Sedgefield - South Africa, Garden Route

Sedgefield

This is a much laid back little town in the Garden Route. Its icon is a tortoise and is Africa's first Slow Town affiliated to Cittaslow in Italy. They have a “Go Slow” festival each year. The other thing that it is known for country wide and even internationally is the Saturday Markets.

It started off with the Wild Oats Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings under the shade of Myrtle trees, but has grown out of its borders and is now three markets walking distance from each other. Next to it is the Island Flea market also open on Saturday mornings and then the Scarab Village that has permanent as well as day stalls. Scarab Village is partly open 7 days a week. One of the fun things about this markets is you can bring your best friend along. Dogs are welcome.

 

Sedgefield however is part of a nature reserve and the Sedgefield lagoon is an estuary that springs from  Swartvlei lake, with its curling course along the side of Sedgefield. Here is a lot of picnic spots along the river with fishing, canoeing, swimming, bird watching and riverside walks.

The cape seahorse or Knysna seahorse (Hippocampus capensis) is a species of fish in the Syngnathidae family. It is endemic to South Africa. It lives in the Keurbooms River in Plettenberg Bay throughout the Knysna lagoon and up to Swartvlei in Sedgefield. The limited range of this seahorse puts it at great risk. It feeds on zooplankton and brine shrimp

Haroldsbay South Arica

Herold’s Bay

This pleasant little cove with a good bathing beach was named after Rev. Tobias Herold from George. 

It is very popular with George residents and tourists. The surrounding area offers coastal walks, hiking, whale watching, fishing and surfing. Herold’s bay also offers two tidal pools and braai areas.

It is a larger cove than Victoria bay and has its own atmosphere. I spent many summer days here with friends and family. Ernie Els also has a connection with Harold’s bay where he owns property. Next to Herold’s bay is Oubaai golf course, the first Ernie Els signature golf course in the country - an 18-hole course built around the natural landscape between the Gwaing River Valley and the Indian Ocean.
 

Herold’s bay is around 18km from George Caravan Park and easy to visit when staying with us.  Just turn left at the N2 and follow the road till your see the Herold’s bay turn off from the N2.

Victoria Bay - SA

Victoria Bay - Garden Route in South Africa

Vic Bay, as most of us refer to it, is a special bay and one of the smallest bays in the Garden Route. It is 3.7km from George Caravan Park towards Wildernis.

The bay is almost enclosed by cliffs that gives it a very seclusive feeling. I remember the first time that I visited this bay the two big palm trees with its green lawn, little beach and houses along the one side made me feel as if I were on an island.

The beach is popular for swimmers, sunbathers, body boarders, surfers and fisherman. Walking along the side of the bay you get to a jetty and some rocks surrounding a tidal pool. It was at this tidal pool that I saw my first real wild life sea star. It was bigger than my hand and moving along on the rocks eating from the rocks.

 

From the jetty you can look over the ocean and on to the beach. If you pass the jetty and go on walking, you pass some houses on your right and still the bay on you left. At the end you get big rocks with a little wild garden. From here you look out over the Indian ocean and you can see Wildernis on your left.

I am sure this is one of a few places where you walk on dry ground and next to you a surfer surfs passed you towards the beach.

It is a good choice to visit Vic Bay when you visit the Garden Route.