Summary
- The Garden Route is a must-visit road trip in South Africa, known for its attractions and stunning scenery, stretching from Witsand to Tsitsikamma Storms River.
- The route offers diverse activities like hiking, scuba diving, camping, and exploring charming towns, along with the chance to see birds, whales, dolphins, and iconic African animals.
- Visitors have options for guided tours or self-driven exploration, with guided tours ranging from three days to seven-day tours, and various accommodation options available along the route.
The Garden Route is the most famous road trip in South Africa and perhaps the most famous in sub-Saharan Africa. The Garden Route is relatively short at only around 190 miles long, but it is packed with attractions and eye-watering scenery. It is located in the Western Cape not too far out of Cape Town.
Head out and explore the Garden Route after spending some days in Cape Town exploring its many attractions from the famous Cape Town penguins to the stunning Table Mountain rising over the city often draped in a low cloud called the "Table Cloth."
What Is So Special About The Garden Route In South Africa?
The Garden Route runs from Witsand in the Western Cape to Tsitsikamma Storms River in the Eastern Cape. The route traces some of the ecologically diverse vegetation along with many estuaries and lakes along the coast. The Garden Route was added to the UNESCO list of World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2017.
- Beginning: Witsand, Western Cape
- End: Tsitsikamma Storms River, Eastern Cape
- Length: 190 miles or 300 kilometers
The area has an oceanic climate with mild to cool winters and mild to warm summers. Rain can occur year-round
South Africa is a superb country for a road trip and so is its neighbor Namibia; hire a 4x4 with a mounted tent and explore the many wonders of Namibia on a self-driven road trip. Namibia's Etosha National Park is one of the best national parks in Africa to enjoy a self-driven safari.
The Garden Route Is Diverse With The Best South Africa Has
Along the Garden Route, there are plenty of hiking trails and eco-tourism activities (including at Cape Fynbos and Temperate Forest). Other activities include scuba diving, abseiling, off-roading, camping, fishing, and much more. See charming towns, vividly colored wildflowers, golden beaches, and tall indigenous forests.
Caving is another popular activity at the Cango Caves at Oudtshoorn (they are one of the top attractions in South Africa). The cave system is one of the world's finest stretching for 2.5 miles (although only around a quarter of the caves are open to the public). Choose between the easier Heritage Tour and the more challenging Adventure Tour.
Cango Caves Adventure Tour:
Visit the deepest sections of the Cango Caves open to the public (this tour includes crawling through tight spaces).
- When: Every Hour On Half Hour (from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm)
- Fee: R 240.00 ($48)
Tsitsikamma National Park is another top attraction along the Garden Route and is located along the way and is one of the most dramatic of the protected areas in South Africa.
What To See Along The Garden Route In South Africa
Almost 300 species of birds can be found along the route inhabiting its different environments (including fynbos, forests, wetlands, and coastal environments). Oudshoorn (known as the "Capital of the Klein Karoo") has a semi-arid valley climate and is home to many farmed ostriches.
Along the coastline, look for colonies of the African penguins and colonies of fur seals.
- Birds: Almost 300 Species
- Whales: Humpback and Southern Right Whales
It is common to see whales and dolphins off the coast along the Garden Route and whale watching is a popular activity. Come and see humpback whales, southern right whales, and enormous pods of dolphins year-round; there are around 15 species of whales and dolphins to be seen.
Head to New Zealand's Kaikoura and enjoy a rare chance to go whale watching for sperm whales.
See some of the most iconic African animals in parks and reserves along the Garden Route, including elephants, baboons, bushbuck, ostriches, monkeys, and others.
How To Discover The Garden Route
The Garden Route doesn't need to be a self-driven tour as there are many guided tours offered on the Garden Route. There is a lot to see and do along the Garden Route with guided tours ranging from three days to seven-day tours.
There is also the option to buy a ticket that allows for a hop-on and hop-off bus service, so visitors can explore the route at their own pace.
Example 5 Day / 4 Night Tour of The Garden Route (and Cape Agulhas) Tour
This tour has 2 to 9 people in each tour and departs from Cape Town. The highlights of the tour include an Ostrich Farm, the Cango Caves, the Knysna Lagoon, Tsitsikamma, Mossel Bay, Cape Agulhas, and Hermanus.
- Cost: R15,000 to R10,000 ($800-$550)
- Excludes: Lunch and Dinner
- Includes: Guide, Transportation, Accommodation
For more extended guided tour options of the Garden Route, refer to South Africa Venues.
There are plenty of lodges, bungalows, château, backpackers, and other accommodations to stay in along the route.