Stretching from Western Cape to Eastern Cape along one of the world’s most dramatic coastlines, this is far from the world of gardens that many imagine. Think Chelsea Flower Show. On steroids. You can hop from the chi chi beach garden of Port Elizabeth to the wild garden of Addo Elephant National Park, home to the Big Five. Making that one grandiose garden. For the eco garden, Tsitsikamma National Park protects an eclectic mix of gorges, waterfalls and rugged coastline, with a natural playground for canopy tours, river tubing and other outdoor adventures. In total contrast, the semi-arid garden that is Klein Karoo has a sparse, wild feel.
A trip from the mother city, through Mother Nature and then toasting it all with many of this mother's favourites in the Winelands.
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But for many, it is the produce garden that wins the gold medal, with prolific grape growers nurturing the mountain gardens of the Drakenstein and Hottentots Holland ranges for fine wines. As you will see from our Garden Route travel guide, this is no common or garden region of South Africa.