George is the largest town on the Garden Route and the commercial hub of the southern Western Cape. The Outeniqua Mountains rise dramatically behind the town to the north, while the coastline — some of the finest beaches in South Africa — lies just a short drive to the south.
Forestry has long been the economic backbone of the area, and large tracts of indigenous forest have been preserved in the hills. Hops grown in the valleys around George supply roughly half of South Africa's needs. For travelers, the town is more a base than a destination: the beaches at Victoria Bay and Wilderness are excellent, the Outeniqua Pass drive over the mountains toward Oudtshoorn is spectacular, and hiking trails through the indigenous forest are well worth a day. George Airport is the main gateway for the eastern Garden Route, with regular flights to Cape Town and Johannesburg.