Garden Route Archives - Page 2 of 3

Garden Route

Weather in Garden Route

Summer (November – March) Temperatures reach a high in the mid-30C but pleasantly cool evenings. Excessive heat is rare and it is possible to get occasional rain.

Autumn (April/May) Temperature highs in low 20C falling overnight to around 13C

Spring (September/October) Temperature highs in low 20C falling overnight to around 13C

Winter (June – August) Temperatures tend to be mild during the day (16C to 20C) and normally a minimum of 3C overnight. Snow is very rare but can fall on the mountain tops in July and August. The area around Wilderness and Storms River is prone to sea mist.

The coast is spectacular and beautiful mountains are punctured by tortuous passes. There are lively towns in the summer, extreme adventures and sports, sweeping beaches, challenging golf courses and, of course, wildlife and the unique fynbos vegetation.Plettenberg Bay is regarded by some as the jewel of the Garden route flanked by the Tsitsikamma Mountains in the distance. Knysna , famous for its oysters is known for its near perfect lagoon. In season the town is lively with numerous bars and fun places to eat. Search for the elusive Knysna Forest Elephants, rumoured to be the last totally free ranging elephants in South Africa.

Wilderness has one of the most photographed cliff top views in South Africa. Storms River is a small village in the heart of the Tsitsikamma Forest – a temperate Rain Forest but also a place where you can bungee jump, abseil, horse ride and also enjoy the unique Tree Top Canopy Tour. At nearby Storms River Mouth are some of the earliest traces of human habitation. There are many animal related parks celebrating elephants, monkeys, snakes and birds. Bird life is amazing for its variety including the shy, but beautiful, Knysna Loerie. Whales can be seen at Plettenberg Bay between June and December.

Places to go in the Garden Route

Beaches for Swimming & Surfing Plettenberg Bay, Cape St. Francis, Victoria Bay & Herold’s Bay.
Beaches for Scenery & Walking Keurboomstrand, Nature’s Valley & Wilderness.
Nature Reserves Robberg Peninsula (Plettenberg Bay) and the Tsitsikamma National Parks are the main reserves.
Hiking The Otter Trail is a 5 day hike along the Tsitsikamma coast but book well in advance.
Towns Plettenberg Bay, Knysna, Wilderness, Sedgefield, Cape St. Francis, Jeffery’s Bay and Mossel Bay are the main coastal towns.
Activities Bungee Jumping (Bloukrans Bridge), Horse Riding & Tree Top Canopy Tours & much more!
Golf Fancourt, George, Pezula and Goose Valley are just some of the excellent world class golf courses found in this area.
Eating out is easy with many good restaurants.

Accommodation in Garden Route

The Garden Route extends for 500 kms along the coastal area from Swellendam to near Port Elizabeth and is one of the playgrounds of South Africa. Some of the finest South African luxury hotels can be found as well as more affordable but excellent bed and breakfast lodges.

Coral Tree Cottages, Nr. Plettenberg Bay

Coral Tree Cottages is one of our favourite locations for families

Coral Tree Cottages have 3 single bedroom cottages and 3 double bedroom cottages. Each cottage is brick built and thatched. Each cottage has a lounge and dining area, fully equipped kitchen and well-maintained and decorated bathroom. The decoration is classic and the cottages are maintained to a high standard. One of the two bedroom cottages has the benefit of its own swimming pool. All the cottages have a private garden area with braai (barbecue) facilities. The cottages are conveniently situated close to the main N2 road. As you drive down the gravel drive you enter a different world with exotic trees and plants in the beautifully landscaped grounds. Because of the way the cottages are located, the impression is that you are miles from civilisation. There is also a communal pool set in the gardens and, thoughtfully, there is a children’s play area next to the owner’s cottage. However, this is not just for children and families as the one-bedroom cottages are also ideal for couples looking for a quiet and inexpensive retreat with some wonderful nature walks into the surrounding Harkerville Forest.

About Coral Tree Cottages’ Location

Plettenberg Bay with its three beautiful beaches and excellent shopping is only 7 minutes drive away. Knysna is a 10-minute drive in the opposite direction and close by is the Knysna Elephant Park where you can get very close to their three charming elephants. A little further and at The Crags there are a number of animal parks. Here you can get close to indigenous small cats, monkeys, birds, elephants and even snakes. Adventure Land is a part of Coral Tree and your children will enjoy the extensive water park. There are numerous water slides, tubing and swimming pools to keep you occupied for many hours.

Singing Kettle, Plettenberg Bay

Great beach side location overlooking the Indian Ocean

A great option for families seeking a property right by a beach, and couples who are looking for a romantic location. You can lie in bed and listen to the sound of the Indian Ocean and in season (June to December) the haunting cries of the whales that come into the bay to mate and calve. The property has 6 beautiful rooms, tastefully decorated in light colours that compliment the bright light that is a feature of an ocean side location. The rooms are located on the first floor of the building that boasts one of the renowned restaurants in the Plettenberg Bay area. Although strictly speaking this is a self-catering establishment, the owner provides basic essentials such as tea & coffee, milk, yoghourt and granola for breakfast.

About the Location

Plettenberg Bay with its bustling centre and more glorious beaches is a 10-minute drive away. The local beaches are excellent for walking although the tides on Kettle Beach do not make it suitable for swimming. A short walk along the beach, however, will take you to Arch Rock, which as its name implies is a natural arch. Through this there is a lagoon that is good for swimming. Sitting, having lunch at the restaurant is where we have had our most frequent sightings of huge schools of dolphins that come to frolic in the surf. This is a really idyllic location and perfect for an active family.

River Club, Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route

The River Club has to be one of the best locations for a family holiday but it is ideal for couples as well

River Club is a development of similar properties situated just a 10 minutes walk from Plettenberg Bay’s beautiful Central Beach. Here we feature Primrose Cottage which is a pretty bungalow in traditional South African colonial design. There are 3 double bedrooms, with one en-suite and a family bathroom. The cottage has a large living area with a wood burning stove for chilly winter evenings and a great kitchen. Facilities include television, DVD player, Hi Fi radio and CD player, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer and microwave. A barbecue (braai) completes the specification. The local butcher will amaze you with the quality and price of the meat prepared specially for a traditional braai. In addition to Primrose Cottage there are a number of other similar properties, some larger, to rent in the same development.

About The River Club’s Location

The complex has a pool, tennis and squash courts. It is situated close to the Piesang River that has an abundance of birdlife. You may also see the occasional otter. The centre of Plett is close, 5 minutes’ drive, and here you will find plenty of shops for all your needs. There is also a mall for some of South Africa’s leading chain stores. The spectacular Robberg Peninsula Nature Reserve has some wonderful coastal walks. Although the properties are self catering, there are so many great restaurants locally it is possible to eat out for all your meals.

Laird’s Lodge, Plettenberg Bay

Quiet location and comfortable accommodation in the Heart of The Garden Route

This is a small luxuriously appointed country lodge set in the Harkerville Forest that lies between the N2 highway and the spectacular coastline close to Plettenberg Bay. There are 16 beautifully appointed rooms and a level of privacy that gives Laird’s Lodge an excellent reputation for people looking to ‘get away from it all’. The gardens are a veritable botanists dream and provide a calm oasis to chill out and relax – maybe savouring a drink beside the pool. Laird’s Lodge is particularly renowned for its fine restaurant.

About the Location

The Lodge is situated on the edge of the forest around 10 minutes’ drive to the centre pf Plettenberg Bay and its fine beaches. You are also only 15 minutes away from bustling Knysna and around 20 minutes from the animal parks in The Crags. The lodge is at the centre of the Garden Route Wine Trail with its 17 wineries – many offering fine cuisine with your wine tasting.

Milkwood Manor, Plettenberg Bay

A true beachfront hotel in the heart of the Garden Route

Milkwood Manor must have one of the best locations on The Garden Route. It is adjacent to Lookout Beach, which is one of the three main beaches in Plettenberg Bay. The 11 bedrooms are beautifully appointed, stylishly decorated and are a reasonable size. Many have balconies with views over the tidal lagoon. If the beach isn’t enough then you can relax with a drink beside the pool or on the terrace overlooking the lagoon.

About the Location

This location is an ornithologist’s dream with a wonderful range of bird species right outside your bedroom window. The hotel has a Thai restaurant, open from October to April, reflecting the owner’s part Asiatic origins. If you need alternative cuisine then the Lookout Deck is just across the car park. This is a renowned local haunt where you can order excellent seafood and grills overlooking the Indian Ocean. The centre of Plettenberg Bay is a short drive away and, for the energetic, you can walk into the centre.

Belvidere Manor Lagoonside Cottages, Knysna, Garden Route

Belvidere Manor has sweeping views over the renowned Knysna Lagoon and is an historic property with a charming tavern

Experience the convenience of your own self catering cottage in the grounds of Belvidere Manor with incomparable views of the Knysna lagoon. Each of the 30 cottages has a lounge with open fireplace, fully equipped kitchen, a double bedroom with en suite bathroom and spectacular views thrown in as an added bonus! Breakfast is provided on the stoep (veranda) of the historic manor house. Reviews are generally very favorable but there have been some (very few) concerning service quality and the need in places for some refurbishment.

About Belvider Manor’s Location

Belvidere is the quieter side of Knysna – especially in the high season (December and January) but the town is easily accessible with its restaurants and interesting boutiques and art galleries in addition to the beautiful lagoon side beaches on Leisure Island only 15 minutes drive away. You can stay here as a base for your stay in the Garden Route with Plettenberg Bay just a 30 minute drive, the Tsitsikamma National Park an hour away and the spectacular coast at Wilderness a 20 minutes’ drive.

Hog Hollow Country Lodge, Plettenberg Bay

Set in a forest close to Plettenberg Bay, this long established lodge consistently rates as 5 star on Trip Advisor

This is a veritable ecological experience 15 minutes drive from busy Plettenberg Bay. All 16 suites are decorated in true African style with extensive use of natural woods and colours. Relax by the pool and soak up the panoramic views across the forest and the Tsitsikamma Mountains in the distance.

About the Location

Hikes can be arranged through the indigenous forest with its abundance of bird life or you can extend your trip down to the Indian Ocean where you will see Dolphins and, in season, Southern Right Whales. Monkeyland is also close at hand where you can see an extensive variety of primates -many of which have been rescued from zoos to be relocated in a more natural environment. If the calm and peace of life at Hog Hollow listening to the myriad of birds in the trees begins to pall, then Plettenberg Bay is close with its three glorious beaches. You could drive to nearby Nature’s Valley at the start of the scenic old Bloukrans Pass and a beach which is great for walking but the tides make this dangerous for swimming, or maybe a quiet trip up the Keurbooms River stopping to relax and picnic (basket provided by the lodge) at one of the remote beaches will entice you. Whatever your interests, making Hog Hollow your base will allow you many options for your holiday.

Tarn Country House, The Crags

Great location, fabulous reviews and pretty accommodation and surroundings

Tarn Country House is located 15 minutes’ drive from bustling Plettenberg Bay with its wonderful beaches. Situated against the backdrop of the Tsitsikamma Mountains in the Whiskey Creek Nature Reserve, there are 8 large beautifully decorated suites each with their own, private entrance. The extensive grounds are attractively landscaped with indigenous plants.

About the Location

There is a large pool and the sea is just 2 kms away. Tarn has an excellent restaurant with a good choice of freshly prepared food. The Mauritian Stir Fry is exceptional! There are many activities in the locality. Nature’s Valley is a short drive and the fine beach is a draw for surfers – unfortunately not so good for swimming. Keurboomstrand has exceptional coastal scenery and for bathing you will love Plettenberg Bay. Storms River and the Tsitsikamma Forest National Park is a 30-minute drive. The animal parks at The Crags are just down the road and here you can walk with elephants, wild cats, monkeys and birds for a truly unique experience. Renowned Bramon winery is very close.

Tsitsikamma Lodge, Storms River

Rustic accommodation in log cabins which are great for families

Although very close to the N2 highway, as soon as you go through the gates you pass into a different world. The emphasis is on quiet ambience with accommodation set around 32 log cabins complete with private decks and barbecue area. The mountains provide a spectacular setting. The cabins are comfortably appointed and are large and many feature a spa bath. The swimming pool is a feature and is a good location to cool off from the heat of the day. The restaurant provides good food throughout the day and may feature an extensive buffet in the evening.

About the Location

A short distance away is the Storms River Gorge with a spectacular bridge but unfortunately pedestrian access is now prohibited. A little further and you will be able to walk into the Tsitsikamma Forest to see the incredible Yellowwood trees. Storms River Adventures is in nearby Storms River Village that is a 10-minute drive. Here you can abseil, go black water tubing, mountain biking or take the unique and exhilarating Tree Top Canopy Tour. The Tsitsikamma National Park is 15 minutes’ drive away and here you will find trails into the forest, the pedestrian suspension bridge across the River Mouth (not for the faint hearted and caves where some of the earliest human beings once lived. There is also a small sandy beach and a restaurant. All the features of this area are only a short drive away.