Canoeing, waterfall, lagoons and laid back beaches in the Garden Route
The Garden Route, the scenic stretch between the Western and Eastern Cape, is a must see in a trip to South Africa. The central coastal area has beautiful spots that certainly deserve a visit: Wilderness, with its National Park, Knysna, with its lagoon and cliffs, and Sedgefield, with white sand beaches.
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– The amazing Garden Route in South Africa
WHAT TO DO/SEE IN WILDERNESS
Wilderness, located between the towns George and Knysna, is an area of natural beauty. It´s home of the Wilderness National Park, where you can find a great combination of rivers, waterfalls, trails, lakes and beaches.
There you can practice many different activities, such as cycling, canoeing, hiking, paragliding, abseiling, or observing whales and dolphins from the Dolphin Point.
During my Garden Route Tour, that I did with Earthstompers, I did the canoeing along the river, enjoying the beautiful sceneries, for about 45 minutes. It was followed by an easy hike (about 30 minutes) until a waterfall, where we had a picnic, before paddling all the way back again.
The canoes are for two people each, and they have a bucket where you can store the things you don´t want to get wet.
Bloggers Tip: go paddling just wearing shorts and a top, it´s easy to get wet while paddling, and you get warm very soon due to the exercise. You don´t have to take your tennis/hiking boots with you if you´re doing the hike to the waterfall, it´s very easy to do it wearing flip flops, some people even do it barefoot.
WHAT TO DO/SEE IN KNYSNA
Knysna is a town located in the heart of the Garden Route. The Knysna Lagoon is a must see in the town, a spot where you can do some canoeing, kayaking, fishing or just enjoying the shallow waters.
BLOGGERS TIP: traveling by car in the Garden Route can be a good option – to compare the prices of different car rentals, check this link. And if you book it through this link, you help to maintain this blog online, and you don´t have to pay anything for that.
You shouldn´t miss the Knysna Heads, a pair of sandstone cliffs that separate Knysna Lagoon from the sea. Go to the viewpoint in the Eastern Head, the views from the top are amazing. And if you´re there in August or September, you might see the Southern Right whale from the viewpoint.
If you´re looking for bars, restaurants and shops, the Waterfront is the right place for you. From there you can take a ferry to visit the private Nature Reserve Featherbed. And in case you visit Knysna in July, you can enjoy the yummy Oyster Festival.
WHAT TO DO/SEE IN SEDGEFIELD
Sedgefield is a town situated between George and Knysna. It´s a great place for beach lovers – even during the high season, they never get crowded, so it´s a perfect spot for relaxing and enjoying them.
There are 5 beaches in Sedgefield, along about 6 km. During the low tide you can walk the whole distance along the beach.
The town is a very good spot for paragliding. You can also do many other activities, such as canoeing, hiking, cycling, swimming, fishing.
Sedgefield was granted the title of Slow Town, meaning they are focused in the quality of life, slowing down and living without stress, preserving the traditional culture, supporting the local community, working for a sustainable future. To learn more about it, check it out here. http://www.discover-sedgefield-south-africa.com/slowtown.html
Are you going to the Garden Route? Here you can check all the accommodation options, from hostels to hotels and resorts. And if you book it through this link, you help to maintain this blog online, and you don´t have to pay anything for that.
ABOUT THE GARDEN ROUTE
I visited Wilderness, Knysna and Sedgefield on my 6-days Garden Route Tour with Earthstompers (which was an amazing experience, btw). This was the third day of the tour (to learn more about the whole Garden Route Tour, read this post here).
During the Garden Route you usually spend a big part of the day on the road, but this day was very easy going, we just drove for about 2 hours between Outdshoorn to George. We stopped at the supermarket to buy the things for the picnic, and already wen to Wilderness, where we spent the day at the Wilderness National Park.
We had a great day canoeing along the beautiful river for about 45 minutes, and hiking for around half an hour, until we got to the waterfall. This is the perfect spot for a picnic!
Bloggers tip: make sure you buy a bottle of wine at the market, I did it and it was perfect for the picnic! Btw, my guide, Cindy, had a corkscrew and wine glasses with her!
During the afternoon we went to Knysna, visited the Waterfront and went to the viewpoint to enjoy the great views from Knysna Lagoon.
We arrived at Sedgefield just on time for an astonishing sunset, where we were received with welcome drinks at the Afrovibe Backpackers. A perfect way to finish the day!
SLEEPING
I spent the night at Afrovibe Backpackers, and I must say it´s an amazing hostel! It´s situated just by the beach, you have a great view from the room’s balconies and it´s perfect for going for a swim.
The staff is super friendly, they receive you with a welcome drink and they love to encourage guests to play beer pong. Btw, the parties there are super cool!
The hostel has a great bar and a lovely outside area with a bonfire, where you can enjoy some marshmallows. The food is great, they offer local dishes and also delicious pizzas.
The rooms are ensuite, and very spacious and comfy. They can fit four people (they have a big bed and also a bunk bed). They have a heater, fan, towels and a balcony with a great view of the beach. The hostel also has shared dorms.
I loved the vibe of this place, I´d certainly have stayed longer if I could!
How about you? Have you already been to the Garden Route and have some cool tips about it? Or do you plan to visit it and have some doubts? Share your ideas leaving a comment here!
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Planning your trip:
– Accommodation: you can book your accommodation here – hotels/hostels comparing and free booking cancel
– Travel Insurance: you have a 15% discount in your travel insurance if you book it using this link, or here you can compare different prices of travel insurances
– Car Rental: compare different prices of car rentals here
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The blogger did the Garden Route Tour by invitation of Earthstompers. I’d like to thank again for the opportunity, and also make it clear that all the opinions present here are independent and personal.
