EXPLORE George

George is a town with rich historical history, nestled at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains. It functions as the administrative centre for the Garden Route as it is halfway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. It is one of the biggest towns along the Garden Route with sophisticated infrastructure and the perfect location from which to explore the Southern Cape Region as well as the Little Karoo.

Situated in a region that is known as Outeniqualand, translating to the “land of milk and honey”, the rich valley of George can be described none other than a lush and green paradise. With a history that dates back as far as the 1700’s, there are many historical buildings and museums to visit such as the nostalgic Outeniqua Transport Museum where you can see many old steam trains. One particularly interesting place to visit would be the ancient English oak. It is known as the “The Slave Tree” due to the old chain embedded in the tree trunk and the old lock attached to it. It is said that this tree is the biggest oak in the Southern Hemisphere and has been declared a National Monument. 

Being a major tourist destination, especially after amending their former image of an industrial town, George has much to offer all travellers, especially for those seeking memorable outdoors experiences and adventurous excursions. Golf fanatics will find two of the top ten golf courses in South Africa here – it is renowned as Western Cape’s gold capital afterall.

Whether you are seeking to hike, cycle or ride on the many trails at your disposal or to just relish in lush nature, George is the place to be. With a wide expanse of forest and rivers where tales can be heard whispered among the trees and streams, the town holds many treasures of its own, but neighbouring towns such as Wilderness and Knysna are just a short drive away with plenty to offer themselves. Retreat back to your self-catering accommodation in George and savour the fresh greenery and Indian Ocean air while sipping on a sundowner – what better way to relax?