Off to the woods we go

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Congratulations on setting your New Year's resolutions, that's a great start to the year!

If you're considering a visit to the Garden Route, there are plenty of great places to go on a hike.

Depending on the type of hike and the scenery you are looking for, you may want to consider Knysna's Perdekop walk or Circles in the forest, there is a hiking trail for everyone.

Perdekop offers a leisurely walk through the Hakerville forest - with a picnic spot, while the Elephant Walk starts within the Diepwalle forest. Diepwalle Forest is ideal for a more leisurely hike through a beautiful indigenous forest. The Diepwalle forest is also rumoured to be visited by the elusive elephant.

Whichever route you choose, you're sure to have an amazing experience!

KNYSNA WALKS

Perdekop

9,5km
Difficulty: moderate
Route markers: a yellow emblem of a horse's head engraved on blocks of cherrywood
No swimming here please, as this is drinking water for the area

Elephant Walk

9,5km (black); 8km (white); 7km (red)
Difficulty: reasonable fitness is required
Walks are weather dependent
Incredible scenic walk meandering through the park at elephant pace
Panoramic views of the Outeniqua Mountains and Knysna forest

FOREST WALKS

Terblans Nature Walk

6,5km
Difficulty: Moderate
Beautiful walk through the indigenous Knysna forest
Starts and ends at the Grootdraai picnic site, ideal for a picnic before or after the hike Jubilee Creek
Relatively unchallenging walk through pristine Tolkienesque wonderland along river
Refreshing waterfall and tranquil forest pool Off to the woods we at end
Walk past historic mine excavations

Drip Kelders

Steep decline (and ascent) - difficult
Series of fresh pools and waterfalls

Circles in the forest

3,1km and 9km
Named after award-winning author Daleen Mathee's book Circles in a Forest, that is set in Knysna
Sky-splitting yellowwood marks the start
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Follow the plastic route markers
Water in the streams is drinkable

Snakes

Up close and personal

When you watch a horror movie, you can tell by the music that things are going south. Unfortunately, in real life, it can happen at any given moment - even when you are on holiday.

Snakes share the earth with us, and although most of us try to avoid a meeting, it does occur from time to time.

Local snake specialist Nick Kolberg says the best advice he could give to holidaymakers is to learn about the snakes that are common in the area where you plan to go on holiday. The most common poisonous snakes in George are rinkhals, puff adder, boomslang, night adder and the berg adder.

If you need a snake removed, phone Kolberg on 083 262 5934. You've been bitten - now what?