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George Accommodation: Nearby towns with accommodation:
Victoria Bay Accommodation | Sedgefield Accommodation | Hoekwil Accommodation
Knysna Accommodation | Herolds Bay Accommodation | Wilderness Accommodation
George is a city in South Africa's Western Cape province. It has a population of approximately 104,700 and is the administrative and commercial hub of the Garden Route. George is a popular holiday and conference centre.
The city is situated halfway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth on the Garden Route. It is situated on a 10 kilometre plateau between the Outeniqua Mountains to the north and the Indian Ocean to the south.
The Garden Route has a Mediterranean climate, with warm summers, and mild to chilly winters. It is one of the highest rainfall regions in South Africa. Most rain falls in the winter and spring months, brought by the humid sea winds from the Indian Ocean.
George has a sophisticated infrastructure with banks, conference facilities, businesses and shopping chains including the newly completed Garden Route Shopping Centre, transport and sporting facilities, yet retaining its small town atmosphere.
The town is also a major accommodation centre. George has numerous world-class courses, some designed by famous golfers. Amongst these are Oubaai and Le Grande George. The most well-known is Fancourt Golf Estate, which hosted the Presidents Cup in 2003 and is often the host to high-profile golf tournaments.
Every December, top national rugby sevens teams from around the world come to Outeniqua Park for the South Africa Sevens, one of the tournaments in the IRB Sevens World Series.
George has many historical landmarks: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, said to be the best example of Edwardian architecture in 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 on the Garden Route. Opened in 1928 and declared a preserved line in July 1993, this train winds its way through picturesque scenery.
The Outeniqua Transport Museum houses a large collection of steam locomotives and carriages.
The Garden Route Botanical Garden is situated the top of Caledon Street. 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
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