The Garden Route, a scenic area of the southern coast of South Africa, stretches from Hermanus in the Western Cape to Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. Many coastal towns, such as Gans Bay, Struis Bay, Arniston, Port Beaufort, Still Bay, Mossel Bay, Groot Brakrivier, George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay are included in the Garden Route.
Beautiful Mountains
Sandwiched between the Langeberg, Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains and the Indian Ocean, the Garden Route experiences moderately hot summers and mild to chilly winters. The Garden Route is one of the areas in South Africa with the highest annual rainfalls. Most the rains occur in the winter months in this area, and are caused by the humid winds blowing from the Indian Ocean and a barrier in the form of the variousneigbouring mountains.
Indigenous Forests
The Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma indigenous forests are a unique mixture of Cape Fynbos and temperate forest. The forests along the Garden Route offer hiking trails and other eco-tourism activities.
Nature Reserves
A number of nature reserves, including Agulhas National Park, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Wilderness National Park, Knysna National Lake Area and Tsitsikamma National Park protect the varied ecosystems of the area. Nearly 300 species of bird life are to be found in a variety of habitats ranging from fynbos to forest to wetlands. Unique marine reserves also protect soft coral reefs, dolphins, seals and a host of other marine life.
Whales!
Whale watching is one of the great attractions of the Garden Route. Various bays along the southern coast are nurseries to the endangered Southern Right Whale. These whales come into the sanctuary offered by the numerous bays to calve during winter and spring (July to December).
And A Steam Train
Most people opt for exploring the Garden Route by car, but the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe offers tourists the chance to view the Garden Route's natural splendor from Africa's last remaining passenger steam train.
Garden Route Real Estate
Most people who visit the Garden Route as tourists, wish to someday call a little bit of this wonderous area home. Prices of residential and other real estate in this area are high, compared to areas that fall just outside of the Garden Route. But high real estate prices could be expected, considering the world-wide attraction this green area holds!
