The Garden Route

South Africa's Garden Route is a lovely stretch of coastline in the Eastern and Western Cape extending roughly from Tsitsikamma to Mosselbay, with its western boundaries being the mountain ranges of Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma.  This picturesque area is characterised by a wonderful, sunny climate and beautiful, indigenous forests that support a range of flora and fauna.  It is well known for its watersports, its friendly towns and its fabulous coastal scenery. There are numerous opportunities for expending some energy along this coastline too!  Activities here include golf, snorkelling, sea kayaking, quad-biking, bungee jumping, scuba diving and polo playing to name but a few.

The region encompasses two national parks, Tsitsikamma and Wilderness.  Known as the Garden of the Eastern Cape, Tsitsikamma is an important marine reserve and comprises high mountains, deep gorges and a rugged coastline, with dramatic rocky crags and gorgeous, white, sandy beaches.  Indigenous forests here are protected by the State and harness such species as Yellowwood, Hard Pear, Ironwood, Stinkwood and Kamassi.

Plettenberg Bay

Half way along the Garden Route, between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, is the super town of Plettenberg Bay.  The beautiful bay is fringed by white sand against a dramatic mountain backdrop.  The sea here is a meeting point of the Indian Ocean's cold and warm  currents, thereby supporting an uncommonly rich marine life - and visitors can head off into the bay to enjoy superb whale watching.

Hermanus

Another lovely town on the Garden Route is Hermanus.  This pretty, coastal resort offers the best land based whale watching in the world, with up to 100 Southern Right Whales coming to Walker Bay from Antartica between July and December every year.  Hermanus has some glorious beaches and some great mountain walks.  In town, there are some super restaurants and the craft market is well known for its art.

With many thanks to Adrian Sewell at Exfolyation.com for the strip image