Natural diversity of choice in the Garden Route

The popularity of the Garden Route amongst nature lovers has ranked this outdoor treasure trove as the fourth most sought after destination in South Africa.

Flanked by the Indian Ocean to the South and the Outeniqua Mountain Range to the north, this narrow coastal region is aligned along an east / west axis, spanning between Mossel Bay and Titsikamma.

For hikers there are a plethora of trails ranging from day hikes, over night hikes and multi day coastal walks, all offering a range of forest, dune and fynbos walks.

For water lovers there is SCUBA diving in Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay and excellent snorkelling at Gericke’s Point near Sedgefield. For seafood there are plenty popular resturants, but if you fancy something different, obtain a bait collecting permit, harvest some mussels and prepare them in a creamy white wine sauce for a treat on the beach. If you prefer not to get wet and would rather enjoy canoeing, there are at least five wonderful rivers to explore.

Of course, with over 200km of coastline, the Garden Route boasts some superb beaches ideal for surfing, swimming, fishing and sheer romance or sundowner watching the ocean.

Pied Kingfisher

The Garden Route also boasts 264 species of birds with numerous endemics with wonderful daily birding between coast and forest. If birds don’t hold your attention, then you can get caught up in the adventure of walking along paths in the Knysna Forest that are roamed by African Elephants, the only herd of unfenced pachyderms in South Africa.

For first time visitors to the Garden Route, most often insufficient time is allowed to truly explore the natural assets of the region, but if you have a limited time and want to focus on some special attractions, then consider these Seven Wonders of the Garden Route.