Anyone done the Garden Route in South Africa?

Is this a gay thread?

certainly not!

Be v careful, they don't like that sort of thing over there.

livinglegend - do you ever get to the point when you wonder why you bothered asking ?

yes an absolutely fantastic place ,and as i recall garden route was a great trip, taking in some breath taking scenery

yes mate, a few times:

if you are arriving in cape town then obviously there is quite a bit to see there. try some wine tasting at one of the vineyards in or around stellenbosch as you drive east

i have spent quite a bit of time between mossel bay and knysna and can recommend:

mossel bay - boat trip around seal island, great whites and whales out in the the bay.
you can also sky dive there if you are up for something like that.
garden route casino just outside

qeorge has some decent shops and restaurants, we stayed here http://www.fairviewhomestead.com/

garden route game lodge is very good, either to stay at or for a game drive etc
you will see giraffes, rhino, elephants amongst others

driving east forest valley have some great self catering cottages with amazing views
http://www.forestvalley.co.za/

knysna itself is well worth a visit, especially the waterfront area

further east, tranquility lodge in nature's valley is a great place to go and relax

hope you you enjoy it!

make sure you pre-book and pay for all accomodation before you go- all inclusive is best - then at least all this is one thing less to worry about when you are robbed by a 7foot local with a machette

Did it years back so it may have changed a lot, but loved it at the time. Highlights were Knysna and a place called Noetzie Beach in Plettenberg Bay.
Bloo.dy hell this reminds me of the first time I went to SA - in Durban to be precise and it had a sign on the beach saying
"this beach is for members of the white race only."

i lived there for a year , remember the pool guys lad had a sheep,s head for lunch, if not anything else the experiences and things i'd witnessed whilst there will stay with me forever

knysne as said.
montagu , nice hot springs there.
Franschhoek for the wine

This place is essential for dinner if in Knysna ...

http://www.phantomforest.com/

thank you so much for the decent answers. sometimes i wonder if things are worth asking at all, with the first couple of replies!!

im going on dec 28th, 5 nights in cape town, 2 in franschhoek, 2 in plettenberg bay, 1 in port elizabeth the on to safari for 3 nights at kariega main lodge.

i can't wait.

all accomodation is booked, as are flights and hire car.

This is not the forum for this type of the post,

There is a forum a place and a time for this type of post, please refrain in future.

Thank You.

thanks for the advice mallia!!

Have a lovely time legend. I'm sure you will.

cheers sultan, it's actually my honeymoon. got married in july but saved the honeymoon for dec because we're both fed up with new year in this country being rubbish and it's SA's summer when we go

good plan. It'll be frickin hot there in January too.

Only jesting LL :^0 ..best of luck !

i know you were mallia, i can smell your sarcasm from here!!

storms river!

South Africa is fantastic but remember that you are going at peak holiday season so restaurants and attractions such as Robben Island and Table Mountain are going to be packed. If you are into fine dining you are going to heaven, there are some outstanding places, let me know if you want some links. Test Match at Newlands might be a possibility as well, starts on 3rd Jan.

yeah post some links please,

cheers everyone

Not sure of your age and tastes Livinglegend but here goes: -

I assume you are staying in the City and taking in Robben Island and Table Mountain, if so, best advice is to take the first opportunity you have to visit, the weather can be a bit unpredictable and as you are there for only 5 nights you wont want to miss out, best time for the Mountain is late afternoon, the weather is usually better and the sunset is amazing, perhaps tea at the Mount Nelson Hotel at about 4pm and then up the Cable Car. The Waterfront is very popular and if you have lunch at Bahia you have a spectacular view of the Waterfront with the backdrop of Table Mountain.

Not sure of your budget but I always advise people to spend a bit more, the difference between a

thank you so much for this mate

Legend... Ive been to most places you say you are going, make no bones about it you are a jammy b@stard...enjoy... its awesome

Just remembered how remis of me Restaurant in Cape Town... Five Flies, **g awesome not far from long street

Legend - Stayed at Kariega last year, awesome place. Do you know which lodge you are staying in ?

Agree with one of the comments about Constantia-Ultsig, one of the best restuarants around with the most beautiful scenary & am awesome old-fashioned picturesque cricket field...

If you go through Camps Bay, eat at the Codfather, amazing

Just a couple of others, how about a picnic, not a tomato sandwich and a flask but here at Vergelegen, £15 a head under the trees at a fantastic place with lots of history and class, wonderful wine too and only 45 mins out of town.

http://www.vergelegen.co.za/Content_1030500000_picnic.htm If you really want to impress the new wife this is perfect. Don't let the word 'Picnic' put you off, this is something else.

And not to forget the Penguins at Boulders Beach, take a drive from the City, through Constantia and then onto the spectacular Boyes Drive (no cheap jokes please) into Kalk Bay (lots of antique shops and a harbour) through Fish Hoek and on to Simonstown (nice stop for fish and ***** and then just outside of town is Boulders Beach, just a quick visit here to see the Penguins and on to Scarborough, then the coast road back to Cape Town via Chapmans Peak drive, Hout Bay, Llandudno and Camps Bay. A day out you will never forget.