The Garden Route is renowned for its stunning scenery - pristine coastline - whale and dolphin watching - nature and wildlife reserves - spectacular golf courses - resort towns, surfing, steam trains...
We begin our journey halfway between Cape Town and the Garden Route in Hermanus, near the southernmost tip of Africa where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.
We visit Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, the hot spots of the Garden Route, and finish on safari near Port Elizabeth on the Eastern Cape...
BIRKENHEAD HOUSE - HERMANUS is a new exclusive retreat perched high on ocean cliffs, about 80 miles east of Cape Town, on South Africa's "Whale Route". Accommodating guests in the utmost luxury, this is the perfect destination for
those seeking the pinnacle of seaside living. Decorated to reflect the beauty of its coastal setting, it is adorned with rare maritime antiques and has eight opulently appointed, sea-facing suites with expansive vistas of the whale watchers' paradise of Walker Bay.
From the comfort of the residence, you can look forward to sighting the majestic Southern Right whales that enter the sheltered waters of Walker Bay every year from July to November to calve. Other amenities include a gym and spa treatment center, and a dual-level swimming pool located in a sheltered courtyard. Hermanus' two best swimming beaches are just a stone's throw away.
Here, world-class cuisine is a matter of course — lavish meals and seafood delicacies are served up daily, and room service will be happy to oblige you with a sumptuous breakfast in bed.
THE MARINE - HERMANUS is a luxurious and historic 5-star hotel perched atop the cliffs of Walker Bay, "whale central", from July to November, when the magnificent creatures come to calve and nurse. You can view whales by taking a boat trip, or from the hotel's Pavilion Restaurant and even from the beds in some rooms. Directly in front of the hotel is a tidal pool, where you can swim as close to 100 meters away from the whales.
The Hotel can supply you with towels and picnic, and there are toilets and an outdoor shower available. The hotel's Spa offers an exfoliation Sea Salt Scrub next to the Tidal Pool whilst listening to the soothing sounds of the ocean. You can also visit the local Saturday arts and crafts market, the penguin colony on Dyers Island or take a wine tour of the southernmost vineyards in the world. The wine cellar at The Marine is completely unique and is the central feature of The Pavilion restaurant.
It is a floating Cellar stocked with the best of South Africa's wines with an emphasis on the wines from the Walker Bay region.
GROOTBOS PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE - NEAR HERMANUS offers 5-star accommodations situated in 4,000 acres across the bay from Hermanus in Gaansbai. Overlooking spectacular Walker Bay, Grootbos is a place where conservation, luxury and relaxation have found the perfect home. A walk, horseback ride or 4x4 drive through the Reserve offers you an introduction to the nuances of nature.
Whether your interests are birding, gardening, wild flowers, whale watching, diving with Great White Sharks or relaxing on spectacular unspoiled beaches, Grootbos has a lot to offer. Individual luxury suites beneath the overhang of milkwood trees provide the ideal blend of privacy and supreme comfort. Each is furnished with rich textures, spacious, tiled, sunny bathrooms, separate lounges with cozy fireplaces and private decks.
Guests are treated to gourmet cuisine made with the finest and freshest local ingredients, including seafood, and excellent South African wines. Grootbos has attracted some well-known guests like Brad Pitt, who visited in 2004.
PEZULA RESORT HOTEL - KNYSNA just opened in 2005, is now the most luxurious hotel experience in Knysna.
Standing on the crest of the Eastern Heads, with the vast Indian Ocean to the south, the tranquil Knysna Lagoon to the north, the magnificent Outeniqua Mountains in the distance and, overhead, a boundless African sky. Every possible whim is catered for from the games room to the library, from the wine cellar to the Champagne Bar and Cigar Lounge, from the whisky bar to the gourmet restaurant, Zachary's.
The Resort offers exceptional recreational facilities at its "Field of Dreams" located within the Pezula Private Estate. The Field of Dreams is a multifunctional sporting complex compromising an international-standard cricket field that can double as a soccer pitch or a hockey facility; three outdoor tennis courts built to world-class specifications; a PGA-standard driving range; a golf academy and practice area; an Olympic swimming pool; squash courts, bowls – and it is linked into an equestrian centre and Pezula's own sailing, hiking, jogging and beach club.
PHANTOM FOREST ECO RESERVE - KNYSNA provides more of nature-safari experience in Knysna. Located in a spectacular setting, high on a hill, the view from the pool deck is breathtaking, incorporating the expanse of the Knysna lagoon, the Heads & the Knysna River. You can explore the surrounding forest on walking trails and the wetlands by canoe, or just relax with a spa treatment and enjoy being surrounded by nature.
Public spaces are connected by boardwalks to luxurious, private treehouse suites tucked into the forest canopy. You have a choice of decadent Moroccan Suites, Upper Tree Suites with bathtubs on their deck, Lagoon Treehouses with fabulous water views and Classic Suites comprising a large double-volume bedroom with sitting area leading out to an elevated deck.
All suites are very comfortable with lots of privacy, since every suite is visually isolated from the other. In the evening, sip sundowners and enjoy a spectacular sunset. Boma dinners and delicious breakfasts are memorable on a treehut deck.
PLETTENBERG PARK - PLETTENBERG BAY is dramatically perched on cliffs overlooking the Indian Ocean and surrounded by a private nature reserve. Having hosted Nelson Mandela and Richard Branson among many more of the world's elite, this is one of the most exclusive retreats in Plettenberg Bay, offering unparalleled luxury, privacy, and service.
The hotel is made up of the owner's original holiday house with four rooms — two facing the ocean and two facing a lake. A new addition provides five large, sea-facing rooms with balconies.
In one of these rooms, there is a glass shower cubicle projecting over the cliff, so that all you can see is the sea. A path winds down the cliff face to a small private beach. You can go on a sea kayak tour and view dolphins and seals or canoe the Keurbooms River Nature Reserve. You can go on beautiful nature hikes in the Robberg Preserve or Tsitsikamma National Park, with majestic coastal scenery, tidal pools and indigenous forests.
This is a romantic hideaway for discerning adults and the hotel doesn't accept children under the age of 12, unless you book the entire property.
KURLAND - PLETTENBERG BAY is an exclusive country house hotel and polo estate, 15 minutes' drive from the beaches of Plettenberg Bay.
The Kurland International Polo Match is the event of the year each December, turning this sleepy beach town (not unlike Malibu California), into the place to be for South Africa's elite. The twelve guest rooms, decorated in English country manor-style with antiques and original oil paintings, are very spacious with living area and some even with private plunge pools and swimming pools.
Perfect for families, many suites have lofts with mini-furnishings for children. The estate offers ultimate luxury for the entire family with the freedom of the majestic 700-hectare polo estate, dedicated children's playrooms, play areas, pools and dining areas, and personalized service providing the ambience to ensure that the most discerning guests have an indulgent experience.
You can relax with a massage, lounge in the library, or mount a polo pony to explore the estate while your children are cared for and of course, meals are of the highest standard.
TSALA TREETOP LODGE - PLETTENBERG BAY is a symphony of stone, wood, glass and water high above the floor of the magnificent indigenous forests of the Garden Route. Elevated wooden walkways meander through the trees to exclusive and very private suites. The unique modern structures of Tsala Treetop Lodge rise out of the ruins of a mystical ancient civilization that may have existed there.
The legend that has been created, imparts an atmosphere of adventure and romance. Ancient craftsmanship is reflected in the Lodge's modern designs; artisans from the local community have carefully created wonderful textures and colors using eco-friendly and replenishable resources.
The Lodge has elevated walkways that lead you from the central lodge to your suite where intimate luxury awaits you. The ten exclusive and private suites are warmed in winter by a cozy ceramic fireplace, open to both the bedroom and lounge, the huge freestanding bathtub easily fits two and on your private wooden deck is a private rim-flow plunge pool with views across the treetops into the broad valley below.
GORAH ELEPHANT CAMP - ADDO ELEPHANT NAT'L PARK is located just 45 minutes north of Port Elizabeth at the end of the 'Garden Route'. Here, you can experience a premier lodge set in the heart of the malaria-free Addo Elephant National Park, home to the densest elephant population on earth.
The romantic atmosphere of the ten spacious and luxurious tented suites, recalls the golden era of safari in the early 1900's; yet with the comfort and excellence associated with Africa's finest game lodges. The tents are widely spaced on a hillside and all have a splendid view across an expanse of rolling grassland. They also overlook a water hole constantly frequented by animals. Dining is by candlelight in the elegant dining room or on the verandas overlooking the waterhole.
The sounds of the bush create a magical air of peace and tranquility, broken only by the splashing of water as the animals arrive to drink under the cover of darkness. Guests can relax in the boma area with its beautiful rock swimming pool and sun-drenched decks, experience the African tradition of cooking and eating under the stars.
SHAMWARI GAME RESERVE - EASTERN CAPE offers excellent Malaria-free 'Big 5' game viewing and a great finale to a Garden Route tour. Elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, rhino and wild dog are some of the treasures to be found in Shamwari Game Reserve. Game drives are lead by rangers who have an excellent knowledge of the flora and fauna of the Eastern Cape.
Guests wrap up under blankets on fresh early morning drives, and sundowners are a real treat on evening drives.
There are six different lodges within the Shamwari Game Reserve, each offering a unique experience, but all lavishly furnished and abounding in creature comforts.
The main camps of the Shamwari lodges are the social hub of the lodge and house spacious lounges and sitting rooms; decks with wonderful views where tea, drinks and alfresco lunches are served; a pool deck and swimming pool; and a boma for memorable dinners under the African stars.
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