Guide to Garden Route - Yumpu

A Guide to the
Garden Route
Researched, developed and created by
Jacana Media
Updated by Grahame Thomson and Julie Carlisle
Book review by Johan Rothmann
June 2019

The Garden Route is rated
as one of the top ten
tourist destinations in
South Africa. This 300-
kilometer stretch of the
south-western coast
extends from Mossel Bay
in the Western Cape to the
Storms River in the
Eastern Cape. It includes
towns such as Knysna,
Plettenberg Bay, Great
Brak River, Little Brak
River, Wilderness,
Sedgefield and Nature’s
Valley, with George, the
Garden Route’s largest city
and administrative center.
The area was thoroughly
researched and well
documented in this
outstanding guide.

The book starts off with a
historical and geological
explanation of the area.
There are many
fascinating facts, for
example, during the last
140 million years the sea
level along the Garden
Route has changed up to
300 meters above and
200 meters below the
present level.

This first part of the
book, using 130 of the
230 pages, covers
more than can be
mentioned in this
short review. Here are
some of the topics:
Beaches, currents,
dunes, lakes, rivers,
gorges, and estuaries.

Land and sea
mammals, marine fish,
estuarine fish,
invertebrates.

Plants and
insects of the
forests, fynbos,
dunes and
estuaries.

Reptiles and
amphibians, both
waterbased and
landbased in the
region.

Birdlife, from
waterbirds (sea,
estuaries, fresh
water) to the
birds of the
forests and
fynbos.

Human history
from stone age
to present day
impact.
The last 100
pages of the
book is devoted
to the present
with a wealth of
information
aimed at all
types of visitors
including hikers,
walkers, bikers,
birders, outdoor
enthusiasts,
nature lovers,
holiday makers
and guides.

There are 4
detailed maps
indicating towns,
roads, distances,
railway lines,
rivers, dams,
marine reserves,
hiking trails,
cycling trails,
historical sites,
golf courses,
caravan parks,
arts and crafts,
bathing beaches,
whale watching
spots, dive sites,
ship wrecks,
viewpoints, picnic
sites and more:
1: Still Bay to
Great Brak River
Other maps:
Glentana to
Sedgefield;
Goukamma to
Plettenberg Bay;
Keurboomstrand
to Storms River

Following the maps is
a section named
“Experience the
Garden Route”. Here
all the attractions and
activities are
described with
reference websites
where applicable.

The handy alphabetical index in the back of the book enables
one to quickly find more information about anything you may
encounter on your journey through the Garden Route.
I have reviewed several non-fiction books, all with factual and
useful information. This book was a nice surprise and stand out
from most. I am looking forward to my next visit to the
Garden Route with this guide next to me.
A GUIDE TO THE GARDEN ROUTE
Researched, developed and created by Jacana Media
Updated by Grahame Thomson and Julie Carlisle
5 th Edition, October 2017
The book has 230 pages (235 x 165mm) with a soft cover.
Published by Jacana Media (www.jacana.za)
ISBN: 978-1-4314-2520-4
Price at the time of this review (June 2019): R260 including
VATxx