The Garden Route

The town of Knysna lies along the Knysna lagoon, which is
protected by the Knysna Heads - two great sand stone cliffs
that stand guard over this calm stretch of water.

Enjoy a steam train ride in old country style from Knysna to
George and marvel at the spectacular scenery along the way. The forests along the Garden Route are lush, green and full of bird life.

Elephants were once the kings of the forests in the Knysna
area, but they posed a grave threat to the local timber men
who were in search of the popular Yellowwood and Stinkwood trees, and the elephants were hunted almost to extinction.

But the woodsmen were not the only hunters of these majestic
creatures, the infamous trade in ivory also contributed to the
rapid decline in their numbers, and today there are but a
handful left (worldwide, less than 3 original Knysna
elephants remain). They have since sought refuge
deep in the forests and are seldom seen by humans.