George - The western gateway to the Garden Route

George lies at the some 10 kilometres away from the sea at the foot of the picturesque Outeniqua Mountains. The beginnings of the town date back to the year 1776, when the Dutch-East Indian Trading Company established here one of its timber supply bases. George was officially only founded in 1811 by the British who named the place after the then king George III.

Initially George grew very slowly, mainly because roads viable for ox wagons were missing in the hardly accessible Outeniqua Mountains. Only with the opening of the Outeniqua Pass in the year 1847, trade with the inland could develop and George began to flourish Today, George has about 130.000 people and is the administrative and economic centre of the Garden Route with an air of prosperity about it. A modern airport (8 kilometres out of town) links it to the net of South African Airways.

George is fast developing into South Africas golf paradise. Three of South Africas "top ten" golf courses are to be found in George. Particularly popular is the enormous Fancourt Golf Estate with its 18-hole course designed by Gary Player. In the huge park grounds also lie a golf academy, an exclusive hotel, a conference centre, a couple of restaurants and a great number of sporting facilities.

GEORGE
(Including Herold’s Bay and Victoria Bay)

The town is situated in a scenic environment between the OUteniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean, within easy driving distance of all the Garden Route’s major attractions – this makes George an ideal base from which to explore the surrounding areas – even the Little Karoo with it’s silent beauty.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

Mossel Bay 54 km, Oudtshoorn 59 km, Knysna 71 km, Cape Town 438 km, Beaufort West 258 km.

Altitude: 221 m above sea level

Average Rainfall: 71,5 mm per year

Average Temperatures:

Summer 22°c; winter 20°c

Banks

Absa, Boland, First National Bank, NBS, Nedbank, Permanent, Saambou, Standard

Dams

The Garden Route Dam supplies the town with water

Rivers

Camfersdrift River, Kat, Malgas, Mitchells, Schaapkop

HISTORICAL VIEW

Church of St Peter and St Paul

The oldest exisiting Roman Catholic Church in South Africa

Drostdy

Graceful old building at the top of York street which houses the museum

George Museum

Exhibits depict the history of the timber industry. On display is old timber tools and implements, a yellowwood woodcutter’s cottage and and outdoor selection of labeled indigenous trees. The fairy painting by Ruby Reeves, a large collection of mechanical instruments and massive printing presses can also be viewed.

Old Slave Tree

In fron the Old Library. This famous landmark has a chain embedded in it’s gnarled trunk, with the remains of a heavy lock still attached to it. It is told that slaves were chained to the tree before being auctioned.

Outeniqua Railway Museum

Only National Railway Museum in South Africa. Locomotives, PWI equipment, coaches and road transport items are some of the exhibits on display.

NATURE

Montagu Pass

This pass, declared a National Monument, offers spectacular views. Completed in 1848 under the guidance of Henry Fancourt White. It took him and 250 convicts only 4 years to complete this arduous task.

Seven Passes Road

Original road between George and Knysna, winding through indigenous forests, crossing Edwardian bridges and affording dwellers a mosaic experience of the country side.

Timber Route

The route starts at the George Museum with it’s extensive wood exhibition and takes you to some of the finest wood and furniture factories.

ATTRACTIONS

Annual Events

Garden Route expo – February

Art Festival – March

Internat Veteran Tennis Tournament – March / April

Billabong Junior Surfing Competition

Castle Lite Half Marathon and Marathon – April

Cape Quad Surfing Competition – June

Eco Step Outdoor Festival

South Cape Art Exhibition

Far Hills Half Marathon – July

Grasveld Goud Kultuurweek

Flower Show – September

Rose Show

Wild Flower Show – October

Lions train trip to Campher

Choo-Tjoe Steam Train Race – November

Festival of Lights

Palm Tyres Half Marathon

Herold’s Bay Festival – December

Bado Kidogo

Bird breeding farm. Observe 150 different bird species and 400 varieties

Crocodile Farm

Breeding farm. Feeding time 15:00 every day

Dutch Reformed Church

Beautiful yellowwood pillars and dome and a carved stinkwood pulpit

Farmlands Animal Farm

Catering especially for children – pony rides and cuddly animals.

Herold’s Bay

18 km southwest of George, the beautiful seaside resort of Herold’s Bay offers safe bathing and a tidal pool. Herold’s Bay is popular for it’s fine beaches and it’s excellent fishing spots.

Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe

Lovers of steam trains can enjoy a sentimental steam train ride on the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe. The train follows the scenic coastal route between George and Knysna. Daily except on Sundatys and certain public Holidays.

St Mark’s Cathedral

With it’s beautiful strained glass windows, this is one of the smallest Anglican Cathedrals in South Africa.

Accommodation in and around Estcourt