The Garden Route encompasses a beautiful bit of coastline from Stillbaai in the west to Stormsriver in the east. The narrow coastal plain is bordered by extensive lagoons which run behind a barrier of sand dunes and superb white beaches. Its border inland is formed by the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains, which are between 1.000 and 1.750 metres high.
The Klein Karoo (and Route 62) lies on the other side of the mountains and can be reached by a number of the most spectacular passes in South Africa. On the Garden Route are South Africa's biggest indigenous forests Giant yellowwood trees, and wild flowers like arum lilies, strelizia, ericas, proteas, gladioli and proteas.
Climate is excellent - average highs in winter are 18C and maximums in summer are 26C. There is plenty of sun all year with November to July with the best weather, the highest chance of rainfall and grey days are from August to October.
The Town Albertinia had its origin from the the spiritual need of the farmers in the area and to establish an education institution. A portion of the farm Grootfontein was bought by the Dutch Reformed Church in 1902 from the widow Anna Sophia Lourens. Mr Henry Stanford had already bought another portion of the farm in 1881 which was called Stanfords . This portion came in 1912 under the control of the Town's Management. The Town was named after Reverend J R Albertyn.
Albertinia is the home of the Aloe. Skin care products made from Aloe Ferox are made here.
Mossel Bay is located halfway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. The seaside town is a popular holiday resort renowned for its spectacular sun washed peninsula. The bay was (re)discovered by Bartholomew Diaz in 1488 after rounding the Cape the first time. From then on, many ships stopped to take on fresh water and to barter with the Khoikhoi who lived in the region. A large tree beside a spring was used as a postal collection point (the oldest post office in South Africa!) - expeditions heading east would leave mail to be picked up by ships returning home. The spring and tree exist to this day and it is possible to mail letters from a post box next to the tree. European farmers arrived in the area in the second half of the 18th century.
In 1786 the Dutch East India Company constructed a granary and Mossel Bay was developed as a port. The Bartholomeu Diaz Museum complex boasts a replica of the vessel used in the 1488 voyage of discovery. It is incredibly small - seeing it brings home the extraordinary skill and courage of the explorers. The replica was built in Portugal and sailed to Mosselbay in 1988 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Diaz' trip. In addition to the maritime museum, the complex includes the original spring and postal tree, the 1786 VOC granary, an acclaimed shell museum, and a local history museum.
Tip: The Barthlumeu Diaz Museum complex is fantastic. Includes a replica of the tiny ship that rounded the Cape.
Glentana is a scenic village, midway between George and Mossel Bay (+/-28km to both) on the Cape South Coast 2km from the N2 national road. There are long white beaches in this area.
Fancourt Golf Course, "Copyright: South African Tourism"
George boasting a popultion of 140 000 is the geographical hub of commerce and industry in the Garden Route. Steeped in history, George is the sixth oldest town in South Africa - the first founded under British rule - and was named after the reigning monarch in 1811, King George III.
The Outeniqua forests were the reason the Dutch East India Company, in 1776, established a woodcutters outpost on the site of what became George in 1811. For a comprehensive map of the history of George, visit the George Museum at the top of York Street, which was the old Drostdy (magistrates court) built in 1811. A museum worthwhile visiting is the Outeniqua Transport Museum displaying the glorious time of steam.
At George the very popular steam engine trip to Knysna starts. Victoria Bay (9 km) and Herold's Bay (18km) are the popular and picturesque seaside villages.
Tip: George is the terminus of the steam Choo Tjoe train.
Wilderness nestled between the wooded foothills of the Outeniqua Mountains and a vast expanse of golden beaches, embodies the best of the Garden Route.The area covers a unique wetland system of five lakes, five rivers, wetlands and estuaries that are vital for the survival of many species.
There are three types of lakes in the Wilderness National Park: first the drowned river valleys like Swartvlei, drowned low lying areas in the dune sytem like Langvlei, and basins that have been formed by wind erosion like Rondevlei. With a bit of luck you might spot the beautiful Knysna loerie and many of the kingfisher species. There are a number of nature trials covering the lakes, the indigenous forest and the 18 km long beach. The lakes offer anglers, canoeists, windsurfers and sailors an ideal venue.
Tip: Widerness is a stopover of the steam Choo Tjoe train.
Sedgefield has been blessed by nature with a pleasant temperate climate, moderate rainfall throughout the year, conducive to an abundance of natural forests, fynbos and wild flowers. The lakes in the area form a continuous water platue, seperated from the Indian Ocean by a narrow dune-like strip of land. On the western side of the village lies Swartvlei, by far the largest of the lakes in the district with the estuary forming a safe bathing area for young and old. The Wilderness National Park borders on Swartvlei with many hiking trails around the lake. In Sedgfield paper is made from elephant dung, the fascinating process is demonstrated to the public.
Tip: Visit Scarab Paper and watch the fascinating process of making paper from elephant dung (044 343 2455)
Knysna nestles on the banks of a beautiful lagoon in the heart of the "Garden Route" of South Africa. It is surrounded by a natural paradise of lush indigenous forests, tranquil lakes and golden beaches, making it a real natural wonderland. A moderate climate and a fine selection of accommodation, restaurants and enjoyable activities make Knysna the perfect holiday destination. A name sounding like Knysna to Europeans was given to the River by the Hottentots.
The town’s streets and quaint, old buildings show its commercial past, while the rocky coast and deep, forests reflect the history ancient hunters, gatherers and nomads. Today the lagoon, which provides a safe, sheltered harbour, has become the focal point of activity for both locals and visitors. Knysna’s history does not begin properly until 1804, when the farm Melkhoutkraal was purchased by George Rex, a timber merchant. He owned virtually all the land surrounding the lagoon. Soon British Navy vessels and commercial ships were taking timber out from the settlements of Melville and Newhaven, which eventually united to form the town of Knysna in 1881. Today Knysna, is famous for quality, handcrafted furniture, made from selected indigenous woods, using traditional joining methods, these pieces remain highly sort after collectors items.
In 1876 a gold nugget weighing 17 penny-weight was found in a river bed on the farm Ruigtevlei. The find was significant enough for the authorities to make a grant of 100 pounds for further prospecting. This widely publicised find encouraged a number of fortune seekers to descend on the Knysna area. Regretfully the mine failed to deliver the untold riches. Most prospectors heading for the more lucrative reefs of the Transvaal.
Tip: Knysna is the terminus of the steam Choo Tjoe train.
Hobies on beach, "Copyright: South African Tourism"
Plettenberg Bay is a beautiful resort, with that rare combination of mountains, white sands and crystal blue water. It's a trendy and popular destination, so things tend to be upmarket. The road towards the Eastern Cape has superb scenery, with some of the best coast and indigenous forests in South Africa.
Long before Van Riebeeck landed at the Cape, Portuguese explorers of the 15th and 16th centuries called in and charted the bay, the first being Bartholomew Dias in 1487. Ninety years later Manuel da Perestrello aptly called it Bahia Formosa or the Bay Beautiful. The first white inhabitants were the 100 men stranded here for 9 months when the San Gonzales sank in 1630. In 1763 the first white settlers in the Bay were stock farmers, and hunters from the Western Cape. The Governor of the Cape, Baron Joachim van Plettenberg, renamed the town Plettenberg Bay in 1779. In 1787 a woodcutter's post was established and a storehouse was built for timber which was first exported in 1788. The timber trade grew leading to Thomas Bain building Prince Alfred Pass (1868) and the 90km forest road through the Tsitsikamma to Humansdorp.
Three major passes had to be constructed: Groot Rivier, Blauwkrantz and Storms River. The entire road was complete 16 years later in 1885. In 1910 a whaling station set up on Beacon Island to harvest the placid Southern Right whales but this ceased operation in 1916. The first hotel was erected in 1940 and replaced in 1972 by the current well known landmark on Beacon Island.
Tsitsikamma National Park is situated at the heart of the picturesque tourist region near Plettenberg Bay. Tsitsikamma is a Khoisan word meaning, “place of much water.” The Park incorporates 80 km of rocky coastline with spectacular sea and landscapes, a remote mountainous region with secluded valleys covered in mountain Fynbos and temperate high forests with deep river gorges leading down to the sea. The Tsitsikamma’s spectacular scenery includes the Indian Ocean breakers, pounding rocky shores beneath 180 m high cliffs, ever-green forests and fynbos rolling down to the sea in a lush carpet.
Tsitsikamma National Park is the third most frequently visited out of the twenty national parks in South Africa. The Park conserves a considerable portion of the natural biota of the Garden Route. The primary vegetation biomes consist of Mountain Fynbos, Coastal Fynbos, Afromontane Forest and the Marine herbland-, inter-tidal-, and sub-tidal zones. The mean annual rainfall is 1200 mm. Approximately 30% of the park is covered in fynbos, scattered amongst the forest vegetation, boasting a wide variety of beautiful flowers, including proteas and heath. Many species of forest, fynbos and sea birds are present. On the N2 you will find a sign to the Big Tree. It is a short but very interesting walk.
Tip: The most fascinating route to take is the old national road and not the
new highway toll road. It leads through 2 fantastic passes the Groot
Rivier Pass and the Blauwkrantz Pass. Also accommodation in Natures Valley
