Discover the scenic Garden Route, South Africa

But you’ll also find lush forests, vineyards, eye-catching mountains and dramatic coast as you explore, not to mention the ‘ostrich capital of the world’, whale-watching and traditional Dutch settlements along the way.

A perfect introduction to South Africa, it’s also easy to combine with time in Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula for a taste of all the best the country has to offer.

What is the Garden Route in South Africa?

The Garden Route is a name given to the 190m (300km) stretch of coast in south-eastern South Africa, running from the area between Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to the edge of Tsitsikamma National Park at Storms River in the Eastern Cape.

The name was inspired by the lushly green section of coastline dotted with lakes and lagoons, and it’s been added to UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 2017. The route is one of the best road trips in the world, letting you discover various highlights of this part of South Africa, as well as some spectacular coastal scenery.

Storms River Mouth in Tsitsikamma, Garden Route National Park

Where does the Garden Route start and end?

The Garden Route is commonly accepted to start in Mossel Bay in South Africa’s Western Cape and to run as far as Storms River in the Eastern Cape, a distance of around 190 miles. The route itself follows the N2 road, although it’s easy to make minor detours to see some of the highlights along the Garden Route.

Most people tend to travel from Cape Town to start the route and continue beyond the end to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) as the nearest large cities, although neither is on the route itself.

How long does it take to drive the Garden Route?

You could drive from one end of the Garden Route to the other in a few hours if you don’t stop, but that would be missing the point – and the sights. You’ll need an absolute minimum of two days to see some of the highlights of the Garden Route, and you could easily spend six to seven days driving its length.

Most trips along the Garden Route take somewhere in between, such as the four days of our Contrasts of the Cape tour or three days of the Sensational South Africa itinerary. This allows you to visit several key locations, including Tsitsikamma National Park and Storms River, Knysna and Oudtshoorn.

What’s special about the Garden Route?

There is so much packed into a relatively small area along the Garden Route, including some of South Africa’s most dramatic coastal scenery. But travelling along the route also lets you discover some of the country’s diverse wildlife, from birds to whales, as well as mountains, lagoons, rivers and national parks.

In between the natural attractions, there’s also plenty to tempt at the towns along the route and lots to persuade you to linger rather than driving on. You’ll find vineyards here, but also adrenaline thrills, outdoor activities and some great food.

In some ways it’s a taste of the country in miniature, with many of the highlights of South Africa to enjoy while travelling along this one stretch of highway.

How many days do you need on the Garden Route in South Africa?

It’s best to allow a minimum of three to four days to explore the Garden Route, excluding any time spent in Cape Town or Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), or any diversions to places like Hermanus and Addo Elephant National Park.

That gives you chance to stop at several points along the route to explore a few of the highlights, without having to spend too long driving each day. If you’re planning a longer tour of the Cape, it’s possible to break the route up and explore some of the inland locations like Oudtshoorn on your return leg.

It’s easy to spend a week or more travelling along the Garden Route, especially if you plan a loop, but any less than three days means you won’t be able to stop as often as you’ll inevitably like.

Highlights of the Garden Route

One of the advantages to driving the Garden Route is that you can choose where to stop along the way, but there are a few key places you shouldn’t miss, plus ideas for some great places to break up the drive.

Tsitsikamma National Park

Tsitsikamma National Park

Tsitsikamma National Park is one of the most popular highlights of the Garden Route, sitting at the far eastern end by Storms River, where a suspension bridge crosses the river mouth for some great photos.

The name means ‘place of abundant water’, and with the river flowing through and the ocean at its edge, you’ll never be far from the water, quite apart from the waterfalls plunging through the ancient forest. Home to majestic Outeniqua Yellowwood trees, there are some great hikes along the Otter Trail, but you’ll also find beaches and rugged coastline, with a marine conservation area just off the coast.

Feeling daring? You can even take on the world’s highest bungee jump at Bloukrans Bridge near Storms River village.

Knysna

One of the loveliest towns along the Garden Route, Knysna is somewhere which deserves at least an overnight stop, although you could happily linger much longer here. Once used as a key port to export timber, Knysna Quays is now the perfect place to stop and try the seafood which the area is known for, especially its oysters.

Or head out on the water of the Knysna lagoon yourself, passing the Knysna Heads, two massive outcrops of rock set at the inlet to the lagoon, with a chance to spot dolphins, migrating whales and birds galore as you go. You can also board the ferry to Featherbed Nature Reserve, to explore the coastal forest and fynbos, South Africa’s native shrubland, as well as looking out for the green Knysna loerie.

Featherbed Nature Reserve, Knysna

George

The historic town of George is another lovely place to stop along the Garden Route, set on a 10km plateau with the Outeniqua Mountains to the north and the Indian Ocean to the south. Named for George III, you’ll find old timber buildings dotted around, along with the Slave Tree, an English oak planted in the 19th century with a lock and chain embedded in its trunk – although the reality is rather more prosaic, as gardening equipment was chained to it long after it was planted.

Don’t miss a visit to the Garden Route Botanical Garden either, to learn more about the plants found in the Cape Floral Region, including the unique fynbos. While this biodiverse area covers a tiny 0.5% of Africa, it’s home to around 20% of the continent’s plant species.

Wilderness

Lying in the foothills of the Outeniqua Mountains, Wilderness is another beautiful part of the Garden Route, not far from George. Set around the Touw River, it’s perfect if you’re looking to get outdoors with lots of activities on the river itself, as well as wetlands to explore, and hiking routes through the forests.

The Map of Africa viewpoint is one of the great hiking trails in Wilderness National Park, so called because as you look down onto the river in the forested hills, it seems to make the outline of the continent of Africa. You’ll find more fantastic views at the Dolphin Point Lookout just outside Wilderness too. Or for more unbeatable views, Wilderness is also a centre for paragliding.

Oudtshoorn

Slightly inland from the coast, the town of Oudtshoorn is famous for having the world’s largest ostrich population and while its ostrich feather industry boomed over a century ago, there’s still plenty to enjoy in the area.

As well as seeing some of the current ostrich population at various farms and wildlife centres, the CP Nel Museum has more background on the trade – and unusually, houses an operating synagogue as well. As you explore the town, you’ll also see some of the ‘ostrich palaces’, built in a range of styles including Art Nouveau, Victorian, and Neo-Renaissance Revival, thanks to the wealth generated in the early 20th century.

The nearby Cango Caves are the biggest show cave system in Africa, and South Africa’s oldest tourist attraction – over 20 million years old, the caves include a series of chambers cut deep into the limestone in the Swartberg Mountains.

Robberg Nature Reserve

Whale-watching

Although Hermanus, slightly beyond the end of the Garden Route is one of the best-known places in South Africa to see whales, it’s not the only option. Head to Plettenberg Bay and you’ll also find some great whale-watching, with the marine mammals heading here from May to February.

The best time to visit is between June and November, when Southern Right Whales head to the area to mate and calve, although you’ll often be able to spot dolphins and other marine life year round. Robberg Nature Reserve to the south is also home to seal colonies, while the whole area is known for its wonderful beaches and great surf.

Landberg Mountains

The wineries

Although the winelands near Cape Town are better known, the climate of the Garden Route means the area also produces some fantastic wines. With cool wet winters and temperate summers, vines flourish here as well, and the Route 62 wine route overlaps with the Garden Route in many places.

Oudtshoorn is one place where you can combine ostrich history with some great tastings, or you’ll find several wine estates in George, and others in the Langeberg Mountains and elsewhere in the foothills of the Outeniqua mountains.

Look out for sweet white Muscadel among the local wines on offer, but also Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet and Shiraz grapes among others.

Find out more about our guided tours of South Africa, including visits to popular locations along the Garden Route, including Knysa, Tsitsikamma National Park and Oudtshoorn.