Lake Pleasant on the Garden Route

Looking across Groenvlei Lagoon from the garden at Lake Pleasant Living.

One of our favourite places to visit is the famed Garden Route, in part, because this is where we were married.  Over the years, we have returned to celebrate an anniversary or enjoy a family holiday.

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Each suite has a view of the lake and/or garden.

The Garden Route is so-called, because it comprises one of the most scenic and ecologically rich stretches along the south-eastern coast of South Africa. 

Evening beginning to set in over Groenvlei Lagoon at Lake Pleasant Living.

The  diversity of vegetation, abundant floral and faunal attributes, set amidst the beautiful lagoons and lakes encountered along this magnificent coastal stretch, render this an absolute 'Must See' for anyone visiting South Africa. 

View of Knysna Lagoon.

Indeed, South African citizens themselves regard this region as one of the loveliest holiday destinations.

Why?  To start with, the climate is second to none.  It offers the most temperate in South Africa and second mildest in the world, after Hawaii. 

The Garden Route offers the best of everything...ocean, golden sand, marine and nature reserves, mountains, sandstone cliffs, lakes and lagoons!

Wind-scoured sandstone cliffs towering above long stretches of wild coastline...

Forever-walks at low-tide...with the only sounds emanating from the waves lapping along the sandy shore and the cry of gulls and fish eagles from above...

Too high to climb...

Real estate possibilities for birds galore!

Silent moments spent beside the tranquil edge of the lakes...serenaded by croaking frogs and twittering weavers, dragon flies skimming the surface of the calm waters...

Vistas to inspire dreams!

Man-made forests reflect themselves in stretches of inland water...

...competing for attention with the protected indigenous forests and fynbos stands of the many reserves to be enjoyed in this area!

This glorious stretch of coastal wonderland is sandwiched between the spectacular, indigenous forests of both the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma Mountain ranges.  These mountains lie just inland of the coastline, whose shores are bathed by the warm Indian Ocean.  Because of this, the Garden Route receives year-round rainfall and temperatures rarely fall below 10'C, in winter and rarely climb above 28'C, during summer.  Typical Camelot weather, offering a Paradise for both bird and nature-lovers.

From where we live, it's approximately 230km by car, which equates to about 5 or 6 hours of leisurely driving allowing for stops en route.

Last time my husband and I visited, we stayed at Lake Pleasant Living, which is an all-suite hotel and spa set right at the edge of the beautiful Groenvlei Lagoon...

...surrounded by well-maintained gardens.

  All suites have either lake and/or garden views and are well appointed.

The jetty...a pleasant spot to enjoy sundowners!

...and, clearly a favourite perch for fishing cormorants!

The suites are generously proportioned and well-appointed...

With French-doors off both bedroom and lounge to allow for easy access to the private patio area.

Lounge/dining area, open-plan to kitchen...

We ate the hotel breakfasts on the upstairs deck of the diningroom, over-looking the lagoon.  I prepared salad lunches, which we enjoyed on our own little patio and we ate dinners in the diningroom of the hotel at night.

We shopped at a super fresh-foods market for our salad ingredients, fruit, coldmeats and cheeses...such an easy and relaxing option for a midday light lunch!

I varied what we had a little, each day...

...and this is where we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast each morning!

"Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation; for when you come back to your work, your judgement will be surer. Go some distance away, because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen."

~ Leonardo Da Vinci ~