GARDEN ROUTE
WESTERN CAPE
The Garden Route is nestled between the Indian Ocean (south) and the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains (north). It is a lush region with indigenous forests, mountain ranges, rivers, lagoons, rugged coastlines, beaches and marine protected areas. Ideal for outdoor activities like sandboarding, kayaking, hiking, snorkeling and scuba diving.
ABOUT
The only national park in this area is the Garden Route National Park (GRNP). It consists of 3 separate sections: Wilderness, Knysna Lakes and Tsitsikamma. Besides the GRNP, there are a great number of nature reserves and even a few game reserves with the Big 5. Off shore there is a chance to see Southern Right Whales, dolphins, Brown Fur Seals and Great White Sharks.
The main attractions in the Garden Route are the suspension bridges in the Tsitsikamma section of the GRNP, the lush area of Nature’s Valley, the Robberg Nature Reserve at Plettenberg Bay and the Knysna Heads.
Up in the Langeberg Mountains you will find the Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve and the Boosmansbos Wilderness Area. These are lush mountainous areas with indigenous forests and Fynbos vegetation. With a couple of trails, bird hides and around 200 different birds species, these areas are well worth the visit.
One of the gems in this region is Nature’s Valley. This town is located on the coastline, east of Plettenberg Bay, and is completely surrounded by forests. The R102 in and out of the town is a beautiful drive, the trails through the forests are an absolute must and Mermaids Cove might be the that little piece of paradise you were always looking for. The forests surrounding Nature’s Valley are home to a lot of wildlife such as leopard, blue duiker, bush buck, porcupine, baboon, Vervet Monkeys, Caracal and more.
PARKS&RESERVES
Boosmansbos Wilderness Area
The Boosmansbos Wilderness Area is a true hikers paradise, located in the Langeberg Mountains, to the north of Heidelberg. Over 60km of marked paths and some overnight campsite offer an excellent nature experience. Picture 14.000ha of dramatic mountainous terrain with lush Fynbos and fragments of indigenous forests. Giving daily access to a limited number of people, Boosmansbos really gives you that feeling of being isolated from the outside world.
Gondwana Private Game Reserve
The Gondwana Private Game Reserve is located to the north-west of Mossel Bay and offers a unique safari experience. Here you can see the Big 5, over 15 species of antelope and 17 species of carnivore. Gondwana is also home to the endangered Bontebok, Cape Mountain Zebra and the Sable antelope. You can take game drives and guided bush walks through these rolling hills, covered in Fynbos. Beautiful valleys and a stunning mountainous backdrop will provide lasting memories.
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
The Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve is a small (250ha) reserve located to the north-east of Heidelberg. It is one of the largest remaining indigenous forest in the Langeberg region. Dozens of tree species grow here including Stinkwood, Yellowwood, Red Alder and Ironwood. Some of the trees have grown very old and large, giving visitors a magical and fairytale like feeling. 2 hiking trails meander through these forests.
Robberg Nature Reserve
The Robberg Nature Reserve is located to the south of Plettenberg Bay and is one of the highlights of the Garden Route. The peninsula is home to rugged cliffs, caves and sandy beaches. Most of the reserve is covered in Fynbos. There are 3 hiking trails that range between 1,5 and 9km in length. These will give you fantastic views across the bay and the Tsitsikamma Mountains in the background. Along the coastline you can spot seal colonies, whales and dolphins further out and a variety of sea birds.
Garden Route National Park
The Garden Route National Park consists of several sections. The Tsitsikamma section has dramatic coastal scenery, reefs, rivers and lush forests. The Knysna section has a tidal lagoon and open estuary. The Wilderness section has rivers, lakes, estuaries and beaches. The diversity in vegetation, wildlife and activities here is enormous. Excellent for whale watching, snorkeling, diving, birding and hiking on some of the many hiking trails through the forests and along the coastline.
Goukamma Nature Reserve
The Goukamma Nature Reserve is located along the coast, between Sedgefield and Knysna. The reserve has a couple of different habitats like dense forests, coastal dunes covered with Fynbos, a long sandy beach with sandstone cliffs, lakes, rivers and estuaries. It boasts over 220 bird species and some small mammal species. You can even spot some whales and dolphins out at sea. Flora and fauna are best experienced via the 4 hiking trails, ranging between 2h and 6h, or canoeing up and down the river.
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
The Keurbooms River Nature Reserve lies north of Plettenberg Bay, alongside the Keurbooms River. This beautiful reserve is covered by forest, with trees such as Cape Beech, Giant Stinkwoods, Yellowwoods and of course Keurboom trees. There are no hiking trails through this reserve, so getting around is done by river. There is an overnight canoe-trail (7km) up to Whiskey Creek Cabin. The further up the river you go, the more you fall under Keurbooms’ spell.
FLORA&FAUNA
The Garden Route is home to an extraordinary variety of flora and fauna. This region has many different habitats, such as mountains, lakes, forests, coastlines and marine, and it is renowned for its natural beauty. One of the highlights here are the indigenous forests. These are the largest complex of natural, closed canopy forests in southern Africa. Hiking through these forests, you will see many different tree species such as Ironwood, Outeniqua Yellowwood, White Pear, Stinkwood, Cherrywood and Cape Beech. Among them are some giants in age and size. Stinkwood trees grow to an average of a 1000 years and Outeniqua Yellowwood can grow up to 60 meters in height.
This variety of habitats also provides a big diversity in bird species. Over 350 species have been observed here. The lakes and lagoons are ideal to spot herons, kingfishers, African Fish Eagles, Knysna Warblers and many waders. Birds to keep an eye out for are the Knysna Turaco, Narina Trogon, Olive Thrush, Chorister Robin-Chat, Cape Robin-Chat, White-starred Robin, African Oystercatcher, Orange-breasted Sunbird and Knysna Woodpecker.
Just like the birds, mammals are also quite diverse and abundant here. Among others, we are talking about Bushpig, Southern Bushbuck, Blue Duiker, Vervet Monkey, Cape Grysbok, Leopard, Caracal and African Clawless Otter. But perhaps the most exciting story here is the elephant. It was estimated that back in the 1880s, there were 400-600 elephants roaming freely through the Knysna forests. Today there are probably around 10 individuals left. Droppings of these elephants are still seen by tourists, but spotting the elephant itself is quite rare. With a couple of game reserves in this region, you can even see the Big 5 and many other typical safari animals.
The Garden Route is excellent for whale watching. Some 15 different species of whales and dolphins swim along this coastline. Between May and December, the Southern Right Whales come here to give birth to their young in the sheltered bays along the coastline. The offshore reefs are home to many species of fish and sharks, as are the many estuaries and lagoons. One individual in particular should be on your radar, the Knysna Seahorse. This seahorse is endemic to the Garden Route and has only been found in the Keurbooms River, Knysna Lagoon and the estuarine portion of the Swartvlei in Sedgefield.
