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George is located 436 km from Cape Town in the west and 330 km from Port Elizabeth in the east and is the business capitol of the region.
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 is ideally positioned in the coastal region which has a Mediterranean Maritime climate, with moderately hot summers, and mild to chilly winters. It is one of the richest rainfull 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 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 tranquility. The town is also a major accommodation centre with a vast array of facilities on offer to suit every taste and pocket.
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 in George houses a large collection of steam locomotives and carriages dating back to bygone years, a visit by steam enthusiast ia a mus and also those who just have just a passing interest.
The Garden Route Botanical Gardens are at the top of Caledon Street in George 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 in the George area is the Outeniqua Yellowwood (Podocarpus falcatus).
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