The Garden Route is one of the most beautiful areas of South Africa. Broadly defined as the area between Cape Town and Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), the Garden Route is on everyone’s bucket list when visiting South Africa. The abundance of attractions and accommodation along the way, as well as the excellent road connections, make it a perfect location for a road trip. Most people will start off from the bustling city of Cape Town in the west, and terminate 750 km away in Gqeberha. However, many visitors also opt for the opposite way around. Whichever direction you choose to take, it will be hard to select which places to visit. In this article, I summarise the best locations on the Garden Route that are absolutely worth a visit.
If you’re interested in travelling to South Africa, check out my posts on general tips for visiting the country and how to stay safe during your trip.
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Top experiences along the Garden Route
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Starting point: Cape Town
As South Africa’s legislative capital, and probably its most famous city, Cape Town is a truly wonderful place. It’s also the starting point for many in their Garden Route road trip. You can easily fly there directly from most cities and plenty of car rental options are available to kick off your trip.
I would strongly recommend spending some time in Cape Town, between three and four days. As public transport is not reliable or particularly safe, I would also recommend renting a car when arriving. With a car, you will also be ready to embark on your road trip straight away. Check out this article for the best tips to save money and have a smooth car rental experience.
Cape Town has plenty of attractions to explore, ranging from the sheer natural beauty of Cape Point to the bustling V&A Waterfront. Make sure not to miss the popular penguin colony at Boulders Beach or the top of the Table Mountain. A visit to Robben Island, the site of the former prison where political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, were held is also a must.
Once you’ve explored the city and its heritage, you can start your journey eastwards through the Garden Route.
Betty’s Bay
After setting off from Cape Town, take a slight detour on the spectacular R44. This road runs along the other side of False Bay and offers magnificent views of the rugged coastline. After passing the bay, you’ll reach your first must-see location on the Garden Route: Betty’s Bay.
Aside from the oceanic views, you’ll want to stop at Betty’s Bay to admire another African penguin colony. It’s located in the Stony Point nature reserve and costs only R30 (£1.3 or $1.6) to enter for adults.
You will probably have seen the more famous penguin colony at Boulders Beach in Cape Town, but there are a few reasons to visit Betty’s Bay as well. First, this colony is much less touristy and arguably a little hidden gem. Therefore, you’ll have a much more peaceful experience than at the crowded Boulders Beach. If you’re lucky, you may even get the place to yourselves and fully enjoy the sounds of the strong waves and the penguin colony.
Second, Betty’s Bay has a boardwalk that runs through the colony on the rocky coastline. Compared to Boulders Beach, where the boardwalk is farther from the main beach and the large penguin groups, in Betty’s Bay you will feel like walking among them in their colony. Due to the quiet nature of the town, you may even spot penguins walking on the street!
Last but not least, by visiting you’ll be contributing valuable funds to protect the penguins’ habitat. As a public nature reserve, income form the small entry fee will go towards the protection of the colony
For all these reasons, Betty’s Bay should definitely be on your list of locations when road tripping on the Garden Route.
Hermanus and Gansbaai
Just 45 minutes from Betty’s Bay you’ll find the touristy town of Hermanus. This is one of the most famous locations on the Garden Route and most road trippers will make a stop here.
Hermanus is mainly known for whale watching. Whales are in fact spotted near the coast here from June to December. They can even be seen from the coast, and popular land-based whale spotting tours are available. If you want to get closer you’ll need to join a sea safari to go out to the ocean. Click this link to book an amazing sea safari in Hermanus!
The town is worth a visit even if the weather is bad or the season isn’t right for whale watching. In fact, Hermanus also has a vibrant and walkable town centre with plenty of eateries and shops. Make sure to explore the little colourful alleys to discover the town’s best hidden gems.
On the other side of the bay from Hermanus, you’ll find the town of Gansbaai. It’s another popular destination for sea wildlife activities, including whale watching and cage diving with sharks. Gansbaai will be for you if you’re after a quieter, less touristy location with the same spectacular views and activities as Hermanus.
Oudtshoorn
After a 4-hour drive from Hermanus, you’ll find another unmissable stop on any Garden Route road trip: Oudtshoorn. This town is located about 70 km from the coast, in the heart of the Klein Karoo region.
Aside from the unique environment of the area known as Karoo, Oudtshoorn is known for its many attractions. The Cango Caves, one of South Africa’s most famous cave systems, are located in the town’s vicinity. These can be visited with guided tours that go through the main areas of the caves. But there is also the option to join a tour of the remote areas of the caves for a more raw experience of caving. This is rare for caves around the world and it’s a great reason to visit the Cango Caves. For more information on the tours and pricing, check out their website.
The area around Oudtshoorn also offers another unique type of attraction: ostrich farms. You can visit many of these farms to learn more about their rich history. You can also try ostrich eggs, meat and, of course, interact with ostriches. It is quite a unique experience, especially for animal lovers, and a great reason to visit this area. If you’re interested in an ostrich farm tour, check out this link to book one!
Another attraction of Oudtshoorn is its famous Cango Wildlife Ranch. It’s not a game reserve where animals roam free, but it’s similar to a traditional zoo. You will have the chance to admire many species that are hard to spot in the wild even in the best reserves, such as leopards and hippos. Moreover, encounters with animals are available, such as swimming with crocodiles in a cage or, for a cuter experience, stroking cheetahs and hanging with lemurs. Their website has more information on the activities offered, and you can also book your visit online.
All of these unique and interesting attractions definitely make Oudtshoorn one of the best locations on a Garden Route road trip.
Knysna
One hour and a half away from Oudtshoorn, you’ll encounter the charming town of Knysna. It’s one of the best known locations along the Garden Route, and many stop here during their road trip.
Knysna is located on a calm and peaceful lagoon. The town centre offers a vibrant waterfront shopping centre, alongside other shops and eateries.
Heading down towards the ocean, you’ll find spectacular views of the coastline. The most famous and unmissable viewpoint is the East Head Viewpoint. Located in The Heads, a 10-minute drive from central Knysna, this viewpoint looks out to the dramatic cliffs on the Indian Ocean, as well as back towards the lagoon. From here, you’ll admire both the rugged waters of the ocean breaking waves on the cliffs, and the tranquil water of the lagoon surrounding the peaceful town.
Many outdoor activities are also offered in Knysna, such as whale watching and sunset cruises in the lagoon.
Tsitsikamma National Park
Driving off from Knysna and passing the famous Bloukrans Bridge, you’ll cross into the Eastern Cape province to find the gorgeous Tsitsikamma National Park. This protected nature reserve spans a large area of the coast and is full of activities for the outdoors lovers. This park is one of the best locations on the Garden Route, due to its abundance of outdoor activities and natural beauty.
To enjoy the park’s attractions, head to the visitor centre at the mouth of the Storm River. You’ll need to pay a small conservation fee to enter, currently R280 for adults (£12 or $15). From there, you will have many options: many visitors simply explore the area around the river mouth, crossing the famous suspension bridges and admiring the dramatic coastline.
However, you can also join a tour to explore the Storm River. The tour leaves from the visitor centre and proceeds into the river by canoe. They will later switch to lilos when the river gets too narrow. You will have the chance to admire the sheer beauty of the river gorge from the inside. Also, why not feel the thrill of jumping into the freezing water?
The Tsitsikamma National Park is also home to one of South Africa’s best hikes, the Otter Trail. The hike is about 41 km long (25 miles), starting from the Storm River mouth and heading west to the Nature’s valley. The hike usually takes five whole days. Along the way, huts are available for shelter and water filling stations are dotted throughout the path. The Otter Trail is a gorgeous coastal hike for any nature lover. It is by no means an easy hike though. It requires an adequate level of fitness and hiking experience to overcome the steep stretches.
Jeffrey’s Bay
Continuing your road trip eastwards, about one hour from the Storm River mouth you’ll find the coastal town of Jeffrey’s Bay. You will likely have heard of Jeffrey’s Bay before, as it’s a world-famous surf spot. As such, most visitors will want this town in their list of locations when visiting the Garden Route.
This town is perfect for anyone for any experienced surfers who’d like to ride the amazing right-hand waves that make this town famous. Beginner surfers are also in luck, as Jeffrey’s Bay offers an abundance of surf lessons. Click here to book a group lesson, or here for a private lesson.
Jeffrey’s Bay is well worth a stop on a Garden Route road trip. Beside surfing, the town’s relaxed vibe and beautiful sandy beach are great attractions. There is no shortage of eateries and shops, and if you want to swim in the ocean the water is considerably warmer than further west.
Final destination: Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth)
The end of the Garden Route, or the beginning if you’re starting from here, is located in the major city of Gqeberha. This city was previously known as Port Elizabeth but changed its name to Gqeberha, in the Xhosa language. It’s tricky to pronounce because it contains a click sound, click here to see how to pronounce it!
Gqeberha has a varied cultural heritage and striking natural beauty. Many beaches are located within the city and are perfect for swimming in the warmer Indian ocean. Whale watching is also possible year-round in Gqeberha.
If art is among your interests, make sure to visit the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum. This museum houses artwork mainly from local artists from the Eastern Cape.
Gqeberha is also a perfect starting point for amazing wildlife safaris. Addo Elephant National Park is only a half-hour drive from the city. You can visit the park with your own vehicle and admire the rich wildlife. If you’re after some luxury in your safari experience, you may want to check out the many private game reserves near Gqeberha. There is plenty of choice and all of them offer great experiences. Personally, I’d recommend considering Kwantu Private Game Reserve. I have had the pleasure to visit this reserve and I had the best time!
