Spectacular beauty, mountain ranges, lush tropical beauty and sweeping beaches, welcome you to the Garden Route in the Southern Cape. The area stretches from Heidelberg in the West to Plettenberg Bay in the East.
The Garden Route is a large bio -Diverse area, which encompasses the “Klein Karoo”, a dry semi arid area well suited to Ostrich and sheep farming. The area is covered in natural indigenous flowers and bushes, known as “Fynbos”. Once you cross over the Outeniqua Mountains, you are greeted by the change in climate, verdant forests, endless beaches and a mild climate throughout the year, for which the Garden Route is renowned. Various rare and unique hard woods are found in the forests, starting at Wilderness and continuing past Tsitsikama in the east. This part of the Garden route is considered as “ Eden “ Surrounded by Forest, lakes, rivers and lagoons, can sail on one of the larger lakes, on the Knysna lagoon, or on the ocean at Mossel and Plettenberg Bays’. Fresh oysters are cultivated and harvested in Knysna and may be enjoyed with a glass of wine while sailing around the lagoon. The Garden Route is a must when traveling to South Africa.
Garden Route Activities
To keep one occupied for the entire duration of your holiday in the Garden Route there is an array of Garden Route activities. For the sun worshippers there are endless beaches which are lapped by the warm Indian Ocean. One can take a Hot Air Balloon trip in Oudtshoorn. shark cage diving in Mossel Bay, diving, abseiling, paragliding, hiking parasailing and “kloofing”, hiking along the many trails, surf at Vic Bay and deep sea fishing at Plettenberg Bay, canoe down the river on any day of the week. For the adventurous the Garden Route offers horse riding, quad bike riding and last but by no means least playing golf at one of the many world renowned courses which abound in the Garden route, from Pinnacle Point in Mossel Bay, to Pezula in Knysna. The Garden Route offers activities from the sedate to the adrenalin filled and is a delight for lovers of the outdoors.
Garden Route Wildlife
The Garden Route has a variety of wildlife .There are Game reserves from where 26 different species of wildlife may be viewed namely, lions, elephants, rhinoceros , buffalo and giraffe from specially designed and comfortable vehicles as well as Helicopter tours. Horse back safaris and quad bike trails are offered for those feeling more adventurous. There are elephant sanctuaries in Knysna and the Craggs in Plettenberg Bay, where elephants may be fed, ridden or walked with. Bush buck may be seen grazing in the forests as well as porcupines and other mystical creatures that inhabit the Garden Route. Wild elephants in the Knysna Forest, once regarded as extinct, have been spotted recently and perhaps you could be fortunate to spot these rare and elusive creatures. Wildlife conservation is taken very seriously and in the Garden Route there are several conservancies and National parks protecting Wildlife from the encroaching human developments.
Garden Route Birds and Birding
The best way to view the vast number of Garden Route birds is an early morning or late afternoon hike along the many trials. The Garden Route is well renowned for its bird life, amongst which the most popular and well known is the Loerie species. There are a variety of water birds which can be seen along the rivers or from one the “bird hides”. Various species of weaver birds can be seen as well as blue and crowned crane, Kori Bustard, African Jacana, Black Oyster Catcher, the magnificent Sun birds, Cape White Eye, Cape Canary and a host of other birds. As in all forests the sounds and songs are the first that draws ones’ attention to the birds, best seen early in the morning or early evening. A good pair of binoculars and walking shoes is essential. Many more birds can be seen on any one of the walks or hikes through the Forest or along the Touw River and especially whilst walking through Wilderness National Park. Garden Route Birding is a popular past time for local birders as well as tourists. Bird watchers are amongst the most calm yet excitable species in the Garden Route.
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