Garden Route: the everlasting spring

 

Is called the Garden Route, the coastal stretch of road beginning at Mossel Bay to arrive in Port Elizabeth (350 km), although the most characteristic is much shorter.
The Garden Route, one of the main attractions of South Africa, is painted as a road which offers panoramic views continuously.
In fact, the road often runs away from the sea, and to have the best views you must leave the main artery to reach the most fascinating.
I sincerely different idea of this area, I expected a much more panoramic road.

Nevertheless the beauty of the Garden Route, which allows you to cross a stretch of indigenous evergreen forest and surrounded by flowers in each season behind the Indian Ocean, and reach places that offer spectacular views, white beaches, rugged coastlines, mountain passes, lagoons, lakes, waterfalls, all protected by efficient national parks, the Wilderness and the most famous Tsitsikamma NP. I repeat, all these wonders are not only visible along the Garden Route, are often necessary detours by car or walks that may be short but also long and tiring.

There are two ways to visit the area by car, following the road, or using a steam train on a day that makes part of the journey and return between George and Knysna, the Outeniqua Express.
In order to appreciate the places you need at least 4 days.

In reality, the gateway to the Garden Route can be considered the town of Outdshoorn, about 80 km inland, in a desert and rocky.
There seems to be in the Far West, the restaurants seem to Saloon, but instead of horses, the farms are famous for hosting ... ostriches.
Are the very farms that can be visited to know closely the curious animals: the tour guide will help you understand what products you can get with the breeding of ostriches, you can walk on eggshells in order to understand their resistance, to give them to eat, you can even ride an ostrich and watch a race.
From Outdshoorn you cross the Outeniqua mountains through a spectacular mountain pass to reach the Indian Ocean, where it meets the PN Wilderness, established to defend the delicate ecosystem of the area with lagoons ending in the sea, lakes and white sandy beaches, paradise for fans of birdwatching.
Continuing meets Knysna, a town famous for the breeding of oysters in his feature lagoon, separated from the sea by two enormous craggy peaks called "The Heads". A winding road can go up to their top and admire a splendid panorama.

Continuing we reach Plettenberg Bay, jewel of the coast, comparable to our reputation as Portofino or the Costa Smeralda. E 'here we have decided to spend 3 days semi-idle, in a beautiful B & B a few meters from the sea (Cottage Pie, nearly triple with breakfast € 100,00 with room service and extra luxury hotel).
Plette, as it is called, is truly incredible: the center is located on a hill overlooking the sea, and his feet are 3 fantastic beaches, two of which are over 3 km long. Virtually on the beach you are almost alone all day. The sea is not clear because of large waves, but it is clean and pristine and the atmosphere is great.
The beach is suitable for long walks between the shells, and can still discover virgin areas, where the flowers to finish off the sand, the seagulls on the beach far exceed the number of umbrellas, and the waves carrying continuous lumachine sea that are quick to get back into the water. Often, studying the horizon, you can see dolphins jumping in the ocean.

The bay is dominated by Plette Robberg Peninsula, a promontory that extends into the sea for 2 km. And 'a must for the whales, which in winter are making their long migratory journey.

Circular paths allow you to make a memorable trek. The walk starts from the parking lot, and then rises in the mountains where it dominates the whole Robberg Beach and you are overlooking the sea. The seals seem to call you, the view is unparalleled. It then crosses the mountains and you are in the middle of white dunes that reach to the sea, where a strip of sand separates the two seas. You can give a bath in the waters here are freddine, but will remain an unforgettable swim and solitary, with only the seagulls to. (hours duration 2.30).

Near Plette is a must visit Monkeylands, a park established for the treatment of apes in their natural environment. With a safari on foot through the dense forest, you can admire a large number of primates, some curious you accompany the walk.

Final stage of the Garden Route, going east, is the PN Tsitsikamma, which protects nearly 60 km of coast and mountains entirely covered by forest that reaches the sea.
The sea in this part is great, there are beaches but the rocks, the waves breaking on the rocks and create high spray up to 10 meters. The chalet park of wood (100 euros family chalet for 5 persons), are located a few meters from the sea, and give an intense moment in contact with nature and the immense roar of the ocean.
In the evening you can dine with a Brai (meat cooked on the grill, dinner of South Africa) directly on the terrace in front of the ocean with its own barbecue available.
There are many paths to travel in this area: the more accessible is the Mounth Trail, an hour (a / r), through the forest until you reach a suspension bridge where the river Storm River meets the sea.

Hence also the most famous trekking route in South Africa: the Otter Trail, a path length of 5 days, to book a year earlier, which allows you to cover almost 50 km of coastline.

The next morning wake up at dawn (5 hours, abandoned even by his wife withdrew to laziness), to travel the first leg dell'Otter Trail reaching a waterfall that plunges directly into the sea.
At this time the colors of dawn are exceptional despite the cloudy time, the absence of other people makes the journey exciting and relaxing: a few moments, you and nature, an encounter that should be discovered more frequently.