GARDEN ROUTE
Garden Route
(Western Cape, south Africa)
The strip of coastline known as the Garden Route lies halfway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. It's where South Africa's modern, eurocentric, history started, but also shows modern humankind's emergence here 165,000 years ago. In search of a spice route to the east, Portuguese navigator Bartholomeu Diaz was blown to the south of the African continent and his first landfall was on February 3, 1488 at today's Munro Bay at Mossel Bay. He named it Aguada De Sao Bras (the Watering Place of St Blaize since landfall was on the saint's day).
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The boundaries of the Garden Route have never been set and many towns would like to be included because it is such a popular destination. It's generally regarded as starting at Mossel Bay and ending at Storms River, the Western Cape's eastern boundary. There is agreement though that its northern boundary is the range of Cape folded mountains that runs along the warm Indian Ocean coastline - the Outeniqua and Tzitzikamma Mountains.
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It includes the towns of Mossel Bay, George, Wilderness, Sedgefield, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. Some include Witsand, Stillbaai and Albertinia to the south. Is Oudtshoorn part of the the Garden Route? Not really; it is the 'capital' of the Klein Karoo and located in a semi-arid valley. But the allure and proximity of other attractions, like Route 62 and the Klein Karoo, make this an area with plenty to do.
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What really sets the Garden Route apart is spectacular scenery: mountains close to a shoreline with bay after bay, and beach after beach; coastal plains dotted with lakes and towering indigenous forests. And new developments and golfing estates around George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay make this the playground for global travellers.
Mossel Bay (Garden Route)
Mossel Bay is a coastal village on the south coast of the Western Cape in South Africa, and is situated on the Garden Route approximately half way between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.
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The history of Mossel Bay is closely linked to maritime activities with its lighthouse being first lit in 1864. Pleasure boats as well as other international seafarers dock here regularly using the modern docking facility.
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One of the most famous landmarks in Mossel Bay is the Post Office Tree, where ancient seafarers on their way to the east left their letters for home in a shoe or iron pot. Sailors returning to Portugal would collect these letters, and so the first Post Office in Southern Africa was founded.
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Due to its rich history, there are many museums in the town to visit including the Maritime Museum, the Granary, the Shell Museum and the Cultural History Museum. The Dias Museum Complex marks the spot of the historical landing of Dias in 1488 and a replica of the Caravel is housed in the museum.
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According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Mossel Bay has the second mildest all year around climate in the world. The first is Hawaii. The town also has the only north-facing beach in Southern Africa.
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Seal Island is home to a breeding colony of hundreds of seals and their cubs and they can be viewed from the daily cruise or from land. Dolphins sometimes in large schools also make regular visits to these shores and they can be viewed from land.
George (Garden Route)
George is situated on the Garden Route half-way between two major cities, Cape Town in the Western Cape and Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. The town is surrounded by the Outeniqua Mountains, forests, rivers and picturesque farmlands. With sophisticated road, air and rail links to all major centres in South Africa, it is a convenient base from which to explore the many attractions of the surrounding area.
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As befits the largest town in the region, you will find a range of sophisticated amenities: accommodation, banks, conference facilities, shopping malls, transport and sporting facilities. The newly developed Eden Meander mall has brought in new chain store businesses and with that job opportunities, as George gently expands its borders.
History enthusiasts will be interested to learn that George is the sixth oldest town in South Africa and has many historical landmarks to be visited: The Slave Tree, an ancient English Oak planted by Landdrost van Kervel, King Edward VII Library building and the oldest Roman Catholic Church in the country. The Outeniqua Transport Museum which houses replicas of old stations, displays of locomotives and coaches – well worth a visit!
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The Outeniqua Mountains offer an abundance of trails and mountain walks in unspoilt indigenous forests, as well as mountain bike tracks. An easy hike ideal for the whole family is the circular Forest Buzzard Trail starting at Witfontein Forestry Station. It meanders through pine plantations and indigenous forest and features a waterfall - a wonderful place to picnic and soak up the quiet.
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The beaches of Herold’s Bay and Victoria Bay are great for swimming and surfing.
As one of South Africa’s renowned golfing destinations, George offers around 10 golf courses, driving ranges and a world class golf academy. These courses include the Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate, Oubaai Golf Estate and the George Golf Club.
Knysna (Garden Route)
Knysna is one of the Garden Route’s best known travel destinations in South Africa. Famous for its oysters, and seahorses, Knysna is buzzing and vibrant throughout the year. Situated on the banks of a gleaming lagoon placed between the Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean, the town has much to offer its residents and visitors.
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The town is primarily built on the northern shore of a large warm-water estuary, known as the Knysna Lagoon, which is fed by the Knysna River. The estuary opens to the ocean after passing between two large headlands. These are popularly known as "The Heads", and have become infamous due to the loss of boats and fishermen passing through their treacherous and unpredictable waters. The Paquita, a German vessel, sank on the eastern side of the Knysna Heads in 1903. The eastern head is heavily developed, while the western head is a private nature reserve.Near them are geological formations, known locally as "The Map Stones." To the north of Knysna, temperate rainforest covers the hilly terrain for 20 km until changing to fynbos high in the Outeniqua Mountains.
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Knysna’s indigenous forests, fynbos, lakes, rivers and mountains, combined with a temperate climate, makes this area a natural Garden of Eden. As a little known fact, the indigenous forest consists of the largest complex of closed-canopy forest in Southern Africa.
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Knysna is an artistic town that has been chosen as the country's "town of the year" for a few years in a row and even recognised as one of the top 100 destinations in the world by Trip Advisor, 2008 Travellers' Choice Destination Awards!
The Knysna estuary, known as the National Lake Area, is managed and protected by the South African National Parks Board (SANParks) and is a biologically rich area which holds over 200 species of fish, the Pansy shell and the endangered Knysna Seahorse.
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For those who love shopping, Knysna offers many interesting shops tucked away around every corner ranging from arts and crafts to traditional products and handcrafted furniture made from indigenous timber.
Beaches, lakes, mountains and rivers provide endless opportunities for the adventure lover. Some of the adventure and outdoor activities available in the area include tree canopy gliding, kloofing, abseiling, boating and hiking.
Golfers will be enthusiastic with the number of golf courses right on the doorstep including Pezula Golf Course, Simola Golf Course and the established Knysna Golf Course situated on the lagoon.