Garden Route

The Garden Route in the Western Cape is one of South Africa's main tourist attractions and is generally considered to stretch from Mossel Bay to Storms River along the Indian ocean.

Regions
The Garden Route is bounded on the south by the coastline of the Indian ocean, and to the north by the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma Mountains.

Towns

 * — this is where Bartolomeu Dias set foot ashore in 1488 and South Africa`s first post office was founded in 1500.
 * — the largest town along the Route.
 * — one of the most popular tourist destinations, famed for its forests and lagoons.
 * — popular with beach-lovers
 * — one of the few remaining areas of truly outstanding natural beauty along the Garden Route
 * — the gateway to the Tsitsikamma National Park.

Other destinations

 * — encloses one of the most beautiful coasts in South Africa between Storms River and Nature's Valley.
 * — one of the Cacadu District's seven wonders, the area is covered in large tracts of indigenous forest and Fynbos with deep river gorges
 * — a holiday resort renowned for its tranquil sea, seemingly endless beaches and natural lakes and lagoons

Understand
The Garden Route is the name given to the 170 km Mossel Bay to Storms River section of the 700 km route between Cape Town and Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth). This route, which runs roughly east-west, lies between the Indian Ocean to the south and the Langeberg-Outeniqua mountain range to the north. The mountain range is between 10 and 30 km from the sea. On average, the area receives 700 mm rain per annum with average summer high of 25°C and, at sea level, an average winter low of 7°C, though snow is often seen on the mountains during the winter months (July-August). The sea, which is fed by the warm Mozambique current has a typical temperature of 21°C.

Since there are no easy routes inland from this section of coastline, the area has not attracted much industry other than forestry. With the development of good roads during the last 50 years it become one of South Africa's popular tourist areas.

By plane
There are regular domestic flights to George and Port Elizabeth. The nearest international airport is in Cape Town.

By car
The Garden Route is part of the N2 (highway linking Cape Town to Durban and beyond). It is easily reached from
 * Cape Town : Follow the N2 highway eastwards for 350 km to arrive at Mossel Bay.
 * Durban, Port Elizabeth : Follow the N2 highway westwards (150 km from Port Elizabeth) to arrive at Storms River.
 * Pretoria, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein : Follow the N1 southwards as far as Colesburg, then follow the N9 (in total about 600 km from Bloemfontein). Either take the R339 at Uniondale for Knysna (70 km) or, when the N9 terminates, take the N12 for George (20 km)
 * Kimberley : Follow the N12 southwards for about 620 km for George.

By bus
The main companies offer regular services along the Garden Route from Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. The region is also on the Baz Bus route.

Get around
The best way to tour the Route is by car. You can hire a car all the major towns along the Garden Route, but be aware of one-way fees for rental cars.

Classic Rail is working to restore service on the narrow-gauge steam train line (the Choo-Tjoe) between George and Knysna.

Eat
As a main tourist destination there are many restaurants for every taste. Enjoy superb fish from the ocean ; Knysna is the place to taste some oysters.



Sleep
There is no shortage of all kinds of accommodation but book ahead on weekends / holiday. Especially during the summer the Garden Route is a popular holiday destination, not only for foreign tourists but also for South Africans.

If you are backpacking, the area has numerous hostels. Campers will find excellent facilities at sites like the Ebb and Flow campsite in Wilderness,. The Tsitsikamma sites at Storms's River mouth and Nature's Valley are also places of scenic beauty, and out of season can be havens of peace where otters appear on the beach. If its elephants that you're after then the best place to stay in is the Main Camp located in the Addo Elephant National Park.

Stay safe
Compared with the larger cities the towns along the Garden Route are quite safe. As always use your common sense. Driving at night is fine.

Go next

 * Go ahead for Cape Town or Port Elizabeth.
 * Jeffreys Bay is well-known for its surfing beaches.
 * Visit an ostrich farm at Oudtshoorn (50 km north of George).
 * Visit the Little Karoo - a valley 40 km north of the Garden Route demarcated by the Outeniqua Mountain range.