The '''Garden Route''' in the [[Western Cape]] is one of [[South Africa]]'s main tourist attractions and is generally thought to stretch from [[Mossel Bay]] to [[St Francis]] along the Indian ocean and also includes parts of the inland.
The '''Garden Route''' in the [[Western Cape]] is one of [[South Africa]]'s main tourist attractions and is generally thought to stretch from [[Mossel Bay]] to [[St Francis]] along the Indian ocean and also includes parts of the inland.
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* [[Knysna]], one of the most popular tourist destinations
* [[Knysna]], one of the most popular tourist destinations
* [[Storms River]], the Gate to the [[Tsitsikamma National Park]]
* [[Storms River]], the Gate to the [[Tsitsikamma National Park]]
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* [[Plettenberg Bay]]
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* [[Plettenberg Bay]] home to Ocean Safaris. Whale Watching Mecca of SA....[http://www.oceansafaris.co.za]
* [[Mossel Bay]], this is where Bartolomeu Dias set foot ashore in 1488 and South Africa`s first post office was founded in 1500
* [[Mossel Bay]], this is where Bartolomeu Dias set foot ashore in 1488 and South Africa`s first post office was founded in 1500
* [[Nature's Valley]], One of the few remaining areas of truly outstanding natural beauty along the Garden Route
* [[Nature's Valley]], One of the few remaining areas of truly outstanding natural beauty along the Garden Route
As local public transport between the towns is rare (except minibus services), the best way to tour the Route is by car. You can hire a car all along the Garden Route, be aware though that there is a fee if you drop the car off somewhere else from where you have picked it up.
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The best way to tour the Route is by car. You can hire a car all the cities along the Garden Route, but be aware of one-way fees for rental cars.
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*<listing name="New Fusion" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="+27 (0)21 555-1600" url="www.newfusion.co.za" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Garden Route travel services including a range of itineraries; Safaris;accommodation venues; car rental and private guiding services.
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</listing>
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===By car===
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Substantial roadworks are in progress on the N2 with the current single lane sections being upgraded to double lanes in both ways. ''Imagine the intro photo on this article with two extra lanes being constructed on the left of the current road''. Some sections are restricted to single direction traffic flow with manned stop/go control points. Typical delay at these points are 20 minutes each. Expect delays and plan your travel accordingly.
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==See==
==See==
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[[Image:South Africa-Garden Route-Tsitsikamma Forest01.jpg|thumb|Tsitsikamma Forest walkway at the Big Tree]]
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* <see name="The Big Tree" directions="In the Tsitsikamma forest, just off the N2 between the Storms River Bridge and the Storms River Village turn-off. You will see the signboards">One truly massive old yellowwood tree. Another Big Tree is situated near the Khoi San Village at the Bloukrans Bungy site.</see>
* Visit [[Tsitsikamma National Park]] and hike the Otter trail
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Why not join a boat trip with Ocean Safaris in Plettenberg Bay. Sightings of whales throughout the year. Southern Rights and Humpbacks - July to December. Brydes Whales all year round but more prolific during the summer months. Dolphins include Bottlenose, Humpback and Commons. Cape Fur seal colony on Robberg Peninsula. Our waters are rich in life and we are frequented by visitors of all types. Orca's, Sei Whales, Turtles, Penguins, whale sharks, clawless otters to mention a few.[http://www.oceansafaris.co.za] You can contact us on +27 (0) 82 784 5729 or info@oceansafaris.co.za .
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* '''Surf''' in [[Plettenberg Bay]] or Vic Bay
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* <do name="Bloukrans Bungee" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="+27 (0)42 281-1458" url="http://www.faceadrenalin.com/" hours="Daily 8AM-5PM" price="Bungy jump R620, DVD footage R130, Flying Fox R170, Flying Fox Tandem (2 persons) R260, Bungy + Flying Fox R750, Bridge Walking Tours R90." lat="" long="">Do the world's highest commercial '''bungee jump''' Bloukrans Bridge.</do>
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Dolphin Adventures. A sea kayaking trip not to be missed. www.dolphinadventures.co.za or contact kayak@dolphinadventures.co.za .
* Go on a ride with the famous '''Outeniqua Choo-tjoe Train''' [http://www.onlinesources.co.za/chootjoe], the last steam train in Southern Africa, from [[George]] to [[Mossel Bay]] or back and enjoy the coastal scenery.
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* <do name="Quad Adventures" phone="+27 (0)723 03-9011" url="http://www.quadgardenroute.co.za"> Camp under the stars in the wild after a day of winding through dramatic mountain terrain of the [[Garden Route]] to the vast open spaces of the [[Little Karoo]]. Choose between 4 wheels or 2 and enjoy hours or even days of adventure. Tours range from a 25 minute introductory route through beautiful valleys to overnight all-out action deep in the wild. The adventure is here – you decide when.</do>
* <do name="Quad Adventures" phone="+27 (0)723 03-9011" url="http://www.quadgardenroute.co.za"> Camp under the stars in the wild after a day of winding through dramatic mountain terrain of the [[Garden Route]] to the vast open spaces of the [[Little Karoo]]. Choose between 4 wheels or 2 and enjoy hours or even days of adventure. Tours range from a 25 minute introductory route through beautiful valleys to overnight all-out action deep in the wild. The adventure is here – you decide when.</do>
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* <do name="Tsalanang Township Walk" alt="" address="Stormsriver" directions="" phone="+27 (0)84 801-6274" url="http://www.townshipwalk.co.za" hours="" price="R75" lat="" long="">Get acquainted with the locals of the Tsitsikamma and share their lives with your personalized guide, Geraldine Damons.</do>
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*<do name="timberlake" alt="" address="Halfway btw Wilderness & Sedgefield" directions="look out for wooden cabins on left if coming from George direction" phone="" url="" hours="9:00-17:00 " price="" lat="" long="">Specialist retail cabins including: Confectionary, Cheese, Wine, 100% organic Health Shop, Fairy Gem, Eden Nursery with four fantastic eateries: Cafe d'Afrique coffee shop, Zucchini restaurant, Oyster Shack and Country Deli. Relax in beautiful gardens, see our organic vegetable gardens in action and enjoy the best in local.</do>
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*<do name="GoVertical Mountaineering Adventures" alt="" address="Knysna" directions="" phone="082 731 4696" url="http://www.govertical.co.za" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Guided adventures along the Garden Route - Rock Climbing, Kloofing, Kayaking, Trekking, Abseiling, Hiking, Courses and Teambuilding.</do>
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==Eat==
==Eat==
As a main tourist destination there are many restaurants for every taste. Enjoy superb fish from the ocean ; [[Knysna]] is the place to taste some oysters.
As a main tourist destination there are many restaurants for every taste. Enjoy superb fish from the ocean ; [[Knysna]] is the place to taste some oysters.
read a book, play a game, relax under our big tree</eat>
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*<eat name="La Carla mask atelier" alt="" address="carla@modelvision.co.za" directions="between plett & knysna, on N2, 6km outside plett" phone="082 499 6295" url="www.modelvision.co.za" hours="9am-5pm" price="R125 - R1500" lat="" long="">The studio specializes in creating Unique Handcrafted Venetian Carnival Masks, next door to the Hot Chocolate Cafe, this is a treat not to be missed. studio and shop open to public
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</eat>
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*<eat name="La carla atelier" alt="" address="" directions="N2, between plett & knysna, 6km from plett" phone="082 461 7731" url="www.modelvision.co.za" hours="9am-5pm" price="R125 - R1500" lat="" long="">the fasinating craft of european mask making in Plettenberbay. unique handmade venetian carnival masks on display in the exiting shop</eat>
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Campers will find excellent facilities at sites like the Ebb and Flow campsite in Wilderness, [http://www.sanparks.org/parks/wilderness/all.php]. The Tsitsikamma sites at Storms's River mouth and Nature's Valley are also places of scenic beauty, and out of season can be havens of peace where otters appear on the beach [http://www.sanparks.org/parks/tsitsikamma/all.php].
Campers will find excellent facilities at sites like the Ebb and Flow campsite in Wilderness, [http://www.sanparks.org/parks/wilderness/all.php]. The Tsitsikamma sites at Storms's River mouth and Nature's Valley are also places of scenic beauty, and out of season can be havens of peace where otters appear on the beach [http://www.sanparks.org/parks/tsitsikamma/all.php].
If its Elephants that you after then the best place to stay in is the Main Camp [www.sanparks.org/parks/addo/] located in the Addo Elephant National Park.
If its Elephants that you after then the best place to stay in is the Main Camp [www.sanparks.org/parks/addo/] located in the Addo Elephant National Park.
The Garden Route in the Western Cape is one of South Africa's main tourist attractions and is generally thought to stretch from Mossel Bay to St Francis along the Indian ocean and also includes parts of the inland.
The central part of the Garden Route is formed by the coastline of the Indian ocean. To the north it is bordered by the Little Karoo, a semi-desert region.
South African Airways has regular flights to George and Port Elizabeth, which is reachable with budget airlines Kulula and 1Time. The nearest international airport is in Cape Town
Ocean Safaris
Why not join a boat trip with Ocean Safaris in Plettenberg Bay. Sightings of whales throughout the year. Southern Rights and Humpbacks - July to December. Brydes Whales all year round but more prolific during the summer months. Dolphins include Bottlenose, Humpback and Commons. Cape Fur seal colony on Robberg Peninsula. Our waters are rich in life and we are frequented by visitors of all types. Orca's, Sei Whales, Turtles, Penguins, whale sharks, clawless otters to mention a few.[2] You can contact us on +27 (0) 82 784 5729 or info@oceansafaris.co.za .
Dolphin Adventures. A sea kayaking trip not to be missed. www.dolphinadventures.co.za or contact kayak@dolphinadventures.co.za .
Quad Adventures, ☎ +27 (0)723 03-9011, [3]. Camp under the stars in the wild after a day of winding through dramatic mountain terrain of the Garden Route to the vast open spaces of the Little Karoo. Choose between 4 wheels or 2 and enjoy hours or even days of adventure. Tours range from a 25 minute introductory route through beautiful valleys to overnight all-out action deep in the wild. The adventure is here – you decide when.edit
timberlake, Halfway btw Wilderness & Sedgefield (look out for wooden cabins on left if coming from George direction). 9:00-17:00. Specialist retail cabins including: Confectionary, Cheese, Wine, 100% organic Health Shop, Fairy Gem, Eden Nursery with four fantastic eateries: Cafe d'Afrique coffee shop, Zucchini restaurant, Oyster Shack and Country Deli. Relax in beautiful gardens, see our organic vegetable gardens in action and enjoy the best in local.edit
GoVertical Mountaineering Adventures, Knysna, ☎ 082 731 4696, [4]. Guided adventures along the Garden Route - Rock Climbing, Kloofing, Kayaking, Trekking, Abseiling, Hiking, Courses and Teambuilding.edit
As a main tourist destination there are many restaurants for every taste. Enjoy superb fish from the ocean ; Knysna is the place to taste some oysters.
hot chocolate cafe, HH 32 Holt Hill Plettenbergbay (between Plettenbergbay & Knysna), ☎ 0760544945. 9-5. delectable belguim chocolate products handmade on premises read a book, play a game, relax under our big tree25. edit
La Carla mask atelier, carla@modelvision.co.za (between plett & knysna, on N2, 6km outside plett), ☎ 082 499 6295, [5]. 9am-5pm. The studio specializes in creating Unique Handcrafted Venetian Carnival Masks, next door to the Hot Chocolate Cafe, this is a treat not to be missed. studio and shop open to public R125 - R1500. edit
La carla atelier, (N2, between plett & knysna, 6km from plett), ☎ 082 461 7731, [6]. 9am-5pm. the fasinating craft of european mask making in Plettenberbay. unique handmade venetian carnival masks on display in the exiting shopR125 - R1500. edit
There is no shortage of all kinds of accommodation but book ahead on weekends / holiday. Especially during the summer the Garden Route is a popular holiday destination, not only for foreign tourists but also for South Africans.
If you are backpacking, the area has numerous hostels. Find a listing of most of them on the Coast to Coast website [7].
Campers will find excellent facilities at sites like the Ebb and Flow campsite in Wilderness, [8]. The Tsitsikamma sites at Storms's River mouth and Nature's Valley are also places of scenic beauty, and out of season can be havens of peace where otters appear on the beach [9].
If its Elephants that you after then the best place to stay in is the Main Camp [www.sanparks.org/parks/addo/] located in the Addo Elephant National Park.
