The Garden Route is one of the most admired tourist attractions in South Africa. It is to be found in the South Western province of the country and is simply named the South Western District. It’s also dubbed the Garden Route because it is located in the ‘Garden’ of the country encircled by thick woods and native vegetation which is only found in this part of the world.
The two most well-liked towns are George and Knysna which have a wealth of tourist attractions and exceptional innate beauty. Some residents would argue that part of the appeal has been lost due to development to keep up with the tourist industry but this all subjective. The area still maintains its sparkle in spite of the increasing growth.
Flight time from Cape Town to George is less than an hour and feels like a few minutes. Taking the national N2 road, the journey is a pleasant five to six hours. By sea, the trip would take twice as long but almost twice as pleasing.
The toughest and most well attended mountain bike race in the world the Cape Epic, takes place in the garden route. The race takes place over 5 days and riders have the benefit of experiencing the scenic route in very close proximity. Adding to the list of attractions is the longest bungee jump in the world located at the Storms River Bridge.
Near George in Plettenberg Bay is Beacon Isle which is a very popular hotel resort. The forests found in this region are magnificent however tourists are also drawn to the incredibly stunning beaches where they can swim, surf and especially catch a suntan by sun-bathing. Jeffries Bay is but a hop, skip and jump away from Knysna where surfers like Kelly Slater, Taj Burrows and the like come to play each year.
In addition to the spectacular vegetation the region also hosts several international game parks where tourists are accommodated and can see the big five. For centuries elephants have roamed the forests freely and at times they have been culled or reintroduced. World renowned and with a waiting list of at least a year the Otter hiking trail is amazing.
See the magnificent Garden Route Tour, by visiting www.kingdom.co.za for more information on the widest range of Cape Town tours.