The Garden Route is without a doubt one of the Cape’s most exquisite tourist attractions, encompassing a beautiful coastline from Mossel Bay to Tsitsikamma. The area is world renowned for its indigenous forest and wildflowers, as well as the various watersport activities on offer in the stunning natural surroundings.
During calving season, tourists and locals flock to the Garden Route, particularly Knysna and Mossel Bay, to watch Southern Right Whales become new mothers just off the coast. This stretch of coastline guarantees some of the best land based whale watching in the world, while there are also plenty of opportunities to view the magnificent creatures from boats that offer this service during whale season.
The Garden Route is a popular tourist destination all year round, as the climate is relatively mild and there is a wealth of indigenous plant life on which to feast the senses. The Wilderness National Park promises an extensive natural beauty that is relatively unspoiled and is located beyond George just before Knysna, an area that continues to develop into a luxury holiday haven, much like its neighbour Plettenberg Bay.
Oudtshoorn is home to the Cango Caves and renowned for its ostriches, while the Tsitsikamma National Park is immensely popular with hikers and nature enthusiasts both local and foreign. Other places worth mentioning include the largely agricultural town of George, Herolds Bay and Storms River, both of which are popular holiday destinations along the Garden Route.
Albertinia is located on the scenic Garden Route and lies carefully tucked away at the foot of the Langeberg Mountain. The quite town is mostly famous for hosting the indigenous Cape Aloe.
But Aloe is not the only resource you’ll find in Albertinia; ochre, used in the manufacturing of paints and the colouring of cement and linoleum, can also be found here.
The area around this peaceful haven is an eco paradise with spectacular views stretching from the Gourits River to the foothills of the Langeberg Mountains.
Amalienstein is situated midway between Ladismith and Carlitzdorp in the Swartberg Mountain Range. Here you can still experience farm life while riding on a donkey cart or on a hiking mission though the orchards and vineyards.
Amalienstein was originally established as a mission station, and later became a productive farming district. Other well-known mission stations situated in the area are Zoar and Dysselsdorp.
The beautiful Lutheran Church and historic cemetery in Amalienstein depict the architecture of a century ago. The area also boasts spectacular rock formations and mountain passes.
Buffalo Bay (Buffelsbaai/Buffels Bay) is situated 15 minutes from Knysna on the Garden Route. This popular holiday destination has 12 golf courses in the vicinity and offers great water sport activities like surfing and fishing.
This little village, consisting mostly of holiday homes, was named after the huge number of Cape Buffalo that once roamed the area. Holiday goers usually spend their summers sunbathing on the long stretch of beach – also popular with swimmers and surfers.
Calitsdorp, once renowned as “The Port Wine Capital of South Africa”, is located on the Garden Route and the popular Route 62. In this little town you will find no less than 5 wine cellars, hosting prize-winning wines and ports.
The streets in Carlitzdorp are lined with well-maintained old Georgian, Victoria, Cape-Dutch and Karoo-style properties with beautiful gardens complimenting them.
The weather in Carlitzdorp is perfect for farming grapes and ranges from very hot summers to mild winters with snow often falling on the adjacent Swartberg Mountain Range.
The Victorian town of De Rust is ideally located at the southern entrance of the Meiringspoort gorge and just a short drive from the ostrich capital, Outshoorn.
The magnificent setting of De Rust makes it a popular destination for artist and is famous for its dessert wines and cheese. Tree-lined streets host great examples of 19th century architecture, and along with the peaceful atmosphere found here, make De Rust a favourite among property buyers.
The area is malaria-free, safe and has a very favourable climate consisting of beautiful sunny winter days with cool nights and perfect hot summer days.
Dwarswegstand is located near Great Brak River, between Mossel Bay and George. The pleasant weather, quite atmosphere and beautiful clean beaches, make this resort town a popular holiday destination as well as a favourite among investors.
Property here has stunning views of the sprawling ocean as well as access to a long stretch of pristine beach. Attractions in the area include the bustling seaside town of Mossel Bay, the Congo Caves and the arts and crafts markets in the scenic village of Knysna.
In the small town of Dysseldorp on the Garden Route stands a church as old as the earliest days of travel. This beautiful area boasts one of the worldwide chains of Kolping Guesthouses.
There is also a jewellery-manufacturing store where the shells of ostrich eggs are used to make jewellery. One can also experience a unique donkey cart ride around town to visit all the old buildings while you get acquainted with the local people.
Dysseldorp witnesses a symbolic annual pilgrimage to the local Roman Catholic chapel on Good Friday. Residents and visitors from all over the country come together during the Easter weekend to celebrate this festive time.
Jongensfontein is located on the Garden Route close the seaside town of Still Bay. This ideal holiday destination has a wide variety of property, ranging from holiday flats to guesthouses.
The town host around 122 permanent residents and boast some of the best fishing and kite-surfing spots.
Here you will find only two supermarkets among the cosy houses, creating a quite intimate atmosphere. The safe beaches attract a wealth of visitors to the town during summer and during winter whale watches keep an eye out for these marvellous creatures.
Klein Brak or Little Brak is mainly a seaside resort and is a place where sea, lagoon and river meet. It is ideally situated between Mossel Bay and Groot Brak on the Garden Route.
The area is known for having a very mild climate - with winter and summer temperatures only differing marginally. It is no surprise then that thousands of holidaymakers choose Klein Brak to spend their endless summer days.
Klein Brak is the ideally situated to explore the Garden Route’s many attraction, among them The Tsitsikamma Forest, monkey sanctuaries and various hiking trails.
Ladismith is nestled at the foot of the Klein Swartberg Mountain range in the Klein Karoo. It is located around 300km from Cape Town on South Africa’s Garden Route.
Ladismith has its own unique building style – a simplified Georgian design that dates back to 1830’s. There are also some fine examples of Neo-Gothic, Victorian and Regency style homes to be found here.
Ladismith is free from pollution and enjoys a pleasant climate. Winters tend to be cold with snow on the adjacent mountains while temperatures can reach 40 degrees in the summer months (December to February).
Nature’s Valley is situated in the heart of the Garden Route in the Tsitsikamma National Park. This small village sits at the mouth of the Groot River at the bottom of the Groot River Pass.
This is arguably the most beautiful part of the Garden Route and is the only residential area within a South African national park. It is no surprise then that a variety of wildlife can be spotted in the residential gardens.
Close to Nature’s Valley you will find the Bloukrans Bridge Bungee – the highest commercial bungee in the world as well as the start of the famous Otter hiking route.
Riversdale is a lovely country town situated on the Garden Route. It is located close to the popular coastal towns of Still Bay and Witsand.
Riversdale is known for farming wheat, cattle, ostriches, wild flowers and honeybush tea. A number of cultural heritage sites can be found in the bustling town, among them an art and antique collection and paintings by Thomas Bowler.
On of the most famous export products of the Riversdale region is Agathosma – a strain of the buchu originally used by the San tribe to treat rheumatism and digestive disturbances.
Where the Goukou River meets the Indian Ocean, between Mossel Bay and Riversdale, you’ll find the seaside village of Still Bay. Even though it is a popular vacation spot, you can expect a small village charm away from the madding crowds.
White sandy beaches and a moderate climate make Still Bay an attractive proposal for those who want to invest in holiday homes.
The Tsitsikamma area in the heart of the Garden Route consists of indigenous forest that hosts centuries old trees. Over time the rivers has cut deep gorges through the coastal plateau as they make their way down the coastline.
Here you will find an abundance of fynbos, birds, antelope and the occasional leopard. Whales and dolphins also often visit the beautiful Tsitsikamma coast.
The mild climate all year round allows visitors and residents to enjoy the array of outdoor activities offered in the area, while high rainfall ensures the lushness of the vegetation, which the Tsitsikamma is famous for.
Victoria Bay or Vic Bay as it is often called hosts one of the smallest bays on the Garden Route. It is situated between George and Wilderness, around 3km off the N2 highway.
A number of cottages make up the small resort that is also popular with surfers. The beautiful beach offers visitors a safe bathing area and has its own tidal pool and jetty.
The seaside village of Vlees Bay is a patch of paradise located on the scenic Garden Route. Here you will find a long stretch of beach with safe swimming areas.
Vlees Bay is one of the best-kept secrets on the Garden Route and has only one village shop. Here holiday goers and residents can experience a true peaceful haven away from the crowds.
Many local attractions are but a stone-throw away: for the brave, bungee jumping at Gourits River bridge, a challenging 4X4 route and the beautiful Fransmanshoek Nature Reserve.
Witsand is a peaceful coastal town also known as the home o f the Southern Right Whale. Property here is surrounded by the Breede River and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean
St Sabastian Bay in Witsand hosts the single largest winter migration population of Southern Right Whales and can be viewed from land or a local boat based whale-watching operator.
Witsand is a playground for water sport enthusiasts and offer safe bathing, windsurfing, deep-sea fishing, snorkelling and many more.
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