| The stunning Garden Route runs from South | | | | the vineyards, and even stroke a Cheetah at |
| Africa’s most popular tourist destination, Cape | | | | Cheetahland. |
| Town, for 800 km along the scenic coastline | | | | Back on coast, the Garden Route takes you to |
| between this city and Port Elizabeth. The area enjoys | | | | George, located on a 10-km plateau that runs from |
| a Mediterranean maritime climate and the trip is | | | | the majestic Outeniqua Mountain to the Indian Ocean. |
| regarded as one of the world’s truly classic | | | | Besides enjoying whale watching, surfing, swimming, |
| coastal drives. | | | | scuba diving and paragliding, you’ll find three of |
| As you drive along the well-forested coastal plain, | | | | South Africa’s top golf courses are also located |
| you’ll find freshwater lakes, lovely lagoons filled | | | | here. The Fancourt Golf Estate is especially popular, |
| with water birds, indigenous forests of giant | | | | with an 18-hole course designed by Gary Player, a |
| yellowwood trees and fields covered in colourful | | | | golf academy, exclusive hotel and conference centre, |
| wildflowers. It’s easy to see why visitors are | | | | restaurants, and numerous sporting facilities. |
| drawn to this beautiful region year-round. | | | | Further along the coast toward Port Elizabeth is the |
| One of the highlights of a drive along the Garden | | | | town of Knysna, also a very popular tourist |
| Route is a stop at the sleepy coastal town of | | | | destination. This laid-back town is situated between a |
| Hermanus near the southern-most tip of Africa. The | | | | lush indigenous forest, home to the last of the |
| town is situated next to a 12-km path that runs | | | | forest-dwelling elephants in Africa, and a beautiful |
| along the cliff top, right next to the ocean. From May | | | | lagoon teeming with birds and other wildlife. The |
| to December, pods of Southern Right Whales swim | | | | oysters grown in this unpolluted lagoon are among |
| to within 20 metres of the cliff as they travel along | | | | the tastiest in the world. The closest beach is in |
| the coast. | | | | nearby Buffalo Bay, a favourite spot for fishing, |
| The more adventurous traveller can try some | | | | surfing and swimming, as well as whale and dolphin |
| heart-stopping shark cage diving, sea kayaking, | | | | watching. The entire area surrounding Knysna, with |
| abseiling, scuba diving, sand boarding, and paragliding. | | | | its incredible biological richness and beauty, is a |
| Those looking for something more relaxing to do can | | | | paradise for the eco-traveller, with plenty of places |
| visit the vineyards in a nearby valley and do the | | | | to camp, hike, canoe, kayak, and observe the unique |
| short drive to the southernmost tip of Africa, where | | | | wildlife. |
| the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean. | | | | At Plettenberg Bay, there are ten important nature |
| You will have to drive inland to visit Oudtshoorn, | | | | reserves as well as marine reserves. The endangered |
| which was built in the early 1800s, in the centre of | | | | Southern Right Whale calves in the bay from July to |
| the Klein Karoo, a semi-desert area wedged between | | | | December, and seals and dolphins live here all year |
| the coastal mountains to the south and the | | | | round. In the bay you can snorkel and scuba dive on |
| spectacular Swartberg mountain range to the north. | | | | unique soft coral reefs, and on the beach you’ll |
| The town was the world capital of the Ostrich | | | | find a wide range of water sports on offer, including |
| feather industry during Victorian times, and many | | | | fishing, surfing, swimming and sailing. Nearby, there |
| grand houses from that era are still standing today. | | | | are superb hiking and mountain biking trails, horse |
| There’s plenty to do in Oudtshoorn – you | | | | riding, kayaking and canoeing in scenic Nature’s |
| can try riding an ostrich at an ostrich farm, take a | | | | Valley and Stormsriver. |
| tour through the magnificent Cango Caves that | | | | Your drive along the Garden Route ends in Port |
| stretch for kilometres throughout the mountains, visit | | | | Elizabeth, on the shores of beautiful Algoa Bay. |