Tips for Garden Route in December

Ecco

Ecco

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Friends,

I have some relatives visiting from the US. To spend some time with them I will be joining them on their trip in the garden route.

Will be staying in George and Knysna. So will move around from those two locations.

Will appreciate any tips, list of must see places, restaurants (kid friendly) etc. Also tips regarding dealing crowds, not sure how busy this area is and what to expect.

Thank you
 
Giving this a bump

And to add, we will do a day trip to Tsitsikama/Storms River
 
December holiday time is very busy at the beaches. Tip - go early. 8:00 - 08:30 you can still get parking and pick your seat. Starts to get busy after 10:00 with peaks at around 12:00. We normally leave around that time to miss the peak times. Shops are always busy.
Hartenbos is a good outing - you need to pay for parking though or walk quite a distance. Eb and flow in Wilderness have good hiking trails to the waterfall and you can also cano on the river there.
Pili-pili is a nice restaurant in Sedgefield - basically on the beach.
the strawberry farm (Redberry Farm) just outside of George - nice outing for children. Also good for parents.
Storms river and Tsitsikama village is a must see and do.
Plet - adventure world is nice.
Too lazy to type more. Enjoy, there is plenty to do and see.
 
boggom said:
December holiday time is very busy at the beaches. Tip - go early. 8:00 - 08:30 you can still get parking and pick your seat. Starts to get busy after 10:00 with peaks at around 12:00. We normally leave around that time to miss the peak times. Shops are always busy.
Hartenbos is a good outing - you need to pay for parking though or walk quite a distance. Eb and flow in Wilderness have good hiking trails to the waterfall and you can also cano on the river there.
Pili-pili is a nice restaurant in Sedgefield - basically on the beach.
the strawberry farm (Redberry Farm) just outside of George - nice outing for children. Also good for parents.
Storms river and Tsitsikama village is a must see and do.
Plet - adventure world is nice.
Too lazy to type more. Enjoy, there is plenty to do and see.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the help, greatly appreciated
 
Ecco said:
Thank you for the help, greatly appreciated
Click to expand...

There is a lot to do so not hard find something. You don't mention what you are into though? We can recommend shark cage diving and parachuting but that doesn't help if you just want to laze around on beaches.
 
Knysna is always slammed during the summer holidays.

Plett is very nice, but equally busy, especially with Rage going on during the first week of December.

George has to be one of the nicest cities around.

boggom said:
the strawberry farm (Redberry Farm) just outside of George - nice outing for children. Also good for parents.
Click to expand...
Used to stay at a lovely B&B right next door to the giant strawberry - until my room got broken into while I was out and a bunch of stuff stolen. The owners were pretty apathetic about the whole thing, even though they claimed it was the first break in since they started.
 
bwana said:
Used to stay at a lovely B&B right next door to the giant strawberry
Click to expand...
Stayed at a cottage near the berry farm in January.
It was the first time I've been disappointed with accommodation on the Garden Route.
The owner was in our face the whole time and the online pics were deceptive :X3:
 
dualmeister said:
Stayed at a cottage near the berry farm in January.
It was the first time I've been disappointed with accommodation on the Garden Route.
The owner was in our face the whole time and the online pics were deceptive :X3:
Click to expand...
Wonder if it's the same place.
 
Ah the Garden Route. Many good holidays up that way.

It all depends on what your interest are e.g. physical activities or not :laugh:

From my experiences I can suggest the following.

Swimming. Try Herold Bay. The tidal pool is awesome, but get there early as parking can be a nightmare.
Something different. The George Power Van. A nice long meander up the mountain overlooking George.
A boat trip across the Knysna lagoon to the beach bar and restaurant.
If your into bird watching The Birds of Eden. Kids will love it to.
For an excellent meal The Hawthorn Boutigue Hotel

Will add more as I think of them.
 
Last edited:
dualmeister said:
Boscia?
Click to expand...
Ok - no, not them.

It's a pity though, it looks decent enough online and I need to find a new pace to stay. I'm there at least four times a year for work.
 
bwana said:
Ok - no, not them.

It's a pity though, it looks decent enough online and I need to find a new pace to stay. I'm there at least four times a year for work.
Click to expand...
I could write an essay on the experience, but lets leave it there :laugh:
 
so much to do

elephant park in kynsa
lots of wildlife conservation between knysna and plett
monkeyland and birdworld in plett
garden of eden
nice beaches in sedgefiled wilderness
 
I live in the area. The main tip I can give you, is try not to pass through Knysna too often.
It's a guaranteed 1 or 2 hour traffic jam in season. Plan your whole day on either side of it, or in it. Don't plan on passing through multiple times a day

Some great things to do

Hike the Robberg peninsula.
Birds of Eden - A must see, but expensive
The puzzle park if you are taking kids.
Africanyon - Abseiling and kloofing. A lot of fun.
A hike in the Harkerville forest: Perdekop trail is very foresty and for free.
Mountain biking: All over the show.
Go on a sunset or lunch cruise in Knysna. Either with ocean sailing charters or the John Benn. Have lunch on the boat.
Chill on the beach at Plett or Buffels
Go on a fishing charter

I'd honestly stay away from restaurants. With maybe 4 or 5 exceptions they are all overwhelmed during season. You are almost guaranteed bad service, overcrowding, season pricing and bad food. Only a few select ones can handle the volume.

Edit: 1 more. If the wind is pumping and the beaches unpleasant. You can go to adventure land between Plett and Knysna. It's a pretty decent water park and sheltered from the wind. Many slides. Not quite a top tier park, but pretty decent.
 
Last edited:
notayoba said:
I live in the area. The main tip I can give you, is try not to pass through Knysna too often.
It's a guaranteed 1 or 2 hour traffic jam in season. Plan your whole day on either side of it, or in it. Don't plan on passing through multiple times a day

Some great things to do

Hike the Robberg peninsula.
Birds of Eden - A must see, but expensive
The puzzle park if you are taking kids.
Africanyon - Abseiling and kloofing. A lot of fun.
A hike in the Harkerville forest: Perdekop trail is very foresty and for free.
Mountain biking: All over the show.
Go on a sunset or lunch cruise in Knysna. Either with ocean sailing charters or the John Benn. Have lunch on the boat.
Chill on the beach at Plett or Buffels
Go on a fishing charter

I'd honestly stay away from restaurants. With maybe 4 or 5 exceptions they are all overwhelmed during season. You are almost guaranteed bad service, overcrowding, season pricing and bad food. Only a few select ones can handle the volume.

Edit: 1 more. If the wind is pumping and the beaches unpleasant. You can go to adventure land between Plett and Knysna. It's a pretty decent water park and sheltered from the wind. Many slides. Not quite a top tier park, but pretty decent.
Click to expand...

Good advice on the restaurants.

With the beaches, plan to go early, around 8. The wind tends to come up around the middle of the day so that can be a good time to leave.
 
B-1 said:
There is a lot to do so not hard find something. You don't mention what you are into though? We can recommend shark cage diving and parachuting but that doesn't help if you just want to laze around on beaches.
Click to expand...

Travelling with a family with 2 small kid both under 7.

So kids friendly options mostly. Beach for sure, interesting places for kids to see, picnics, short hikes.

The adults are into different things, but they will prioritize around the kids.
 
dualmeister said:
Ah the Garden Route. Many good holidays up that way.

It all depends on what your interest are e.g. physical activities or not :laugh:

From my experiences I can suggest the following.

Swimming. Try Herold Bay. The tidal pool is awesome, but get there early as parking can be a nightmare.
Something different. The George Power Van. A nice long meander up the mountain overlooking George.
A boat trip across the Knysna lagoon to the beach bar and restaurant.
If your into bird watching The Birds of Eden.
For an excellent meal The Hawthorn Boutigue Hotel

Will add more as I think of them.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the the recommendations the powervan looks interesting and might be fun for kids. The cruise too.

Wasn't there a steam train which runs in that area too?
 
notayoba said:
I live in the area. The main tip I can give you, is try not to pass through Knysna too often.
It's a guaranteed 1 or 2 hour traffic jam in season. Plan your whole day on either side of it, or in it. Don't plan on passing through multiple times a day

Some great things to do

Hike the Robberg peninsula.
Birds of Eden - A must see, but expensive
The puzzle park if you are taking kids.
Africanyon - Abseiling and kloofing. A lot of fun.
A hike in the Harkerville forest: Perdekop trail is very foresty and for free.
Mountain biking: All over the show.
Go on a sunset or lunch cruise in Knysna. Either with ocean sailing charters or the John Benn. Have lunch on the boat.
Chill on the beach at Plett or Buffels
Go on a fishing charter

I'd honestly stay away from restaurants. With maybe 4 or 5 exceptions they are all overwhelmed during season. You are almost guaranteed bad service, overcrowding, season pricing and bad food. Only a few select ones can handle the volume.

Edit: 1 more. If the wind is pumping and the beaches unpleasant. You can go to adventure land between Plett and Knysna. It's a pretty decent water park and sheltered from the wind. Many slides. Not quite a top tier park, but pretty decent.
Click to expand...

We will be staying in Knysna for about 5 day,and plan to do a day trips to Plett and Storms River etc.

Traffic still any issue and something we need to factor?
 
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