Garden Route

This stunningly beautiful route absolutely deserves its name. It is one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the world, along the South Coast of South Africa.

During my five day trip to the Garden Route my first stop was at the lovely little Republic Swellendam, one of South Africa’s best-kept secrets. Horse riding through the pleasant nature of the region was stunning and I am truly sure there is no better way to get in touch with its flora and fauna.

I decided to stay in a sweet little Backpacker at Myoli Beach, in Sedgefield for my first night. An open fireplace, hearing the Indian Ocean and eating self-made Pizza from a wood burning pizza oven was the perfect ending of the day.

The Lake section of Knysna is a nice place to be for a day, but it’s also quiet touristic. I just stopped there for a little break.

From the Capital of Wind, Port Elizabeth, where I stayed for another night, I headed off to the overwhelming Addo Elephant National Park. The third largest national park in South Africa is stretching from the semi-arid karoo area in the north around Darlington Dam, over the rugged Zuurberg Mountains, through the Sundays River Valley and south to the coast between Sundays River mouth and Bushman’s river mouth (180 000 hectares).
Today the park is home for the “Big 7”, which includes elephants, lions, buffalos, black rhinos, leopards as well as the southern right whale and great white shark off the Algoa Bay coast. But there were also spotted hyena, a variety of antelope and zebra species, as well as the unique Addo flightless dung beetle.

Hog Hollow Country Lodge & Villa was my accommodation for the third night and it was terrific. The location is divine. Surrounded by the nature of the Tsitsikamma National Park, the 4* Lodge is quiet the best mixture between luxury and sustainability. The stuff is indescribable accommodating, the breakfast is eclectic and the rooms are absolutely comfortable. I can just highly recommend this place.

Bloukrans Bridge Bungy is the world's highest commercial bridge bungee at 216 metres above the Bloukrans River. It is at the border between the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape in the Tsitsikamma area. On my way back to Cape Town, I stopped there and jumped!!!
It was breath taking and a most do for every adrenalin junkie.

The unique Bramon Wine Estate offered me delicious tapas and delicate wine in fabulous scenery before I head off to my last designation Mossel Bay.  There arrived I made sandboarding to my last experience of that journey. It was a lot of fun and for every snowboarder easy to learn.

 

Nadine Weidner – Marketing Trainee