THE WESTERN CAPE & GARDEN ROUTE
Wining, dining, whale watching and walking...
Tipping the most southerly section of South Africa is the wonderful Western Cape! A completely unique province, the Western Cape is edged on the west by the Atlantic Ocean, and by the Indian Ocean on the east. Comprising roughly 10% of South Africa's landmass, the WC is jam packed with culture, wine, boutique accommodation, mountains, indigenous forests and beautiful ocean views.
Famed for its diverse climates, the majority of the Western Cape is classified as 'Mediterranean' and is dominated by the sandstone Cape Fold Mountains. The interior sports semi-arid conditions typical of the mystical Karoo, and as one heads up the east coast the environment mellows into a maritime climate, feeding dense moisture into the green forests of the Garden Route. In fact, Mossel Bay where the Oystercatcher trail runs is said to have the second mildest climate in the world after Hawaii!
Boasting the endemic Cape Floral Kingdom with nostalgic whiffs of Fynbos underfoot; the Western Cape is exceptionally popular with local and international holiday makers. Active Escapes offers an exciting range of slackpacking, hiking and mountain bike trails that allow access to these spectacular areas. From Stellenbosch to Storms River, the range of activities and landscapes is boggling; one trip down to the Cape will have you returning for years to come.
Whether it's strolling from one vineyard to the next on the Winelands Trail, dossing down in luxury B&Bs after a day of dedicated strandlooping, whale watching along the coast of Hermanus where the delicacy of Perlemoen lie beneath the sea, absorbing local culture with a camera in hand, or cycling through giant Yellow Woods in the forests of the Garden Route; there's something to suit all of our clients.