SOUTH AFRICA – Cape Town & Garden Route
South Africa, is truly inspiring new ways. Well-endowed by location and nature, there are few countries that can boast of what South Africa offers – an almost 3000 km coastline with some pristine sandy beaches, the Kgalagadi deserts, the lush green reserves of Tsitsikamma and a range of wildlife that is second to none in the continent. The vibrancy and nightlife of Cape Town, the Spectacular Garden Route and whale watching near Hermanus, The Big 5 at the Kruger National Park are just the known tips of the iceberg. There is so much more!
South Africa also has more than 500 golf courses, some of which are amongst the very best in the world. It is no surprise that major winners such as Gary Player, Bobby Locke, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Shwartzel all belong to South Africa.
For “The Pursuit”, you will be visiting the vibrant city of Cape Town and the stunning Garden Route with your base in George.
Cape Town is the most cosmopolitan and buzzing city in the African continent and possibly in the world. The “Table Mountain” skyline and a stunning coastline give Cape Town a setting hard to beat. A coastal drive to the Table Mountain National Park, also home to Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope is definitely in order. Fabulous real estate, restaurants and cafes mark the drive with a feel reminiscent of the glamour and glitz of St. Tropez. Within the city centre, the V&A Waterfront is a quick and easy tourist hangout with no shortage of restaurants, entertainment and shopping in a beautiful marina and Table Mountain Setting.
Within an hour’s drive from Cape Town is the Winelands district known for its vineyards and wineries and a day long wine-tasting trip is highly recommended.
The Garden Route is a stunning region along the southern cape, comprising a virgin shoreline with beaches and bays, densely forested mountains, winding rivers and serene inland lakes, stretching from close to Cape Town in the west to near Port Elizabeth in the east.
The region’s highlights include George , the picture perfect town at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains; Oudtshoorn, off the main route, on the Grobbelaars river , with the spectacular Cango Caves ; Knysna, set on a wide lagoon that opens to the sea and home to unique marine and bird species; Tsitsikamma National Park , Africa’s largest marine reserve with some dramatic hiking trails; Plettenberg Bay, the gateway to several attractions including the Eden Bird Sanctuary, a sea adventure with an opportunity to see dolphins, sharks and whales; And for a private, luxurious and boutique safari experience, the Gondwana reserve.
All this can be combined with some fabulous golf courses in the region which will blow your mind away.
WEATHER IN CAPE TOWN & GARDEN ROUTE
Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route: You can visit Cape Town and the Winelands at anytime of the year as the temperatures are quite pleasant through most of the year. The dry summer months run from end of October to May. The Temperatures are highest during December & January and it is also the peak busy season during this time. The winter months are from June to August where the temperatures fall to around 16 degrees and this is also the time the region receives the most rainfall. Garden Route can be visited anytime during the year too with the ideal months being between February to May.
The autumn months of March to May see very pleasant temperatures of 20 degrees and is a good time to visit Cape Town and the Garden Route especially since most of the northern hemisphere starts to see some hot summers during May.