The Garden Route

Just over 200 miles from Cape Town, The Garden Route is without doubt one of South Africa's most important tourist attractions, second only in popularity with travellers to the country’s capital city. The 500 mile stretch of road along the south-west cape takes in indigenous forests, freshwater lakes, wetlands, hidden coves, long beaches and more. It also offers visitors a multitude of activities to explore along the way including mountain climbing/biking, cave exploring, paragliding and whale watching.
 
If travelling from Cape Town, a suggested starting point is at the historical capital of the Garden Route, Mossel Bay on the main N2 coastal road. A popular, yet refined coastal holiday destination, the bay combines cultural history with a rich natural beauty. It was in Mossel Bay where modern Europeans first set foot on African soil, leading to a turbulent ten year period of conflict and unrest. Nowadays the bay offers a peaceful and wondrous tranquillity as the warm Indian Ocean calmly trickles on to its sandy beaches that travel into the horizon.

Whale watching tours commence from mid-June until late November, with windsurfing and other water sports also popular. A relaxing way to enjoy the bay can be spent by taking a boat ride out to the seal island by the harbour or simply by walking along the beautiful beaches, with the temperature still reaching over 20c in the winter. Take time out to visit the Maritime Museum, which documents Mossel Bay's noteworthy marine history and visit the nearby aquarium. Shopping is also a recommended pastime in Mossel Bay, particularly the market at Hartenbos Beach, which offers locally produced crafts, foods and wine.

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Many who take in the Garden Route simply travel along the scenic N2 road and the many idyllic spots along the way, but a highly recommended detour is found off the N2 and up the N12 to the Cango Caves. The Cango Caves are undoubtedly one of the most incredible natural phenomenons in South Africa. The dripstone caves are punctuated by a variety of stalactites and stalagmites, with only three of the five caves discovered open to the public. Guided tours are on hand to help you get the most out of these incredible natural wonders.
 
Before rejoining the N2, consider a stop at George - the biggest town on the Garden Route, which is framed by the dominant Outeniqua Mountains in the backdrop. Victoria Bay within George is a surfer’s paradise, whilst for those interested in something a little less strenuous, there are plenty of historic sites to see such as St. Mark's Cathedral, the Edwardian Old Library and the Old Slave Tree, which marks the spot where slaves used to be sold in the town. The oppression of slavery is marked on the tree by a large chain and lock to serve as a powerful reminder of a darker era in South Africa's history. Another notable visit is that to the Outeniqua Transport Museum, which contains a replica of an old train station and includes steam engines and old motor vehicles from the past. Of all the things to do in George, the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe Train is an absolute must. This wonderful steam engine takes you on the picturesque route between George and nearby Knysa. Should you wish to extend your stay in George to over a day, go hiking on a walking trail in Outeniqua Nature Reserve or for a round of golf, with many high quality resorts and short courses situated locally.
 
A short drive from George and back on the N2 coastal road will bring you to the formidable Wilderness National Park. This captivating landscape incorporates wonderfully lush forests, dominant mountain ranges and beautiful lakes, rivers and estuaries - not to mention beaches and an unparalleled amount of outdoor pursuits! Whale and dolphin watching tours are available from Dolphin Point as well as abseiling, paragliding, boating, fishing and hiking! For those looking to exert a little less energy, consider taking a walk along the numerous beautiful walking trails or camp in one of the riverside log cabins situated throughout the park.
 
The beauty of the landscape is unrelenting, with the pretty seaside village of Sedgefield being no exception. The village is surrounded by incredible lakes and offers a number of water sports. The village also offers a haven for visitors to take a tranquil walk along its peaceful waterfronts. The village sits alongside the Swartvlei Estuary and also borders the activity and sightseeing rich Goukamma Nature Reserve. Goukamma is in possession of an extensively long, serene beach and offers ample opportunity to see many different animal species thanks to its diverse habitat, with grysbok, vervet monkeys, otters and over 220 species of bird calling the reserve home. Goukamma Nature Reserve also boasts a large marine protected area, habitat to common and bottlenose dolphins.
 
Back along the N2, Knysa is another worthy port of call. Known as the 'Pearl of the Garden Route' (because of the oyster fishing in the area), this small city combines a number of craft and gift shops with a plethora of outdoor pursuits and activities. Many people who hire a car head to the Knysa Forest, simply to relax amongst the greenery, serene water streams or go on one of the walking trails. The surrounding forestry is also home to the Knysa Elephants. A truly one-off experience can be had by hiring a houseboat at Knysa to stay on the lagoon for the night (home to the rare Knysa Sea Horse), or if only visiting for the day; tours of the lagoon are a popular option. As well as these trappings, the city offers numerous whale watching tours.

Just a few kilometres from Knysa is the luxurious settlement of Plettenberg Bay, or 'Plett' as the locals call it. The bay is renowned in Africa as being a destination favoured by the rich and wealthy. The sumptuous surroundings of Plettenberg are marked by the red sandrocks that rise from the two rivers and Indian Ocean and also the stunning white beaches. Should you be feeling energetic, there are many water sports to pursue and if you haven't already; take one of the whale watching and dolphin tours available.
 
As you near the climax of this incredible journey, the Garden Route arguably saves the best until the end - the 65km long Tsitsikamma National Park. On arrival, you are able to book a boat trip to explore the spectacular canyon within the park. You will notice on the boat trip that much of the water is black in colour owing to mineral deposits, which merely adds to the colourful effects already created by the tropical plants and green ferns. Hiking is also massively popular at Tsitsikamma, with many trails on offer. Cross the 'Hanging Bridge' trail across the river, or go on the Otter Trail, allowing you to see the Cape Clawless Otters in their natural habitat. Walking trails are also available up the Tsitsikamma mountain range for enthusiastic walkers, with effort rewarded by the incredible views over this amazing landscape. Other outdoor pursuits include paragliding, hand gliding, mountain biking, abseiling and even bungee jumping! Golfers are also well served by the handful of courses within the park's limits.

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