Discover Eden: Garden Route and Klein Karoo

The Garden Route and Klein Karoo tourism regions lie within Eden’s administrative boundaries. The Garden Route stretches along the Cape’s south coast and is defined by beaches, mountains, forests, nature reserves and heritage sites. This geographical setting gives your trip planning a broad framework.

Nature and wildlife on the Garden Route

The Goukamma Nature Reserve and Marine Protected Area lies on the Garden Route between Sedgefield and Knysna. It features diverse habitats and a wide variety of smaller wildlife, birds and fish, and is also a World Heritage Site. If you are interested in landscapes and wildlife, you will find a specific focus on nature and marine conservation here.

Plan a hike and a pass visit

The hike along the St. Blaize Trail covers 13.5 kilometres and takes approximately six hours. The route follows the cliffs along the 30-metre contour line. Knowing the approximate duration makes it easier to set aside a substantial block of time in your day’s itinerary. The Swartberg Pass is also among the destinations visited by tourists each year. If a visit to the pass is part of your travel plans, check current road conditions in advance.

Festival and crafts

The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees, also known as the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, takes place every year in Oudtshoorn and draws large numbers of visitors to the town. If you would like to plan your trip around the event, check the current dates before setting your travel dates. In Sedgefield, Scarab Village is a place to find crafts. Its offerings include original South African art, handmade clothing, metalwork, wooden products, hand-spun wool and ceramics. Together, the festival and crafts provide two specific cultural points of reference for your trip planning: one in Oudtshoorn, the other in Sedgefield.

The Western Cape as a broader setting

In the broader Western Cape destination, the Garden Route National Park includes the areas of Tsitsikamma, Wilderness and Knysna, as well as various catchment areas, indigenous forests and fynbos areas. The park offers opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, kayaking and scenic drives. Also within the broader Western Cape setting is the coast of De Hoop Nature Reserve: between June and November, southern right whales migrate there to calve and raise their young. This seasonal aspect broadens the picture of the wider destination without equating Eden’s local themes with the park and coastal areas described there.

Discover more destinations: George, Knysna, Mossel Bay, Wilderness, Plettenberg Bay, Oudtshoorn, Wittedrif, De Rust, Groot Brakrivier, Rheenendal, Calitzdorp, Die Barakke, Witsand, Brenton-On-Sea, Sedgefield, Ladismith, Boggoms Bay, Riversdale, Keurboomstrand, Uniondale, Nature's Valley, Still Bay, Heidelberg - Wc, Herolds Bay, Tergniet, Malgas, Albertinia, South Cape Dc, Harkerville, Reebok, Plathuis, Jacobs Bay, Herbertsdale, Van Wyksdorp, Victoria Bay, Molen Drift, Jongensfontein.

For the broader travel overview: Western Cape.