Garden Route in October
Aug 26th, 2006, 11:48 AM
#1
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Garden Route in October
We are planning a trip to S Africa
in Oct and would appreciate suggestions
where to stay and eat along the Garden Route
Either 4 or 5 star hotel/ B&B.
We are spending 4 days in Cape Town at
the Portswood Hotel. Then plan to rent a
car and drive from Cape Town along
the Garden route for 4 nights.
I was thinking 2nights at Knysnna ?
1 night Plettenberg Bay ? but the last night
has to be in Port Elizabeth as we are
staying 2 nights at Eagles Crag
at the Shamwari Game Reserve. We plan to fly
home from Port Elizabeth the following
day.
Would appreciate any input and also
suggestions what type of clothing
would be approriate for mid-late
October. thanks Maggey
in Oct and would appreciate suggestions
where to stay and eat along the Garden Route
Either 4 or 5 star hotel/ B&B.
We are spending 4 days in Cape Town at
the Portswood Hotel. Then plan to rent a
car and drive from Cape Town along
the Garden route for 4 nights.
I was thinking 2nights at Knysnna ?
1 night Plettenberg Bay ? but the last night
has to be in Port Elizabeth as we are
staying 2 nights at Eagles Crag
at the Shamwari Game Reserve. We plan to fly
home from Port Elizabeth the following
day.
Would appreciate any input and also
suggestions what type of clothing
would be approriate for mid-late
October. thanks Maggey
Aug 26th, 2006, 01:18 PM
#2
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Hello,
I'd recommend basing yourself in one place since you only have three nights -- Knysna is quite central and probably your best choice. You have some good options in Knysna in terms of accommodation:
Belvidere Manor is a lovely historic manor house:
http://www.belvidere.co.za
If you'd prefer more luxury, take a look at Pezula:
http://www.pezula.co.za/
There are also a number of smaller guesthouses and B&Bs in town. Take a look at the Portfolio Collection on http://www.portfoliocollection.com
Cheers,
Julian
I'd recommend basing yourself in one place since you only have three nights -- Knysna is quite central and probably your best choice. You have some good options in Knysna in terms of accommodation:
Belvidere Manor is a lovely historic manor house:
http://www.belvidere.co.za
If you'd prefer more luxury, take a look at Pezula:
http://www.pezula.co.za/
There are also a number of smaller guesthouses and B&Bs in town. Take a look at the Portfolio Collection on http://www.portfoliocollection.com
Cheers,
Julian
Aug 27th, 2006, 06:49 PM
#3
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Sounds like a great trip.
I suggest you spend 1 night in Hermanus and see the whales www.francolinhof.co.za is a good option.
Lake Pleasant Hotel is a good option for accommodation and is currently very reasonably priced it is in the same group as Shamwari www.lakepleasant.co.za
My favourite luxury option is Tsala Tree Top Lodge, which are individual tree houses linked by walk way to the reception area and restaurant, the evening meals are wonderful. www.tsala.co.za
Port Elizabeth is great despite what you read on the forum www.fifthave.co.za is a good
option close to Hobbie Beach.
Have a great time Eagles Cragg is one of the premier lodges at Shamwari and is outstanding.
I suggest you spend 1 night in Hermanus and see the whales www.francolinhof.co.za is a good option.
Lake Pleasant Hotel is a good option for accommodation and is currently very reasonably priced it is in the same group as Shamwari www.lakepleasant.co.za
My favourite luxury option is Tsala Tree Top Lodge, which are individual tree houses linked by walk way to the reception area and restaurant, the evening meals are wonderful. www.tsala.co.za
Port Elizabeth is great despite what you read on the forum www.fifthave.co.za is a good
option close to Hobbie Beach.
Have a great time Eagles Cragg is one of the premier lodges at Shamwari and is outstanding.
Aug 28th, 2006, 12:12 AM
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Some recommendations for accommodation along the Garden Route:
Amber Guest Lodge, Knysna
Lily Pond Country Lodge, Nature's Valley
Turaco Country House, Wilderness
Luna Lodge, Plettenberg Bay.
All of them are lovely 4 star graded Guest Houses. I especially recommend visiting Nature's Valley - a natures lover's dream!
Have a look at http://www.southafrica-stay.com for accommodation.
Amber Guest Lodge, Knysna
Lily Pond Country Lodge, Nature's Valley
Turaco Country House, Wilderness
Luna Lodge, Plettenberg Bay.
All of them are lovely 4 star graded Guest Houses. I especially recommend visiting Nature's Valley - a natures lover's dream!
Have a look at http://www.southafrica-stay.com for accommodation.
Aug 28th, 2006, 01:29 PM
#5
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Maggey,
If I were you I would wait a week or two before I do any planning with regard to visiting the Garden Route.
I say this because the raod on the Kaaimans Pass in particular is not accesible due to floods and at the moment there is no set date for the bridging roads to reopen. If the road is not open it virtually becomes impossible to drive the Garden Route without incredible detours using poor roads.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_i...3414210C911148
I strongly suggest that all Fodorites contemplating travelling the Garden Route in the next couple of weeks take heed of this news.
Sorry to be the messenger of bad tidings.
Very proudly part of the wonderful
nation of South Africa
If I were you I would wait a week or two before I do any planning with regard to visiting the Garden Route.
I say this because the raod on the Kaaimans Pass in particular is not accesible due to floods and at the moment there is no set date for the bridging roads to reopen. If the road is not open it virtually becomes impossible to drive the Garden Route without incredible detours using poor roads.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_i...3414210C911148
I strongly suggest that all Fodorites contemplating travelling the Garden Route in the next couple of weeks take heed of this news.
Sorry to be the messenger of bad tidings.
Very proudly part of the wonderful
nation of South Africa
Aug 28th, 2006, 07:19 PM
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You can take the alternative Langkloof Road which is where the Cape Apples are grown it is a wonderful scenic route and is normally very quite.
Unfortunately you will miss out a lot of the Garden Route.
There were plans to reopen the N2 today but it appears the damage to the road is very serious, but there is an alternative route for cars that will cause an hours delay.
More information http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/news/n05_28082006.htm
Unfortunately you will miss out a lot of the Garden Route.
There were plans to reopen the N2 today but it appears the damage to the road is very serious, but there is an alternative route for cars that will cause an hours delay.
More information http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/news/n05_28082006.htm
Aug 28th, 2006, 07:31 PM
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Latest information.
http://www.arrivealive.co.za/frontde...ter&id=197
http://www.arrivealive.co.za/frontde...ter&id=197
Aug 29th, 2006, 06:50 AM
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we decided to change plans...and flights..we are staying 3 nights at Cape Town..rent a car to go around and then flying to Nairobi to begin safari...The Hollow in CT is full booked...looking for a nice hotel with good location...THanks
Aug 29th, 2006, 07:42 AM
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Portswood or the Commodore are on the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and are reasonably priced www.legacyhotels.co.za
To go to Kenya is a bit extreme you can fly to Port Elizabeth for 600 Rand $85 it take 1 ½ hours, the Langkloof is also a great drive and does not take much longer than the N2
Spend more time in P.E. which has 20% of the countries blue flag beaches and is surrounded by malaria free Game Reserves.
To go to Kenya is a bit extreme you can fly to Port Elizabeth for 600 Rand $85 it take 1 ½ hours, the Langkloof is also a great drive and does not take much longer than the N2
Spend more time in P.E. which has 20% of the countries blue flag beaches and is surrounded by malaria free Game Reserves.
Aug 29th, 2006, 09:03 AM
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thanks COline...now we are waiting for flights confirmations..is a long way from Argentina we need to fly to Brazil and then to JOB and then back down to Cape Town... !! (the other way is through Europe...crazy!
Aug 29th, 2006, 10:12 PM
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Kaaimans Pass: One lane open
29 August 2006
George - The N2 road at Kaaimans River between George and Knysna reopened late on Tuesday, said the Eden district municipality.
"The Kaaimans road has been opened, but one lane only. The size of vehicles is limited to light passenger vehicles and a maximum of five tons total weight for trucks," said municipal disaster manager Gerhard Otto.
He said the SA national roads agency had declared one lane safe, and this would be available for use unless there was another rockfall.
The road was closed because of damage from flooding last week and mud and rock slides.
Otto said traffic was driving through the pass in convoy, travelling behind an escort vehicle which enforced the speed limit.
"It takes about half an hour to drive through, it's about 15km."
He said the alternative Saasveld route also was open, but might be closed for maintenance later.
[ Story appeared on News24.com]
29 August 2006
George - The N2 road at Kaaimans River between George and Knysna reopened late on Tuesday, said the Eden district municipality.
"The Kaaimans road has been opened, but one lane only. The size of vehicles is limited to light passenger vehicles and a maximum of five tons total weight for trucks," said municipal disaster manager Gerhard Otto.
He said the SA national roads agency had declared one lane safe, and this would be available for use unless there was another rockfall.
The road was closed because of damage from flooding last week and mud and rock slides.
Otto said traffic was driving through the pass in convoy, travelling behind an escort vehicle which enforced the speed limit.
"It takes about half an hour to drive through, it's about 15km."
He said the alternative Saasveld route also was open, but might be closed for maintenance later.
[ Story appeared on News24.com]
Aug 30th, 2006, 05:42 PM
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ONLY hours after warnings that a section of the Kaaimans Pass between George and Wilderness was in danger of collapsing, the road was reopened to light vehicle traffic yesterday afternoon.
The announcement came after an inspection by a group of engineers, just a day after traffic authorities warned that the mountainside at Dolphin‘s Point was collapsing.
The engineers determined that the anticipated collapse of the cliffside would not cause any further damage to the road, and that it would be safe for light vehicles to use.
The news comes as a relief for many frustrated motorists, who have had to use the Saasveld road to get to George after the pass was closed on Friday.
This follows weeks of heavy rains which made it unsafe following several mudslides and rockfalls above and below the busy national route.
However, only one lane of traffic on Kaaimans Pass has been opened and only vehicles lighter than five tons will be allowed to use the pass.
Waiting periods of between 30 and 45 minutes are expected, depending on traffic volumes.
Full story
http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/news/n06_30082006.htm
The announcement came after an inspection by a group of engineers, just a day after traffic authorities warned that the mountainside at Dolphin‘s Point was collapsing.
The engineers determined that the anticipated collapse of the cliffside would not cause any further damage to the road, and that it would be safe for light vehicles to use.
The news comes as a relief for many frustrated motorists, who have had to use the Saasveld road to get to George after the pass was closed on Friday.
This follows weeks of heavy rains which made it unsafe following several mudslides and rockfalls above and below the busy national route.
However, only one lane of traffic on Kaaimans Pass has been opened and only vehicles lighter than five tons will be allowed to use the pass.
Waiting periods of between 30 and 45 minutes are expected, depending on traffic volumes.
Full story
http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/news/n06_30082006.htm
Sep 1st, 2006, 06:27 PM
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THOSE with an interest in the macabre can watch on the internet the slow demise of the now famous family holiday home below the N2 at Kaaimans Pass as it slips into the river below.
The George-based webcam portal Midafricam, which usually focuses on the well-known Kaaimans Railway Bridge across the river mouth, has reset its camera to record the devastation of the N2 and surrounding area, including Dolphin‘s Point.
The webcam, which is situated on a cliff facing the sliding R4-million holiday house, updates four different scenes at the pass every five minutes.
It includes footage of the large crack above the Dolphins‘ Point holiday house and damage to the train tracks below, near the famous Kaaimans Grotto cave restaurant.
IT trainer and portal co-owner Justin Miles said he and business partner, IT businessman John Durrer, operated several webcams on the Garden Route as a hobby.
“We set up at Kaaimans in February last year and have been receiving an estimated 350 hits a day from across South Africa, the UK, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
“We started getting requests for more detailed footage of the devastation at Kaaimans and subsequently refocused our camera to include a wider section of the pass and river mouth.”
He said hits on the site had now increased to 1 000 a day.
Miles said they had been planning to set up a webcam at the site of the sliding holiday home to get a closer view of the train track, but had not finalised the details when they heard the bad news that the house could not be saved.
“We know the owner, Wim de Beer, well and were very sad for him that he had lost a house with such an unusual and awesome view.”
Engineers say there is nothing they can do to stop the house sinking.
Webcam images can be watched at www.midafricam.co.za.
The George-based webcam portal Midafricam, which usually focuses on the well-known Kaaimans Railway Bridge across the river mouth, has reset its camera to record the devastation of the N2 and surrounding area, including Dolphin‘s Point.
The webcam, which is situated on a cliff facing the sliding R4-million holiday house, updates four different scenes at the pass every five minutes.
It includes footage of the large crack above the Dolphins‘ Point holiday house and damage to the train tracks below, near the famous Kaaimans Grotto cave restaurant.
IT trainer and portal co-owner Justin Miles said he and business partner, IT businessman John Durrer, operated several webcams on the Garden Route as a hobby.
“We set up at Kaaimans in February last year and have been receiving an estimated 350 hits a day from across South Africa, the UK, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
“We started getting requests for more detailed footage of the devastation at Kaaimans and subsequently refocused our camera to include a wider section of the pass and river mouth.”
He said hits on the site had now increased to 1 000 a day.
Miles said they had been planning to set up a webcam at the site of the sliding holiday home to get a closer view of the train track, but had not finalised the details when they heard the bad news that the house could not be saved.
“We know the owner, Wim de Beer, well and were very sad for him that he had lost a house with such an unusual and awesome view.”
Engineers say there is nothing they can do to stop the house sinking.
Webcam images can be watched at www.midafricam.co.za.
Sep 4th, 2006, 06:13 AM
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Kaaimans Pass may be closed yet again
By Athane Scholtz and Bob Hopkin
THE Kaaimans Pass between George and Wilderness may again be closed several times during the next few days as expert engineers start securing areas of possible mud and rock slides above the N2 from tomorrow.
The pass, the main link between George and the eastern side of the Garden Route, has been closed several times since heavy rains started in the region on August 1.
The closures were met with frustration from motorists and dire warnings from experts regarding long and short-term socio- economic effects.
Roadworks project manager Kobus Visser said the exact details of when the pass would be closed would be determined by Gauteng-based engineers and technicians due to arrive today.
“We are concerned that several rock slabs above the pass may be a long- term threat to motorists, and we want them analysed and secured – this may mean that the slabs have to be drilled out or otherwise secured with cables.
“The process is obviously dangerous as rocks and mud can fall onto the road below, so we will have to close the pass at times.
“In the meantime we are assisting authorities working around the clock to improve the road surface of the alternative Saasveld road behind Wilderness, now closed, so that it can be opened to two-way traffic if necessary.”
Updates on the status of the Kaaimans Pass are available by sending an SMS with the word “george” to 35313.
By Athane Scholtz and Bob Hopkin
THE Kaaimans Pass between George and Wilderness may again be closed several times during the next few days as expert engineers start securing areas of possible mud and rock slides above the N2 from tomorrow.
The pass, the main link between George and the eastern side of the Garden Route, has been closed several times since heavy rains started in the region on August 1.
The closures were met with frustration from motorists and dire warnings from experts regarding long and short-term socio- economic effects.
Roadworks project manager Kobus Visser said the exact details of when the pass would be closed would be determined by Gauteng-based engineers and technicians due to arrive today.
“We are concerned that several rock slabs above the pass may be a long- term threat to motorists, and we want them analysed and secured – this may mean that the slabs have to be drilled out or otherwise secured with cables.
“The process is obviously dangerous as rocks and mud can fall onto the road below, so we will have to close the pass at times.
“In the meantime we are assisting authorities working around the clock to improve the road surface of the alternative Saasveld road behind Wilderness, now closed, so that it can be opened to two-way traffic if necessary.”
Updates on the status of the Kaaimans Pass are available by sending an SMS with the word “george” to 35313.
Sep 9th, 2006, 12:07 PM
#16
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Thank you all for your information. I
apologize for not replying sooner
but I've been away!
I will take my time to read through
your posts...especially about
the flooding... not good news!
thanks again Maggey
apologize for not replying sooner
but I've been away!
I will take my time to read through
your posts...especially about
the flooding... not good news!
thanks again Maggey
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