garden route towns

Garden Route
Garden Route Towns
Oudtshoorn
Oudsthoorn is home to various popular attractions, such as its thriving ostrich, game and crocodile farms or the famous Cango Caves, which feature fascinating limestone chambers with incredible stalactite and stalagmite formations. The Cango Wildlife Ranch, the Butterfly Show Farm, Angora Rabbit Show Farm or Meercat Magic Tours are other attractions, besides the fascinating architecture of the old Ostrich Palaces and historical buildings of a bygone gracious era.

		Albertinia
		Albertinia is the gateway to the Garden Route. The village is well known for its two factories producing natural Aloe products, the close-by Bungi-jump and Bridge-swing at the Gouritz River Gorge and the Big Five game viewing at the Garden Route Game Lodge. Early morning or evening game drives, morning walking trails, bird watching, horse riding, cheetah and reptile conservation centres and the curio shop are well worth a visit. The neighboring Rein's Coastal Nature Reserve, is a fynbos heaven and offers whale watching between June and November, as well as superb bird watching all year round.

Mossel Bay
Mossel Bay prides itself on offering the diverse experience of game viewing and that of plentiful beaches on the shores of the mild Indian Ocean. Boat-based whale watching, hiking, walking, beach riding and plenty of water and outdoor activities including golf are very popular. Mossel Bay is also home to the impressive Maritime Museum, Shell Museum, Aquarium and the famous Post Office Tree.

		Wilderness
		Wilderness lies 15 km east of George, between the Kaaimans River and the Goukamma Nature Reserve. It is renowned for its vast stretches of beach, tranquility and the absence of windswept wetlands, wild and stormy seas. Honeymooners love Wilderness for its incredible beauty and romantic setting. Encompassed within the boundaries of Wilderness one finds the 2500 ha Wilderness National Park. Five rivers and five lakes, two estuaries and 18 km of Southern Cape coastline are protected within the Park. This rare and sensitive eco-system is home to a wealth of water birds.

Sedgefield
Sedgefield is a seaside village that offers space and peace for those who wish to relax. With its vast stretches of beach, enclosed by mountains, estuaries and coastal lagoons and nature reserves, Sedgefield is an eco-destinations par excellence, superb dolphin and bird watching, hiking, abseiling and boating are popular nature activities. It is the perfect destination for families who enjoy the great outdoors, and being centrally situated it provides easy access to all popular tourist attractions the area has to offer.

		George
		Nestled at the foot of the fertile Outeniqua Mountains, George is the sixth oldest town in South Africa, with many national monuments. The surrounding area consists of a remarkable blend of mountains, rivers, indigenous forests, glorious beaches and rich farmlands. The nearby beaches of Herold's Bay and Victoria Bay are ideal for swimming, sunbathing and surfing. 4 Top South African golf courses and famous Outeniqua Choo Choo are other major attractions.

Knysna
Voted “South Africa´s favourite town”, Knysna is the jewel of the Garden Route with many diverse and fascinating attractions and activities to choose from. The picturesque Knysna Lagoon is home to the rare Knysna seahorse and invites to all kinds of water ports, regular guided lagoon and dinner cruises to the spectacular cliffs at the Knysna Heads and trips to the Featherbed Reserve, a Natural Heritage Site with an opportunity to view the elusive Knysna Loerie and Blue Duiker close-up. The Knysna Oyster Company, the Knysna Elephant Park, the cultural village, superb golf courses, many sophisticated arts and crafts shops and the vibrant cultural life of the town are also very popular as well as outdoor activities as canoeing, hiking and horse riding, beach walks at Brenton-on-Sea or the romantic Noetzie Beach. Many excellent restaurants and cafés complete the picture.

		Plettenberg Bay
		Surrounded by more than 10 nature reserves, it is no wonder that this area was named “Beautiful Bay” by early Portuguese explorers. Plettenberg Bay is known for its stunning beaches, its polo field and active nightlife. Outdoor activities include hiking, mountain biking and bungee jumping, as well as swimming, water sports and boat-based whale and dolphin watching trips. Within easy driving distance are a number of golf courses as well as Monkey Land and a selection of private game reserves.