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Travel in South Africa – from Mossel Bay to Knysna
The Garden Route, South Africa
The road from Mossel Bay (Western Cape, South Africa) to the Storms River in the Eastern Cape – all along the Indian Ocean - is known as The Garden Route. The climate is ‘oceanic’ – after Hawaii the second mildest climate in the world. Read more about this extremely scenic route HERE.
Leaving Mossel Bay for the next town on our route, namely George, we pass a couple of beautiful sea-side villages - Little Brak with its river and lagoon, Great Brak – a beautiful village and holiday resort along the banks of the Great Brak River - and then Glentana and Harolds Bay.
From Mossel Bay to George
George, Western Cape, South Africa
George, named after King George III, is the 6th oldest town in South Africa, though the first town founded under British rule in 1811. However, due to the growing demand for timber and wood provided to mankind by the indigenous Outeniqua forests, the Dutch East India Company had already established a woodcutters outpost on the site in 1776. Situated between the Outeniqua Mountains, George is today the commercial hub of the Garden Route. Read more about George HERE.
George’s nearest bay (beach) is Victoria Bay - ±11 km (±9 miles) to the east. Read more about Victoria Bay HERE.
George
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeNine biomes in South Africa:
- Fynbos Biome
- Succulent Karoo Biome
- Desert Biome
- Nama-Karoo Biome
- Grassland Biome
- Savanna Biome
- Albany Thicket Biome
- Indian Ocean Coastal Belt
- Forests
Ref: plantzafrica.com
Wilderness, Western Cape, South Africa
16 km (±10 miles) after George we find ourselves in the most beautiful town called Wilderness – a seaside town on the banks of the Touw River Lagoon.
Here we can clearly see flora that differs radically from what we have seen during our tour from the North West Province via the flat grasslands of the Orange Free State and the semi-desert (Great Karoo) of the Northern Cape, down to the Cape Winelands with its orchids and strawberry fields, and all the way down to Cape Point where the rampant growth of South Africa's unique Fynbos captures one's heart, and up the West Coast where the Langebaan Fynbos/Thicket seems to be a carpet made of flowers.
Wilderness
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeSedgefield, Western Cape, South Africa
Sedgefield
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeThe Wild Oats Farmer's Market, Saturday mornings at Sedgefield, South Africa
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeCrafts Market at Sedgefield, South Africa
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeSedgefield Classic Cars, South Africa - We had a ball in here!
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeFrom Sedgefield to Knysna
Knysna is the next town on our route, but between Sedgefield and Knysna are three charming villages we have to visit –
- Buffelsbaai / Buffels Bay / Buffalo Bay - 20 km from Knysna.
- Belvidere Estate, Western Cape – Situated on the banks of the Knysna Lagoon, this little village has a sacred aura most probably caused by the old Romanesque church (Lexicon Kent Style) complete with its private cemetery. The architect was the Yorkshire born Sophia (Sophie) Wharton Myddleton. On 5 October 1855 the church was consecrated by her husband, Bishop Gray and called The Holy Trinity Church. Read the history of Belvidere HERE. Read the history of the Holy Trinity Church at Belvidere HERE.
- Brenton on Sea - 16 km from Knysna. (Read more about Brenton on Sea HERE.)
From Sedgefield to Buffels Bay, South Africa
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeBuffels Bay, Western Cape, South Africa
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeRoad to Belvidere, Western Cape, South Africa
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeBelvidere, Western Cape, South Africa
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeBrenton on Sea
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeFinally in Knysna
The distance from Mossel Bay to Knysna is only one and a half hour per car. But we have spent the entire morning driving through village after village. Tired and hungry we now park at the nearest restaurant facing the Knysna Lagoon….
The next phase of our journey, from Knysna to Port Elizabeth, or wherever we have to take a break, to be published soon…
NB: I do post a lot of pictures, because I honestly can’t help myself. Starting with a phase, I believe that I will end up in a specific town, but halfway I realize that exhaustion will prevent my readers from enjoying the entire trip. And this is the reason why the name of the url and the hub is not the same. (One day I will know how to change the name of an url!)
Languages spoken in:
Afrikaans
| English
| Xhosa
| Other
| |
---|---|---|---|---|
George
| 63.1%
| 7.8%
| 25.8%
| 3.2%
|
Wildernis
| 68.5%
| 23.7%
| 4.9%
| 2.9%
|
Sedgefield
| 48.8%
| 26.7%
| 18.2%
| 6.3%
|
Lunch in Knysna, South Africa
Follow this tour from the beginning -
Phase 1 - From the North West Province via Free State to Matjiesfontein in the Northern Cape.
Phase 2 - From Northern Cape (Matjiesfontein) to Western Cape (Strand)
Phase 3 - The Cape Winelands, Stellenbosch, wine tasting and strawberries (Western Cape)
Phase 4 - Cape-Peninsula (eastern side) Muizenberg to Cape Point
Phase 5 - Cape Peninsula (western side) Cape-Point-to-Sea-Point
Phase 6 – Cape Town
Phase 7 - South-Africa’s West-Coast
Phase 8 – From Cape Town to Mossel Bay
Phase 9 – This hub: From Mossel Bay to Knysna
© 2015 Martie Coetser