Tsitsikamma National Park
Tsitsikamma is a word of the indigenous Khoi-San people meaning
'place of many waters'. It accurately describes the beautiful
50-mile (80km) stretch of coastline that makes up the Tsitsikamma
National Park. The park is Africa's oldest and largest marine
reserve, and contains many attractions, including a giant Outeniqua
yellowwood tree that is hundreds of years old. The region is
criss-crossed by hiking trails, including the world-renowned Otter
Trail (a five-day hike), which starts at Storm's River and runs
along 25 miles (41km) of spectacular coastline to Nature's Valley.
A number of private operators offer numerous adventure activities
in the area, such as black-water rafting and abseiling, mountain
bike tours and fishing trips. A particularly exciting diversion is
to undertake a canopy tour of the forest, gliding across the
treetops on steel cables strung between platforms. The most popular
bases for exploring the area are Wilderness, Knysna, and the
aforementioned Nature's Valley. All are charming coastal towns that
offer comfortable campsites and luxury lodges. Tsitsikamma National
Park serves as the highlight of South Africa's famous Garden
Route.
Storms River Mouth, Tsitsikamma
Conrad88
Mossel Bay
Mossel Bay is the largest city on the Garden Route and is
situated roughly half way between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. It
is renowned as the Adventure Capital of the Garden Route and enjoys
an ideal climate, with an average of 320 days of sunshine per year
and a moderate winter. Mossel Bay was discovered by Bartholomew
Dias in 1488. He was the first European to land in South Africa. He
was rounding the southernmost point of Africa, Cape Agulhas, when a
strong wind blew him off course, into the protected bay of St
Blaize, now called Mossel Bay. Here he found fresh water and set up
a stop-over point for trade ships that were sailing to the East.
Many explorers and traders placed important letters in an old shoe
under a huge Milkwood tree which is now more than 500 years old.
Today, letters are still posted from the Old Post Office Tree.
Adventure junkies come to Mossel Bay for a range of activities
in the immediate vicinity: shark cage diving; sand boarding the
longest sand dune in South Africa; feeding, riding, and picnicking
with elephants; safaris with the Big Five; exploring the predator
park where visitors can view white lions and tigers; tandem
skydiving; dolphin and whale-watching boat trips; scuba diving;
abseiling; helicopter flights, and more.
Other more sedate attractions include the largest shell museum
in South Africa; an indigenous botanical garden with a braille
trail fragranced for the sight impaired; a life-sized replica of
Bartholomew Dias' caravel style ship; St Blaize Lighthouse and
cave; and several world-class golf courses.
Mossel Bay is also well known for its wide selection of
restaurants and excellent seafood. Many different types of
accommodation are on offer, from budget backpackers to five star
hotels. There are eight sandy white beaches to relax on and enjoy
the sunshine.
Wilderness
Set on the Touws River estuary, the beautiful town of Wilderness
is fast developing into a plethora of luxury holiday homes. The
Wilderness National Park surrounds the destination and tempts
paddlers with about nine miles (15km) of inland waterways. Park
wardens offer some wonderful canoe trips and hiking trails, and
numerous accommodation facilities are available. If relaxation is
the priority, visitors will find an idyllic coastline, where lovely
rock pools are exposed at low tide and long swathes of sand invite
sun-bathing. Swimmers should note that while the sea is pleasantly
warm in summer, the coastline can receive some dangerous currents.
Fortunately, lifeguards are almost always present on the main beach
in season. Wilderness is a favourite stop on the Garden Route and
is close to a number of other popular coastal towns and villages,
such as Knysna and Nature's Valley. The city of George is also
nearby if travellers wish to visit malls or go to the cinema.
Wilderness
michael clarke stuff
Nature's Valley
One of the most beautiful nooks of a decidedly beautiful
country, Nature's Valley is an enchanting and relatively
undiscovered holiday resort on the Garden Route. Located about 18
miles (29km) from Plettenberg Bay and surrounded by the Tsitsikamma
National Forest, Nature's Valley is a gorgeously lush area of tall
bearded trees, monkey ropes, and rich bird life. It also happens to
sport one of the prettiest coastlines in the country. Featuring
great weather all year round and a decided lack of non-essential
infrastructure, Nature's Valley is the perfect place to go for
tourists looking to relax and rejuvenate in peace and quiet. There
are plenty of scenic walks and hiking trails for adventure
enthusiasts. In fact, Nature's Valley marks the end of the Otter
Trail, one of South Africa's most famous hikes. Canoeing down the
river and swimming in the sheltered lagoon are also fun excursions.
Accommodation in Nature's Valley comes in all shapes and sizes:
from luxury villas which can be rented on a monthly basis, to the
excellent Wild Spirit Lodge and Backpacker Hostel, which offers
affordable lodging in a funky and eco-friendly environment.
Nature's Valley, South Africa
Paul Venter
The Garden Route has a maritime Mediterranean climate with hot
summers and mild winters. The area experiences the most rainfall in
South Africa, though this seldom hinders travellers from enjoying
the beauty of the region. The Western Cape half of the Garden Route
has a similar climate to Cape Town, with most rain falling in the
winter months (June to August).
In the Eastern Cape and approaching Port Elizabeth, rain tends
to fall predominantly during the summer months (December to
February). The fact that the route winds along the coast ensures
that the weather can be rather unpredictable and rain is always a
possibility.
Average temperatures from December to March (summer and early
spring) are about 75ºF (24ºC) to 86ºF (30ºC), while the average
winter temperature is 64ºF (18ºC). As these averages suggest, the
Garden Route is seldom uncomfortably hot or cold.
The Garden Route is stunning in any weather, making it a
year-round destination. That said, some of the main attractions are
beaches and hikes, meaning they're at their best in late spring,
summer and early autumn (anytime between October and March).
Travellers should bear in mind that the main resorts become
extremely crowded over the Christmas period.
George Airport
Location: The airport is situated around five and a half miles
(9km) from George.
Time: GMT +2
Getting to the city:
Taxis are the only form of transport between the city and the
airport. There are a small number of private companies operating on
this route.
Car Rental:
Car rental companies include Avis, Budget, Hertz, National,
Thrifty, and Europcar.
Facilities:
Facilities include foreign exchange, ATMs for Nedbank and
Standard Bank, conference facilities, cafés, and a few snack shops.
The airport caters for disabled passengers.
The Garden Route is famous for road tripping, beach lounging,
and hiking opportunities. Hiking the phenomenal Otter Trail is
arguably the best way to experience the region. The five-day trek
stretches from the beautiful Storm's River estuary to the
much-loved Nature's Valley and is highly recommended. Numerous
shorter walking trails also traverse the coastal strip, and there
are many picturesque campsites.
The National N2 Highway runs the length of the Garden Route.
Travellers can simply stay on this highway and stop at most of the
main towns and villages for which the route is known.
The N2 takes travellers from Cape Town past Mossel Bay,
Wilderness, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and the Bloukrans Bridge
(famous for bungee jumping). It continues all the way up past
Jeffrey's Bay to Port Elizabeth. But it is recommended that
tourists leave the highway to explore some of the more unspoilt
areas if they have the time.
The route is a fun pilgrimage for surfers, with Mossel Bay,
Plettenberg Bay, Cape St Francis, and Jeffrey's Bay all providing
spectacular surf breaks. Knysna and Nature's Valley are two of the
highlights along the Garden Route and shouldn't be missed.