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The Garden Route

Seldom one can see such a long stretch of breathtakingly beautiful coastline like the Garden Route of South Africa. Stretching from Mossel Bay in the western cape to Storms river in the east, the Garden Route is the a paradise on earth and invariably among the top attractions in South Africa. Beautiful beaches, lush greenery, rocky terrain, deep gorges of rivers will meet your eyes as you traverse the region of the Garden Route. It is the perfect getaway from the chaos of city life and has everything to make your holidays a memorable one.

Officially, the region is said to be spread between Mossel Bay and Storms river, but the places within Stillbai and Mossel Bay are also considered as part of the Garden Route. Towns which are counted to be part of the Garden Route are Mossel Bay, Sedgefield, Knysna, , Plettenberg Bay, George, Wilderness and Stormsriver.

Nestled beneath the Outeniqua Mountain, George is the largest town of the Garden Route in South Africa. It is a modern town which is also the administrative capital of Southern Cape. George has evolved as a major tourist destination for its scenic landscapes, valleys, dense forests, mountains and rivers. Knysna is another popular tourist spot which is situaed on the banks of a lagoon. Replete with fantastic beaches, large areas of forests and big lakes, Knysna has all the features to be popular among the tourists.

Halfway between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, lies the bustling town of Mossel Bay which is a popular holiday destination and a busy port. The town houses number of historic buildings along with golf courses and beaches that have made it popular among holidaymakers. Plettenberg Bay has not developed completely into a town like George and Mossel Bay, but it is fast becoming a favorite among the tourists for its virgin beaches, unpolluted rivers, beautiful lagoons, deep forests and organized whale watching industry.

If you are looking for solitude in a South African village, Sedgefield is the right place where you can spend your time by boating on the lakes or by bird watching in the surroundings. Wilderness in the Garden Route is another well known seaside town with number of fabulous beaches and places to watch whales and dolphins.

The Garden Route in South Africa might be famous as an ideal holiday destinations for families but the adventure travelers have number of choices in the region. In the thick forests, sandy beaches, rocky coastal areas people can go for hiking and there are even options for mountain biking and horse riding. For the lovers of water sports, there are ample scopes for diving, surfing, sea kaykaying and water paddling excursions.

Some of the must see of the Garden Route in South Africa Tsitsikamma National Park, Lakes Area National Park and Cango Caves. The caves near Oudtshoorn town are some of the biggest stalagmite formations in the world which happened millions of years ago.

From towns like Plettenberg Bay, Wilderness and other places at the Garden Route, the tourists can watch whales and dolphins and these places are often thronged by travelers just for whale watching boat trips. Presence of luxurious hotels, restaurants, vast golf courses, craft shops, markets have made the Garden Route in South Africa one of top holiday destinations in the world.