THE GARDEN ROUTE
The Garden Route is the narrow coastal strip of the Southern Cape Region of South Africa's Western Cape Province that straddles the 34th parallel and lies between Albertinia in the west and Tsitsikamma in the east. It's bordered on the north by the Outeniqua Mountains and to the south by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. It is famous for its evergreen forests, fascinating fynbos and its beautiful beach-lined shore.
The capital of the region is the City of George, and Knysna, which lies just 60 km to the east, is its best-known holiday town.
KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA'S FAVOURITE TOWN
Twice named South Africa's Town of the Year - in 2000 and 2002 - Knysna is one of the country's favourite tourist destinations. It's also one of its most beautiful.
Built around a 1,600 hectare Lagoon (the central focus of the Knysna National Lake Area - which will soon be part of a 100,000 ha National Park), the town is famous for its evergreen forests, it's laid-back, holiday-all-the-time lifestyle, it's many restaurants and its exciting shops.
ACCESS
ROAD ACCESS
Knysna is
- 500 km east of Cape Town (about 5 hours drive on the national route N2); and
- 270 km west of Port Elizabeth (about 3 hours drive on the N2).
AIRPORTS
Knysna is served by the domestic airport at George (70 km) and a smaller air field at Plettenberg Bay (30 km)).
CLIMATE
The Garden Route is the only part of Africa which receives rain throughout the year - although about 70% of our rain falls at night.
Expect sunny days throughout the year: warm to hot during the day but cooling at night in summer and cool to warm during the day but chilly at night in winter.
Seasons:
- Summer - October to March
Temperature:
- Summer daytime average: 22 0C
- Summer night time average: 14 0C
Rainfall:
- Summer average: 75 mm per month
- Winter - April to September
Temperature:
- Winter daytime average: 19 0C
- Winter night time average: 10 0C
Rainfall:
- Winter average: 71 mm per month
- Sunny Days Per Year: 300
Climate information supplied by South African National Parks, Knysna.
AREA & DEMOGRAPHICS
About 60,000 people live in the 1,059 km² of Knysna's municipal area.
About 26% are younger than 15 years of age; 18% between 15 and 24; 33% between 25 and 44; 17% between 45 and 64; and 6% older than 64. Most residents (about 55%) speak Afrikaans, 15% speak English and about 28% speak African languages (mostly IsiXhosa). Only about 2% speak foreign languages. 87% of residents are Christian, 11% have no religion, 0.1% are Muslim and 0.1% are Jewish. 19% of people in the 15 - 65 age group are unemployed (well below the national average of 31.2%).
FACILITIES
The following facilities are available:
- All national commercial banks have branches in Knysna and some merchant banks and other financial institutions are also represented;
- Medical Facilities include:
- Private & public hospitals with fully equipped operating theatres, trauma wards, radiology departments, etc;
- Doctors, dentists, specialists physicians, medical laboratories, paramedics, private and public ambulance services, etc;
- Retirement homes with frail care centres;
- Shops (including smaller stores and most major national chains);
- Restaurants, coffee shops and specialist food stores;
- Private and public schools from pre-teen to matric (grade 12); Etc.
SEDGEFIELD
Nestled between rolling hills, two lakes and the Indian Ocean you will find the best kept secret of the Garden Route called Sedgefield. This quaint village is 27 km from Knysna and approx 40 km from George, therefore close to the George Airport.
Retired folk, some with professional back grounds from up country as well as over seas, young working people and business owners made Sedgefield there home.
Sedgefield has five absolutely stunning beaches and is laying between two lakes, Swartvlei and Groenvlei, of which Swartvlei is the biggest natural saltwater lake in South Africa. It borders the Goukamma Nature Reserve and the famous Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe passes the village on a daily basis. It also boosts a provincial library, 2 schools, several churches, a retirement village and a number of social, sport and culture associations.
Sedgefield is also close to all major golf courses in the Garden Route, namely Pezula, Simola, Fancourt & Oubaai Golf Courses to name but a few.
Adventurous activities like paragliding, canoeing on the Bitou River in Plettenberg Bay, windsurfing, water skiing, lagoon fishing, spearfishing of Gerickes Point, rock and surf fishing, bass fishing, cycling, horse riding, yachting, hiking in Wilderness National Park, Knysna Forest or through the majestic Outeniqua Mountains and visiting the unique bird & animal Nature Reserves are available to all!
With affordable properties still under R1 million to be found in Sedgefield, this little town is growing faster than expected, because it is a sought after area for property investment.
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