Garden Route is the name of a very beautiful coastal road that stretches from Mossel Bay just east of Cape Town and does not end until it reaches Port Elizabeth.
	The Garden route is a popular and scenic stretch of the southern coast of South Africa. Originally the Garden Route was the name of some 200 km (125 mi) very beautiful coastal road that stretches from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to Storms River, but as its popularity grew, small towns at its edge started to claim they also were part of the Garden Route, realizing the marketing potential. Today some would claim that the Garden Route does not end until it reaches Port Elizabeth, some 800 km (500 mi) northeast of Cape Town. The Garden Route runs between the Quteniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains and the Indian Ocean. Nearly 300 species of birdlife are to be found in the variety of habitats ranging from fynbos to forest to wetlands. Ten nature reserves embrace the varied ecosystems of the area as well as a unique marine life, home to soft coral reefs, dolphins, seals among other marine life. Various bays along the Garden Route are breading and mating points for the Southern Right Whale which can be observed from July to October each year. In the small towns along the Garden Route there are plenty of hotels, guesthouses, resorts and other kind of accommodation. Each town also has a lot of great restaurants, many specialise in seafood. For golfers, the Garden Route is a dream destination, there are plenty of courses along the route, but the Garden Route is primarily a beach and family holiday destination. The diving is good, as is the surfing, and flat water areas offers a lot of opportunities for bathing and swimming. The Garden Route has a Mediterranean climate with warm summers and mild winters. It is one of the nicest all-year-round destinations in South Africa. Most rain falls in the winter months, brought by the humid sea-winds from the Indian Ocean.