Garden Route Adventures.
A 300-kilometer stretch of global conservation importance, the Garden Route features some of South Africa’s most enchanting scenery. Lakes, mountains, indigenous forests, rivers, inlets, and numerous golden beaches unfold mile after mile, interspersed with welcoming coastal towns where bushbuck and wild boar still nibble and dig in guest house gardens. Though the predominant sense is of green lushness and biomass, the area also includes the Klein Karoo across…
Garden Route Adventures.
A 300-kilometer stretch of global conservation importance, the Garden Route features some of South Africa’s most enchanting scenery. Lakes, mountains, indigenous forests, rivers, inlets, and numerous golden beaches unfold mile after mile, interspersed with welcoming coastal towns where bushbuck and wild boar still nibble and dig in guest house gardens. Though the predominant sense is of green lushness and biomass, the area also includes the Klein Karoo across the Outeniqua Mountains. Rugged and semi-arid, this part of the Garden Route boasts diverse succulents instead of giant trees and ostriches replacing the beautiful Knysna touraco.
The Garden Route is one of the most activity-dense areas in South Africa. Spectacular multi-day adventures, as well as short heart-stopping interludes, proliferate. The energetic head into the mountains or along the pristine coastline, where well-marked and hutted hiking trails await them. The daring head, sometimes with some trepidation, to one of the world's highest bungee jumps at the spectacular Bloukrans Bridge or to Mossel Bay to experience another world record-holding activity- the longest zipline over the ocean.
Thick indigenous forests, rich in ferns, frogs, butterflies, and rare plants, try to reclaim quiet back roads and magnificent historic passes creating intriguing routes for cyclists and adventure bikers.
Lovely stretches of protected coastline offer a haven for kayakers, SUPers, and surfers. The curious can don snorkel and flippers and go searching for the elusive sea horse which occupies their unique habitat in the Knysna Lagoon or frolics with seals off the Robberg Peninsula near Plettenberg Bay. The laid-back can take a sunset cruise, eat oysters and sip champagne or go whale and dolphin watching. Airborne activities are plentiful too. The temperate coastal weather is ideal for paragliding and there are multiple excellent launch sites along the Garden Route.
Whispers of a lost world flutter through the forests like the Tsitsikamma. A few solitary seldom-seen elephants still roam secluded parts of the Garden Route as old woodcutters cottages melt into the moss. In the joy of spending time in this beautiful place, we are reminded of what we have lost and what we could still lose.
