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Knysna is an attractive little town on the edge of the glorious Knysna lagoon, backed by the magical Knysna forest with its great yellowwood trees and massive ferns some 3 metres high The sea approach to Knysna through the Heads was so hazardous in the 19th century that Knysna never developed as a major port for the region and it was only in the 20th century that it has grown as a resort town. Indeed at the height of the season it can be too busy but at other times it is a charming town full of restaurants, coffee shops, arts and craft shops and galleries. It's well situated to tour the whole of the Garden Route and even for day trips to the Little Karoo.
Drive up to the Heads
Enjoy lunch at Knysna Quays, Knysna's waterfront with restaurants, curio shops, and marina and lovely views of the lagoon.
Visit the Knysna Oyster Company for oysters and champagne
Take a boat cruise across the lagoon to visit the Featherbed Nature Reserve. From the ferry, you are taken up to the top of the reserve to enjoy a guided walk down to the lagoon through the reserve through fynbos and coastal forest enjoying coastal views
Take an adventurous catamaran yacht cruise and sail across the Knysna Lagoon to the famous Heads.
Accommodation in Knysna |
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The Little Karoo is much drier country than the Garden Route and altogether different in appearance: arid, rugged mountains, country roads and lots of farming activity. The word Karoo comes from the San word for 'thirst'. However there are a number of interesting things to see and do in the region, especially if you are a family as there are plenty of family-friendly attractions.
The Cango Caves has some of the largest limestone caverns in the world still only partially explored
The Ostrich farms of Highgate and Safari
Cango Wildlife Ranch
Meerkat Magic - get very close to wild meerkats
Swartberg Pass - one of the most stunning mountain passes in South Africa
Swartberg adventures quad biking, mountain biking, hiking
Accommodation in Little Karoo |
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Plettenberg Bay is a chic resort town with a stunning location overlooking the beautiful Walker Bay. It offers wide sandy beaches and a panoramic views of the sweeping bay backed by the Tsitsikamma Mountains. From the beaches, you may be lucky to see the Southern Right Whale which comes right into the bay to calf from July to November (with peak season being September and October). Once hunted because of their high oil content, these magnificent giants are still endangered but their annual population in the bay is now increasing.
Visit Robberg Nature Reserve on the peninsula offering wonderful walking trails along the cliff tops amongst superb fynbos vegetation.
Whale-watching boat cruises offers close and awe-inspiring encounters with the fascinating majestic whales (in season from July to November). You can choose between an eco marine tour (where boats must stay at least 300 metres from the whales) and the more expensive close encounter tour (where the boats are allowed to come within 50 metres of the whales.)
Sea kayaking amongst the whales and dolphins as well as the many other wonders of the bay - pelagic birds, seals and lots more.
Cruise up the Keurbooms River to see the unspoilt natural vegetation and soaring gorges of the Keurbooms Nature Reserve.
Great walking trails
Game drives at Buffalo Hills. Distillery tours and tastings of mampoer (a double-distilled liquer) are a part of every Buffalo Hills game drive.
Alfresco lunches on the beach
Accommodation in Plettenberg Bay |
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To the east of Plettenberg Bay lies the Tsitsikamma region, a dense luxuriant indigenous forest, with rugged ravines, streams and waterfalls, as well as delightful sandy coves.
Monkeyland - is especially recommended for families but is enjoyable for all as you see many rare monkey species from the majestic Black lemurs of Madagascar to delightful Squirrel Monkeys, all in an open forest environment.
Birds of Eden is a giant bird aviary set in the indigenous forest
The Elephant Sanctuary offers a safe haven for African elephants in need of a home and specialises in up close and personal educational tours. Learn more about these animals while getting an opportunity to touch, feel, feed and walk trunk-in-hand with the elephants. You can round off the experience with an elephant-back ride.
The Tsitsikamma National Park - is a 75km coastal park along the southern Cape coast. You can follow walking trails of varying lengths through the wild forest flora.
Storms River is the home of adventure tours in the Garden Route and here you can choose from the worlds longest bungee-jump, treetop canopy tours, kloofing and a variety of other adventure activities.
Accommodation in The Tsitsikamma |
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The quiet village of Wilderness, with its gorgeous beach, is a nature lover's paradise known for its lakes, placid lagoon and lush indigenous forest. Enjoy a lovely peaceful walk around the lake shore on the boardwalk or stroll along the beach. From here, you can follow backroads through mysterious primeval forests, erstwhile haunt of 19th century gold diggers. It is this juxtaposition of the ancient and the picturesque that is part of the Garden Routes charm.
The Wilderness National Park, covers much of the surrounding country and is a wetland paradise for over 230 different bird species. Various walking trails on offer
Canoeing up the quiet rivers around Wilderness
Take the Outeniqua Steam Train (Choo-Tjoe) from George to Hartenbos
Enjoy game drives, elephant back rides, elephant picnics and horseback safaris at Botlierskop Game Farm
Visit the Post Office tree at Mossel Bay and the excellent Dias Museum which has a full scale replica of Dias' caravel ship
Mossel Bay also offers licensed sea-based shark cage diving and whale-watching.
Accommodation in Wilderness & George |
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