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The Garden Route holds visitors spellbound with its spectacular mountain passes, rivers, lagoons, beaches, birdlife and much more...
The Garden Route holds visitors spellbound with its spectacular mountain passes, rivers, lagoons, beaches, birdlife and much more...
Framed by the majestic Outeniqua, Tsitsikamma and Langeberg mountains, Mossel Bay and Storm’s River, the Garden Route still holds visitors spellbound. The incredibly beautiful Tsitsikamma National Park, is alive with fynbos, wild orchids, lilies, otters, baboons, small buck and 280 bird species. With its succession of bays, impossibly white sandy beaches, spectacular cliffs and tidal pools, many of the country’s premier coastal resorts are to be found here.
The Wilderness area, with its series of huge lakes and abundant wildlife, is a favourite destination for water sports, hikers and nature lovers.
Knysna is perhaps the most visually arresting resort, with its famous sandstone Heads guarding the sea entrance to its huge tidal lagoon, surrounded by deep green forests.
Knysna is the country’s largest commercial oyster farming centre, and for 10 days every July, the Oyster Festival draws thousands of festive visitors. The most magical way to arrive in Knysna is aboard the famous Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe, a narrow gauge steam train that chuffs through incredible coastal scenery from the nearby town of George, the highlight being, crossing the broad Kaaimans River on a railway bridge. This region boasts some of the country’s best loved hiking trails, including the Otter Trail, a 41km, 5-day coastal hike from Storms River Mouth through to Nature’s Valley near the up-market resort of Plettenberg Bay. From Mossel Bay, where Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Dias landed in 1488, you can take a sunset champagne cruise to Seal Island, and if it’s close encounters you’re after, shark cage diving is on offer.
Part of the semi-arid Karoo also falls within this route, in stark contrast to the lush coast. But it’s not without its star attractions, most notably the famous Cango Caves, with their spectacular limestone formations.
The nearby town of Oudtshoorn is ostrich country, where a brave few of whom risk taking a ride on one of the strange bird’s backs.
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