In Toto Retreat - Garden Route
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Slow down
Sedgefield is known as Africa’s slow town, inviting you to get out of the rat race and slow down, do as little as possible or absolutely nothing. Relax next our pool with a book, soak up the sun on one of our seven beaches with extraordinary, fossilized dune formations. Frolic in the waves of the warm Indian Ocean, take a cool swim in a rock pool or a lake, enjoy lazy sundowners with friends, or a romantic evening stroll along the edge of the Swartvlei.
Beaches: Swartvlei Beach and Gericke’s Point (The Sphinx of the Garden Route), Myoli Beach, Cola Beach, Sedgefield Estuary, Platbank (Goukamma Nature Reserve), Buffalo Bay and Wilderness Beach.
Popular Sundowner Spots: The banks of the Swartvlei in front of In Toto, Pili Pili Beach Bar, Cloud Nine, Malachite and Rondvlei Bird Hides, The Wildside (Buffalo Bay).
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Enjoy Nature
Stand in awe of ancient Outeniqua forests, old big yellowwood trees, and drink from crystal clear water from mountain springs in the Garden Route National Park. Wander through dunes covered with fynbos, with lakes on the one side and the vast Indian Ocean on the other. Get below the water off Gerickes Point at Sedgefield to discover the abundant sea life. Listen for the call of the African fish eagle, spot the iconic Knysna Turaco, the Greater and Lesser Flamingoes and the Goliath Heron or watch an abundance of water birds as they glide by from hides on the Wilderness Lakes.
Hiking trails: Goukamma Nature Reserve; Brownhooded Kingfisher Trail, Half collared Kingfisher Trail; Cape Dune Mole Rat Trail, Woodeville Big Tree.
Birding Spots: Malachite Bird Hide, Rondvlei SanParks Bird Hide, The Island Conservancy, Groenvlei, Groeneweide Forest Walks and the hiking trails.
Lakes: Swartvlei, Groenvlei, Rondevlei, Bo-Long Vlei, Serpentine, Island Lake
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Meet Locals
Delight in farm grown or lovingly made goods at our country markets, pocket-sized craft shops, rustic farmstalls and artisan cafés. Experience a warm hospitably and savour the culinary skills of locals at our many restaurants catering for various diets and tastes. Explore how local craftsman and people are transferring skills and transforming a town into a mosaic wonderland.
Markets: Wild Oats Community Farmers Market, the Scarab Village Craft Market, Mosaic Village and Outdoor Market and Timberlake Village
Restaurants: Trattoria da Vinci (Italian), Li-o-la (Vegan), Mosaic Table, Slow Roasted Coffee, Moonshine Diner, VDMs, Pili Pili Beach Bar, Montecello’s Restaurant, Oysters Edge, Upstairs at Rosies, Fynbos on Sea Bistro, The Wildside Beach Restaurant (Buffalo Bay).
Things to do: Discover the 61 mosaics of Sedgefield while doing the Masithandane Mosaic Route. All proceeds go to Masithandane, a local community-based organization.
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Get Active
The garden route turns our amazing mountains, forests, lakes and our oceans into a playground for those wanting a quick adrenlin rush. Take in Gods view of this piece of paradise from Cloud Nine in Sedgefield by paragliding or microliting over the forests and lakes. Mountain bikers can test their skills at Garden Route Trail Park in Karatara or one of the recommended trails by our local bike shop, Cycleworx. Water lovers can test their sailing, kitesurfing and surfing skills at Myoli Beach. If you want to be above par, then you’re your skills at one of the world famous golf courses designed by some of South Africa’s most famous Golfers.
Paragliding: Fly Time Paragliding (Sedgefield), Dolphin Paragliding (Kleinkrantz), Paraglide Africa (Wilderness), Lets Fly Paragliding ( Wilderness).
Kitesurfing and Surfing: Life Kitesurfing (Sedgefield),
Mountain biking: Garden Route Trail Park (Karatara), Numerous routes around Sedgefield in the Garden Route National Park, Harkerville Mountain Bike Trail.