Classic Drives ? The Garden Route, South Africa
The stunning Garden Route runs from South Africa?s most popular tourist destination, Cape Town, for 800 km along the scenic coastline between this city and Port Elizabeth. The area enjoys a Mediterranean maritime climate and the trip is regarded as one of the world?s truly classic coastal drives.
As you drive along the well-forested coastal plain, you?ll find freshwater lakes, lovely lagoons filled with water birds, indigenous forests of giant yellowwood trees and fields covered in colourful wildflowers. It?s easy to see why visitors are drawn to this beautiful region year-round.
One of the highlights of a drive along the Garden Route is a stop at the sleepy coastal town of Hermanus near the southern-most tip of Africa. The town is situated next to a 12-km path that runs along the cliff top, right next to the ocean. From May to December, pods of Southern Right Whales swim to within 20 metres of the cliff as they travel along the coast.
The more adventurous traveller can try some heart-stopping shark cage diving, sea kayaking, abseiling, scuba diving, sand boarding, and paragliding. Those looking for something more relaxing to do can visit the vineyards in a nearby valley and do the short drive to the southernmost tip of Africa, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean.
You will have to drive inland to visit Oudtshoorn, which was built in the early 1800s, in the centre of the Klein Karoo, a semi-desert area wedged between the coastal mountains to the south and the spectacular Swartberg mountain range to the north. The town was the world capital of the Ostrich feather industry during Victorian times, and many grand houses from that era are still standing today. There?s plenty to do in Oudtshoorn ? you can try riding an ostrich at an ostrich farm, take a tour through the magnificent Cango Caves that stretch for kilometres throughout the mountains, visit the vineyards, and even stroke a Cheetah at Cheetahland.
Back on coast, the Garden Route takes you to George, located on a 10-km plateau that runs from the majestic Outeniqua Mountain to the Indian Ocean. Besides enjoying whale watching, surfing, swimming, scuba diving and paragliding, you?ll find three of South Africa?s top golf courses are also located here. The Fancourt Golf Estate is especially popular, with an 18-hole course designed by Gary Player, a golf academy, exclusive hotel and conference centre, restaurants, and numerous sporting facilities.
Further along the coast toward Port Elizabeth is the town of Knysna, also a very popular tourist destination. This laid-back town is situated between a lush indigenous forest, home to the last of the forest-dwelling elephants in Africa, and a beautiful lagoon teeming with birds and other wildlife. The oysters grown in this unpolluted lagoon are among the tastiest in the world. The closest beach is in nearby Buffalo Bay, a favourite spot for fishing, surfing and swimming, as well as whale and dolphin watching. The entire area surrounding Knysna, with its incredible biological richness and beauty, is a paradise for the eco-traveller, with plenty of places to camp, hike, canoe, kayak, and observe the unique wildlife.
At Plettenberg Bay, there are ten important nature reserves as well as marine reserves. The endangered Southern Right Whale calves in the bay from July to December, and seals and dolphins live here all year round. In the bay you can snorkel and scuba dive on unique soft coral reefs, and on the beach you?ll find a wide range of water sports on offer, including fishing, surfing, swimming and sailing. Nearby, there are superb hiking and mountain biking trails, horse riding, kayaking and canoeing in scenic Nature?s Valley and Stormsriver.
Your drive along the Garden Route ends in Port Elizabeth, on the shores of beautiful Algoa Bay.
Rod Ritchie, a travel writer and editor, writes for many publishers including AA Publishing and Fodors. Bon Voyage Travel and Tours provide tailor made tours and holidays to South Africa for the individual traveler. Visit their website at http://www.bon-voyage.co.uk.
Related Articles:
Stunning Collection of Autobiographical Stories Explores Troubled Nature of South Africa
"The Roaring Lion and Wedding Bells" by Azaria Mbatha chronicles his life and times during colonial reform in South Africa.
Choosing Day Tours in Cape Town, South Africa
Marvic Tours and Tales believe that modern travellers seek authentic adventures where they can choose the specific experiences to partake in. This is especially pertinent when it comes to long-haul destinations like South Africa.
CEA Expands Its Portfolio of Study Abroad Destinations, Adding Programs in South Africa
South African coastal city of Port Elizabeth becomes study abroad provider's 26th study abroad destinationnow enrolling students for the fall 2008 semester.
An introduction to South Africa
An introduction to South Africa.
Ethekwini Hospital & Heart Centre Integrate Their Information Systems Durban Hospital is Orion Health's First Site in South Africa
Ethekwini Hospital & Heart Centre (EHHC) in Durban, South Africa, is implementing Rhapsody Integration Engine to build and manage interfaces between their clinical information systems. It is the first major hospital user of Rhapsody Integration Engine in South Africa. The Rhapsody Integration Engine manages and streamlines message exchange between EHHC's hospital applications, databases and external systems for simplified and more economic integration.
Why do 90% of Online Businesses in South Africa Fail?
It is estimated that over 90% of new websites fail within the first year of existence. Interestingly enough, the same can be said for the restaurant industry, as only 1 out of each 10 new restaurants experience real rewards.
Two Walking Safaris In The Tanzania Wilderness
The first walking Safari is a real adventure across part of the Udzungwa Mountains National Park. There are no hotels or lodges in this park. This area is a series of mountain rangers and interlocking valleys - ranging from the top of the Kilombero Valley at 300 meters above sea level to peaks of around 2,570 meters above sea level. These mountains are fantastic, wild and largely untouched by humans. The Udzunwa Mountains are unique in Tanzania as the park was created primarily for the protection of flora rather than fauna.
South Africa
This is a lovely country blessed with indescribable beauty,majestic mountain ranges and valleys, several waterfalls, lakes, rivers, beautiful coastlines, indigenous forests, an abundance of flora, spectacular passes, lovely beaches, mineral springs, and caves. It's home of a wide variety of birds,wildlife and marine life.
South Africa's Absa Bank to Fund British Literacy Programme THRASS
The THRASS phonics programme, pioneered by British Educational Psychologist Alan Davies, has already been welcomed as heralding the start of a new era in the teaching of English in Africa. Now Absa, a member of the Barclays Group, are set to announce the corporate sponsorship of THRASS though the THRASS Absa TalkTogether Project. The primary aim of the project is to increase literacy in South Africa, through the improved teaching and learning of English, that will be achieved by partnering universities, primary schools and other organisations. The secondary aim is to provide a platform to celebrate South Africa's eleven national languages, through free interactive software and printable calendar charts.
Facilitator Ruth Nicholson Siguenza Chosen to Present Workshop at IAF Conference in South Africa
Ruth Nicholson Siguenza, who recently marked her sixth anniversary in private practice as one of Snohomish County?s leading facilitators and mediators, has been extended a personal invitation from the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) to present a graphic facilitation workshop as part of the third annual IAF conference July 23-24 in South Africa. Nicholson Siguenza, who specializes in conflict resolution, environmental problem-solving, team building, and team training, will also be one of the assessors for the first Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF) assessment event on the African continent.