Garden Route and Addo National Park . It is the beautiful stretch of coastline that starts from Stilbaai and Albertina Towns. Winding its route for more than 200 km past George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. Finally coming down to Tsitsikama known for its giant trees and birdlife. The coastline from Mossel Bay to Plettenberg Bay is close to 300 km long. It is among the most visited tourist destinations in South Africa.
The town of George was established due to the growing demand of timber and wood used in for transport, furniture and building. It’s located on a 10-km plateau on the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains to the north and the Indian ocean to the south. While the plateau is fertile and lush greenery, behind the mountains the Klein Karoo is semi-arid. The Klein Karoo known for its gigantic beautiful castles built from proceeds of the ostrich boom back in the late 1800s. Today ostrich farming is still rife.
Garden Route and Addo National Park
The Garden route is a perfect escape for adventure from scuba diving, abseiling, fishing and more. In ‘Plett’ there is the famous ocean safari, a search for sea mammals including the dolphins, whales and sharks. Tsitsikama national park combines the marine and land attractions abundant birdlife.
Oudtshoorn is the ostrich capital of the world. The world’s biggest bird has it’s perfect home here. It is also the gate way to the Cango caves, a series of caverns and chambers naturally hewn out of limestone just 40km from Oudtshoorn. The Cango caves are among the top ten most visited places in South Africa.
Addo National Park
Garden Route further stretches on the southern coast from Heidelberg to the Storms River. The coastline is dotted with beaches and bays and vividly coloured wild flowers as the mountains overlook the shores.
Addo elephant national park on the other side is just 70km from Port Elizabeth town located on 120 000 ha of land of thick bushveld of the Sunday River. It was established in 1931 to serve 4 elephants that were at the brink of extinction. Now it boast of 350 elephants, cape buffaloes, black rhino and a few antelopes.
As you drive back to Cape Town further inland is the Greater karoo. A semi arid valley providing the ideal habitat for ostriches farmed here.
Overview
The Garden Route tour starts in Cape Town and ends in Cape Town. You drive up to Tsitsikama where you explore the national park and engage several optional activities available here. Tsitsikamma is a scenic coastal area located in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is famous for its natural beauty, including pristine beaches, rugged coastline, and indigenous forests. Visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, whale watching, kayaking, and abseiling. The area is also home to the Tsitsikamma National Park, which offers an opportunity to experience the diverse flora and fauna of the region. Some popular attractions within the park include the suspension bridge over the Storms River, the Otter Trail, and the Salt River Mouth Hiking Trails.
After fun at the sea we take to Addo National park.
Addo Elephant National Park is a wildlife reserve located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It was established in 1931 to protect a small herd of elephants, and today it is one of the largest national parks in South Africa, covering over 180,000 hectares.
Here are some key facts about Addo National Park:
- Biodiversity: Addo is home to a wide variety of wildlife including elephants, lions, buffalo, rhinos, antelopes, and numerous bird species.
- Elephant Herd: Addo is best known for its elephant population, which has grown from just 11 individuals to over 600 today.
- Conservation Efforts: The park has a strong focus on conservation and has successfully brought several endangered species back from the brink of extinction.
- Multiple Ecosystems: Addo covers a diverse range of landscapes including dense forests, rolling hills, and semi-arid bushveld.
The park is home to 350 elephants, many kudus and other antelopes. An interesting bird life, buffaloes and zebra. The view points in the Park and the picnic sports are well up to standard for a family outing.
We head to the little Karoo via Oudtshoorn to the Cango Caves. A stop at one Ostrich farm as we make our way down the popular Route 62.
Trip Highlights
- Hermanus
- Plettenberg sea safari
- Tsitsikama and Storms River
- Addo safari
- Cango caves
- Route 62
Recent Comments