Rated by Getaway Magazine as South Africa's most informative coastal walk, the Garden Route Trail offers an ideal opportunity for hikers to experience coastal walking and a diversity of forest and mountain hiking which are ideal for Birding.Garden Route Trail is a 5 day guided coastal walk moving east from Wilderness to Brenton on Sea, covering 63km. It traverses forest, dune fynbos, wetland and some of South Africa's most pristine beaches passing through two nature reserves and includes two relaxed canoe stages. Accommodation is in chalets and cabanas en route and all but one evening meal is catered for. Added to which your luggage is transported to each venue leaving you free while you walk. All you need is a day pack for lunch and snacks. The emphasis of the trail is on enviro-information, birding and an enjoyable walk. As such we recommend start dates that coincide with the tidal cycle maximizing the time walking on firm sand at low tide for the beach stages.

Passing through a Birding paradise, you have the opportunity of sighting Knysna Turacoes, Narina Trogons, Black African Oystercatchers and a variety of kingfishers amongst the 264 species recorded in the area. Walking through the Afromontane Rain and Dune forests you will have the opportunity to see trees such as the magnificent Outeniqua and Real Yellow Woods, Cape Chestnut and Milkwoods. Two canoe trips will allow you to glide through the tranquility of wetland and forest bird viewing, while walking through the dune forest you will be able to track water mongoose, genet, bushbuck, and bushpig. Along the beaches, dolphins frolicking in the waves will entice you to join them and may even 'follow' you down the beach as the waves lap at your feet. Alternately swim in rock pools or search for a memento amongst the stretches of diverse and colourful shells. Between May and December, there is the opportunity to view whales and possibly hear them as they surface behind the breakers. For the water lovers there are some excellent swimming areas along the stretches of golden secluded beaches with great body surfing at Buffalo Bay.

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