The Garden Route on the Southern Cape coast is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in South Africa. It boasts a marine reserve, a playground resort for the jet set and some of the oldest natural forest, home to a rare herd of forest elephants that is seldom seen.

• Take the N2 towards Cape Town passing Jeffreys Bay, Cape St Francis and Humansdorp.
  
  
• The small hamlet of Nature’s Valley is the official start of the Garden Route, and falls within the Tsitsikamma Marine Reserve. Stay at the Froggy Pond self catering facility and enjoy a meal at the Restaurant Pub and Trading Store.
  
  
• Storms River Mouth provides the opportunity for a unique canopy tour of the Tsitsikamma Forest. Slide from one treetop platform to another on a steel cable suspended 30 metres above the forest canopy.
  
  
• Plettenberg Bay is the holiday playground of the rich and famous, but there are many attractions for the not so well heeled. Luxury accommodation can be found at the Plettenberg Hotel, or you can opt for the charming Periwinkle lodge. There’s also plenty of backpacker accommodation.
  
  
• About 35 kilometres down the road is Knysna, an old logging town on the edge of the Knysna Lagoon. For novelty accommodation rent a houseboat with Lightleys and spend some time exploring the lagoon.
  
  
• Knysna is the home of the oyster festival so a meal at the Knysna Oyster Company and Oyster Tavern is a must.
  
  
• There are many short walks in the Knysna forest where you can see the largest Outeniqua Yellowwood tree called the King Edward VII tree and, who knows, you might even get a glimpse of those rare elephants!
  
  
• Adjoining Knysna is Brenton on Sea, home of the endangered Brenton Blue Butterfly. Stop in at Reinette’s Candles, scented with essential oils and individually boxed.
  
  
• If golf is your thing then this area is for you. You will find many spectacular golf courses along this stretch of coastline, including Fancourt in George, home of the World Cup of Golf for two years in a row. It has four magnificent courses; the Links being one of the most challenging South Africa has to offer. Another highlight for golfers is Pinnacle Point near Mossel Bay, about 90 kilometres from Knysna and the western boundary of the Garden Route. On this course you tee across rocky coastal gorges onto postage stamp sized greens. It was recently voted the best new golf course in the world.
  
  
• Mossel Bay is also one of the spots for the most extreme of activities – Shark Cage Diving. Come face to face with Great Whites under the supervision of Shark Africa, and even touch them as they glide past the cage. Definitely not for the faint of heart!

• SouthAfrica.net