Garden Route / South Africa Travel
 

Garden Route, South Africa

George is seen as the gateway to the Garden Route, one of South Africa most popular and scenic stretches. The coastal drive links a series of charming towns interspersed with natural beauty and lies on the south-eastern coast of South Africa, stretching all the way to the Storms River. The route includes major towns like Mosselbay, George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. In between these major centres smaller coastal towns are home to many South Africans summer holiday homes.

The area 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.

The Route is sandwiched between the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains and the Indian Ocean. The Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma indigenous forests are a unique mixture of Cape Fynbos and temperate forests and Nearly 300 species of birdlife are to be found in this area. Between Heidelberg and Storms River, the Garden Route runs parallel to a coastline featuring lakes, mountains, tall indigenous forests, amber -coloured rivers and golden beaches. Meandering trails are followed by hikers, the forests invite long, leisurely drives, and the lakes and rivers lend themselves to swimming boating and fishing

The delightful town of George graces a coastal plateau in a fertile area of lush greenery at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains. As on crosses the Outeniqua Mountain and into the Klein Karoo guests will reach the Ostrich Capitol of South Africa, Oudtshoorn. George is also home to one of South Africa’s finest Golfing Estate and includes the world famous Links Course, previous host of the President Cup.

Knysna is primarily built on the northern shore of a large warm-water estuary, fed by the Knysna River. The estuary opens to the ocean after passing between two large headlands. These are popularly known as the "The Heads", and have become infamous due to the loss of boats and fishermen passing through their treacherous and unpredictable waters. Knysna's port could provide shelter for up to 50 ships, and the region's abundant timber was exported from this bay as early as 1787. The town hosts the annual Oyster Festival in July; an event that attracts large numbers of visitors from far afield.

The Garden Route includes various hiking trails with the Otter Trail being the most famous, canopy walks, various animal sanctuaries, the Tsitsikamma Forest, fishing, golfing and some fine beaches.

South Africa Travel
Top Destinations South Africa
Cape Town
Cape Winelands
Drakensberg
Garden Route
Kruger National Park
Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve
Shamwari Private Game Reserve
Sun City
Timbavati Private Game Reserve

Overview of South Africa

Overview of South Africa
South Africa's Climate
South Africa History
The Land
The People of South Africa


South African National Parks
Addo Elephant Park
Agulhas National Park
Augrabies National Park
Bontebok National Park
Camdeboo National Park
Cape of Good Hope
Drakensberg National
Golden Gate National Park
Hluhluwe-Umfolozi
Ithala
Karoo National Park
Kgalakgadi National Park
Knysna National Lakes Area
Kruger National Park
Mapunguwe National Park
Marakele National Park
Mokala National Park
Mountain Zebra National Park
Mkuze Game Reserve
Namaqua National Park
St Lucia Wetland Park
Tankwa National Park
Tsitsikamma Park
West Coast National Park


South African Provinces
Eastern Cape
Gauteng
Kwa Zulu Natal
Limpopo
Mpumalanga
Northern Cape
Orange Free State
North West Province
Western Cape

Botswana Travel
Top Destinations in Botswana
Central Kalahari National Park
Chobe National Park
Gemsbok National Park
Makgadikgadi Pans
Moremi Wildlife Reserve
Nxai Pan National Park
Okavango Delta

Namibia Travel
Top Destinations in Namibia
Caprivi
Damaraland
Etosha
Kalahari
Namib Desert
Sesriem Canyon
Skeleton Coast
Sossusvlei
Swakopmund
Windhoek

Zambia Travel
Top Destinations Zambia
Lower Zambezi National Park
Kafue National Park
Mosi Oa Tunya National Park
South Luangwa National Park
Victoria Falls
General


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