South Africa is sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean, and the worlds on either side of the country are completely different as a result. Cape Town has the wet winters and dry heat brought on by the colder ocean, whereas Durban epitomizes the tropical, balmy atmosphere along the warm Indian Ocean. The Garden Route is a strip of pristine land that lies between these two poles of heat and weather, which runs from Port Elizabeth to Knysna. This stretch of land has been written about by authors throughout South African history, and is a hub for tourists who appreciate the finer things in life but have a family that they need to think about and accommodate into any vacation plans. If this sounds like your situation, then read on – the Garden Route really does offer enough to keep everybody happy all at once.
Knysna
Knysna is arguably the most picturesque region of South Africa. Dark blue oceans flow between massive mountains and peaks, and the whole area is coated in a thick tropical forest. The weather is temperate and often slightly overcast which is ideal because it keeps tourists cool, especially when they choose to relax on one of the many superb beaches in the area. Apart from the breathtaking scenery and warm waters, Knysna is also famous for its oyster festival, the only one of its kind in South Africa. Here you can sample some of the freshest and tastiest oysters available while sipping on local wines as you overlook the beautiful ocean. It simply doesn’t get any better for those with a more sophisticated plan for their leisure time.
Victoria Bay
Victoria is considered by many of South Africa’s foremost surfers to be the best wave in the country, and one of the best in the world. The beach itself is tucked away about 15 minutes outside of George, another sleep Garden Route town, and is picture perfect. Two steep mountains squeeze the water into a fairly narrow beach, with the wave running across the length of the bay that is created between the two mountain heads. The area is one of the country’s best-kept secrets, and surprisingly few local people travel down to make use of the relaxed, beachy accommodation. It is for this quiet, undiscovered feeling that Victoria Bay is one of the places that you have to visit on your exploration of the Garden Route, and once again, it is completely family friendly.
George
George is a kind of a capital on the Garden Route, although linking this incredibly laid back town to some kind of civilization is an insult to the whole ethos of the world’s most relaxed city. George lies in the shadows of the Outeniqua Mountains, sheltered from the rush of the world around it. A sleepy coastal village, George is ideally positioned close to bigger centres like Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, but still remains out of the way. Quiet and tranquil, George is a great place to unwind and do nothing except relax on the beach and take in the view.
This guest post was written by Victoria. She is currently learning about Student credit cards. Image by exfordy
