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George Travel Information:
George is situated halfway between Cape Town and Port
Elizabeth and centre of the Garden Route. It is situated
on a 10 kilometre plateau between the majestic Outeniqua
Mountain to the north and the Indian Ocean to the South.
It is administrative and commercial hub of the Garden
Route.
The Garden Route has a Mediterranean Maritime climate,
with moderately hot summers, and mild to chilly winters.
It is one of the richest rainfall areas, most of which
occurs in the winter months, brought by the humid sea-winds
from the Indian Ocean. Any time of the year is good for
visiting the area, depending on whether one enjoys a peaceful
retreat during the winter months, or a bustling holiday
destination during the summer.
George is the sixth oldest town in South Africa - the
first founded under British rule - and was named after
the reigning monarch in 1811, King George III. The Outeniqua
forests were the reason the Dutch East India Company,
in 1776, established a woodcutters outpost on the site
of what became George in 1811. It was declared a drostdy
by the Earl of Caledon on 23 April 1811. George gained
municipal status in 1837.
George has an extremely sophisticated infrastructure with
banks, conference facilities, businesses, major shopping
chains, transport and sporting facilities, yet retaining
its small town and country atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.
The town is also a major accommodation centre with a vast
array of facilities on offer to suit every taste and pocket.
George has many historical landmarks to be visited.
The Slave Tree, an ancient English Oak planted by Landdrost
(magistrate) van Kervel, known as the Slave Tree because
of the very large chain and lock embedded in the trunk,
has been declared a national monument.
The King Edward VII Library building is said to be the
best example of Edwardian architecture in George.
The First Class School for girls was started by Miss
Christina Petronella van Niekerk, a "New Age"
young lady with visions for the future which were very
different to those ideas held by the conservative population
of George.
George is often used a base to explore Tsitsikamma National
Park.
The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe is South Africa's last scheduled
mixed steam train service and operates on the Outeniqualand
Preserved Railway between George and Knysna in the heart
of the Garden Route. Opened in 1928 and declared a preserved
line in July 1993, this train winds its way through some
of the most picturesque scenery in the country.
The Outeniqua Transport Museum houses a large collection
of steam locomotives and carriages dating back to bygone
years.
The Garden Route Botanical Garden taking shape at the
top of Caledon Street offers year-round opportunities
to admire the brilliance of the local flora. The Garden
Route boasts the largest continuous natural forest area
in South Africa, covering some 650 km². Marketable
timber is harvested from 20% of the State forest. Stinkwood,
named for its unmistakable odour when freshly cut, is
highly prized by the furniture industry, as are white
pear, hard pear, ironwood and assegaai. The most sought
after timber is the Outeniqua Yellowwood (Podocarpus falcatus).
George is 420km from Cape Town along the N2 national
road in an easterly direction, or 330 km from Port Elizabeth
in an westerly direction.
There is no scheduled passenger rail service to George.
Rovos Rail and the Union Limited however offer vintage
train trips to the Garden Route. The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe
steam train offers leisure rides between George and Knysna.
George Airport, situated approximately 7 km from the
city centre, has scheduled flights to Cape Town International
Airport, Durban International Airport and Johannesburg
International Airport.
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