High on the must-see lists of most visitors to South Africa is the Garden Route, and with good reason: you can’t help but be seduced by the glorious natural beauty.
The range of topography, vegetation, wildlife and outdoor activities is remarkable. The Garden Route stretches from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape until Storms River in the Eastern Cape. Most people hire a car in Cape Town and drive the 600 KMs over a few days or longer since you can make it as long as you want when also visiting the Little Karoo a bit inland. Most end in Port Elizabeth where you have amazing safari options in a malaria free part of the country.
Most of the coast is dotted with excellent beaches, while inland you’ll find picturesque lagoons and lakes, rolling hills and eventually the mountains of the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma ranges that divide the verdant Garden Route from the arid Little Karoo. The sheer natural beauty and the abundance of attractions makes this a must-visit for visitors to South Africa.
From the dense coastal forests, to the deep river gorges, fresh water lakes, lagoons, quaint towns, and sprawling beaches, the Garden Route definitely lives up to its name as a holiday hotspot. In addition to the beautiful surroundings, the Garden Route offers a variety of exciting outdoor activities to suit all tastes and budgets.
Because of the wide range of experiences and attractions along the Garden Route, together with the excellent road infrastructure, the Garden Route is famed as South Africa’s perfect ‘self-drive holiday’ destination and ideal to explore at your own pace, under your own steam. On the Garden Route, a number of exciting activities are available, from tree-top canopy tours in the Tsitsikamma Forest to visits to the Elephant Sanctuary where you have the opportunity to walk hand-in-trunk with these gentle creatures. You could visit the Birds of Eden bird sanctuary and the Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary, or you may prefer lazing in a seaside restaurant sipping wine and eating oysters.
The Garden Route also offers warm water for a true beach escape, some of the best golf courses in the country and any number of adventure sports.
I am travelling a couple of times per year across the Garden Route and also Route 62 (which is more inland and shows the magnificent Little Karoo), so I am happy to assist you in creating a perfect itinerary with the up-to-date things-to-do and to recommend the best suitable accommodation there is.
Below you can see when it is best to drive the Garden Route. As you can see, the summer period is the best way to drive the route. All flowers are in bloom and the temperature is the most pleasant! A timeline can be seen in the overview below. The greener the box is by the month, the better it is to travel to this country in that period.
