I spent a long weekend in George, Western Cape with two of my closest girl friends. George is along the scenic and very popular Garden Route which is the far stretched coastal region from Mossel Bay in Western Cape to Storms River in Eastern Cape. I felt so at peace and so happy in George. There is something about being in a small town that lifts off the pressures and rush of every day normal life. If you’re looking for a local, simple escape, you may want to consider George. Keep reading for information about where to stay, what to do and how to get around in George.
Where to stay in George
As you may already know, I am a believer in Airbnb so of course, we booked our accommodation via Airbnb. We stayed in this cute barn style home in Heatherlands, George which is a quiet and neat neighbourhood. We paid about R1600 (R530 each) for the whole weekend! Not bad hey. You can find it by searching for Avo & Oak on Airbnb. Sign up for Airbnb using my link and get R600 off of your first Airbnb booking (any location). Here is a look inside Avo & Oak:
What to eat in George
Eat at Fat Fish! This seafood restaurant is highly recommended by the locals in George. It’s more of a fine dining experience than the laid back fish and chips restaurants I am used to lol. I ordered the Blackened Cajun Style Butterfish. Not only was it delicious, it was beautifully plated. I ordered a panacotta for dessert but my main meal was still the highlight.
Visit Outeniqua Family Market on a Saturday. Take note that it opens from 8am till 2pm on Saturdays only. It’s a food and crafts market in an outdoor setting. Some stalls have free tasters and I’m all for free food! In comparison to the markets I am used to going to in Joburg, Outeniqua Family Market is more laid back and quite large.
Go on a day trip to Cango Caves
Take a day trip to Cango Caves in a town called Oudtshoorn which is a scenic hour drive away from George. They offer guided tours through the caves. We chose the adventure tour option which includes a crawling, climbing and squeezing route through the caves. It’s a lot of fun and at the same time it’s a unique and moving experience as you navigate through the cool, humid atmosphere and take in the beauty and vastness of the caves. We were in a rush to get back to the airport in George for our flight so we didn’t get to visit the ostrich farms in Oudtshoorn. Oudtshoorn has the world’s largest ostrich population!
Party in Thembalethu
Party in Thembalethu township. When we asked the locals where the best night life is, everyone said Thembalethu! We made friends with a fun, young group who were kind enough to take us with to Thembalethu and show us the hot spots. It was packed and buzzing! You can expect drinks, house music, braai meat and overall good, happy vibes.
Visit Wilderness
Take in the ocean views in Wilderness which is about 20 minute drive from George town. We ate at the restaurant at The View hotel which has glass walls that allow magnificent views of the coast line. While there we were lucky to spot dolphins in the ocean!
How to got around in George
We flew to George from Joburg on Flysafair. It was my first time using Flysafair and contrary to some bad reviews I have heard, our flights went smoothly with no delays and no problems at all.
There is no Uber in George. The most popular cab service is called Zeelies. We used them a couple of times but this was becoming quite pricey. I would suggest renting a car or, as we did, make friends. The first ride we caught was quite nerve racking – ok jokes we were terrified. Would you get a ride from a stranger in a small town?
Beautiful! I had the time of my life in George.
Me too! It was so much fun with you 💛