The Garden Route is such a beautiful stretch of coastline that towns like Witsand, Stilbaai, and Albertinia are constantly vying with each other to be considered as the starting point. With many Garden Route Hotels along the 200 km long route that winds its way through George, Wilderness, Sedgefield, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, and culminates in the Tsitsikamma Forest, a paradise of giant trees, ferns and birds.
Many tourists choose to have a holiday in South Africa because of its sunshine. The country is rather dry (the world average rainfall in the rest of the world is about 860 mm as compared to about 464 mm in South Africa). In the Western Cape region, rain mostly falls during winter, while the other parts of the country get their rainfall in the summer.
The Garden Route meanders along the coast of the Southern Cape, which gets its name from its lush indigenous forests and pleasant temperate climate. Use our Garden Route map to guide you to the beautiful headlands giving way to the inviting beaches of the Indian Ocean. Wetland lakes, forests and mighty mountains wait to be explored behind the sand dunes. Garden Route Hotels offer solitude and relaxation as well as activities such as cycling, and the adventures of bungee jumping, abseiling, canoeing, and kloofing (canyoning).
There are many things to see and do along the Garden Route; no wonder it is a haven of inspiration for writers and artists, who give the region a trendy flavour and top priority for foreign visitors.
As you drive along this enchanting coastal corridor, you will encounter many delightful towns with beautiful scenery. You can take breaks on the way to indulge in all kinds of adventurous activities such as scuba diving, abseiling, bungee jumping and more.
Despite its dryness, you'll find that the weather is cooler in South Africa than in other countries at the same latitude (such as Australia). This is because South Africa has a higher elevation above sea level. This makes for unexpected weather patterns. The coastal areas of South Africa are warmest in winter. However, the temperatures on either side of the country vary greatly - the warm Agulhas Current that sweeps past the east coast makes this area warm, while the cold Benguela from Antarctica cools the west coast.
South Africa is a country full of surprises. Although the Klein Karoo Kannaland is a semi-desert, it is dotted with lush river valleys. Here, the Calitzdorp and De Rust areas produce excellent wines and port. The region's major town, Oudtshoorn, is known as the world's ostrich feather capital. The area also has the country's first German Angora Rabbit Show Farm, the Swartberg Nature Reserve and Pass and the Cango Butterfly Farm. All of these places are worth visiting. Every year, the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees festival is held in Oudtshoorn. About 26 km from this town are the amazing Cango Caves, a network of magnificent subterranean limestone caverns. It is clear that this wonderland of 30 caves was once inhabited by the early San people. The caves are famous for their spectacular dripstone formations and are visited by hundreds of people every year.
The Klein Karoo region has a rich culture and history. Thousands of art lovers flock to the annual Klein Karoo Kunstefees for a feast of theatre, music and dance. Paintings by the Bushmen are a huge draw.
The sunny climate of The Garden Route produces incredible port wines, raisins, cheese and honey-sweet fruits. The welcome sunshine also motivates people to spend time outdoors. Popular activities include hiking, 4x4 excursions, mountain biking, caving, rock climbing, bird watching, horseback riding and fishing. The main highway that traverses the Little Karoo Kannaland is the R62. It is known as the ‘Great Alternative Scenic Route', and stretches from Cape Town through Worcester, Montagu, and Oudtshoorn to reach the coast at Port Elizabeth. The entire journey takes about 4 h.
The locals of Klein Karoo Kannaland are open hearted, and the town's picturesque scenery provides you with an experience to remember and treasure.
The mountains are never far from the beaches and bays, and the eye delights in brightly coloured wild flowers everywhere. The Garden Route between Heidelberg and Storms River parallels a coastline dotted with tall forests unique to this region, lakes, mountains, rivers the colour of amber and beaches with golden sand. Hiking is a pleasure here on the meandering trails, and you can take a long leisurely drive through the forests, and swim, ride on a boat and fish in the lakes and rivers. You can do so much on a Garden Route tour, or do nothing at all, and just soak in the spectacular scenery and the pleasant climate. Whatever you choose, the Garden Route guarantees an unforgettable holiday.
This region is rich in contrasts, which makes it extremely interesting. There is the lush greenery of the charming town of George (called the ‘Gateway to the Garden Route') that lies on a fertile coastal plateau at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains. On the other hand, there's the desert-like ambiance of Oudtshoorn (‘Capital of the Klein Karoo') which lies ensconced in a semi-arid valley. The weather in Oudtshoorn is just perfect for ostriches, and numerous ostrich farms are found here.
Make sure you stop by the Tsitsikamma National Park, which is one of South Africa's protected areas. The park offers dramatic landscapes as well as seascapes. Bird watchers will adore the varied bird life in its forests. And of course, there's the geological wonder of the Klein Karoo, with its soaring mountains and deep gorges.
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