Garden Route Area Information

South Africa’s Garden Route is one of the most scenic coastlines in the world

Most of the Garden Route’s beautiful lakes, mountain ranges beaches, indigenous forests and fields of Cape fynbos form part of the Garden Route National Park. This visually stunning wonderland is home to an incredible array of bird, wildlife and botanical species, and offers visitors an almost unending choice of leisure options and adventure activities.

The Garden Route is blessed with many award winning restaurants. A variety of eateries, from farm stalls and bakeries to coffee shops and fine dining restaurants, offer delectable dining experiences to suit your taste and budget. We are familiar with them all and are happy to make recommendations according to your personal preference.

This is an adrenalin junkie’s paradise. Water sports galore are on offer on and in the amazing network of lakes and rivers and the ocean, while the indigenous forests and mountains offer everything from intense single track mountain biking to leisurely family hikes. The Garden Route’s Sedgefield is also known as a paraglider’s Mecca. Permits may be required for some activities, which we’ll gladly arrange on your behalf.

A treetop canopy tour in the indigenous Tsitsikamma forest will challenge you to glide from one platform to another along a steel cable suspended up to 30 meters above the forest floor. The zip line tour at the Tsitsikamma Falls Adventure Park includes eight exhilarating cable rides over the Kruis River, down a ravine and over three waterfalls. The longest of these slides is 211 meters long and 50 meters above the ground.

If this doesn’t sound thrilling enough, try your nerves at the highest commercially operated bungee jump in the world. The jump from Tsitsikamma’s Bloukrans Bridge is an intimidating 216 meters. If you’d like to experience a view like none other along with your thrill, then take to the skies with paragliding or skydiving.

The Garden Route’s golf courses are legendary. These include Goose Valley and the Plettenberg Bay Golf Course, the Pezula Championship Course, Simola Golf & Country Estate and Knysna Golf Course, Fancourt, Ou Baai and George Golf Club, as well as Pinnacle Point and many more. While most courses do have clubs for hire, you’ll score a birdie by booking one of our new golf tours.

The Garden Route has some of South Africa’s best beaches with soft, white sand and many tidal and rock pools. The warm currents of the Indian Ocean mean that sea temperatures are pleasant, even during the winter months. Bathers should however be aware of rip currents and always pack suntan lotion, drinking water and a hat.

Animal lovers will be astounded at the variety of animal encounters available in the Garden Route. You don’t have to go on safari anywhere else when you can view the Big 5 and other animals at the Garden Route Game Lodge. The Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre will introduce you to their big cats including lions, panthers and tigers, as well as South Africa’s lesser indigenous cats like the Caracal, Serval and Cheetah.

Catch up with long lost family members at the Monkeyland primate sanctuary or marvel at Africa’s giants at the Knysna Elephant Park or Elephant Sanctuary. These facilities offer guests the rare opportunity to get up close and personal with the elephants, but also acts as platforms for education, research and protection. If you think the elephants are for the birds, then visit the world’s largest free flight bird aviary, housing over 100 species of birds, at Birds of Eden.

The George Arts Theatre brings a series of theatrical productions to the stage throughout the year, while various venues within the region regularly host popular touring bands and other shows. The larger towns provide late night entertainment at clubs, oyster bars, pubs and taverns, and bring the latest blockbusters to their big screen cinema theatres.