THE FOLLOWING ARE REGIONS IN THE GARDEN ROUTE AREA:
•
HERMANUS REGION
Known as the heart of the whale coast, this coastal
resort offers the best land based whale watching in
the world. Whales visit Walker Bay from July until
December every year. About 60 to 100 of these
magnificent animals come here from Antarctica to
calf. Often coming to within 5-10 meters of the
coast. Hermanus also offers great beaches, mountain
walks and the craft market is famous for its art.
Hermanus also has many fine restaurants and is a
wine lovers paradise with nearby wine farms offering
wine tasting.
Hermanus boasts some of the best land-based whale
watching in the world. Walker Bay has become the
nursery and breeding ground of the Southern Right
Whale, and can be seen as close as 10 metres from
shore, breaching, sailing, spyhopping and lobtailing
and playing with their babies.
•
KNYSNA REGION
The Garden Route, stretching along the Southern
coast of Africa is an area of unspoiled beauty and
majesty and quite unlike any other region in Africa.
With a temperate climate and mild, year round
weather, the Garden Route has a relaxed tranquility
which makes it unique. The coastline is at times
rugged and rough with towering cliffs and turbulent
seas, at times it is placid with gentle lagoons and
golden white beaches, such as at Knysna, Plettenberg
Bay and Wilderness.
The Garden Route is ideal for exploring on a self
drive vacation, driving either from Cape Town along
the coast through Hermanus - the Whale capital of
South Africa - or from the east at Port Elizabeth.
The traveller can also access the Garden Route by
scheduled flight from Johannesburg or Cape Town to
George or Plettenberg Bay.
The region has a number of magnificent hotels, golf
estates and country lodges. This is an ideal area to
relax in after a wildlife safari, or to include in a
romantic getaway or honeymoon as well as being
ideally suited to families.
•
PLETTENBERG BAY REGION
Plettenberg Bay boasts a glorious temperate climate
all year round and offers one of the best climates
in South Africa. Summers are pleasantly warm with
comparatively low humidity, while winters are
particularly mild, with year-round rainfall. Spring
starts by mid September.
Plettenberg Bay is one of South Africa’s top holiday
destinations. The attractive bay is home to two
unbelievable beaches, that is Lookout Beach and
Robberg Beach. Robberg beach is a true favourite
with most visitors to the idyllic coastal town.
A highlight during spring is the arrival of Right
whales which breed and calve in the sheltered
waters. Lookout Beach offers the best vantage to
view these amazing creatures and also offers
impressive vistas of the surrounding Outeniqua
Mountain range.
The sunsets at Plettenberg Bay are impressive and
the ritual of the sundowner are way of life in this
relaxed community.