What is the recommended duration of stay?

As a self-drive destination, there are many routes to choose from, all depending on how much time you have! Our customers frequently inquire about the optimal duration for a Garden Route excursion. Here are our insights and recommendations to initiate progress.

Two Weeks or Longer

With a duration of up to two weeks for tourists, there is ample opportunity to traverse the route in both directions and visit numerous significant cities and sights. We typically advise commencing in Cape Town, subsequently visiting Robertson or Swellendam, experiencing Route 62, spending time in Oudtshoorn, and ultimately connecting with the Coastal Route at George. We suggest spending several nights in Plettenberg Bay prior to visiting a game reserve in the Eastern Cape region. Upon your return to Cape Town, we recommend a visit to Tsitsikamma, followed by Knysna or Wilderness, and a stay along the Whale Route, concluding with Stellenbosch or Franschhoek before returning to Cape Town.

One Week or Longer

If your time is constrained to one week, we suggest a drive along the Coastal Route, allocating time at either Knysna or Plettenberg Bay, with a day excursion to Oudtshoorn. You can proceed to the Eastern Cape for a safari. We recommend abandoning the automobile and flying back to Cape Town or to your subsequent destination from Port Elizabeth to conserve time.

Three to four nights

If your schedule permits only three to four nights on the Garden Route, we would likely suggest a guided tour. Our guided excursions alleviate the burden of driving and allow you to experience numerous attractions in a brief period. We also believe they provide a preview for your subsequent journey.

Fewer Than Two Nights

A minimum of three to four days is necessary to explore the Garden Route. If you have only two nights, our advisers will recommend a two-night stay in Hermanus or even a visit to the Winelands. The Garden Route should be savored at a leisurely pace, as the extensive distances render a brief visit unenjoyable.

Activities Along the Garden Route

In a locale enveloped by nature reserves, mountains, forests, rivers, lagoons, estuaries, and picturesque sandy beaches, the majority of activities occur outside.

Whale-watching is a prominent attraction during the mating and calving seasons, from July to November, with exceptional cliff walks and vantage sites around the coast. Dolphin and whale tours provide intimate encounters with these captivating animals. Moreover, intrepid guests may engage in Shark Cage diving.

The Little Karoo surrounding Oudtshoorn is renowned for its meerkats, ostriches, crocodiles, and olives, as well as its expansive caves.

Numerous nature reserves provide exceptional hiking opportunities, mountain biking routes, equestrian trails, and canoeing excursions. The premier location is the peninsula within Robberg Nature Reserve near Plettenberg Bay for hiking, Harkerville Forest for cycling, and Equitrailing for equestrian activities,

among others. We are authorities in the field due to our extensive personal experience and firsthand knowledge.

For adrenaline enthusiasts, Bloukrans Bungee Jump, at 216 meters, was formerly the tallest in the world. It offers a distinctive perspective of the magnificent gorge—provided you can maintain your focus, of course! Additionally, zip-lining through the Tsitsikamma Forests near Storms River is a noteworthy excursion that elevates the heart rate slightly.

The primates at Monkeyland exemplify a successful ecotourism initiative and offer an experience that should not be overlooked. Numerous rescued monkey species have unrestricted access to 23 hectares of forest, interspersed with pathways and precarious footbridges hung among ancient yellowwood trees.

Likewise, its neighboring attractions such as the Crags, Birds of Eden, The Elephant Sanctuary, and Tenikwa are all excellent options for a comprehensive day of restored animal exploration.

In the presence of such breathtaking landscapes, traditional sports assume unique attributes. This encompasses swimming, jogging, hiking, equestrianism, mountaineering, canoeing, cycling, archery, angling, diving, and surfing, among others.

Golfers are particularly well accommodated, as the courses are of international quality, often award-winning, and provide stunning vistas.  These primarily encompass Fancourt, Pezula, Oubaai, Pinnacle Point, and Simola.

What are the prominent destinations along the Garden Route?

The Whale Route and Overberg region extend from Cape Town to Cape Agulhas and inland to Swellendam. Bordered by some of Africa’s most breathtaking coasts, our Whale Route merits a visit. Annually, from July to November, our coasts are selected by Southern Right and Humpback Whales for calving, granting Hermanus the distinction of “premier land-based whale viewing” globally. What more effective method exists to digest a substantial breakfast than to take a leisurely walk along its picturesque beachfront promenade? Relish the invigorating coastal breeze and prepare your camera to document the neighboring wildlife frolicking in the bay.

The shoreline is renowned for its population of great white sharks, with the small coastal hamlet of Gansbaai providing internationally acclaimed cage diving and boat-based shark observation.

The inland region is similarly magnificent, featuring charming communities such as Stanford and Swellendam, along with the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, which are situated wonderfully between the mountains and the sea. If time permits, contemplate visiting the southernmost point of Africa at Cape Agulhas, where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. Remember that Hermanus features an exceptional wine route, the Hemel en Aarde Valley, which hosts several award-winning properties.

Route 62 serves as the quintessential self-drive destination. Route 62 traverses numerous tiny rural communities between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn. Meandering over remarkable mountain passes and numerous well-preserved little towns. Route 62 serves as the inland alternative to the N2, which traverses nearer to the Southern coastline. The route features towering mountains, breathtaking scenery, picturesque passes, rivers, vineyards, and fruit orchards as it meanders through the Breede River Valley and Klein Karoo. Numerous settlements along the route include hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and 4×4 routes, while others feature fly fishing, canoeing, and rock climbing.

Additionally, the multitude of wine cellars and estates contributes to Route 62’s reputation as the world’s longest wine route.

Oudtshoorn serves as the ideal basis. Commemorating “Afrikaans” culture by providing rural and pastoral life through tiny, charming, and often eccentric homes that offer you the opportunity to appreciate the region’s renowned ostriches, crocodiles, caverns, meerkats, and olives.

Coastal Route, Emphasizing Knysna and Plettenberg Bay

The seaside journey along the Garden Route often commences in Mossel Bay, with the subsequent destination being George, which is further inland and renowned for the prestigious Fancourt Golf Course. Wilderness follows shortly after George, renowned for its striking expanse of white sandy coastline, succeeded by Sedgefield and ultimately Knysna (pronounced NIZE-na), which is situated along the banks of an estuary, encircled by forests, lakes, and beaches.

Plettenberg Bay, located just 25 minutes away, is a coastal resort renowned for its stunning landscapes and a bay so exquisite that the Portuguese named it Bahia Formosa, meaning “beautiful bay.” Currently, it is endearingly referred to as Plett. Plett features white beaches and a bay flanked by the safeguarded Robberg peninsula to the south and the Keurbooms estuary to the north, creating an ideal setting for a quintessential sun-sea-sand vacation.

Knysna is situated on a slender plateau between an expansive lagoon and the steep Tsitsikamma Mountains. Knysna Lagoon is safeguarded by two substantial cliffs, known as ‘The Heads,’ which include a boat-sized opening that provides access to the Indian Ocean. The western arm is a nature reserve accessible by ferry, while the other features numerous highly recommended boutique houses due to their stunning vistas.

Experience a malaria-free safari near the terminus of the Garden Route in the Eastern Cape. Port Elizabeth officially signifies the conclusion of the Garden Route and is situated in a region where early settlers established their presence, thereby impacting wildlife populations significantly.

In 1930, the Addo Elephant Park was founded to safeguard the last surviving animals in the region. Today, it serves as a prominent exemplar for the region and has catalyzed the gradual acquisition and replenishment of wildlife on additional private farms in the surrounding area over the years. The region now has several of South Africa’s most renowned lodges. The lodges are highly ranked as they offer the nearest ‘genuine safari’ experience to Cape Town and are situated in a malaria-free zone.

Kwandwe, Shamwari, Lalibela, Kariega, and Addo Elephant Park are located near Port Elizabeth at the eastern terminus of the Garden Route. This offers a plethora of choices for various budgets and serves as an unforgettable conclusion to the remarkable journey over the Garden Route.

Climatic Conditions and Navigation of the Garden Route

Getting to and around the Garden Route

The majority of individuals traveling internationally to South Africa arrive at Cape Town Airport or Johannesburg Airport. Daily flights to and from Port Elizabeth and George, both along the route, are available if needed.

The most exhilarating and adaptable method to explore the Garden Route is by renting a vehicle. This enables you to navigate the region at your own tempo, affording the luxury of spontaneity and the freedom to pause as frequently or infrequently as you like to capture photographs. It is also the more economical method of exploring within our country, since it eliminates expenses for a guide, transportation, and housing. It is the premier spot for individuals who relish self-driving vacations! The roads are exceptionally well-marked, maintained to international standards, providing numerous opportunities for refueling and restroom breaks en route. Moreover, our landscape ensures that the travel itself is an enjoyable experience. Certain tourists opt to drive in one direction and return by air if time constraints preclude exploring during a round trip.

For individuals who choose not to drive or have constrained time, a guided trip is available to adequately explore the area. We have exceptional and highly experienced guides available.

The most economical tour option is a scheduled shared trip, in which you travel alongside other passengers. These encompass structured features and adhere to predetermined stops along the journey. If you like a personalized tour, we may customize it to accommodate your schedule, budget, and preferences. The latter provides greater spontaneity as it eliminates the need to consider others. The availability of choice, which is comprehensible, renders it a more expensive alternative.

Climatic conditions

The Garden Route possesses a Mediterranean Maritime climate, characterized by generally warm summers and pleasant to cool winters. It is among the most affluent regions in South Africa in terms of precipitation. The majority of precipitation occurs during the winter months, driven by the moist sea breezes from the Indian Ocean. The Garden Route’s temperate climate lies between two rainfall regimes, summer and winter, resulting in predominantly nocturnal precipitation that maintains the region’s verdant landscape year-round.

Spring (September): The essence of spring becomes palpable by late August and continues until September. October can be unpredictable, as just when one anticipates the arrival of summer, another chilly front emerges.

Summer (November – March): The period from November to March experiences elevated temperatures, with daily midsummer averages ranging from 24 to 30ºC (75.2 to 86ºF) between December to February.

Autumn (May): Temperatures begin to decline around April, however conditions can remain rather agreeable until June.

Winter (June – August): The days may be luminous and temperate, although temperatures drop in the evening and precipitation may occur overnight (8 – 17ºC / 46.4 – 62.6 ºF).

Is There a Golfing Opportunity Along the Garden Route?

Affirmative, an emphatic affirmative! Golfers have an abundance of options along the Cape and Garden Route. Given our ample space, stunning landscapes, and diverse biomes, we possess numerous opportunities to design exceptional championship courses.

Numerous establishments are premier resorts and destinations, providing in-house accommodations and access to premier golf courses, alongside opportunities to engage in adventures available beyond the expansive grounds. Prominent examples and preferred choices for discerning golfers are Pearl Valley, Fancourt, and Pezula. Among the highlights are courses created by Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, as well as the southernmost golf course in Africa. Be advised that the allure of the seaside, vineyards, and mountains may divert your attention during the game.

Pearl Valley, an exceptional locale, is situated near Paarl, making it a perfect location within the Cape Winelands for recreation and accommodation. Remaining here as part of a Garden Route itinerary typically occurs at the commencement of your journey — an excellent way to initiate your travels!

Fancourt is situated in the center of George, within the Garden Route. It features three championship courses, with The Links being the most distinguished. We advise remaining on-site at The Manor. For enthusiastic golfers, we suggest a minimum stay of three nights, particularly if you intend to play on two of the three courses.

You should, at a minimum, visit Pezula, which translates to “high up with the gods”. This course is well designated, situated on the precipice of the Indian Ocean at Knysna’s Eastern Head, the peninsula that separates the town’s tranquil lagoon from the tumultuous ocean.

Other significant courses along the road deserving of consideration are Oubaai (accommodate in George, Mossel Bay, or Wilderness), Simola (accommodate in Knysna or Plettenberg Bay), Pinnacle Point (accommodate in Mossel Bay), and Arabella (accommodate in Hermanus).