Hi, I’m Jenny from George in the beautiful Garden Route.
George IS BEST KNOWN FOR its beautiful mountains, famous golf courses and nearby beaches is the centre of the Garden Route, It has a great temperate climate. Its a town that has something for everyone.
GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT Dolphin Point at Kaaimans Corner. This has a stunning view over the sea at Wilderness and the old Railway bridge across which the Choo choo used to run before the line was washed away by floods.
THE BEST scenic PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN FROM the Power Van, which runs on the railway line between George and Oudtshoorn. Wonderful views overlooking George and the sea to Mossel Bay.
OTHER HAPPY SNAPS AT the view points up the Outeniqua Pass between George and Oudsthoorn. Here you can see 4 passes and stunning mountain views.
WHEN THE WEATHER’S GOOD, I LIKE TO hike in the mountains,go swimming at Glentana, Wilderness Beach or Vic Bay (which is also great for surfing) or I enjoy taking a drive to nearby Mossel Bay for lunch overlooking the sea.
WHEN THE WEATHER’S BAD, I LIKE TO visit local artists like Beatrix Bosch the leather artist on ‘Die Duin’ at Wilderness as well as The Pharoah Gallery in Wilderness Village for unusual but original art works. Peter Pharoah’s powerful artworks ‘bring the Soul of Africa to life’. Alternatively take in a movie at the Garden Route Mall or visit the Railway Museum with its collection of old trains and vintage cars.
I THINK THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT IS from March to May and in the summer months, BECAUSE the weather is lovely and the fynbos stunning.
MY FAVOURITE BREAKFAST SPOT IS House of Flavours in Meade Street.
FOR LUNCH, I SUGGEST Travel Bugs in York St in George or Sails Restaurant overlooking the sea at Wilderness.
MY FAVOURITE RESTAURANT IS ‘The Kingfisher for wonderful fish and sushi. The Townhouse for a consistently good quality meal or you could also try La Capaninni or La Laconda for good Italian food.
BEST LATE NIGHT SNACK FROM The Cactus in Courtney Street.
MY FAVOURITE chilling SPOT IS the patio of our guesthouse where I can sit and look at George Peak.
FOR A NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN TRY Carouse night club in Knysna Road.
IF YOU WANT TO MEET LOCALS, GO and play golf and have a drink in the pub at the George Golf or Bowling Clubs.
George’s BEST KEPT SECRET IS its climate and natural beauty plus its friendly people.
MY FAVOURITE THING TO DO WITH FRIENDS IS to hike one of the many trails in the area or play Bridge at the George Bridge Club in Arbour Road.
FOR SOME CULTURE, I LIKE TO GO TO The Arts Theatre in York Street.
TO RELAX AND RESTORE MY SOUL, I LIKE TO paddle up the Touw River. Canoes for hire from Eden Adventures.
IF YOU’RE FEELING ADVENTUROUS, TRY paragliding at the Map of Africa View site with Cloudbase Paragliding or abseiling at Kaaimans River with Eden Adventures.
MY FAVOURITE WALK IS the Giant Kingfisher Trail starting at Ebb and Flow in Wilderness and MY FAVOURITE DRIVE is driving up the Robinson Pass between Mossel Bay and Oudstoorn.
MY FAVOURITE bookshop SHOP IS Wordsworth Books at the mall. But if you are looking for a gift shop, Mead Emporium at the Mall has a wonderful range of beautiful things.
MY FAVOURITE bird WATCHING SPOT IS Rondevlei bird Hide where if you are lucky you may see the African finfoot.
IF YOU’RE HERE IN July, JOIN IN THE FUN AT the annual Cheese festival the Outeniqua Primary School.
MY FAVOURITE GALLERY IS Strydom Art Gallery. CHECK OUT THE original art work.
MY FAVOURITE BUILDINGS ARE St Marks Anglican Church in York Street and the Dutch Reformed Mother Church in Knysna Road, BOTH FOR THEIR historical beauty.
TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN? A FUN OUTING IS visit to the Strawberry Farm at Blanco where they can play in the children’s playground while the parents have scones with local strawberry jam. Here you can pick your own strawberries or buy them from the shop that has a wonderful selection of delicious goodies. This is part of the well known Outeniqua Hop which runs from the coast at Herold’s Bay through Waboomskraal to Herold up the mountain.
BEST CHEAP AND CHEERFUL OUTING IS a visit to the Botanical Garden and the tea garden (there is place for kids to run and play and for you to have a cheap meal or cup of tea).
WHEN MONEY’S NO OBJECT, I LIKE TO have lunch and a game drive at Botlierskop near Great Brak. Look at the rhinos with their new baby.
THE MOST UNUSUAL THING I SEE HERE IS a local man on a converted bicycle and side car with his dog in it and a parrot sitting on the dog”s head. He rides up and down the streets with music blaring from his sponsored ‘wagon’.
MY FAVOURITE WEEKEND GETAWAY IS hiring an old renovated cottage in ‘The Hell’ in the Swartberg Mountains. The drive there is wonderful and the peace and serenity of the place is awesome.
WHEN I WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, I work at the Botanical garden to help make it a special place to visit for all the members of the community.
I Love George BECAUSE its a smallish, clean, well kept city with everything one needs. It has a nice temperate climate and the surrounding countryside is beautiful with mountains to climb. Its within easy distance of lovely beaches and other interesting towns like Knysna, Oudtshoorn and Mossel Bay.
Useful George Links
- George Attractions
- Things to Do in George
- George Accommodation
- George Hotels
- Garden Route Hotels
- Garden Route Accommodation
Desirable Digits
Botanical Garden and Southern Cape Herbarium: +27 (0)44 874-1558
Peter Pharoah Art Gallery: +27 (0)44-977-0265
Beatrix Bosch Leather Artist: +27 (0)44 877-0585
Travel Bugs restaurant: +27 (0)44 873-2009
The Old Townhouse Restaurant: +27 (0)44 874-3663
La Capannina Restuarant: +27 (0)44 874-5313
Kingfisher Restaurant: +27 (0)44 873-3127
La Laconda Restaurant: +27 (0)44 874-7803
Botlierskop Game Farm: +27 (0)44 696-6055
Eden Adventures: +27 (0)44 877-0267
Outeniqua Power Van: +27 (0)44 801-8239
Strydom Gallery: +27 (0)44 874-4027
Cloudbase paragliding: +27 (0)44 877-1414
Outeniqua Country Hop: +27 (0)44 870-0960
