The Garden Route is a 200 kilometre stretch of coastline along the southern coast of South Africa which extends from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to Storms River in the Eastern Cape. The name comes from the verdant and ecologically diverse vegetation encountered here and the numerous lagoons and lakes dotted along the coast.
Driving the Garden Route of South Africa is an amazing journey. Not only is the scenery gorgeous but the opportunities for action-packed activities are almost endless.
We spent two nights in Mossel Bay, followed by three nights in Knysna, travelling to Oudtshoorn, an hour inland, for a day. This area is home to a huge number of game reserves and animal sanctuaries. These animal sanctuaries frequently offer opportunities to get up close with their animals. Our animal encounters with ostriches, lemurs, big cats and cheetahs were some of the funniest and enjoyable experiences of our journey so far.
HIGHGATE OSTRICH SHOW FARM
Our most amusing tour took place at Highgate Ostrich Show Farm in Oudtshoorn. The five of us were laughing throughout the two hour tour. Firstly we learnt all about ostriches, and watched our guide demonstrate various crafts using the ostrich’s exquisite feathers, eggs, and leather. We then moved on to feeding ostriches by hand. We held food in our hands and the ostriches proceeded to violently grab it with their large beaks.
Next it was time to RIDE AN OSTRICH! Ostriches are very simple animals but hilarious to interact with. The ostrich is caught by putting a bag over its head (if the ostrich can’t see you than it thinks you can’t see him) and led into a triangular shaped box. We climb on, similar to sitting on a horse, holding onto the wings for balance.
You then lean back and the bag is released from the ostrich’s head. It was time for a ride around the pen. Ostriches are fast so you charge about the pen clinging on for dear life!
It was bouncy, unsteady, and tons of fun.
I was laughing the whole time, and watching Dylan with a complete look of shock on his face as the ostrich accelerated around the pen, had me crying with laughter.
You have to be less then 70kg to ride an ostrich so unfortunately this is something that Dave didn’t get to experience. However, he was in the pen taking video which can been seen on Instagram for anyone wanting to laugh out loud! Riding an ostrich is something we will all remember for a long time to come.
CANGO WILDLIFE RANCH
Our animal adventures continued just down the road from the ostrich farm at Cango Wildlife Ranch, also in Oudtshoorn. This is another animal sanctuary, offering encounters with all sorts of animals. We started with an informative tour around the ranch viewing native animal species and learning about why they are endangered.
At Cango Wildlife Ranch you can go into an enclosure with cheetahs. In order to do this you must be over the age of sixteen as cheetahs see children as food! Hence, it was just Dave and I who did this encounter, with the boys watching from above on an overhead walkway.
What an amazing experience it was to get so close to a cheetah. They were pretty docile throughout the encounter allowing us to stroke and pet them. There is something very special about being so close to a dangerous, lithe, fast animal. We loved every minute of this experience.
Our second animal encounter at Cango Wildlife Ranch was the Lemur Walk. I went in with the boys. We each took turns sitting on a rock while lemurs came to check us out and snack on some fruit which is used to get their attention. It was lots of fun having the lemurs walking all over you, messing up your hair and sitting on your head.
JUKANI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
On another day we visited Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary, near Plettenburg Bay, a centre for wild cat species. Here we saw tigers, lions, cheetahs, jaguars, leopard and so many more. There is a two hour guided tour around the centre in which you learn a huge amount about wild cats. We visited mid/late afternoon which is a good time as the cats are more active as it gets closer to feeding time, which is after the park closes.
PLETT PUZZLE PARK
For something completely different we visited Plett Puzzle Park, located right next to Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary. The park has two main activities – a maze and a puzzle walk consisting of nine different puzzles. We tackled the maze first, in two teams. We raced around for forty minutes in the mid-day sun finding the four corners of the maze. It was great fun and as usual, very competitive! After a cold drink we moved on to the puzzle walk, again in teams competing against each other. Dave, Dylan and Logan went first with Flynn and I following. Both teams managed five out of nine correct.
See also: Hiking the Robberg Peninsula with Children
WHERE WE WENT
Highgate Ostrich Show Farm – this is hilarious and must be added to any Garden Route itinerary. The standard two hour tour includes everything written here and more.
Cango Wildlife Ranch – an animal sanctuary in Oudtshoorn. There is an informative one hour tour of the park which includes the Nile crocodile feeding. Afterwards you have the option to get up close with the animals including lemurs, cheetahs, crocodiles, snakes and others.
Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary – a centre for wild cat species, near Plettenburg Bay. A guided two hour tour of the park is full of information about wild cats.
Plett Puzzle Park – a puzzle park located near Plettenburg Bay. For something different try the puzzles at this popular park.
WHERE WE STAYED
We stayed for two nights in Mossel Bay in Diaz Beach Apartment, a large three bedroom apartment with spectacular views of the beach and ocean. The apartment was spacious and comfortable but we didn’t like Mossel Bay. Our advice would be to stay in either Knysna or Plettenburg Bay along the Garden Route, or indeed both. These are pleasant towns with lots of restaurants and cafes, with plenty to keep you occupied. Mossel Bay is an industrial town with an unpleasant feel.
In Knysna we stayed for three nights at Panorama Lodge. We had two wooden chalets in the garden with fabulous views of the lagoon. Our hosts, Dieter and Tina, made us very welcome and had several suggestions of things to do in the area.
