The following are regions in the Garden Route area:

• HERMANUS REGION
Known as the heart of the whale coast, this coastal resort offers the best land based whale watching in the world. Whales visit Walker Bay from July until December every year. About 60 to 100 of these magnificent animals come here from Antarctica to calf. Often coming to within 5-10 meters of the coast. Hermanus also offers great beaches, mountain walks and the craft market is famous for its art. Hermanus also has many fine restaurants and is a wine lovers paradise with nearby wine farms offering wine tasting.

Hermanus boasts some of the best land-based whale watching in the world. Walker Bay has become the nursery and breeding ground of the Southern Right Whale, and can be seen as close as 10 metres from shore, breaching, sailing, spyhopping and lobtailing and playing with their babies.

• KNYSNA REGION
The Garden Route, stretching along the Southern coast of Africa is an area of unspoiled beauty and majesty and quite unlike any other region in Africa.

With a temperate climate and mild, year round weather, the Garden Route has a relaxed tranquility which makes it unique. The coastline is at times rugged and rough with towering cliffs and turbulent seas, at times it is placid with gentle lagoons and golden white beaches, such as at Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Wilderness.

The Garden Route is ideal for exploring on a self drive vacation, driving either from Cape Town along the coast through Hermanus - the Whale capital of South Africa - or from the east at Port Elizabeth.

The traveller can also access the Garden Route by scheduled flight from Johannesburg or Cape Town to George or Plettenberg Bay.

The region has a number of magnificent hotels, golf estates and country lodges. This is an ideal area to relax in after a wildlife safari, or to include in a romantic getaway or honeymoon as well as being ideally suited to families.

• PLETTENBERG BAY REGION
Plettenberg Bay boasts a glorious temperate climate all year round and offers one of the best climates in South Africa. Summers are pleasantly warm with comparatively low humidity, while winters are particularly mild, with year-round rainfall. Spring starts by mid September.

Plettenberg Bay is one of South Africa's top holiday destinations. The attractive bay is home to two unbelievable beaches, that is Lookout Beach and Robberg Beach. Robberg beach is a true favourite with most visitors to the idyllic coastal town.

A highlight during spring is the arrival of Right whales which breed and calve in the sheltered waters. Lookout Beach offers the best vantage to view these amazing creatures and also offers impressive vistas of the surrounding Outeniqua Mountain range.

The sunsets at Plettenberg Bay are impressive and the ritual of the sundowner are way of life in this relaxed community.