VISIT THE GARDEN ROUTE:
The lovely drive following the coast for 300 km as far as Mossel Bay through the vast countryside of South Africa varying from rocky ocean cliffs, magnificent sandy beaches, estuaries and lagoons, and indigenous forests. Much of the route is protected to keep the sanctuaries of specialized flora and fauna. The resorts which hug the beaches and river mouths of Plettenberg Bay, Wilderness, Knysna, Mossel Bay are explored both on foot and by road. Accommodation is plentiful all along the Garden Route and the clean, warm water allows for safe swimming and basking on the fine white sands. Nature reserves allow for walking nature trails in the national parks, lagoons allow for calm water boating and even staying on houseboats, on the Knysna Lagoon for example. Balnacroft is an ideal starting off point for all these visits. Spend a lazy week at a short walk from the safest sandy beach of False Bay before setting off for some days of seeing the scenery of the garden route
FLOWERS OF THE WEST COAST:
Winter in South Africa is an ideal time for enjoying the spectacular flowers of the West Coast. After rains in August and September the coast becomes alive with a carpet of magic colour. It is a magnificent time to appreciate the flowers, the whales, and if your dream allows of visiting one of the major animal safari parks, without the great heat of the summer months. The nights are cooler of course, but the days are often still as warm as Europe's summer days!
WHALE WATCHING:
The Southern Right Whales come home to the warmer waters of the coast of South Africa and its plentiful shallower bays in the winter months from July till December. They come to calve in the month of August and are a sight to see in many of the bays along the coast. False Bay itself especially in Gordon's Bay and around the coast to Hermanus which has become renowned as one of the world's premier land whale watching sites. After giving birth they play with their young for the next few months, and laze in the sheltered waters. The whale crier of Hermanus with his quaint sandwich board and kelp horn announces the sitings from the rocky coast during the season. Hermanus is a day's drive from Balnacroft, or set out from here to stay in one of the plentiful places of accommodation of Hermanus and then onto more of the coast and Garden Route.
Other Activities:
Kite surfing, wine tasting.
