"Hartenbos" Hartenbos by mvtouring

Hartenbos is located between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth on the Garden Route, approximately 8 kilometres from Mossel Bay and forty kilometres from George airport and boastsone of the world’s most magnificent climates.

I was not able to find Groot Brak in my search on VT, so I suppose it would fall under Hartenbos. Great Brak River has some lovely beaches and you can reach "The Island" by crossing a single-lane bridge. On the island there are some holiday homes but if you walk for 40 mins past them, you will find another lovely beach.

The town of Great Brak River was founded in the 1850's by the Searle family who received the contract to operate a toll-gate at the causeway over the Great Brak river, to pay for the financing of the bridge.

The Searle's started a small shop at first but later they also constructed a water-mill, a wool-washery, a timberworks, and a tannery. Initially, just to keep himself busy, Charles Searle began making and selling boots and shoes to travellers. Today Great Brak (brakish water) River has a thriving footwear and timber industry.

In the Spanish-style church of Great Brak River you will find a font made from the post of the turnpike built by the first Searle's when they settled there.

The coastal resort of Glentana has lovely beaches, good for swimming and sun-bathing. It is situated approximately halfway between George and Mossel Bay. At one of the beaches you can see the wreck of a floating dock that stranded there in 1902. The dock was being towed from Cape Town to Durban when the accident occurred.

Glentana bay is situated in an ancient riverbed. It has steep cliffs on the side and therefore is sheltered from the wind. The caravan park is only about 100m away from the sea, so you can walk there quite easily and during the migration months you can watch the whales swimming by.

Fishermen can do some rock fishing. Species that fishermen are likely to catch in this area are elf, kob and leervis. Shell-collectors can search for the elusive "Pansy" sell. You can also go explore the Glentana caves that are situated in the cliffs.

Weather-wise Glentana has warm winters and cool summers, which makes it ideal for a relaxing holiday.