General Information about George
George has a sophisticated infrastructure with banks, conference facilities, businesses, major shopping chains including the newly completed Garden Route Shopping Centre, transport and sporting facilities, yet retaining its small town and country atmosphere of peace and tranquility. The town is also a major accommodation centre with a vast array of facilities on offer to suit every taste and pocket.
George is the center of South Africa's golf route, with numerous world-class courses, designed by numerous golfing greats. Amongst these are Oubaai, Le Grande George, however, the most well-known being Fancourt Golf Estate. This course hosted the President's Cup in 2003 and is often the host to high-profile golf tournaments.
Golf is not the only sport that attracts international attention in George. Every December, top national rugby sevens teams from around the world come to Outeniqua Park for the South Africa Sevens, one of the tournaments in the IRB Sevens World Series.
George has many historical landmarks to be visited.
* The Slave Tree, an ancient English Oak planted by Landdrost (magistrate) van Kervel, known as the Slave Tree because of the very large chain and lock embedded in the trunk, has been declared a national monument.
* The King Edward VII Library building is said to be the best example of Edwardian architecture in George.
The First Class School for girls was started by Miss Christina Petronella van Niekerk, a "New Age" young lady with visions for the future which were very different from those ideas held by the conservative population of George.
George is often used a base to explore Tsitsikamma National Park.
The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe is South Africa's last scheduled mixed steam train service and operates on the Outeniqualand Preserved Railway between George and Knysna in the heart of the Garden Route. Opened in 1928 and declared a preserved line in July 1993, this train winds its way through some of the most picturesque scenery in the country. Unfortunately, due to recent heavy flooding in the area, the line has been damaged. It has been rescheduled to run between George and Hartenbos until further notice.
The Outeniqua Transport Museum houses a large collection of steam locomotives and carriages dating back to bygone years.
The Garden Route Botanical Garden taking shape at the top of Caledon Street offers year-round opportunities to admire the brilliance of the local flora. The Garden Route boasts the largest continuous natural forest area in South Africa, covering some 650 km². Marketable timber is harvested from 20% of the State forest. Stinkwood, named for its unmistakable odour when freshly cut, is highly prized by the furniture industry, as are white pear, hard pear, ironwood and assegaai. The most sought after timber is the Outeniqua Yellowwood (Podocarpus falcatus).
