Page 239 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

THE WESTERN AND SOUTHERN C APE  237

THE GARDEN ROUTE

TO GRAHAMSTOWN

This magnificent stretch of coastline encompasses
mountains, rivers, lagoons, lakes, beaches and the
indigenous forests and wetlands of the Garden Route
National Park, which comprises the Tsitsikamma,
Wilderness and Knysna regions.

The Garden Route, backed by the paper mills, as well as the furniture-
Outeniqua, Tsitsikamma and Langkloof making and build ing industries.
mountain ranges, extends all the way Tourists are drawn to the Garden
from Mossel Bay in the west to the Route for its scenic drives, forested
Storms River Mouth in the east. walks and trails and pristine coastline,
In 1780, French naturalist Francois as well as the tranquil inland lakes and
Le Vaillant wrote of the area: “Nature lagoons. The birdlife is spectacular.
has made an enchanted abode of this Knysna alone has recorded more than
beau tiful place.” In the 1800s, however, 230 dif ferent species, among them the
furniture makers began to value the African spoonbill, osprey and avocet. Of
indigenous hardwoods, and large tracts spe cial interest among forest birds are
of Outeniqua yellowwood (Podocarpus the Knysna lourie and Narina’s trogon.
falcatus), ironwood (Olea capensis), Plettenberg Bay is an upmarket
and the smaller stinkwood (Ocotea coastal retreat. Balmy weather attracts
bullata) were felled by the European visitors even in the winter months.
settlers. Of the original forest, only Beyond the Garden Route, Port
650 sq km (251 sq miles) has survived, Elizabeth, the centre of South Africa’s
of which 430 sq km (166 sq miles) is on car-manufacturing industry, has lovely
state land. Nowadays, plantations of golden beaches and is famous for its
exotic pines and bluegum supply the Bayworld Complex.

Group of ostriches along the Garden Route
Sandstone cliffs surrounding the beautiful Knysna lagoon

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