Things to do on the Garden Route
A trip to Cape Town without a trip along the Garden Route is a little incomplete, right?
While there are a thousand things to explore in JUST Cape Town, there are way more to see throughout the distances of the Western Cape such as the Garden Route.
The Garden Route is one of the most scenic pathways in South Africa. This route ranges from Mossel Bay, Western Cape, to the Storms River situated in the Eastern Cape. This breath-taking route flows along the warm and exotic Indian Ocean where whales and sharks are prone to entice visitors with an appearance. Other attractions which visitors experience includes green indigenous forest, rivers, lakes and the huge hard-to-miss mountains which runs parallel to the ocean. The route comprises of various towns, both small and large, which are filled with cultural, historical and diverse activities just waiting for you to experience them.
Here is our list of minimum recommended hotspots along the Garden Route which we know you will absolutely love!
Arts and Crafts
Old Nick Village:
The Old Nick Village, situated in Plettenberg Bay, is an historic building built in 1880 which operated as a trading store. The shop was forcibly closed in the 1960’s and remained that way until recently when it was converted into a creative multipurpose shopping centre. Here visitors can purchase a variety of goods from a selection of textiles, ceramics and other ethnic treats to name a few. Visit www.oldnickvillage.co.za for more information.
Storms River Centre Arts and Crafts:
The Storms River Centre Arts and Crafts is a small-sized bright painted creative centre located in Storms River, Tsitsikamma. This hard to miss centre is filled with an array of handmade ethnic goods made from beading, metal and wood available as affordable prices which are perfect gifts, household collections and souvenir’s. For any enquiries regarding this venue feel free to liaised directly with African Peninsula Tours.
Fine Dining
Tapas and Oysters, Knysna:
With so many ocean surrounding the Garden Route, it’s quite hard to resist some delicious seafood. Tapas and Oysters is your number one go to place a decent and vibrant tummy satisfying meal. This waterside restaurant is situated on Thesen Island in the town of Knysna. For a detailed view of their menu feel free to visit www.tapasknysna.co.za and start jotting down your order in preparation for your visit to Knysna.
Carola Ann’s:
Wherever you go, whatever you do, you simply cannot escape the luring smells from mouth-watering Middle Eastern and European cuisine. At African Peninsula Tours we believe that spice is life wherever you might find yourself. Carola Ann’s is situated in the beautiful oceanic town of Mossel Bay. Their interesting menu offers flavours for all food-lovers! To read more about their delicious restaurant offering visit www.carolaann.com.
Adventure and Animals
Birds of Eden
The infamous Birds of Eden is located in the town of Plettenberg Bay. There are over 3000 birds nested in this sanctuary from over 200 different species of birds. The sanctuary is situated in an indigenous forest covered by an approximate two hector dome. Birds are free to fly within the barriers of the dome making it pleasant for guest to interact with them. Guests are free to explore the scenic forest, walk across the 128-metre-long bridge and experience the picturesque waterfall located within the forest. Visit www.birdsofeden.co.za for information relating to the entrance fee rates.
Addo Elephant National Park:
The Addo Elephant National Park was established in 1931 as a small elephant sanctuary but has increased in size to accommodate over 500 elephants along with other wild animals such zebra’s, hyena’s, leopards, rhino’s and lions. In additional, this game reserve offers accommodation services, horse-back riding and guided game drives to name a few. Visit www.sanparks.org to pre-book your stay amongst the wildlife and experience the tranquillity of nature.
Bungee Jump at Bloukrans:
Another well-known activity located on the Garden Route is the iconic, Bloukrans bungee Jump. The Bloukrans Bungee jump is measured at 216 metres in height and is set to be the highest in the world. If you are an ‘adrenaline junkie’ this is the one activity you simply cannot miss out on. Visit www.faceadrenalin.com for further information.
