Garden Route Wildlife

For an area once rich in animals and other wildlife, what remains in the Garden Route today is just a reminder of the region's early biodiversity.

The Elephant Sanctuary and Elephant Park rehabilitate elephants and are great places for teaching the younger generation about these amazing animals. Monkeyland is a sanctuary in which a variety of unusual primates can monkey about freely.

Dolphins, however, enjoy the freedom of the open seas and, in season, whales delight the many who visit these shores. Boat-based whale and dolphin watching trips leave from Plettenberg Bay.

Ellies are my favourite animal - so majestic and gentle, yet powerful and intimidating and each with their own personality. So for me the interaction with them at the Elephant Sanctuary was incredible... I gently led a massive elephant, towering over me, by the tip of the trunk into the forest, where we were further educated on their backgrounds, behaviours and more. They get treats later on - buckets of fresh fruit - which we fed them by hand. This is when they show their cheeky side! - Go2Africa Safari Expert Lorraine Bracken

Slightly smaller, the Knysna seahorse is an endangered, extraordinary sea creature that hangs around face down on the lagoon bottom with the males giving birth to their young.

Experienced local guides can show you where to find them but you'll need to don your scuba gear to have any chance of spotting the little fellows.

If it's Africa's iconic wildlife that you're after, start or finish your Garden Route adventure with a safari in the Eastern Cape.

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Garden Route