Western Cape : Garden Route
Overview
If Cape Town is the Mother City o
f South Africa, the
Garden
Route is without a doubt her lovely daughter. The major tourist attraction
of the
Garden Route is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful stretches
of coastlines in
South Africa, if not the world. Majestic mountains
closely guard a landscape filled with natural lakes, rivers and streams, sunny beaches
and fairytale forests on the ocean’s side and the arid, stark beauty of semi-desert landscape on the other.
Things to do and see
With its striking mountains, dramatic river-cut gorges, beautiful beaches and lush
indigenous forests, the
Garden Route is definitely the scenic marvel
of the country and simply driving through the area is a treat all in itself. Dotted
all alongside the beautiful coastline are many towns and hamlets where the sunny
beaches and warm Indian Ocean make for a perfect family beach holiday. For those
who want a bit more than suntaning or fun in the waves, there are many spots for
scuba diving or surfing. For the more adventurous there is sea kayaking.
Some of the most scenic mountain bike and hiking trails snake through the lush evergreen
forests and there are horse trails wanting to discover the many wonders of the area
in a different way.
For the adrenaline junkies there tandem skydiving and paragliding and if you want
a birds eye view, there are many helicopter flips that will afford you the opportunity
to appreciate the wonders of the
Garden Route from the air.
The
Garden Route offers some of the best boat based whale watching in the world and during the winter and spring months the endangered Southern Right Whale can be spotted as they come to calve in many of the various bays alongside
the coast. The area is also a bird watcher’s paradise with almost 300 species of
bird found in a variety of habitats ranging from fynbos to forest to wetlands. The
area is also home to no less than 10 nature reserves as well as unique marine reserves,
home to soft coral reefs, dolphins, seals and a host of other marine life.
For the avid golfer, there are numerous exceptional and world class golf courses
including the exclusive courses at Fancourt in
George. I
n stark contrast, but no less breathtaking, is the stark and arid beauty of the
Klein Karoo on the other side of the Outeniqua and Tsitsikama mountains. Here you
will find the world famous
Cango Caves outside
Oudtshoorn,
one of South Africa’s top tourist attractions and capital of the ostrich feather
industry. The grandiose, old feather palaces are still to be seen, while ostrich
farms, now involved in the commercial production of meat, leather, eggs and feathers,
can be toured, with the possibility of riding an ostrich.
The
Garden Route is indeed a world class vacation destination,
offering something for everyone. Whether you are in search of an adrenaline rush,
looking to improve your golfing handicap or simply relaxing with a good book, amidst
the scenic beauty, the
Garden Route caters for your every need
and is a must-visit for any traveler to
South Africa.
Climate
The
Garden Route has a maritime climate, with moderately hot summers,
and mild to chilly winters. It is one of the nicest all-year-round rainfall areas
in South Africa, most rain falling in the winter months, brought by the humid sea-winds
from the Indian Ocean rising and releasing their precipitation
along the high mountain
ranges just inland of the coast.
Accommodation
The
Garden Route is an world class destination and this is evidenced
by the high standard and wide range of accommodation options offered to travelers.
You will find luxury hotels in all of the major towns, like
George,
Plettenberg Bay,
Mossel Bay,
Knysna
and
Hermanus. Apart from hotels, the traveler also have a variety
of other accommodation options open to them with many guest houses, bed and breakfasts,
self catering apartments and
holiday homes on offer.
Towns and Cities in the area
Popular towns and cities in the area include :
Albertinia,
George,
Heidelberg,
Knysna,
Mossel Bay,
Oudtshoorn,
Plettenberg Bay,
Riversdale,
Sedgefield, Still
Bay,
Wilderness,
Witsand !