry, coffee and spices in the quaint restaurants, cafes and side walk shops nestled beneath the Milkwood and bougainvillea. Visit the artists and crafters who have made Wilderness their home and inspiration. Take a leisurely drive along the many scenic routes where yesterday can still be heard and felt, where today is found in gentleness of the Wilderness way of life. The elephants, sadly, are gone, but in their tracks, some say, the fairies dance in the moonlight, while Giant Yellowwoods bear silent sentinel and on warm summer days, sunlight dapples the forest canopy deep gold.
Hartenbos
With its clean, sun-washed beaches, calm seas and great all-year-round Mediterranean climate, Hartenbos really does offer 'Everything under the Sun'. Visit the Hartenbos Museum with its impressive displays of life during the Great Trek or the Voorbaai Locomotive Yard - South Africa's biggest steam locomotive restoration and maintenance center. Whale-, dolphin-, and seal watching are popular attractions throughout the year. Explore the Ruiterbos Valley Region, which is situated on the R328 (Robinson Pass) leading towards Oudtshoorn.
Experience game viewing on quad- or mountain bikes; discover Khoisan Rock Art in the mountains, which are covered with natural Fynbos. Visit the Attaquaskloof Pass, which has been declared a National Monument. Accommodation varies from fully equipped chalets and Rondavels to caravan parks, B&B's and a hotel. An ultra-modern heated indoor swimming pool, supertube, bowling greens, tennis courts, amusement centre, conference facilities for up to 1000 delegates and huge amphitheatre - this is the ideal family holiday destination.
Victoria Bay
Undoubtedly the Southern Cape's most charming and beautiful bay, Victoria Bay has been described by tourists from all parts of the globe as 'The Gem of the Garden Route'. And it's just 9 km from George city centre, which makes it a great base from which to explore the entire region. Everything at Victoria Bay is so close to the sea, which means that excellent winter weather yields world class surfing and superb whale and dolphin watching, whilst bathing, fishing, snorkeling, and trailing are at your doorstep during the long, hot days of summer.
So, do yourself a favor and make sure you spend a few nights in Victoria Bay.
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