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Garden Route Accommodation |
South Africa's famous Garden Route has many attractions, sightseeing places and activities which attract the traveller. The Garden Route stretches all the way from Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay to Port Elizabeth. The most popular South African National Parks which are situated along the Garden Route are the Knsyna National Park, the Wilderness National Park and the Tsitsikamma National Park.
Knysna National Lake Area / South African National Park
Knysna nestles on the banks of a beautiful lagoon in the heart of the Garden Route, South Africa. It is surrounded by a natural paradise of lush indigenous forests, tranquil lakes and golden beaches, making it a real natural wonderland.
The exceptionally beautiful Knysna National Lake Area is home to the endangered Knysna seahorse and a large diversity of marine life. Sandbanks and salt marshes teem with life and in turn provide food to an immeasurable number of organisms. Dominated by the twin Knysna Heads, the Knysna lagoon has borne witness to centuries of trade in timber, ivory and gold. The Knysna Lake Area provides a temperate climate and visitors can enjoy the warm summer sun.
Wilderness National Park / South African National Park
Situated along South Africa's famous Garden Route, a captivating world of lakes, rivers, estuaries and beaches gently unfolds against a backdrop of lush forest and lofty mountains, this region is called the Wilderness National Park which is one of the South African National Parks. Nature trails wind through densely wooded forest and along tranquil rivers, affording travellers the opportunity to encounter the brilliantly coloured Knysna lourie, or one of the five kingfisher species that occur here. During spring, many flowers, further enhance the verdant beauty of the Wilderness National Park.
Adventurers have many exciting activities to look forward to: experience whales and dolphins from Dolphin Point, hire a canoe or bicycle, go abseiling, kloofing, paragliding or hang-gliding, go boating, fishing at Island Lake or hike to the waterfall above Ebb & Flow Restcamp. The Wilderness National Park offers activities for young, old, energetic or idle: take a stroll along a forest path or visit the bird hide and discover the wealth of bird life, lie back in a canoe on a quiet backwater and watch the world float by, camp under the stars alongside the river or stay in log cabins on stilts.
The magnificent Wilderness National Park at the Garden Route stretches from the Touw River mouth to the Swartvlei estuary and beyond, where it links with the Goukamma Nature Reserve, giving welcome protection to five lakes and the Serpentine, which is the winding strip of water joining Island Lake to the Touw River at the Ebb-and-flow Restcamp.
Tsitsikamma National Park / South African National Park
The Tsitsikamma National Park is characterized by temperate high forest and fynbos which roll down to the ocean in an unspoilt verdant carpet and by ancient rivers which carve their paths to the ocean down rocky ravines. "The place of much water" is called the Tsitsikamma National Park. The heartland of the park stretches some 5 km to sea, protecting a wonderland of inter-tidal life, reef and deep-sea fish.
Dolphins enjoy the breakers, surfing and playing for the sheer joy of life, and the gentle giant of the ocean, the southern right whale visits here, coming inshore to breed every year from August to November.
Five things to look out for when visiting the Tsitsikamma National Park, Garden Route:
- Dolphins and porpoises - keeping vigil on the ocean produce sightings of schools of dolphins and porpoises frolicking in the waves
- African Black Oystercatcher - this red data species is one of South Africa's most threatened bird species. Several pairs nest along the park's rocky coastline
- Knysna Lourie - these beautiful birds with a gruff call are common in the forest
- Cape Clawless Otter - the source of the name of the Otter Trail, this shy and elusive species hunts crabs along the park's coastline and rivers alike
- Blue Duiker - this miniature antelope is found in the forests
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For more Garden Route Accommodation options, please go to South African Hotels.
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