“A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.” – Nelson Mandela.
Wilderness.
A charming little village, with great accommodation and restaurant options. One of my favourites places on the route.
The village is set very near a national park where you can enjoy some spectacular nature walks – including the Half Collared Kingfisher Trail.
The beach in Wilderness is absolutely stunning.
Knysna.
Embracing a beautiful lagoon and surrounded by ancient forests, Knysna (pronounced ny-znah) is probably the most famous town on the Garden Route. The lagoon is popular with sailing enthusiasts, and there are plenty of boat trips on offer. A drive up to The Heads lookout provides fantastic views back across the town and also out to sea. There are loads of restaurants along the waterfront. Stayed at another cracking B&B – Knysna Manor House. The owners are originally from Zimbabwe and gave me some great travel tips for my forthcoming trip.
Plettenberg Bay.
Plettenberg Bay, or ‘Plett’ as it’s more commonly known, is a resort town through and through, with mountains, white sand and crystal-blue water making it one of the country’s top local tourist spots. As a result, things can get very busy and somewhat overpriced, but the town retains a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and does have some very good-value hostels. The scenery to the east in particular is superb, with some of the best coast and indigenous forest in South Africa.
Birds Of Eden. This is one of the world’s largest free-flight aviaries with a 200-sq-m dome over the forest.
Addo Elephant National Park.
Located 70km north of Port Elizabeth, and encompassing both the Zuurberg mountains and the Sundays River Valley, South Africa’s third-largest national park www.sanparks.org; protects the remnants of the huge elephant herds that once roamed the Eastern Cape. When Addo was proclaimed a national park in 1931, there were only 11 elephants left; today there are more than 600 in the park. Addo, which was once farmland, now encompasses five biomes and about 1800 sq km, and extends to the coastline between the mouths of the Sundays and Bushman’s Rivers. I did the 2-hour sun down drive.
Kududu Guest house and citrus farm.
I stayed in a fantastic B&B, about 14 km from Addo Park. Kududu Guest House is connected to a working citrus farm. They also breed buffalo and have a small wildlife sanctuary, which includes giraffes and zebras. I got the opportunity to have a private tour with the owner of the farm – fascinating – well, if you don’t ask you don’t get.
From Addo I drove to Port Elizabeth and then flew to Durban.
The picturesque drive from Oudtshoorn to Wilderness.
The national park at Wilderness
Wilderness beach.
Birds of Eden.
Birds of Eden.
Addo Elephant Park.
Addo Elephant Park.
Bufalo herd at Kududu Guest House farm.
Kududu Guest House citrus farm.
Kududu Guest House citrus farm.
