KnysnaCity/Region: Garden Route
The town of Knysna, clustered around a vast tidal lagoon which opens to the sea through a narrow inlet guarded by two sandstone cliffs known as 'The Heads', is the hub of the Garden Route, drawing more visitors than it can cope with, particularly during the peak summer holiday season. The town has an interesting history, having started as a point of export for timber cut from the surrounding dense forests (which have been badly denuded as a result). In the early 19th century the town was almost solely owned by the enigmatic character George
Rex, who was believed to be the illegitimate son of
King George III of
England. Rex fathered 13 children and is a legend in the Knysna area. The town features some quaint Victorian houses, a modern commercial waterfront development, a lovely sandy beach at Leisure Island on the east side of the lagoon, and some good shopping for local arts and crafts in the crowded town center. There are some lovely scenic drives through the remaining indigenous forests in the area, and sampling Knysna oysters and locally brewed Mitchell's beer is highly recommended.
Plettenberg BayCity/Region: Garden Route
The upmarket holiday town of Plettenberg Bay, about 380 miles (600km) from
Cape Town and 125 miles (200km) from
Port Elizabeth, was originally called '
Bahia Formosa' (Beautiful Bay) by the early Portuguese explorers, and it is still possible to see why, despite explosive development of luxury homes, hotels and a thriving town center. The town - familiarly known as 'Plett' - is a favorite holiday destination for South Africans and foreigners with its unspoilt golden beaches, year round Mediterranean climate, dramatic rocky Robberg Peninsula, and vibrant nightlife. The bay is a nursery for the endangered Southern Right Whales, which arrive each winter and spring to calve.
