About the Garden Route

Garden Route:

The area consists of a remarkable blending of mountains, rivers, indigenous and cultivated forests, colourful shrubs and wild flowers, glorious beaches and rich farmlands. No wonder the Hottentots, who inhabited the district, named the area Outeniqua - 'man laden with honey' - which it still is. The Garden Route stretches up the coast passing through towns like George, Knysna, Mossel Bay, Plettenberg Bay and Wilderness. For more information on the Garden Route click here

George

An ideal base for exploring the area's many variant and diverse scenic wonders.The peaceful, safe country atmosphere of the town has transformed the city into an accommodation giant in the Western Cape. The picture shown on the right is taken at the Kaaimans river mouth between Wilderness and George. The famous train bridge that is used by the Outeniqua Chootjoe can be seen. For more information on George click here

Wilderness

The romantic resort of Wilderness lies 15 km east of George, between the Kaaimans River in the West and the Goukamma Nature Reserve in the east, bordered by the Outeniqua Mountains in the north and the Indian Ocean in the south. Wilderness not only overlooks the sea, but also the placid lagoon (Touw River Estuary), the Serpentine, which meanders between the Touw River, Island Lake and Rondevlei. This is a favourite venue for waterskiing and attracts enthusiasts from far and wide. For more information on Wilderness click here

Knysna

A natural paradise of lush indigenous forests, tranquil lakes and golden beaches adorns South Africa’s unspoilt southern coast. Nestling on the banks of a shimmering lagoon in the heart of this ‘Garden Route’ is the picturesque town of Knysna. Beaches, lakes, mountains and rivers provide endless opportunity for leisure and outdoor adventure. Within the town, craft shops, flea-markets and cosy cafe’s beckon with small-town charm and hospitality.

Knysna is synonymous with fine indigenous timbers, and famed for the craftsmanship of its furniture and timber products. The area is a veritable Garden of Eden: home to the only forest elephant in South Africa, the unique Knysna seahorse and the Pansy shell, the brilliantly coloured Knysna Loerie, a plethora of waterfowl and forest birds, dolphins and visiting whales. For more information on Knysna click here

Mossel Bay

Halfway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth in the heart of the famous Garden Route, nestles the seaside town of Mossel Bay. A bustling holiday resort in summer and the ideal retreat in winter, it is situated on a spectacular sunwashed peninsula embraced by the warm Indian Ocean. 

Also called the "Karoo-by-the-Sea town", Mossel Bay features in the Guiness Book of Records as having the mildest all-year climate in the world, second only to Hawaii. But it's the fascinating history of Mossel Bay which grants the town its status as the historical capital of the Garden Route and one of the most significant towns in South Africa. For more information on Mossel Bay click here

Plettenberg bay

Originally and rightly christened "Bahia Formosa" (beautiful bay) by early Portuguese explorers, it is home to the rare Knysna forest elephant, teaming wildlife, vast expanses of Cape flora,delicate ecosystems in wetlands and lagoons, gigantic trees, and a bay large enough for the great whales of the Southern Ocean to calve in and protect their young.

More than a village and less than a town, Plettenberg Bay is accessible by first class national roads, by sea or by scheduled air flights.For more information on Plettenberg Bay click here

Climate

The Garden Route region enjoys a moderate climate all year round. Lowest rainfall occurs during winter with a yearly average of 770 mm. The average temperature in January is 26º Celsius and during the winter months (June-August) fall to about 18º Celsius - still ideal conditions for outdoors activities.