Garden Route Travel and Vacations
Help Me PlanTop Destinations in and around the Garden Route
This part of South Africa is blessed with grand natural splendor; the Garden Route is located between the rugged Cape Fold Mountains and the Indian Ocean. It is one of South Africa's most popular destinations and offers the international visitor many attractions and activities.
Knysna Lagoon & Heads
The Knysna Heads stand as sentinels lining the passage between the Indian Ocean and a picturesque tidal lagoon. The town of Knysna, an artistic center, lies on the banks and islands in this lagoon. It offers various accommodation options, many outdoor activities, and some of the finest restaurants on the Garden Route.
Storms River Mouth
Located in the Tsitsikamma National Park, the setting of the Storms River’s entry into the Indian Ocean is nothing short of spectacular. Activities include hikes of various lengths, crossing the suspension bridge, the Dolphin Trail, and many more.
Plettenberg Bay
Plettenberg Bay is the crown jewel of beach vacation destinations in the Western Cape. The town and its surroundings offer visitors numerous water- and land-based activities. Most activities are family-friendly.
Garden Route Vacation Options & Travel Tips
The Garden Route is a remarkable scenic coastal forest destination in the Western Cape which offers pristine beaches, whale watching, forest hikes and unique ecosystems, and can be combined with tours to the Overberg and Cape Town.
Tours, Safaris & Honeymoons
Browse our thoughtfully crafted safari tours.
Tailor-Made Vacation Packages
All our tours and safaris can be customized.
Travel Tips & Advice
Important information about visiting Southern Africa.
Recommended Accommodation
A significant number of accommodation options exist in the towns and countryside of South Africa's Garden Route. We list our favorites.
Tsala Treetop Lodge
It is a unique lodge built amongst the treetops of an ancient indigenous forest between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.
Fancourt Manor
The Manor House offers understated luxury in the heart of the Garden Route near the town of George.
Knysna Hollow
Set on a country estate adjacent to the town of Knysna, it is ideal for families visiting the area.
St James of Knysna
This luxury hotel offers sweeping views over the Knysna Lagoon from its setting a few minutes from the town center. It is an owner-run facility that provides exceptional service.
Garden Route Travel Overview
The Garden Route lies on a fine coastal stretch between South Africa's west and east coasts. The seas along this coastline are protected and rich with many fish species, while the forests hide the scarce and shy forest elephant.
Foods to Try When Visiting the Garden Route
Oysters
Knysna is known as South Africa's "oyster capital." These delectable shellfish are so prevalent in this part of the world that a whole festival is dedicated to them every July. However, you should find oysters in abundance regardless of when you visit.
Prawns
Prawns are not specific to the region, but the spectacular coastal setting makes it the ideal occasion to enjoy large bounties of grilled prawns. You can find a seafood restaurant with a prawn special almost anywhere.
Ostrich
The Garden Route is a stone's throw from the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn. Delicious, healthy, lean, juicy ostrich meat is readily available as fillet, steak, mince, goulash, sausage, kebabs, or burgers.
Karoo Lamb
South Africa's Karoo lamb is the most succulent and delectable lamb meat. The meat is sourced from free-roaming sheep grazing on particular Karoo vegetation, which provides it with that irresistible, unique flavor.A Brief History
The narrow coastal plain of the Garden Route runs for some 300 km from the town of Mossel Bay towards Storms River in the east, with the Tsitsikamma Mountains rising inland. The "route" part of the name was first used between the two world wars when this area was regarded as important mainly as a connecting corridor between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. The "garden" is much easier to understand, as nature has bestowed many riches upon the area.
Mossel Bay first saw Europeans on the 3rd of February 1488, when Bartolomeu Dias sailed into the bay, not realizing that he had already rounded the Cape. He found springs where he could replenish his water supplies; later, other explorers like Vasco da Gama also used the fresh water. Da Gama bartered a few head of cattle from the local Khoisan people; it is regarded as the first commercial transaction between Europeans and South Africa's indigenous people.
The region attracted traders, loggers, scoundrels, and heroes in equal measure, one of whom was known as George Rex. He was closely associated with the founding of the town of Knysna and was rumored—without proof—to be of royal descent. He arrived in the area from Cape Town in a coach drawn by six perfectly groomed and matched horses with his coat of arms on the doors, accompanied by a squad of friends and outriders.
Popular Towns
Mossel Bay
The Garden Route begins in Mossel Bay, which boasts many attractions ranging from beaches and museums to natural sights such as the Bat's Cave. Mossel Bay is also an important industrial town with a major gas-to-liquids refinery and the first underwater pipeline constructed in South African coastal waters. Offshore deposits of natural gas have been found near Mossel Bay.
George
George was described as "the prettiest village on the face of the earth" by English novelist Anthony Trollope in 1877. The town started as a woodcutters' post for the Dutch East India Company in 1776. It was named for King George III when the British took control of the area on 23 April 1811. Today, George is an industrial center that produces furniture, footwear, and farming produce, including hops.
Wilderness
The town of Wilderness is splendidly displayed in a protected area. The lake area between George and Knysna falls within the Wilderness National Park and comprises six lakes that run along the N2 highway for 25 kilometers. It is a haven for sailors and boating folk of all persuasions. Plant life varies according to the salinity of the water, and fauna includes the Cape otter and various species of antelope. Birdlife abounds, and there are various hiking trails, holiday chalets, and campsites.
Knysna
European farmers and traders first settled Knysna in the latter half of the 18th century. These people were attracted to the Knysna River lagoon by the beauty of the place and the timber, fishing, and farming opportunities. Knysna is a vacation destination that offers a vast selection of attractions on the water and on land. It is a place of picturesque beauty and tranquil solitude.
Plettenberg Bay
Plettenberg Bay was the site of one of the earliest extended European encampments in Southern Africa when the Portuguese vessel São Gonçalo was wrecked in the bay in 1630. The sailors made it to shore and lived there for about eight months, building two boats with which to escape. Today, Plettenberg Bay is a popular and glamorous holiday destination.
Notable Attractions & Activities
Big Tree
Right next to the Storms River is a road sign that says "Big Tree." There is a large car park and, for a small fee, visitors can walk along a boarded pathway through the magnificent indigenous forest to view the Big Tree. This Outeniqua yellowwood started growing in the 1100s and survived fires, storms, and rapacious loggers. It has seen governments come and go and stands today as a serene giant. Anyone visiting the Garden Route should pay their respects to this giant of the forest.
Bungee Jumping
Bungee jumping is a sport that originated in New Zealand but quickly spread across the world. Drive along the N2 national road in the Garden Route and turn off at the Bloukrans River Bridge. The jump from this bridge is one of the world's highest commercial bridge bungies at 216 m—guaranteed to take your breath away.
The Otter Trail in the Tsitsikamma Forest is a spectacular and challenging hiking trail that attracts nature lovers from around the globe. Booking is essential, as only a limited number of hikers are allowed on the trail at any time.
