This beautiful region with its pristine beaches, mountains, forests, lakes, rivers and kloofs is a place to restore your soul and revitalise your body and mind.
Travelling along the southern Cape coast, you'll be exposed to a variety of nature reserves within close distance of each other.
Stretching for 80 km along the scenic southern Cape coast and 5,5 km out to sea, the Tsitsikamma National Park was proclaimed as the first marine national park on the African continent.
Although Tsitsikamma boasts a magical world of intertidal life and reefs in its marine part, there is also the famous terrestrial part of the park with its lush forest, delicate fynbos and sheer cliffs.
The Robberg Peninsula is a nature reserve and national monument that lies about 8 km south of Plettenberg Bay. It presents a fine example of how plants and animals adapt to the interacting influences of land and sea.
The Keurbooms River Nature Reserve is situated about 8 km beyond Plettenberg Bay on the N2 national road towards Nature's Valley. The reserve incorporates an estuary and a river which bisects the small reserve of 740ha.
Its gorge is spectacular and well worth a voyage upstream to enjoy the unspoilt, unpolluted beauty.
The Knysna National Lake Area offers you a landscape of beautiful beaches and rocky headlands, shimmering lakes, green pastures and jagged mountains.
The Knysna Indigenous Forest is home to three remaining elephants which roam this beautiful area. Hiking and mountain biking trails availlable in beatiful surroundings.
Goukamma Nature and Marine Reserve comprises an area of about 2 500ha, with a coastline of 14km, an extensive dune field with some of the highest vegetated dunes in South Africa, the Goukamma River and estuary, and the unique Groenvlei lake which has no in-flowing river and no link to the sea.
Wilderness National Park in the heart the Garden Route, is a charming world of lakes, rivers, fens, estuaries and beaches against a backdrop of lush forest and lofty mountains.
The Outeniqua Nature Reserve of 38 000 hectares, is fragmented over a series of rugged mountain ranges which lie parallel to the coast. The vegetation in this mountainous area is diverse, and the moist southern slopes are predominantly covered with mountain fynbos.
It is particularly attractive in September and October, when many of the proteas and ericas are in flower. It is also host to a variety of animal species.
Boosmansbos Wilderness Area lies in the Langeberg mountains, 22 km north-west of Heidelberg, in the south-western Cape. The wilderness area is 14 200 ha in extent and is incorporated in Grootvadersbosch.
Several rivers originate in the wilderness area, including the Duiwenhoks River and its tributary, the Noukrans River.
An association of mountain fynbos and forest vegetation occurs in the wilderness area. There are several rare species, especially amongst the Erica family.
