The section of
the coastline first called the Garden Route
is an extraordinary region, blessed with a
mild climate, year-round rainfall and unique
vegetation.
Forest Capital
Some of South
Africa’s most ancient forest remnants are
here, evergreen and folded into inaccessible
ravines. There is also fynbos, part of a
unique floral kingdom recently proclaimed a
natural World Heritage Site.
Incredible
Coastline
The sensitive
coastline is protected from over development
by South African National Parks in three
areas – the Wilderness National Park, the
Knysna National Lake Area, and the
Tsitsikamma National Park.
Small-town
Splendour
The towns of
the Garden Route include Mossel Bay,
Wilderness, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and
Nature’s Valley – some of South Africa’s
most popular tourism towns for locals and
foreign visitors.
Make a point
of setting aside as many days as you can for
the Garden Route, because this area can make
time disappear.
Whale Watching
Southern Right
whales take over the shoreline between June
and November, making the long trip
northwards from Antarctica to give birth and
loll in the unspoilt bays. They’re often
seen leaping and lob-tailing just beyond the
breakers.
Elephant
Connection
At Knysna you
can touch, feed and walk with Knysna
elephants. These are not part of the
original (and legendary) Knysna forest
elephants, but are rescued orphans that have
become habituated to people.
Activities and
Attractions
There are
hikes through magnificent scenery and
vegetation, some to be tackled over five to
seven days (notably the famous Otter Trail
and the Outeniqua Hiking Trail) and a wide
variety of trails that can be done over a
few hours or a day.
Every morning,
the quaint steam-engine called the Outeniqua
Choo-Tjoe puffs its way along the lakes,
estuaries and ravines between Knysna and
George.
The golf
courses here are among the best in the
world, designed by masters and offering
spectacular views.
Adrenalin-junkies can go shark-cage diving
or fling themselves off the Gouritz River
bridge for the highest bungee jump in the
world. There is also black water tubing,
horse riding, abseiling, canoeing, boating,
surfing, diving and deep sea fishing.
Visit some of
the atmospheric bars and pubs along this
stretch, and don’t forget to sample ales
from Mitchells, a delightful micro-brewery
in the Knysna area.
And of course,
if you blur the boundaries of the Garden
Route as almost everyone seems to do, there
is even more to see.
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