Excursions from Cape Town - final chapter

Here is our final Chapter to our guide to the South African coast...enjoy!

Back along the N2, Knysa is another worthy port of call. Known as the 'Pearl of the Garden Route' (because of the oyster fishing in the area), this small city combines a number of craft and gift shops with a plethora of outdoor pursuits and activities. Many people who hire a car head to the Knysa Forest, simply to relax amongst the greenery, serene water streams or go on one of the walking trails. The surrounding forestry is also home to the Knysa Elephants. A truly one-off experience can be had by hiring a houseboat at Knysa to stay on the lagoon for the night (home to the rare Knysa Sea Horse), or if only visiting for the day; tours of the lagoon are a popular option. As well as these trappings, the city offers numerous whale watching tours.







Just a few kilometres from Knysa is the luxurious settlement of Plettenberg Bay, or 'Plett' as the locals call it. The bay is renowned in Africa as being a destination favoured by the rich and wealthy. The sumptuous surroundings of Plettenberg are marked by the red sandrocks that rise from the two rivers and Indian Ocean and also the stunning white beaches. Should you be feeling energetic, there are many water sports to pursue and if you haven't already; take one of the whale watching and dolphin tours available.

As you near the climax of this incredible journey, the Garden Route arguably saves the best until the end - the 65km long Tsitsikamma National Park. On arrival, you are able to book a boat trip to explore the spectacular canyon within the park. You will notice on the boat trip that much of the water is black in colour owing to mineral deposits, which merely adds to the colourful effects already created by the tropical plants and green ferns. Hiking is also massively popular at Tsitsikamma, with many trails on offer. Cross the 'Hanging Bridge' trail across the river, or go on the Otter Trail, which enables you to see the Cape Clawless Otters in their natural habitat. Walking trails are also available up the Tsitsikamma mountain range for enthusiastic walkers, with effort rewarded by the incredible views over this amazing landscape. Other outdoor pursuits include paragliding, hand gliding, mountain biking, abseiling and even bungee jumping! Golfers are also well served by the handful of courses within the park's limits.







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Excursions from Cape Town - The Garden Route part II

We left you on the Garden Route, gazing at the marvels of the Outeniqua Nature Reserve.

Here is the rest of our Guide for one of the most scenic routes in the world...

A short drive from George and back on the N2 coastal road will bring you to the formidable Wilderness National Park. This captivating landscape incorporates wonderfully lush forests, dominant mountain ranges and beautiful lakes, rivers and estuaries - not to mention beaches and an unparalleled amount of outdoor pursuits! Whale and dolphin watching tours are available from Dolphin Point as well as abseiling, paragliding, boating, fishing and hiking! For those looking to exert a little less energy, consider taking a walk along the numerous beautiful walking trails or camp in one of the riverside log cabins situated throughout the park.





The beauty of the landscape is unrelenting, with the pretty seaside village of Sedgefield being no exception. The village is surrounded by incredible lakes and offers a number of water sports. The village also offers a haven for visitors to take a tranquil walk along its peaceful waterfronts. The village sits alongside the Swartvlei Estuary and also borders the activity and sightseeing rich Goukamma Nature Reserve. Goukamma is in possession of an extensively long, serene beach and offers ample opportunity to see many different animal species thanks to its diverse habitat, with grysbok, vervet monkeys, otters and over 220 species of bird calling the reserve home. Goukamma Nature Reserve also boasts a large marine protected area, habitat to common and bottlenose dolphins.






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