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Classic Route 62 to the Garden Route |
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This can be a self drive or guided tour.
Route 62 is an alternative to the N2 if heading from Cape Town up the coast
to the Garden Route. It skirts the edge of the Little Karoo, and passes through
some fascinating little towns each with its own character.
Instead of leaving Cape Town on the N2, leave on the N1, and turn off at
Worcester and head through Robertson and Ashton to Montagu, which is the first
town on the R62. Here you will find delightful wineries to explore, hot springs
and some pretty scenery. This area also has some of South Africa?s best
climbing.
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| Day 2 |
From here the road goes through the Langeberg (Long
Mountain) area, which produces much of our best fruit.
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| Day 3 |
The next town is Barrydale, which is a great place to
stop for lunch. There is a hot spring resort nearby and, as you leave the town,
one of the strangest places on the Route. Ronnie?s Sex Shop is not what it
sounds like. It's a strange little wayside pub that really does only sell
drinks, coffee and food. But it's worth popping in, as you are likely to find a
strange assortment of local farmers and tourists.
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| Day 4 |
Just before Ladismith is the Klein Karoo Nature
Reserve. Ladismith is another small, interesting town with lovely old buildings,
and some great little coffee shops and guesthouses. The road traverses some
spectacular mountain scenery from here on. Turn off onto the Seweweekspoort Road
and, when you get to the end, continue by turning right into the Bosluiskloof
Road. After a few kilometres, the road opens up to offer incredible vistas of
the Great Karoo. It?s a dead end, so you?ll need to turn around and retrace your
route back to the R62.
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| Day 5 |
The next town is Calitzdorp, which is famed for its
fortified wine (which we are not allowed to call Port) and dried fruit. This,
too, is a lovely little town with many pretty Victorian buildings and charming
gardens.
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| Day 6 |
| From here it's a short drive to Oudtshoorn and then to
George on the Garden Route.
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