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- Garden Route
Overview
Climate
With a Mediterranean-type climate, the Garden Route has weather conditions similar to Cape Town, apart from the moderate rainfall that occurs throughout the year. This results a in a beautifully green and wetter area.
Mild to warm summer months are fantastic for outdoor activities. To participate in these amidst the bustling holiday crowds, November to January is recommended, while February to April are much quieter. May to August are characterised by mild and cool temperatures ideal for a peaceful retreat.
Getting There
Flights: The main airports used to reach the Garden Route are Cape Town Airport in the Western Cape, George Airport, located in George, a town part of the Garden Route and also Port Elizabeth Airport, located in the Eastern Cape.
Vehicle: From Cape Town, the N2 East is the most popular route. The Garden Route towns and villages are all situated along the N2. The N2 runs along the coast, all the way through George and to Port Elizabeth.
From Cape Town the inland Route 62 takes you on a journey through the Klein Karoo. This route is not at all considered inferior to the N2 closer to the coast.
From Gauteng, the N1 branches out at several different sites, with smaller routes leading to different sections along the Garden Route respectively.
Ideal Destination For
- Adventure
- Beach
- Food & Wine
- Multi Gen.
- Safari
- Sport
Points of Interest
- Knysna
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Knysna, developed around a marine protected area in the form of an absorbing lagoon, offers endless opportunities for leisure and outdoor adventure. Beaches, mountains, rivers and water masses host the only forest elephant in South Africa, the rare Pansy Shell, the elusive Knysna Loerie, an abundance of waterfowl and forest birds, dolphins and visiting whales.
Craft shops, flea-markets and cosy cafés add to the charm of this town at the heart of the popular Garden Route.
- George
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George, the sixth-oldest town in South Africa is the hub of the Southern Cape, and a very popular holiday destination. Its greatest attributes are the scenic surrounds, with the magnificent Outeniqua Mountains, rivers, fertile farmlands, forests and wild flowers. The area is popular for land and water-based outdoor activities.
- Plettenberg Bay
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Plett, as it is also known, is a resort town with a relaxed summer holiday vibe, offering sunny, golden beaches, buzzing night life and a high season cocktail circuit. Leisure activities on land and water, distilleries and wine farms, a primate sanctuary and bird aviary are all to be frequented, while the steep slopes leading into the sea offer exceptional views over the coastal vista.
- Oudtshoorn
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Bordering the Garden Route on the inland side of the Outeniqua mountain range, the Klein Karoo hosts Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world. Winding scenic mountain passes through the unspoilt area leads to the historic town. The warm atmosphere of a predominantly agricultural settlement welcomes visitors into this part of the Cape Floral Kingdom World Heritage Site.
The frequently-visited and ever-popular Garden Route is a visual feast of blue lakes, mighty mountain passes, pristine beaches, white sandy dunes, lush indigenous forests and endemic Cape Fynbos. From Mosselbay in the Western Cape it stretches along the coastline for roughly 200 km to Stormsriver in the Eastern Cape.
An area of considerable natural beauty, it boasts with unrivalled biodiversity. It is not only diverse in its environmental elements, but also in its balanced offerings. Numerous towns along the route offer an endless list of attractions. Road-tripping is made fun with changing scenery, farm stalls, bakeries, coffee shops, fine-dining restaurants and notable viewpoints.
Water sports, hiking, mountain biking, canopy tours, paragliding, sunbathing, golfing, bungee jumping and safari supplement the outdoor experience. A primate sanctuary, an elephant sanctuary and an astonishing bird aviary showcases immaculate collections of species to be observed and enjoyed.