Garden Route
Known for its spectacular coastline, the Garden Route lies along South Africa’s southern coast. Seaside towns and forest trails see the Garden Route as the most popular self drive region of the country.
When to go to Garden Route
Best Time to Go
The best time to travel the Garden Route is during the summer months when the weather is at its best.
A beautiful area between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth
Numerous activities and places to see
Spectacular coastline, forests and mountains
Fabulous places to stay
Spectacular Coastal Scenery
It starts at Mossel Bay in the west and stretches 200 km to Tsitsikamma National Park in the east. It is one of South Africa’s most popular destinations and offers fantastic vacation opportunities, with stunning scenery and great activities and accommodation. Our favorite stretch of the route is between George and Storms River, which is by Tsitsikamma National Park. There are some lovely places to stay along the way and numerous things to see and do. Knysna and Plettenberg Bay are particular favourites of ours. Knysna is set on an exquisite lagoon, while Plettenberg Bay is equally attractive in its own way, with fabulous sandy beaches and the Robberg Peninsula just a few kilometres away.
Activities
The Garden Route offers not only spectacular scenery but also a unique blend of experiences. There is plenty to keep visitors active, including unique wildlife encounters, walking, biking, and adrenaline-fuelled activities.
Self-driving adventures
Enjoy the outdoors
See unique wildlife
Bungee jumping and zip-lining
Explore interesting towns
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Some wonderful driving routes allow visitors to appreciate the beautiful scenery and stop off at interesting places along the way, such as Hermanus, Swellendam, Wilderness, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, and Storms River. Although tourists are often told how attractive the coastal route is from Cape Town to George, we personally think the inland route is actually more beautiful. It is an hour or so longer and slower than the coastal route, but we consider that views of the fabulous mountain scenery and the Little Karoo desert make it well worthwhile.
There is some splendid walking and hiking in the forests between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay – you can kayak or canoe along the rivers or lagoons, go for a cycle ride, or play a round of golf on one of the many golf courses in the area.
Some beautiful birds are spotted by keen birdwatchers, while whales and dolphins can be seen between July and November. Near the Port Elizabeth area, there are some excellent game parks that, unlike those in the Kruger, are malaria-free. A popular way to end the trip along the Garden Route is to spend two or three nights at one of these parks. There are flights from Port Elizabeth back to Cape Town or on to Johannesburg.
For the more adventurous, there is one of the highest bungee jumps in the world and a zip ride through the tree canopy of the Tsitsikamma Forest.
There are plenty of interesting places to stop on a self-drive route. Break your journey by overnighting in Swellendam, approximately two and a half hours from Cape Town, a charming town with some very attractive Cape Dutch buildings. You can also visit an ostrich farm at Oudtshoorn and explore the lovely little town of Montague.
Talk to someone who’s been there
Real expertise doesn’t come from a few trips to Africa. All our specialists have either been guides, run the camps, or grown up and lived in Africa. That’s over 600 years of genuine safari experience.Good to Know
01.Top months to visit?
It is a popular destination for South Africans during the Christmas school vacations from mid-December to mid-January, while overseas visitors tend to come in January, February and March. The weather only starts to heat up in the last half of November and is cooling down by April so, if you like warmer weather, we suggest you visit between December and March. It is quieter and cooler through the rest of the year, but still a lovely place to visit.
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