Destination introduction
From its famous coastline dotted with picturesque holiday spots, to the sweeping mountain ranges, The Garden Route and Eastern Cape is magically South African the N2 highway, running east from Mossel Bay to Port Elizabeth, passes through some of the world's most attractive coastal scenery - the Garden Route. The journey begins in Mossel Bay - first discovered by the Portuguese navigator, Bartholomeu Dias, in 1488. Attractions here include the Bartholomeu Museum and Old Post Office Tree. Bungee jumping and bridge swinging is offered at nearby Gouritz River mouth and daily boat trips to Seal Island and shark-cage diving draws many visitors.
Contrasting sharply with the lush coast, Oudtshoorn is reached by travelling inland over the Robinson Pass. This area is the focal point of the ostrich industry and guided tours of show farms explain all the facets of the ostrich business culminating in an 'ostrich derby'. The Cango Caves were formed more than 65 million years ago and are ranked among the most remarkable of Africa's natural wonders. Guided daily tours yield a marvellous fantasia of weirdly sculpted, multicoloured stalagmites and stalactites. Nearby attraction, the Cango Wildlife Ranch, houses one of the world's top cheetah-breeding centres.
George, the largest of the Garden Route towns, is reached by returning to the coast via the scenic Outeniqua Pass. The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe is a narrow-gauge steam train traversing the spectacular Wilderness lakes area between George and Knysna. Celebrated for its fresh oysters and fine hardwood furniture is the historical town of Knysna located on the banks of the estuary and often referred to as the 'Jewel of the Garden Route'.
Plettenberg Bay is a beach-lover's paradise, where long stretches of soft sand give way to azure seas. Almost 40 species of whales and dolphins have been recorded here and are to be seen on various boat excursions. Plettenberg Bay, in one of the country's most fashionable holiday resorts and a beach-lover's paradise, where long stretches of soft sand give way to azure seas.
For the brave at heart there is a treetop canopy tour through the Tsitsikamma forest or bungee jumping off the 216m Bloukrans River Bridge - the highest jump in the world! Completing the Garden Route is the friendly city of Port Elizabeth - gateway to the malaria-free game reserves of the Eastern Cape.
Leisure activities include golf, bowls, horse riding, angling, sailing, blackwater tubing, abseiling, mountain biking, scuba-diving and surfing, as well as hiking and bird-watching in the nearby Robberg, Keurbooms River and Tsitsikamma nature reserves.
Completing the Garden Route is South Africa's fifth largest city, Port Elizabeth, the economic hub of the Eastern Cape. Tourist attractions here include scuba-diving, safe swimming beaches, a Snake Park, Aquarium, and the performing dolphins, seals and penguins at the Oceanarium. The National Festival of Arts, in nearby Grahamstown, takes place annually in July. Port Elizabeth is also the gateway to the malaria-free game reserves of the Eastern Cape, where we are featuring Shamwari.