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GARDEN ROUTE ATTRACTIONS
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The Garden Route is a coastal corridor on the
western coast of South Africa, where ancient forests, rivers, wetlands, dunes, stretches
of beach, lakes, mountain scenery and indigenous fynbos all merge to form a landscape of
restorative beauty. This is a strip of land like no other in the world in terms of beauty,
natural attractions and unique flora and fauna - hence its name. Three of South
Africa’s top hikes take place here - the Otter Trail and the Tsitsikama and Dolphin
trails and man’s footprint has made little impact on the rugged and sometimes
inaccessible coastline.
The Garden Route is a paradise for eco-lovers, bird watchers and solitude seekers and one
of the most beautiful parts of the Cape. It lies sandwiched between the Outeniqua
Mountains and the Indian Ocean and is on every tourist’s itinerary. The Garden Route
is a popular holiday destination during summer and a tranquil hideaway during the winter
months - both seasons are equally beautiful and attractive due to the largely
Mediterranean climate of the Garden Route. |
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| Peppered along the Garden Route coastline are
a number of coastal villages and seaside resorts set on beautiful beaches and craggy bays.
Staying at any of these affords one the time to drive, walk or hike through the Garden
Route at one’s own pace, drinking in over 200 km of one of the finest parts of the
country. |
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GARDEN ROUTE DESTINATIONS
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  Albertinia:
Set on a lovely expanse of coastline, Albertinia is the site of the only aloe
factory in South Africa. The juice and gel from the aloe ferox plant are used for medicine
and skin care products. Die Poort Cellars is the only wine farm on the Garden Route.
Mountain and hiking trails are among the many attractions ... Visit: Albertinia
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 Brenton on
Sea: Lying on the other side of Knysna’s Western Head,
nestled on the shores of the Indian Ocean in a quiet, lazy bay, residents describe Brenton
on Sea’s beauty as the coast that Knysna doesn’t have,
and in reality, Knysna lies on a lagoon, the rough seas making itself heard only at the
Heads ...Visit: Brenton On Sea »
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 Dana Bay:
Whilst often disregarded simply as a suburb of Mossel Bay,
Dana Bay is in fact a conservancy, set in the heart of the Cape
Floral Kingdom, home to fine examples of coastal and limestone varieties of fynbos
under threat from global warming. Limestone fynbos is rich in species and ...Visit: Dana Bay »
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 George: The
largest town of the Garden Route, George nestles beneath the magnificent Outeniqua
Mountain range and is surrounded by a remarkable blend of rivers, rich farmlands, forests
and wild flowers. Scenery is a major attribute of the town, closely followed by its
outstanding sports facilities ...Visit: George »
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 Glentana:
To the south of the cliffs of Glentana, there is little other than open sea, and
waves build to immense proportions, their thundering surf over time forming a number of
sea caves. These caves occur as one leaves Glentana village east along the coast, and
include Glentana cave ...Visit: Glentana Info »
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 Great Brak:
Whilst the adjectives - peaceful and tranquil - have been bandied about when
referring to holiday locations, when applied to Great Brak they take on new meaning. This
little village, just a few kilometres from both Mossel Bay and George, is without doubt
tranquil and beautiful ...Visit: Great Brak »
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 Hartenbos:
Between the towns of Mossel Bay and George lies a perfect holiday resort with an
endless expanse of golden beach for walkers and anglers and a shallow, sandy lagoon that
offers safe swimming and canoeing. Hartenbos lends itself to family holidays and during
school vacation the tranquil town ... Visit: Hartenbos »
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 Heidelberg:
The peaks of the Langeberg Mountains form a dramatic backdrop to the village of
Heidelberg. At the Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve and Boosmansbos Wilderness Area, over
170 bird species have been recorded, adding to the pleasure of following the Bushbuck
... Visit: Heidelberg »
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 Herolds
Bay: Situated 15 km west of George in the Garden Route, nestled in a sheltered
rocky cove is Herold's Bay. There are beautiful coastal walks and trails which are
ideal for spotting dolphins and whales. The unspoilt coastal fynbos makes it a
popular spot for birders and nature lovers alike... ... Visit: Herolds Bay »
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 Knysna: Voted
"South Africa's favourite town", Knysna is nestled on the banks of a beautiful
lagoon in the heart of the Garden Route. It enjoys a moderate climate and is surrounded by
a natural paradise of lush indigenous forests, tranquil lakes and golden beaches, making
it an ideal destination for ... Visit: Knysna »
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 Mossel Bay: Site
of the first landfall made by the Portuguese explorer Bartholomeu Dias in 1488, this
popular holiday resort has fine beaches and excellent water sports amenities. The
Bartholomeu Dias Museum Complex is dominated by a life-sized replica of Dias' caravel, and
features fascinating ... Visit: Mossel Bay
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 Natures
Valley: The peaceful valley, some 29 kilometres from Plettenberg
Bay, lies virtually in the heart of the Tsitsikamma forest, the site of monkey ropes,
old man’s beard dangling from trees, a beautiful lagoon surrounded by mountains and
forest, and miles of unspoilt white beaches - arguably the ...Visit: Nature's Valley Info
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 Oudtshoorn: Situated
just 55 km from the large coastal town of George. The town has been blessed with a great
variety of tourist attractions including the breathtaking Cango Caves, one of the world's
great natural wonders, numerous ostrich farms, majestic mountain ranges, an unspoilt
...Visit: Oudtshoorn
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 Plettenberg Bay: More
than a village and less than a town, Plettenberg Bay is renowned for its sweeping,
unspoiled golden beaches, unpolluted rivers and sea, teeming bird life, vast expanses of
Cape flora, its wetlands and lagoons, gigantic trees and a bay large enough to harbour
great whales ... Visit: Plettenberg
Bay »
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 Riversdale:
Riversdale is richly endowed with a floral beauty seldom encountered elsewhere.
On the northern side, the beautiful Sleeping Beauty peak towers over Riversdale, and the
Vet River winds its way past the town on its way to the sea. Riversdale has a number of
interesting historical ... Visit: Riversdale »
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 Sedgefield:
Set between pine-covered hills and beautiful unspoilt beaches, Sedgefield affords endless
opportunities for exploration. Nature trails through indigenous forests inhabited by an
abundance of wildlife can be followed either on horseback or on foot. Swartvlei, the
largest natural inland salt water lake ...Visit: Sedgefield »
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 Stillbay /
Stilbaai: The little seaside village of Stilbaai or Still Bay lies just off the
N2 between Mossel Bay and Riversdale on an estuary where the Goukou River meets
the Indian Ocean. Essentially a retirement village and holiday resort, the town has grown
in popularity, due mainly to her tranquil ... Visit: Stillbay »
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 Storms
River: The Storms River, just one of a number of rivers in this region,
originates in the Tsitsikamma Mountains and makes its way through forests thick with
ancient Yellowwood, Hard Pear Trees and distinctive Cape fynbos, before reaching the sea
at the eastern end of the Tsitsikamma ... Visit: Storms River info »
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 Victoria
Bay: Victoria Bay (or "Vic Bay" as it is called by
those in the know) is one of the smallest bays on the Garden Route.
Traveling along the N2 National Road, Victoria Bay is 3km off the N2 and situated between George
and Wilderness.
Victoria Bay is a special find - small, beautiful beach, almost ... Viisit: Victoria Bay
Info »
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 Wilderness: Lying
in the foothills of the Outeniqua Mountains in a region of incomparable beauty, Wilderness
is an attractive holiday resort with beautiful beaches and numerous vantage points from
which to watch the whales and dolphins. Knysna loeries glide through the forests,
cormorants ...Viisit: Wilderness »
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 Witsand:
The peaceful, coastal town of Witsand (white sands) lies on St Sebastian’s
Bay just off the N2 on the Cape South Coast, three hours from Cape Town. St
Sebastian Bay and Witsand are virtually synonymous with the Southern Right Whale. This bay
is the most important nursery for the ...Viisit: Witsand »
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GARDEN ROUTE HIGHLIGHTS
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 Starting from just beyond Keurboomstrand in the west, this narrow coastal
belt extends 80km along one of the most beautiful sections of the southern Cape coastline,
and includes a marine reserve that stretches 5.5km out to sea. The craggy, lichen-flecked
coastline is cut ... Tsitsikamma National Park » |
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 The Lake Area
enjoys a temperate climate and visitors can revel in the warm summer sun. The Wilderness
National Park: In the heart of South Africa's famous Garden Route, a charming world of
lakes, rivers, fens, estuaries and beaches gently unfolds against a backdrop of .... Lakes
Area National Park » |
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 Outeniqua Choo-Choo:
One of the few remaining steam trains in the country. Steam enthusiasts are in their
element and everyone enjoys the splendid views of lakes, forests, beaches and cliffs on
the train's coastal route between George and Knysna. One-way 3 hour trip, Monday to Friday
and on Saturdays during the school holidays. |
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 The Cango Caves: Tucked away
in the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains, the limestone Cango Caves are a place of
great natural beauty. For more than 20 million years, rainwater has flowed through
fissures and seeped through cracks in the earth's face, scouring and dissolving rock and
.... the Cango Caves » |
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« Garden Route Nature Reserves | South
Africa Game Reserves » |
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