The Garden Route is perhaps the favourite Tourist Route in t

The Garden Route, strictly speaking runs via the N2 along the coast from Mossel Bay to just beyond Plettenberg Bay, and has become overpriced, overdeveloped and less-than-fascinating. But extend the route to a circular, south coast drive starting at Cape Town, and heading first for Hermanus Bay, cruising on quiet, straight, superb, back roads if time permits as far as Tsitsikamma National Park, then returning along the R62 via Oudtshoorn and perhaps Stellenbosch, and youll find much scenery that is wide and green and reminiscent of Englands Dorset, mountains that recede into the distance in layers, wonderful beaches, some of South Africas best walks, maddest activities and endless wonderful pictures demanding to be taken. Garden Route flowers appear mostly, naturally, in the spring [September - October], so dont expect a technicolour playground at other times.

Hermanus

Hermanus is a town with the heart of a seaside village, though new housing is spreading like wildfire. Magical whale-watching opportunities from the towns cliffs, particularly the rocky promontory of Castle Rock from which you can go almost eyeball-to-eyeball with Southern Right Whales from July to November.

George

George is another tourism feature along the Garden route, useful mainly as a terminus for the famous George to Knysna train ride, the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe. The views of this part of the Garden Route are stunning the return trip is 7.5 hours.

Knysna

Knysna sits on a pretty lagoon with a well-designed, modern waterfront tourist area offering the best oysters to be gotten anywhere. walks, boat rides, quad bikes and cliff-jumping.

Plettenberg

Plettenberg Bay is an activity centre with excellent beaches and a lively atmosphere. Whales like to hang out here and varied marine trips are popular, as is the enjoyable and informative Monkeyland sanctuary 10 miles [16kms] east. Lookout Beach on a lagoon spit is remote and the best beach in the area.

Natures Valley

Natures Valley is a tiny, incredibly tranquil seaside village that is still firmly resisting the 20thC, let alone the 21stC. It has one shop, one restaurant, amazingly few fences and is surrounded by overgrown dunes. The beach is absolutely stunning, the walks and surfing terrific, but there is nothing else to do.

Tsitsikamma National Park

Tsitsikamma National Park is mostly about spectacular coastline hikes, such as the famed five day Otter Trail, but skimming the tree tops on a wire in a Canopy Tour, tossing yourself off the Bloukrans River Bridge in worlds highest bungee jump [216m], mountain biking, black-water tubing and abseiling are alternative ways to keep yourself busy.

Oudtshoorn

Oudtshoorn on the way back to Cape Town is ostrich capital of the world and a pretty place of wide streets and grand houses - grand B & Bs too, for that matter. Drives around the area are magnificent, such as over the Swartberg Pass, and near Oudtshoorn are attractions such as the Cango Caves and the Cango Wildlife Ranch, but the bizarre ostrich is the star of the show here and a short, informative tour of a farm, including walking on ostrich eggshells and riding the big bird - if youre not too big yourself - are memorable experiences.

The beautiful area known as the Garden Route is situated on the narrow coastal plain, stretching eastwards from Heidelberg to the Tsitsikamma Forest and the Storms River. This is a region of great natural beauty, where nature has lavishly imparted her bountiful treasures, creating a paradise graced with evergreen forests, jewel like lakes, golden beaches and exquisite fauna and flora. The warm waters of the Indian Ocean and the many inland lagoons offer excellent opportunities to enjoy all forms of water sport and create the perfect natural habitat for numerous bird species, making the Garden Route a paradise for bird-watchers. Large tracts of the region are controlled by South Africa National Parks, thus ensuring the preservation of this unique and sensitive environment for future generations. The combination of striking land and coastal landscapes, the delicate balance maintained between the divergent, fragile eco-systems and a well-developed tourism infrastructure guarantee and unforgettable holiday experience.

Towns

Albertinia, George, Gouritzmond, Great Brak River, Hartenbos, Heidelberg, Knysna, Mosselbay, Plettenberg Bay, Riverdale, Sedgefield, Stilbaai, Wilderness.

Accommodation in and around Hermanus, Overberg,