A Complete Guide to the Garden Route
Published on December 8, 2021
10 min read
Imagine this: a 300 km long coastal corridor interrupted by sandy beaches, evergreen forests, scenic mountain passes, and tranquil rivers and streams. Well, you’ll be happy to know that a place like this actually exists, and it’s called the Garden Route.
This picturesque stretch can be found in the Eastern and Western Cape province of South Africa and starts in the town of Mossel Bay. The gorgeous scenery continues to Storms River and is abundant in stunning seaside towns, spellbinding landscapes, and thrilling experiences.
Location & how to get there
By plane
Due to the Garden Route being such a long (and magical) area, it is easily accessible from any point. There is a wide variety of places you might want to visit that fall within the scenic stretch. If flying is your preferred mode of travel, there are 2 main airports which we would recommend flying to. The most popular and more accessible of the two is George Airport. This can be found about halfway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth (now known as Gqeberha) and is the most central of the Garden Route. The other airport is in Plettenberg Bay and is used mostly for private flights, but the airstrip is available for this. Other airports that you can make use of, in combination with driving, are Port Elizabeth International Airport and Cape Town International Airport. The driving distance from the airport will differ depending on where your destination is within the Garden Route.
By car
The next option to consider is to drive from wherever you are in the country. South Africa has amazing landscapes that are ever-changing and will leave you breathless. Also, who doesn’t love a good road trip? There are numerous national highways and roads that lead to the Garden Route from all over South Africa. If you’re driving, we highly recommend using Google Maps or Waze to navigate the best route to take.
By bus
Lastly, the most affordable option is to travel via bus. Although it takes a little longer than other modes of transportation, and it might not be as glamorous, taking the bus is definitely an option for adventurers travelling on a budget. Our recommended bus liner is Intercape.
Best time to go
Spring, summer, autumn, and winter - there is no doubt you’ll discover paradise any time of the year when visiting. The Garden Route is a popular summer (November to April) holiday destination for South Africans and international visitors alike. Beaches, bars, restaurants, and must-see spots are packed with holiday goers and you’ll leave with a long list of new friends. This also means that in summer, rates will be higher and bookings will have to be made well in advance. However, if you thrive in a bustling atmosphere, this is definitely the season you should visit. With these lovely summer days come daily temperatures ranging from 17°C to 30°C, a perfect match for the refreshing Indian Ocean.
If you prefer a quieter holiday, we highly recommend visiting between February to April. The bonus with these months is that temperatures are still lovely and warm, but destinations will be less busy compared to December when there are school and festive holidays. Winter is also relatively bearable when it comes to temperatures, and most days will be completely windless in this season. Note that whale-watching season peaks in September but runs from July to October—an extra bonus for your trip.🐋
What to do
Main attractions
The Garden Route is filled to the brim with remarkable adventures around every corner. Throughout this massive stretch, the opportunities are endless! So, to make your life easier, we’ve narrowed down our top attractions in the entire Garden Route area.
Beaches
You haven’t been to the Garden Route if your feet haven’t touched the sand of more than one beach. The entire route borders on the Indian Ocean that offers big, small, and scenic beaches that you can find in every town along the way. Most of these gorgeous seaside towns are built to look out on the ocean, and finding your nearest beach won’t take much effort.
Museums and churches
South Africa is a country full of history, and if you’re keen to learn more about how these towns were discovered with ox-wagons and by horseback, most towns will have a detailed museum to check out. Have a look at our lists of towns below for our best suggestions or just stop by and admire the stunning churches you’ll come accross.
Hikes and nature walks
With a name like the Garden Route, you can definitely expect immersive nature walks, hikes in thriving fern forests, and altogether transportive experiences in the greenery and scenery. Our top two honourable mentions for serious hiking spots that you can’t miss (if you’re into hiking) are the Tsitsikamma and Knysna. For hiking trails in specific towns, have a look at our list below.
What to do: Visit the Storms River Suspension Bridge that hangs only 7 m above the wild waters below, be bold and attempt the famous 215 m Bloukrans Bridge bungee jump, hike, mountain bike, do an immersive canopy tour and see nature's beauty from above, kayak and lilo in Storms River Gorge, try your hand at cheese making with the Fynboshoek Cheese Making Workshop.
Where to eat: Oudebosch Coffee Shop and Farmstall, Tsitsikamma MicroBrewery, De Oude Martha, Taste Restaurant Tsitsikamma, or Tsitrus Cafe.
Ready to Explore? Learn about even more hidden gems in the Garden Route on our blog that are sure to delight!
Nearby sites
From the start of the Garden Route, the vibrant city of Cape Town is just more than a 4-hour drive away. This city is an experience on its own and we highly recommend paying the city of dreamers a well-deserved visit. If you’re keen to explore Cape Town, you can read more about it here.
Located in the Langeberg Mountain Catchment area, Montagu can be found with its unique charm, dazzling scenery, and lovely little gems to discover. This small town is mostly just a town that people pass through on their journey to surrounding areas, but it may be worthwhile to escape to this inland treasure for a night or two. Throughout the year there are some interesting film festivals, running, and cycling events to keep an eye on. The town is surrounded by magnificent mountains and hills that create a vintage feeling, along with the adorable 18th-century-style buildings.
More or less 4 hours from the central point of the Garden Route, this surfing town can be found. The charm of this town comes from the surf community and the lifestyle that goes along with it. This is a laidback paradise, and the main attraction is the ocean. International surfers travel to surf the iconic J-Bay waves, especially to take part in the world-famous J-Bay Open surfing competition that takes over the town every year in July. If you’d like to hit the waves, here you’ll be doing it in the footsteps of some of the greatest surfing names in history. Kelly Slater has said that J-Bay falls under his list of favourite waves in the world!
Wildlife and safari
This diverse National Park is roughly a 5-hour drive from the central point of the Garden Route area and is highly recommended if you’d like to witness remarkable wildlife in the greenery of the Eastern Cape Province. The Albany Thicket makes up the type of scenery you’ll see and is described as shrubland to low forest. The park is home to plenty of elephants, buffalo, lion, Burchell’s zebra and many more wildlife species.
How to include the Garden Route in your South African adventure
The Garden Route can be included in your South African trip by setting aside enough time to adventure through this long stretch of magical South African landscape. You can spend any amount of time from 3 nights to 3+ weeks in the Garden Route and never run out of accommodation options and remarkable activities to keep you occupied. If you’re keen for an extended trip, visit before or after a stay in Cape Town.
Insider Tips
Make sure to book well in advance if you plan on visiting in December, as it happens to be school holiday and exceptionally busy. Also, pack for all four seasons due to rainy weather and windy days that can be expected throughout the year. On your way to any spot in the Garden Route from Cape Town, make sure to stop at Oude Post Bistro at the BP garage in Buffeljagsrivier. This bistro is known for its mouthwatering “roosterkoek”, which is a type of South African woodfired bread with various delicious fillings.
We just can’t get enough of the Garden Route, and we know you won’t either. That’s why we can’t wait to take you on this adventure of a lifetime.
