Garden Route, which stretches from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to the Storms River in the Eastern Cape, is a well-known paradise along South Africa’s southeast coast. This is a place where you may find an unmatched range of experiences, from the heart-pounding rush of bungee jumping to the tranquil beauty of quiet meerkat tours in the early morning.
As you will see as we read through this article, I was astounded when I finally got to tour the Garden Route in 2018! That’s why I want to share a few personal stories with you today, each one adding a thread to the greater story of why travelers from all over the world have fallen in love with the Garden Route. Now let’s get started.
Let’s start by taking a geographic look at the area, like we normally do. The Garden Route, which stretches along the southeast coast and passes through a number of significant cities and sites, is an excellent way to see South Africa’s varied topography. Beginning in Mossel Bay and ending at the Storms River in the Tsitsikamma National Park, the route passes via the cities of George, Wilderness, Knysna, and Plettenberg Bay. From the picturesque lagoonside village of Knysna to the historic streets of Mossel Bay, each town along the road has its own distinct appeal. As is customary, let us begin by examining the region geographically. The Garden Route is a great way to view South Africa’s diverse geography. It runs along the southeast coast and passes through several important cities and landmarks. The route goes via the towns of George, Wilderness, Knysna, and Plettenberg Bay before finishing at the Storms River in the Tsitsikamma National Park. It starts in Mossel Bay and ends there. Every town along the route has a unique charm, from the historic alleys of Mossel Bay to the gorgeous lagoonside settlement of Knysna.
My trip down the Garden Route began with the breath-taking experience of bungee jumping at Bloukrans Bridge, and it was an exciting mix of high-adventure and tranquil moments spent with nature. The well-known 43-meter plunge at the Kawarau Bridge Bungee in Queenstown, New Zealand, was my very first bungee jump. The thing that made that special was that, in addition to the jump, you could also choose to get wet in the Kawarau River. In contrast, the 216-meter leap at Bloukrans Bridge, which was once the highest bungee jump in the world (it is currently ranked #4), is a truly spectacular jump. Just picture yourself, ready to jump from the brink of the Bloukrans Bridge, heart thumping loudly in your ears. The surge of pure adrenaline during free fall is so strong that it feels like flying. For me, the leap meant venturing into the unknown, a conclusion best summed up by Will Smith’s quote, “the best things in life are on the other side of fear.”
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The Garden Route serves as a playground for a variety of these activities, as we have seen. My favorite experience was tandem paragliding from Cloud Base Paragliding, where I took a chance by holding my phone to capture a video of the breathtaking birds-eye view of the coastline. We also had the opportunity to investigate an event called the Meerkat excursions, which ranged from the thrilling to the serene. We sat in silence, enjoying a steaming cup of coffee, and observed as these amazing Meerkats came out of their burrows and engaged in social interactions and everyday activities. This was a very personal and unique interaction with the outdoors, one that was respectful and unfiltered.
That wasn’t all; for the course of our 12-day journey, there was something memorable to do or see every day. A few of these experiences were the exhilarating Cango Caves Zipline, the breathtaking bush safari encounters at Buffelsdrift wildlife Lodge, the exhilarating Adrenalin Addo Zipline and Giant Swing, and the remarkable wildlife drive in Addo Elephant National Park. In relation to water sports, there was whale watching off the coast of Hermanus, kayaking in the Knysna Lagoon, and surfing at Victoria Bay. Every encounter combined to create a tapestry of recollections that emphasized the Garden Route’s richness and splendor.
In addition to these activities, the Garden Route offers a variety of lodging choices to fit every preference and budget, all while showcasing its genuine hospitality. Visitors are spoiled for choice, with everything from opulent resorts and boutique hotels tucked away in the midst of the wilderness to little guesthouses and bed & breakfasts maintained by amiable locals. Guests may fully appreciate the natural beauty of the area from a number of hotels that offer breathtaking views of the ocean, forests, or mountains.
In terms of the food scene, the native cuisine of the Route is a fusion of flavors, drawing inspiration from native Khoi and San as well as Dutch, British, and Malay dishes to provide a distinctive and delectable combination of flavors. Seafood takes center stage, with fresh catches from the Indian Ocean served in both traditional and modern ways. Examples of this include fish grills on the beach and luscious oysters in Knysna. The region’s rich soil yields a wide range of fruits and vegetables, which are used extensively in regional cuisine along with meats raised nearby and handmade cheeses. Wine lovers will be in for a treat because the Garden Route is home to some of the best wine-producing regions in South Africa, where you can go on vineyard excursions and sample wines. Berries harvesting is one unusual experience I wanted to share here. You can experience the pure delight of hand-picking delicious, ripe berries beneath the South African sun along the Route. Strolling through fields of strawberries, raspberries, and other fruit kinds with baskets in hand, families, couples, and lone travelers discover that each berry is a monument to the region’s rich soils and temperate environment. Though tranquil, this encounter captures the myriad experiences of the Garden Route, delivering a palate-cleansing break from the high-adrenaline activities and a reminder of the small joys that nature bestows. Beyond just providing lodging, the Garden Route’s hospitality is known for its welcoming locals who are always eager to share their tales, cuisine, and easygoing way of life with guests.
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