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| The stretch of Cape coast between George and Jeffrey's Bay is known as the Garden Route (sometimes referring to most of the southern Cape coastline from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth). Along the coast are long stretches of unspoilt beaches beside the warm Pacific ocean. Inland, there are extensive indigenous forests with mountains, lakes and protea-rich fynbos.
Accommodation was at Sedgefield near the Wilderness, but on an overcast day a sightseeing drive was taken through the inland areas to view some of the pictureque scenery. Along the way, proteas were found growing beside the roads and in the fields. In the above panel, the first picture is of pincushion protea, then two of Protea laurifolia, and lastly a king protea, Protea cynaroides.
A variety of other flowers, including the silver mimetes (Mimetes argenteus), ericas, watsonias growing naturally in the mountainous, wooded landscape. In the last picture, indigenous agapanthus.
Additional views of the mountains and flowers and a heavily-wooded lake. All of the above pictures were taken on the inland trip.
There are two main rest camps in the Tsitsikama (meaning sparkling waters) Coastal National Park, one of them at Storms River Mouth. The pictures above include a view of the Storms river before it reaches the ocean, and a swimming area close to the mouth. There are a number of nature walks in the surrounding areas, one of them reached via the swing bridge. Finally, a view of the sea at the mouth of the Storms River.
A picture of the rest camp at Storms River Mouth. The next two pictures were taken at the Knysna Heads, that lie between Sedgefield and Storms River Mouth.
A selection of sea pictures; railway line bridge at the mouth of a river; a view of the sea at Sedgefield and a picture of the lagoon at the same beach. The last picture is of the long stretch of beach at the Wilderness. |
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On the way home, one may travel through the Karoo, well-known for spectacular sunsets. |
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Cape Area "When one rounds the Cape of Good Hope, sailing eastwards, one passes immediately, as if across a distinct line drawn upon the sea, from one coastal and climatic realm to another, from the barren or semi-arid littoral of the southern subcontinent to the green, moist, vividly beautiful eastern coastline; from the icy Atlantic to the warm, effervescent Indian Ocean. Blue-grey mountains fold across one another, and tumble down to surf-strewn boulders, or accompany long white beaches. Nowhere else on earth, I believe, do sea and sky, walled granite and shining sand, convey any impression of nature more placidly reposeful, more grandly and anciently benign. " "The dividing line that one crosses here is obviously climatic rather than oceanic. The mingling of the seas at the Cape has created, together with other factors, one of the distinct botanical kingdoms of the world, unique, extraordinary." Knysna
Forests The largest forest area occurs along the Cape coast between George and the Storms River mouth. In this mountainous area, a diversity of vegetation occurs in small ecosystems dictated by habitat variation. It can range from dry scrub and forest to wet high forest. Among some of the larger trees growing in the Knysna Forests are the common yellowwood reaching heights of 50 metres and black ironwood, growing to heights of 35 metres. The stinkwood is another important tree found up to 25 metres in height. These trees were used by early settlers to make enduring furniture. Amongst the smaller trees in the forest are the keurboom, the sugarbush, the Hottentot's bean, the Cape chestnut and the dewberry - all with beautiful flowers. The tree fuschia has beautiful red, range or cream-coloured flowers. Also colourful are the orange flowered pomegranate and the yellow gardenia. Fauna in the forests include bush pig, blue duiker, vervet monkeys, and bushbuck. There is a fair assortment of birds living mostly in the canopy. |
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| Vistors
Guide to South Africa's Garden Route & Klein Karoo Garden
Route South Africa Guide George
Tourism Bureau Knysna
Pearl of the Garden Route Great
Outdoor Recreation Pages |
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