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The Garden Route extends from the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape and there are no major airports along its length. Therefore, you will probably have to fly into Cape Town first, where you can get a hire car for your trip to the Garden Route.
After you are done with Cape Town you can head east on the N2, through Swellendam and on towards Mossel Bay. On the way past Albertina, about 65kms before Mossel Bay, you will be passing close to the Garden Route Game Reserve. This game reserve is in a Malaria free zone and it features all of the big five (rhino, lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo) which have been re-introduced to the area. In addition to these animals there are programs to increase the numbers of antelope, zebra, springbok, wildebeest, crocodile and 23 different species of Snake in the Reptile Park.
Mossel Bay is the traditional starting point for the Garden Route and you will find it about 390 km from Cape Town. This is where the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias landed in 1488 and finally proved to Europeans that Africa had a southern point and that it would be possible to sail all the way to India. Today, you'll find here, the Dias Museum Complex dedicated to this achievement. The town actually features in the Guinness Book of Records for having the mildest all-year climate in the world, second only to Hawaii. This means that no matter the time of year you can head to the beach and enjoy the warm Indian Ocean. The beaches here are also very popular with surfers and other water sport enthusiasts.
The next city on the Garden Route is George, but before you get there you will be passing a number of noteworthy sites along the N2. One of the first places you will come across is the Botlierskop Game Reserve. The titular Botlierskop is actually a spectacular rock formation that is quite amazing. Some of the animals you can meet, as you travel in the safety of a 4x4, in this free-roaming reserve include rhino's, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, eland, bontebuck and 26 more species.
Carrying on east you will come across Groot Brak which is about halfway between George and Mossel Bay. This village is fairly small without much of interest except the Great Brak River Museum, and the Watson Shoe Factory. However, outside the village there are a number of truly beautiful beaches and a Lagoon that is a joy to swim in. This place is almost the exact opposite of the city, perfect for those looking for some peace and quiet.
Moving on you will arrive at Herold's Bay is only about 15kms from George. This area is a bit more touristy than Groot Brak but it is equally well served by magnificent beaches. In place of serenity, it has more activities you can avail of including surfing, fishing, and golf. The surrounding countryside is also full of magnificent nature trails and walks. |
