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South Africa

• Map
• When to go
• Country factfile
• Itineraries
• Books

Where to go :

• Cape Town
• Drakensberg Mountains
• Garden Route
  • Hog Hollow
  • Grootbos
  • Phantom Forest
  • Plettenberg Hotel
  • The Grand Café & Rooms
  • Kurland
• Johannesburg
• Kruger Area
• KwaZulu Natal
• Madikwe
• Malaria Free Reserves
• Waterburg
• Wild Coast
• Winelands

Activities

• Cookery in Karoo
• Family safaris
• Horse riding
• Train journeys
• Whale watching
• Wild Coast Adventure
• Whale, shark & dolphins
• Working riding holidays
• Wild Coast Horse Safari

South Africa : Garden Route

An easy place to explore by car, the Garden Route is a stretch of spectacular coastline between Mossel Bay and Storms River. Magnificent mountains and forests, sandy beaches and turquoise bays dot this coastline and in the winter and early spring whales come in to calve only 30 metres from the shore. There are many small hotels and guesthouses in which to stay in secluded bays and picturesque villages. With excellent food and wine the area is a definite place to visit and explore.

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Hog Hollow

Hog Hollow Country Lodge is a private nature reserve located close to Plettenberg bay. There are twelve unique en-suite rooms, with wooden decks and hammocks overlooking the surrounding forests and Tsitsikamma Mountains beyond. This is the ideal location for children as the main attraction here is the huge range of activities just on the doorstep. There are at least 50 guided walks in the area, and locally there is one of the great floral kingdoms with good bird and wildlife. You can also choose from, Horse-riding, Mountain Biking, Canoeing, Windsurfing, Canopy Walk, Scuba Diving, Sea Kayaking, Paragliding, Deep Sea Fishing, Bungi Jumping and Black Water Tubing down the Storms River Gorge. The unique and most exciting feature of this area is the abundance in marine mammals in the bay which is flanked by two marine nature reserves and therefore rich in food for the resident whales and dolphins.

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Grootbos

Grootbos Nature Reserve is nestled in the fynbos clad hills above Walker Bay with beautiful views of the dunes, sea and distant Cape of Good Hope. The reserve has more than 1 000 species of Cape Flora as well as a host of smaller animals such as Bush Buck, Porcupine, Grey Duiker and Lynx. Each of the nine cottages has been built from locally hewn stone and timber and have en suite bathrooms. From the bar, guests can view picturesque sunsets across Walker Bay. Specialist guides accompany guests on walking trails, horse back riding and mountain biking through the reserve. Drives in 4x4 vehicles are also offered. From July to December, the Southern Right Whales are seen in Walker Bay on their migration from Antarctica.

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Phantom Forest

The Phantom Forest is situated in a unique setting amongst the Cape coastal fynbos, afro-montane forest and estuarine wetland between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. Your accommodation is in magnificent Tree Suites, which have been uniquely positioned amongst the trees of the forest, each one having its own lounge, bedroom, en-suite forest bathroom and viewing deck. The lodge offers the opportunity to enjoy educational walks through the forest, canoeing on the lagoon and through the Knysna wetland, a visit to the Oyster Factory, Feather Bed Nature Reserve, the Knysna Heads and a host of other activities.

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Plettenberg Hotel

The Plettenberg is situated on a cliff in the Plettenberg Bay, an area blessed with temperate year round weather, pristine beaches, and excellent whale and dolphin watching. This small hotel has only 40 en-suite rooms divided between 2 separate buildings, each room is thoughtfully and individually decorated. Each part of the hotel has it own swimming pool that appears to spill into the ocean below and a small restaurant. In season it is possible to watch Southern Right Whales breaching while you eat breakfast or without leaving your room. The views from the hotel are breathtaking, endless sandy beaches, a river estuary and dramatic coastline plunging to the alluring Indian Ocean. The hotel will assist with the organisation of golf, boat trips, tennis, horse riding and cycling, the friendly staff will go out of their way to ensure Plettenberg is a highlight of your holiday.

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The Grand Café & Rooms

The Grand Café & Rooms is a small new boho-chic hotel with lots of funky, contemporary elements, and wonderful bedrooms with great views over the ocean and the mountains. Situated in the main shopping and restaurant street of the fashionable Plettenberg Bay, and only a few minutes’ walk from the beach, it has eight uniquely designed rooms with quirky names such as The Bath House and the Boadicea Suite. Each room has its own private entrance, huge high beds and an en-suite bathroom. Breakfast is Parisian-style, and the pool courtyard is for the exclusive use of guests. The service is very personal and friendly, and the atmosphere is really relaxed and laid-back.

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Kurland

Kurland is a luxury country hotel on a lovely private estate near Plettenberg Bay. With just 12 bedrooms, it has the feeling of a private house - albeit with spa in your garden - particularly as the staff have been with the family for over 40 years. It is brilliant for families with its fairytale loft rooms designed especially for children, kids' bathrooms and a lovely walled play garden with a children's swimming pool, a jungle gym and constant nannying. Eight of the rooms have individual private gardens with a plunge pool. It is ideally located to enjoy all the sights, beaches and activities of Plett Bay (including whale watching, mountain biking, walking and horse-riding), and the estate is renowned for its polo matches.

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