ACTIVITIES IN THE GARDEN ROUTE The Garden Route is world-famous for its stunning green scenery, magnificent golf courses, gorgeous sandy beaches, spectacular wildlife, and many other attractions and activities. Whether you seek beauty, adventure, or both, the region never fails to impress. We are often asked to make recommendations, and the below-mentioned have proven to be incredibly popular options, time and again.
GEORGE George is a city in South Africa s Western Cape, on a coastal stretch known as the Garden Route. It s known for its golf courses and the George Museum, which has exhibits on the local timber industry. The Outeniqua Transport Museum has steam trains and vintage cars. The Garden Route Botanical Garden features trails and local fynbos plants. The Seven Passes road to Knysna winds through the Outeniqua Mountains. Power Van Train up the Outeniqua Mountain www.georgetourism.org.za/listing/outeniqua_power_van Visit Victoria Bay Lunch at a local Restaurant Strawberry picking and family fun at Red Berry Farm www.redberryfarm.co.za Play golf at Fancourt, George Golf Club, Oubaai or Kingswood WILDERNESS Wilderness is home to wide beaches and trails. The Map of Africa, a hilltop lookout point, has views of the Indian Ocean, the Outeniqua Mountains and the Kaaimans River. Nearby Wilderness Natural Park, part of the sprawling Garden Route National Park, is a habitat for wildlife including leopards, monkeys and eagles. Various Well-marked Nature and Beach Hiking Trails Scenic drives with Mountains, Forests & Lagoons Horse Trails: www.blackhorsetrails.co.za Paragliding: www.cloudbase-paragliding.co.za Beach & Rock Angling Relax at the Beach! Kloofing, canoeing and abseiling: www.eden.co.za
MOSSEL BAY Mossel Bay is a harbour town on the Garden Route in South Africa s Western Cape Province. It s known for the wide Santos Beach and the 19th-century Cape St. Blaize Lighthouse, which offers bay views. The Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex includes the Maritime Museum, the Shell Museum and botanical gardens. The Post Office Tree, a milkwood tree in the complex, has been used as a mail collection point since the 1500s. Great White Shark cage diving or simply view from boat www.whitesharkafrica.com Seal Island cruise and whale watching www.mosselbay.co.za/romonza/ Freshly caught fish for lunch at a harbour restaurant Archeological digs and fossils www.visitmosselbay.co.za/archaeology Deep Sea Fishing www.deepseaadventures.co.za Walk With Lions www.zorgfontein.co.za Botliers Kop Game Drive www.botlierskop.co.za Golf at Pinnacle Point or Mosselbay Golf Club Buffet or ala carte Lunch/Dinner at Garden Route Casino Skydiving(Tandem) www.skydivemosselbay.com Diaz Maritime Museum and Post Office Tree www.diasmuseum.co.za KNYSNA Knysna is a natural paradise of lush, indigenous forests, tranquil lakes and golden beaches. She nestles on the banks of a breathtakingly pretty lagoon, now a protected marine reserve that is home to the extraordinary sea horse and over 200 species of fish. Beaches, lakes, mountains and rivers provide endless opportunity for leisure and outdoor adventure. Within the town, craft shops, flea-markets and cosy cafés beckon with small-town charm and hospitality. The area around Knysna is a veritable Garden of Eden. This is home of the only forest elephant in South Africa, the rare Pansy Shell, the brilliantly coloured, and elusive, Knysna Loerie, a plethora of waterfowl and forest birds, dolphins and visiting whales. Paddle-driven Boat Trip on Knysna Lagoon www.knysnafeatherbed.com Visit Oyster Farm and eat Fresh Oysters www.knysnacharters.com Mitchell s Craft Brewery www.mitchellsbrewing.com Elephant Park www.knysnaelephantpark.co.za Garden of Eden Forest Walk www.gardenrouteadventureguide.com/garden- of-eden-short-walk Golf at Pezula Golf Club, Simola Golf and Country Estate or Knysna Golf Club Yacht Cruise out of the Knysna Heads www.springtide.co.za
PLETTENBERG BAY Plettenberg Bay is a seaside town on the Garden Route in South Africa s Western Cape Province. The sandy Central Beach and Lookout Beach both have surf breaks. To the south, Robberg Nature Reserve is a rocky peninsula with trails and the Stone Age Nelson Bay Caves. Northeast are Birds of Eden, a free-flight bird sanctuary in indigenous forest, and an elephant sanctuary. Whales come near the coast in migration season. Robberg Hiking Trail (Full Day) www.capenature.co.za/reserves/robberg- nature-reserve Whale and Dolphin Cruises www.oceanadventures.co.za Birds of Eden (The world s largest free-flight sanctuary) www.birdsofeden.co.za Monkey Land www.monkeyland.co.za Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness and Rehabilitation Centre www.tenikwa.com Elephant Sanctuary www.elephantsanctuary.co.za Radical Raptors www.radicalraptors.co.za Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve Game drives and Horse Back Safaris www.plettgamereserve.com Plett Wine Route www.plettwinelands.com Skydiving www.skydiveplett.com OUDTSHOORN Oudtshoorn is a town in the Klein Karoo area of South Africa s Western Cape. It s known for its ostrich farms and rests along the Route 62 wine route. The central C.P. Nel Museum traces the ostrich-feather boom era and houses a working synagogue. The nearby Cango Wildlife Ranch is a conservation park offering animal petting. To the north, the Cango Caves are a 20-million-year-old network of limestone chambers. Cango Caves www.cango-caves.co.za Cango Wildlife Ranch www.cango.co.za Ostrich Steak for Lunch at a local Restaurant Cango Ostrich Farm www.cangoostrich.co.za Chandelier Ostrich Farm www.chandelier.co.za Swartberg Pass / Gamkaskloof (The Hel) www.princealbert.org.za/what-to-do/swartberg-pass-gamkaskloof/swartberg-pass/ Prince Albert www.princealbert.org.za Meiringspoort and Waterfall www.princealbert.org.za/what-to-do/meiringspoort/ Calitzdorp Wine Cellars www.kleinkaroowines.co.za/cellars/calitzdorp
TSITSIKAMMA Tsitsikamma National Park is an area of the Garden Route National Park, on South Africa s southern coast. It encompasses a marine reserve, deep gorges and local vegetation like the Big Tree, a towering yellowwood. The Mouth Trail crosses a suspension bridge over Storms River. The Otter Trail leads to Nature s Valley, with birds including the Cape batis. The park is also home to small mammals, including bush pigs. Tsitsikamma Falls Zipline Adventures www.tsitsikammaadventure.co.za Canopy Tours www.stormsriver.com www.canopytour.co.za Storms River Mouth www.sanparks.org/parks/garden_route/camps/storms_river/ World s Highest Commercial Bungy Bridge www.faceadrenalin.com Tsitsikamma National Forest & Marine Park www.saparks.com/tsitsikamma_national_park.aspx ADDO Addo Elephant National Park is a diverse wildlife conservation park situated close to Port Elizabeth in South Africa and is one of the country's 19 national parks. Explore a world of diversity in one Park. Now the third largest national park in South Africa, Addo Elephant National Park has expanded to conserve a wide range of biodiversity, landscapes, fauna and flora. Addo Elephant Park www.sanparks.org/parks/addo/