The Garden Route is one of South Africa’s most scenic drives, stretching along the country’s southeastern coast from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to Storms River in the Eastern Cape. This 300-kilometer route is renowned for its stunning landscapes, diverse ecosystems, charming towns, and a wide range of outdoor activities.
From Charming towns, fantastic views, animal parks, insane hikes and beautiful beaches, we spent 5 days driving the garden route. You can mix and match most destinations and spend weeks doing this if you so choose.
Hermanus is a beautiful coastal town in South Africa, renowned for its whale watching, especially during the southern right whale migration season from June to November. It’s also known for its stunning scenery, beaches, and outdoor. We ate at Bientang’s Cave: Located in a cave right on the rocks by the ocean, this unique restaurant offers spectacular sea views and a variety of seafood dishes. It’s one of the most iconic dining spots in Hermanus.
Knysna Elephant Park, located near Knysna in South Africa, is a sanctuary dedicated to the care and conservation of elephants.
The Robberg Hike is a popular trail located in the Robberg Nature Reserve near Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route of South Africa.
Addo Elephant Park, located near Port Elizabeth in South Africa, is one of the country’s most popular national parks. The park is home to over 600 elephants, making it one of the best places in the world to see them. We actually saw more Zebras than Elephants. We got up and started out in the dark and quite frankly were a little disappointed in the park. We didn’t see elephants until a few hours into the drive.
The Otter Trail is one of South Africa’s most famous hiking trails, located in the Tsitsikamma National Park along the Garden Route. The trail is approximately 45 kilometers long and take 4-5 days to complete. You need a permit if you want to hike more than the first leg. We only hiked the first leg and it was amazing, difficult, we had to climb over rocks and then got stuck down on the beach as the tide was coming in. Quite the adventure. This was one of the more difficult hikes we have done. Up and over rocks, it was spectacular and slippery at the same time. We loved it.
Tsitsikamma National Park is a highlight of South Africa’s Garden Route, renowned for its lush forests, dramatic coastline, and diverse wildlife. We went on a few hikes, some easy some more difficult, but a truly beautiful place. The park boasts rugged cliffs, pristine beaches, and dense indigenous forests, offering stunning natural scenery. The Waterfall trail was the less demanding of the hikes we went on.
One thing we did notice on this drive was the security at the homes. Take a look at the electrified fences in some of the nicer neighborhoods. The drive also boasts the highest bungee jump in the world. We stopped to watch, but that is as far as we dared to go.
