a garden safari. read and point

Let’s Go On A ‘Garden Safari’! Storytime with Free Printables

We were recently given the chance to check out  Garden Safari Vegetable Soup.  I knew it was an opportunity I could not pass up. The benefits of cooking with kids are multifaceted. Young chefs gain fine motor experience while ripping, chopping, or stirring. There are sensory benefits as they get their hands dirty and explore the way ingredients smell, feel, and taste. Measuring components of recipes presents a perfect opportunity for applying math to the real world. The act of preparing a dish with a child opens the door for discussing healthy food choices. As an added bonus, picky eaters tend to be more willing to try something they’ve helped make. Read on to see what we thought of the book. Stay to the end to grab some extras I created to extend our Garden Safari storytime learning a bit further!

Reading Garden Safari Vegetable Soup

My kids  loved checking out this cute book from Kitchen Club Kids . The rhyming verses from authors Eluka Moore, Larry Puzniak, and Marianne Welsh give Garden Safari Vegetable Soup  a fun, sing-songy quality, perfect for reading out loud. Kristen Gau’s illustrations are cheerful, bright, and lively. The expressions on the little cooks faces are expressive and vibrant. My boys   are enthusiastic fans of helping in the kitchen. They loved that the book focused on a recipe they could get involved with. As a mom who wants to help her family eat healthier, I was a huge fan of the focus on fresh, whole food ingredients. End of the Rainbow Fruit Salad is another book from the team, that I’m adding to my kiddos’ birthday lists this summer. They’re total fruit fanatics, so I know it’s going to be perfect for them!

Garden Safari Inspired Early Learning

Inspired by the colorful illustrations of vegetables in the book, I created a fun color literacy printable perfect for early learners. Kids can work on reinforcing both color knowledge and sight word recognition. Grab your free printable sheets below, and use scissors to cut each vegetable piece out.

I created 2 versions of the game pieces. One is a bit simpler, and includes some ‘hints’. The colored text will make matching a bit simpler for your youngest readers, who may not be ready to  just read text. The black and white text version is a perfect challenge for slightly older readers. Color names were a big part of my oldest’s sight words lists in kindergarten, and this game is ideal for practicing them in a fun way.

i Spy Bottle- Garden Safari Sensory Fun!

Since he was young, #thebigone has enjoyed sensory exploration. ‘I Spy’ bags, bottles, and jars have been some of my favorite ways to introduce sensory games to him. ‘I Spy’ is great because the hunt is super engaging, and most kids can explore it independently. Games like this are ideal for days when I need a little quiet time. As a bonus, now that #thebigone is much older, he gets to help set the games up for his little brother. (Less work for mom is a win-win!)

I involved the kids in shopping for the supplies for our bottle. We used the printable you can grab below as a shopping list, and enjoyed a sort of scavenger hunt as we picked beads to represent the veggies in Garden Safari Vegetable Soup. We used a combination of glass, wood , and plastic beads for ours, but materials are flexible.  Brown rice is a  perfect filler for the jar- inexpensive, easily obtained, and aligned with the theme. To fit with the cooking theme, we used a plastic food storage container as the vessel. Super glue (or hot glue ) helped to be sure the top stayed securely in place.

Toddlers and younger kids may enjoy exploring the bottle without the printed list- sometimes open ended discovery is best at this age. Older kids may like to read their lists independently, or see who can check every ingredient off the list fastest. Regardless of exactly how they utilize the I Spy Bottle, young chefs are sure to enjoy the opportunity to explore!

Get Cooking!

If you have some mini foodies or asiring chefs in your home, be sure to check out the awesome products available from Kitchen Club Kids. Take a peek through their site and choose some of the kid friendly recipes and fun  to try with your little sous chefs! And don’t forget the printables below so you can maximize your family’s Garden Safari Vegetable Soup story time learning!

Do your kids like to help you in the kitchen? what’s your favorite tip for getting your kids involved with meal preparations?

An Ultra-efficient Garden Route Itinerary for 5 Days

Streching for more than 300 kilometers (or 190 miles), South Africa’s Garden Route is perhaps the most popular road trip in the entire country. In some ways, the Garden Route is a condensed version of South Africa: it has forests, mountains, lagoons, grasslands, and deserts. This Garden Route itinerary is perfect for both the adventurous as well as the laid-back traveler, with plenty of activities to mix and match. And since there are so many things to do in the Garden Route in South Africa, you can let yourself be occupied from morning until night!

Personally, I loved South Africa’s Garden Route and could’ve spent twice the number of days here than I could. Especially if you love outdoors activities, you’ll be spoiled for choice with the fabulous national parks in this region.

Here are the highlights of my Garden Route trip, some tips on driving it yourself, extra activities I missed but wish I’d had time for, plus guided tours to the Garden Route from Cape Town in case you’re not renting a car.

Enjoy this beautiful slice of paradise ✨

Garden route accommodation

In general, you can stay in most towns along the Garden Route and not go terribly wrong. There are a lot of Garden Route itineraries that recommend a bunch of different locations, ranging from guesthouses to full-blown luxury lodges. These are the places I personally stayed at that ended up being excellent, both in terms of facilities and logistically, and won’t blow your budget.

• Hermanus – We loved our stay at The Nantucket . It’s a three-story guesthouse, and the owner will give you decades-worth of tips for the Garden Route. He even printed out a list of recommended stops for us! Great ocean views, our neighbors staying here saw whales from the balcony! Super clean and bright.
• Knysna – Another guesthouse, Cloud 9 has stunning views over the sea and the lagoon from its high vantage point. The cost per night is a steal, though access is along a weird dirt road Google doesn’t know about so be prepared.
• Port Elizabeth or Jeffreys Bay – We stayed at Brighton Lodge in Port Elizabeth, which ended up being very lucky as they gave us SUPER helpful tips for our trip to Addo Elephant Park, including where best to enter the park and which roads to avoid. Besides Port Elizabeth, you can also base yourself in Jeffrey’s Bay.

Garden Route Itinerary for 5 days

Day 1: cape town to hermanus.

• Day 2: Mossel Bay, Wilderness, Knysn

Day 3: Plettenberg Bay, Nature’s Valley, Tsitsikamma National Park, Port Elizabeth

Day 4: addo elephant park, day 5: return through klein karoo to cape town.

While not technically part of the Garden Route, Hermanus is a town that a lot of people (us included) build into their Garden Route itinerary. And why not? It’s on the way from Cape Town to Mossel Bay (the official start of the Garden Route), and is famous as the best land-based whale-watching capital of the world . From June to December every year, the Southern Right whale comes to the bay to give birth to its calves. That’s right – you can see baby whales!

Apart from seeing whales, you can also often see the Cape Fur Seal as well as dolphins.

Things to do in Hermanus

• Take a whale-watching boat tour – While Hermanus is famous for its excellent land-based whale-watching, you can get within 50m of these gentle giants by boat. Must-do if you are visiting during the whale season from June to December (there were still whales in the bay during our trip in early December).
• Hermanus Whale Festival – September is peak season, even if the whales can be seen for many more months. This three-day festival includes street food, activities for kids, live music, and whales obviously.
• Cliff Path – Another place you can watch whales from, this easy 10km coastal hike is a great way to spend time in Hermanus. You don’t need to stay long to enjoy the view and breathe in Hermanus’ famous “champagne air”.
• Go for oysters at locales’ favorite oyster joint – Recommended to us personally by our host in Hermanus, Lemon Butta has excellent seafood, especially oysters.

Day 2: Mossel Bay, Wilderness, Knysna

Mossel Bay marks the official start to the Garden Route, even though many people make sure to stop in Hermanus on the way here. Its name literally means “Mussel Bay”, like the mussels you might like to eat! If you’re trying to do this as a day trip, that probably means mussels for breakfast or lunch. Based on some reviews (and our trusty South Africa guidebook ), we ended up at Oyster Bar , which offered 3 oysters for under $10.

Things to do in Mossel Bay

• Eat oysters – You’ll notice this is a theme on the Garden Route! Oysters and other seafood are extremely popular here and you can find them ultra-fresh in Mossel Bay.
• Visit the Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex – Remember how we talked earlier about how sailors used to crash against the southern tip of Africa? You can visit a musem named for the explorer who was the first European to sail around it. It’s got ships inside.
• Diaz Beach – The biggest beach in Mossel Bay, with beautiful sand and has a restaurant and surf school nearby. You can go swimming here, just not too far because the area does have sharks.
• The Point – A popular surf point and beach, complete with both a small and a large tidal pool. Entry point to the St. Blaize hiking trail.
• St. Blaize Hiking Trail – A 15 kilometer long stretch of hiking trail along the coast of Mossel Bay.

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Knysna is famous for having both a beautiful coastline as well as an inland lagoon. Depending on your vantage point, you can actually see both sides of Knysna at the same time. Its unique geography also means it was famous as a dangerous place to sail (this seems like a theme, no?). The Knysna Heads has been called the single most dangerous ocean mouth in the entire world. Sounds like a place you want to hang out, eh?

Truth be told, Knysna is one of my top picks for places to visit on the Garden Route and you’ll soon see why!

Things to do in Knysna

• Eat oysters at the Knysna Oyster Festival – If you’re in Kynsna in June, you can eat oysters at the most famous place to eat oysters in the entire country! You can check the exact dates on the Kynsna website .
• Go for a boat ride – Just after telling you how dangerous it is to sail, I’m going to give you the idea to go for a boat ride! Often these are canceled owing to wind, but it doesn’t hurt to give it a try. You can do a Whale Watching Boat Tour in case you didn’t get a chance to see whales in Hermanus!
• Knysna Elephant Park – You’ve got a lot of chances to see elephants on this trip, and if you won’t make it to Addo Elephant Park (which, by the way, you SHOULD!) – you can also see elephant in Kynsna.
• See the Knysna Heads at the Eastern Viewpoint – One of the best spots to get a view over the lagoon in Kynsna!

This stretch is a very pretty drive, including stops in a national park and plenty of chances to see babboons! If you have more time, you can break this stretch up for this garden route itinerary into several days. We met people during our South Africa road trip that spent several days in Tsitsikamma National Park alone.

Plettenberg Bay

Also known as “Plett”, Plettenberg Bay is a city famous for its beaches. It’s a popular place especially for families who want to spend time together on the beach. You can come here and grab a drink overlooking the beach, or jump in the water. Keep reading for more information about things to do in Plettenberg Bay!

Things to do in Plettenberg Bay

• Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve – If you’re looking for somewhere to go on safari during your time on the Garden Route, my top recommendation is Addo Addo Elephant Park near Port Elizabeth. However, there are plenty of spots to do it before reaching the far end of the route, such as Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve .
• Go to Monkey Land – If you want to walk among the monkeys, this is the place to do it. This park has free-roaming monkeys you can interact with as you experience Monkey Land. Bring your camera but hold onto it tightly 😉
• Drive through Nature’s Valley – After Plettenberg Bay, you’ll have the option to veer off the N2 onto the R102. It’s a scenic drive and plenty of changes will arrive to see babboons crossing the street! Read more about Nature’s Valley in the next section.
• See the Bloukrans Bridge – Bloukrans Bridge is the highest bungie jumping point in the world. It’s set up in such a way that you need to zipline to the bungie jumping point, so it’s not for those who are afraid of heights! If you want to do it, definitely book your bungee jump slot in advance – when we went they were sold out for the day!

Nature’s Valley

Nature’s Valley is a small resort village along the Garden Route. Even if you don’t decide to stick around for long, you can drive through the area by taking a detour off of the N2 (The Garden Route) onto the R102. As you drive through be careful as babboons cross the road!

Tsitsikamma National Park

Tsitsikamma National Park is a marine reserve most famous for its suspension bridges you can walk to in about 15 minutes across wooden walkways. For the more adventurous and prone to outdoors activites, kayaking through the gorge or ziplining through the canopy of trees are two of the most popular things to do in Tsitsikamma.

Port Elizabeth

I honestly didn’t spend a lot of time in Port Elizabeth itself, and found the city relatively vanilla compared to most of the other places in the Garden Route. But it’s a great place to base yourself if you’ll he heading to Addo Elephant Park the following morning! We stayed at Brighton Lodge which was super easy to find, secure, and had a good location for driving to Addo the next day.

Addo Elephant Park

Addo Elephant Park is the third largest national park in South Africa after Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. It has more than 600 elephants, and is really special because it’s a place where you can see immense herds of elephants altogether. There are numerous watering holes (many man-made) which often attract elephants in large numbers.

When we were there we also saw zebra, buffalo, hartebeest, and a number of other animals. There are even plans to expand the park to include a marine area, making it the only park in South Africa to be home to the “Big 7” (elephant, rhinoceros, lion, buffalo, leopard, whale and great white shark).

Addo Elephant Park was one of the highlights of our South Africa trip! Keep reading for my top tips for visiting.

Tips for visiting Addo Elephant Park

Here are a couple of practical tips for your trip to Addo.

• Enter through the north entrance. Addo is an enormous park, you won’t have time to loop around. If you enter through the North, you can exit through the South and head back to wherever you’re staying.
• Roll down your window and talk to other self-drivers. Drive slowly and if you see other drivers and have a tip for them, or want to ask them something, don’t hold back!
• Go on a guided tour. Addo is an awesome place to experience budget safari in South Africa , because you can do both a self-drive safari (where you drive your own car around the park) and you can join a group guided safari (which will educate you and show you more of the smaller animals too!).
• Get plenty of gas in advance. There is gas available close to the entrance, but you’ll want to make sure you don’t run the risk of running out because obviously there is just anywhere to get gas inside.
• Bring water and snacks. You’re going to be in an air-conditioned car, but you’ll turn it off and wait at certain viewings and it can get toasty! Plus you’ll want to spend at least a few hours driving yourself around. Be prepared!
• Bring your binoculars! If you haven’t used them for real, binoculars are AWESOME when you’re on safari. It’s even better than looking through a zoom lens. We bought these binoculars by Olympus and they were so great everyone else on our later safari asked to brorow them!

If you’re flying back out of Cape Town, go ahead and loop back through the Klein Karoo. If you’re flying out of Port Elizabeth to go elsewhere in the country, like Johannesburg or Kruger National Park, you can do the Klein Karoo in between Hermanus and the other parts of the trip. In any case, this is a special area with open landscapes and rolling hills of farmlands.

Klein Karoo

Klein Karoo means “Small Karoo”, and it’s a desert region that stretches above the coastal region of the Garden Route. The most famous road through this area is called Route 62, considered one of the best roadtrips in South Africa as a whole.

Things to do in Klein Karoo

• Drive the famous Route 62 – Along this route you’ll find a number of towns serving up great wine or hosting ostriches!
• Go to an ostrich farm – One of my regrets in my South Africa trip that I didn’t get to visit an ostrich farm! Just please do not ride the ostriches , it puts the birds under stress.
• Follow the Klein Karoo wine route – Officially, the Klein Karoo wine route goes through Montagu, Barrydale, Ladismith, Calitzdorp, Oudtshoorn, De Rust, and Herold. Check out this website on the Klein Karoo wine route for suggested itinereries.
• Stop in Calitzdorp for a glass of Port – Our host in Hermanus explicitly recommended stopping at De Krans , though there are a number of different options in the area for port wine.
• Hike through the Swartberg Pass – There’s literally a valley in this area called Hell ! If you want to see a side of South Africa most people miss, you can do a guided hike through Swartberg Nature Reserve .
• Go on safari – If you only have a day away from Cape Town, you can still go on a big 5 safari in the Klein Karoo, the Big 5 being lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinos. Naturally, on safari, it’s not possible to ensure what you see, but the Klein Karoo is the only area near Cape Town that has all of the big five!

Safari in Klein Karoo

There are two main reserves in the Klein Karoo, both of which are home to the Big 5. If you drive yourself on this day trip from Cape Town you can save a lot of money on the transfer (which takes about two hours).

• Aquila Private Game Reserve (does not include transfer) – As you might know, sunset is one of the best times to see animals on safari. If you can, booking either a sunrise or a sunset safari a great idea, because that’s when the animals are most active.
• Inverdoorn Game Reserve (includes transfer) – You can go on a day trip to this game reserve, including a 3-hour game drive. Unlike many public drives, you only share the open-top jeep with up to 8 other people. Inverdoorn is unique because of its cheetah rehabilitation program!

Reach the Garden Route from Cape Town

While it’s possible to reach the start of the Garden Route from Cape Town on a day trip, your best option is to spend several days on the Garden Route. Personally, we loved driving ourselves down the Garden Route because it gave us a ton of flexibility. That said, driving in South Africa can be a little scary sometimes, and not just because of driving on the left. Roads aren’t always in the best condition and there is a lot of speeding. That said, we obviously survived 😉

As for guided tours, after a lot of research, I think the 5-day Garden Route + Addo Tour is the best value . You’ll have a better chance to see rare animals the more often you go on safari, and this tour gives you three safari opportunities. While it doesn’t visit Hermanus, you can easily do that as one of your day trips from Cape Town if you’re visiting in the whale-watching season from June to December.

Here are the pros and cons of the top two highest-rated Garden Route tours for different durations. Both of them have 4.9 out of 5 ratings or higher based on customer reviews.

Highlights not to miss: Addo Elephant Park (famous for having huge herds of elephants), Hermanus (best land-based whale-watching the world, June-Dec), Tsitsikamma National Park (kayaking and suspension bridge), Knysna (just plain beautiful).

How long does it take to drive the Garden Route?

The Garden Route itself (from Mossel Bay to Port Elizabeth) from a pure driving standpoint could be done in one day, but when you include stops, the main route requires at least 3 or 4 days to see it properly. That said, many people spend an entire week on the Garden Route and still do not see it all!

This Garden Route itinerary spends 3 days on the official route, plus one day in Hermanus and one day driving back to Cape Town through the Klein Karoo for a total of five days . If I were to do it again, I would spend more time in the Tsitsikamma National Park and more time in the Klein Karoo!

Best time to drive the Garden Route

We drove the Garden Route in early December, and it was warm enough to wear shorts and a t-shirt basically everywhere. It’s also really important, even in early Summer before peak season starts, to wear bug spray and sunscreen anytime you go outdoors. The peak season in South Africa is mostly the end of December through February, so be aware of that when booking accommodation!

Have you ever been to South Africa? Where’s the best place you’d like to visit in the Garden Route? Let me know in the comments if you have any extra tips for me!

About the author

Hi there! I'm Monica, an American expat living in Germany for over six years and using every opportunity to explore the world from my homebase in Berlin. My goal is to capture my memories in photos and posts that show how easy it is to start from scratch and travel the world by working abroad.

Follow along on Instagram , Twitter , Bloglovin , & Facebook .

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Garden Safari: Vegetable Soup

Close your eyes and take in the amazing aromas of the incredible ingredients that have been added to some simples stock to make vegetable soup created by some very special kids.

Join the adventure, grab your own basket of vegetables and follow along as the Kitchen Club Kids invite you on this special mission. Calling all kids that love a good mission and adventure to come outside to this garden tilled with fresh vegetable to cook. Check out the amazing illustrations helping the project and the garden come alive. Take your basket, theirs being red, and let’s go on this Garden Safari along with the Kitchen Club Kids and check out what they decided to start with: First and foremost they needed a pot. A big one!

Next, let’s get some more color as we add orange carrots any rabbit’s favorite food. Crunchy and fun to eat and chew! I love carrots. What would vegetable soup be without some red, plump and ripe tomatoes? How about 6? So, we are up to step number 7, which is the most important and will help the soup come together what would be the broth and the golden chicken. Can you smell the amazing aromas as the ingredients are mixed by one of our Kitchen Club kids and the plot begins to thicken? Just like a mystery or thriller where you have to figure out the ending for yourself, finding out what steps 8, 9 and 10 are you will have to learn for yourself. Did they accomplish their goal? Is the soup delicious and tasty? What will they create next time?

Keep counting and keep cooking in rhyme until next time! This book is great for anyone that want to learn how to make vegetable soup, work as a team and understand how to prepare and cut vegetables the right way. For this non-cook who never goes near a stove this was quite enlightening and just might get to try it out. The authors allow readers to recap the story in sequence form when list the steps from one to ten in picture form as the end of the poem. This allows even non-readers to understand the sequence of how to make soup. So, many lessons are learned: counting up to ten, sequencing, preparing vegetables in a safe way and working as a team to complete a task. The authors even printed out the Recipe for adults to have when making this soup with their child or even a Girl Scout or brownie troop. They even added other ingredients that might make the soup better.

So, start cooking with a parent or older kids you can create your own Kitchen Club Group and recipes. This is a great series and I hope the authors will consider sending me more books to read and review. Colorful pictures and a story told in rhyme making it fun to read. This is one book my six year old niece wants to read and take to school to share with her teacher and her class. Garden Safari: Right outside your very door!

Born in the South Bronx, I grew up with people from many ethnic backgrounds. I learned to play and work with children in my school that came from other countries and different places. I was always over weight as a child and got picked on a lot by the other children in my class and even my teachers. I found it hard to do many of the sporting activities that my sister and cousins could do. I learned at an early age that kids can be mean and I promised myself that I would never retaliate or do mean things to other kids in return.

When I decided to write my short stories I realized that I had a lot to say about my youth and in both of my books I tell about a ten year old girl named Bertha who learns to deal with real life issues kids face today at home and in school.

As an educator I the New York City Public Schools for over 36 years, I realized just how unique and precious our children are. I was the reading and writing staff developer in my school and the dean. I loved the children and had the respect of my fellow teachers and parents. Teaching children to read was really very rewarding and introducing them to writing and creating their own stories was exciting for the students. I love reading different kinds of books in many different genres. I have started reviewing books of new authors and those that are more established. I love giving them great reviews and saying wonderful things about their writing. I have three Masters Degrees and PD in Supervision and Administration. Currently I am a member of Who’s Who is America’s Teachers and Who’s Who of America’s Executives from Cambridge. In addition, she is the author of three children’s books and a fourth that has just been published on Alzheimer's Disease in order to honor her mom and help create more awareness for a Cure. The title of my new Alzheimer’s book is Memories are Precious: Alzheimer’s Journey; Ruth’s story. My second Alzheimer’s Book is called Sharp As A Tack or Scrambled Eggs Which Describes Your Brain. This book should be out in June 2010. I was the musical director for shows in her school and ran the School’s newspaper. I write reviews for authors upon request and for several other sites. You can read some of my reviews on Ezine.com and on ijustfinished.com under the name Gabina.

Other accomplishments: Book reviewer Radio show talk host: book discussion with Fran Lewis and authors all over the US and the world- how cool is that I get authors that even request a review. Would love to become an interviewer. Caregiver and expert on Medicaid and medicare Author of five books and writing number six The sixth book is based on a true story but will be written as a fictional memoir. Worked in the same school for 36 years as the reading and writing staff developer I was the dean of discipline and assisted the Principal and AP when needed I was the test coordinator for the school and instructed teachers in testing procedures –administrated the tests and oversaw the reading, math and other tests to make sure that everything ran smoothly.

I am an expert in the ELA or any test prep for reading and writing I can take an author’s book and even if it is not five stars write a five star review for them by looking for the soul of the book and for something positive. I am a member of Who’s Who of America’s executives, teachers and professionals and belong the Cambridge’s Connect and Pen with Sword I would like to take my three children’s book plus the fourth one and put them together in one book. I played the piano as a kid and the violin. I was in the Bronx Borough Orchestra. I played the piano in Carnegie Hall –that was scary. I do consulting for some of the teachers in my school when they need help with lesson plans. I love writing for Robins Falls Magazine.

I love writing reviews in my own style. I even find time to help my nieces and nephews with their homework over the phone. Email: [email protected]

A Life Unscripted

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South Africa’s ultimate road trip

Team Africa Geographic

Wednesday, 17 November 2021

If the whole world is indeed a garden, as Frances Hodgson Burnett once wrote, then the Garden Route of South Africa was cultivated by a maverick horticulturist. In truth, the name is somewhat misleading because the Garden Route is about as far from the average garden as could conceivably be imagined . Here, myriad landscapes culminate in a dramatic meeting of mountains, gorges, forest and the Indian Ocean, interspersed by quaint towns and bustling beach cities. Not for nothing is this glorious stretch of coastline one of South Africa’s most popular tourism hotspots – it is a region best explored at leisure, taking every moment to appreciate nature in her wildest glory.

What is the Garden Route?

In truth, neither “garden” nor “route” are particularly accurate descriptors, though the moniker has proved such an effective marketing tool that nearby towns clamour for (or simply claim) inclusion. Although the exact boundaries differ depending on the source, the Garden Route generally refers to an area that extends from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape, east to the town of Stormsrivier in the Eastern Cape – a straight-line distance of around 200km. Inland it encompasses the town of Oudtshoorn right up to the Swartberg Mountain Range. This magnificent region includes rugged patches of coastline, pristine sandy beaches, forests, mountains, gorges, lakes and rivers, all easily and quickly accessible. At the right time of year (August/September), many sections are covered in a glorious carpet of flowers, only adding to the beauty of the surroundings.

Visitors can select a base from Olde Worlde towns and explore the extraordinary scenery day by day before rewarding themselves with an evening of fine dining or perhaps an afternoon at a picturesque wine farm. With the added advantage of several malaria-free nature reserves and national parks in the vicinity to tack on a safari adventure, a trip to the Garden Route can be individually tailored to every need – from families with small children and sedate couples to intrepid solo travellers and adventure seekers.

Mossel Bay is a town steeped in history and marks the spot where the very first European set foot in South Africa. Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias stopped here in 1488, searching for fresh water to replenish his ship’s supplies. As he was to discover, the land was already occupied. In a sad portent of this region’s future race relations, one of Dias’ men shot a Khoikhoi herder with a crossbow. Unsurprisingly, the locals reacted with anger and sent the mariner and his scurvy-riddled sailors scuttling back to their ship in a hail of stones. Human history in the area goes back considerably further than Dias’ misadventure. The caves below Pinnacle Point contain some of the earliest artefacts of modern man – believed to be about 164,000 years old. These Middle Stone Age people could not have chosen a more picturesque home; the caves look out on the turquoise of the Indian Ocean below.

These days, visitors to Mossel Bay visit the cave networks and admire the view before visiting the museum complex to explore the full-sized replica of Dias’ ship. Though the coastline is relatively rocky here, a couple of stunning beaches and sheltered coves are perfect for swimming in the warm sea. The quaint St Blaize Lighthouse is a popular attraction and serves as a landmark for some of the region’s popular hiking routes. There is also a Seal Island (smaller than the one close to Cape Town) where Cape fur seals gather in enormous numbers.

One of South Africa’s oldest towns and once a historic timber hub, George is nestled in the sublime Outeniqua Mountains, just eight kilometres from the ocean. As one of the Garden Route’s largest towns, it is sometimes nicknamed the “Gateway to the Garden Route” and sports a curious mixture of big city vibrance and small-town atmosphere. There are several historical landmarks to appreciate, including an ancient English Oak tree called The Slave Tree, the King Edward VII Library, the Outeniqua Transport Museum and several old churches. The Garden Route Botanical Gardens, which exclusively showcases the unique vegetation of the southern Cape fynbos, are also situated in George.

The various scenic drives around the town, including Montagu Pass, will reveal unexpected antique shops, art galleries and craft stalls, while golf enthusiasts can enjoy a round at some of South Africa’s premier courses.

To the north and inland from George, the town of Oudtshoorn marks the northern boundary of the Garden Route region. Here the vegetation has changed from the iconic fynbos of the Cape coastlines to the sparse Klein Karoo, at the meeting point of the Swartberg and Outeniqua Mountain ranges.

Offering the usual rural town charm so characteristic of the Garden Route’s urban areas, Oudtshoorn is also home to the largest farmed ostrich population in the world. This tradition goes back to the days of the Ostrich Feather Booms of the late 19th century/early 20th century, which saw the rise of “feather barons” and dynasties that built the mansions lining the Grobbelaars River. Before World War 1, ostrich feathers were South Africa’s fourth-largest export and worth almost their weight in diamonds. Today, ostriches are farmed for their meat and feathers and continue to be a major tourist attraction.

Just outside Oudtshoorn are the Cango Caves, enormous limestone caves with massive stalagmite formations, some of which date back 4,5 billion years!

Wilderness and Wilderness National Park

In keeping with Garden Route naming tradition, Wilderness is less “wilderness” and a more tranquil seaside town, situated on the banks of the Touw River Lagoon. It is, however, surrounded by true wilderness in the form of the nearby Wilderness National Park, which protects over 2,500 hectares and encompasses forests, five rivers, five lakes, two estuaries and a stretch of coastline. Though usually still referred to as Wilderness National Park, since 2008, it is technically the Wilderness section of the Garden Route National Park which also includes the Knysna Pools and Tsitsikamma sections (see below).

Wilderness National Park is a paradise for campers, hikers, kayakers, mountain bikers, paragliders, abseilers and kloofing enthusiasts. The magical forest paths wind their way to various waterfalls. They are filled with the calls (and occasional glimpses) of kingfishers and the colourful Knysna turacos (or ‘loerie’ if chatting to a local). The coastline section comes to a head at Dolphin Point, which, like much of the Garden Route, is a great place to look for southern right whales during their annual migration (from July until early November).

Not far from Wilderness, en route to Knysna, is the seaside village of Sedgefield – an excellent spot for families looking for a quieter seaside holiday – and the Goukamma Nature Reserve, which protects an extensive vegetated dune field.

The original route between George and Knysna is the historic Seven Passes Road which crosses over ten rivers and seven gorges and provides a taster of the exquisite scenery awaiting keen explorers. As beautiful Southern African towns go, Knysna is near the top of a very long and competitive list. Situated on the banks of a picturesque lagoon that is part of a protected marine reserve and surrounded by lush indigenous forests, Knysna is renowned for its dynamic charm and genial hospitality. The Knysna River feeds the warm water estuary. It passes between two prominent headlands –The Heads – creating an occasionally treacherous narrow strip for boats to pass through as they head for the open sea.

The town is surrounded by temperate forests that hide what ecologists believe to be the last remaining elephant of the Knysna/Tsitsikamma region. The cow is thought to be around 45 years old and is the sole survivor of the effectively extinct southernmost population of elephants in Africa. Centuries of persecution have genetically programmed her to be understandably wary of humans, and actual sightings of her are few and far between . Most of what we know about her movements come from tracks, dung and camera traps as she haunts the ancient trails of the fairy-tale forests and surrounding farms – a lonely and poignant figure.

Garden Route National Park and the Tsitsikamma Forests

Her ancestors, which experts estimate probably numbered around 3,000 individuals in the 18th century, would have wandered far and wide through the dark and mysterious forests and surrounding habitats. Though the elephants are long gone, parts of their historic range are protected by the Garden Route National Park: a disconnected amalgamation of the existing Tsitsikamma and Wilderness National Parks, the Knysna National Lake Area, and various other protected tracts of state land.

The Garden Route National Park covers patches of the south coast between George and Port Elizabeth. Its magnificent forests are characterised by giant Outeniqua yellowwoods, stinkwoods, and Cape chestnuts, blooming upwards from thick ferns on the forest floor. From west to east, the topography becomes increasingly dramatic, culminating in the plunging cliffs and steep gorges of Tsitsikamma and Storms River, which marks the “end” of the Garden Route.

Here visitors can test their head for heights by crossing the bridge over the Bloukrans River. Adrenaline junkies can get their thrill fix by leaping from the bridge at one of the highest bungee jumps in the world – an astonishing 216 metres (roughly 70 stories) above the base of the gorge. The suspension bridge over the Storms River mouth further east offers a more sedate and less vertiginous approach to taking in the spectacular scenery.

Plettenberg Bay

The town of “Plett” is known for its expanses of white sandy beaches and glorious cerulean sea, making it one of the best choices as a base to explore the rest of the Garden Route. Nature lovers will find themselves enthralled by a circuit of the Robberg peninsula at the Robberg Nature Reserve or watching the Cape fur seals navigating the surf. Southern right (July to November), Bryde’s, humpback (May/June and from November to January), killer and sei whales are regular visitors, and dolphins are permanent residents.

Explore and stay

Want to head to the Garden Route? To find lodges, search for our ready-made packages or get in touch with our travel team to arrange your safari, scroll down to after this story.

The weather along the Garden Route is temperate and idyllic, with temperatures seldom dropping below 10˚C or rising too far above 29 ˚C on the coast. Unusually for South Africa, there is no set rainy season, and rain can fall all year round (and it does – the Garden Route receives some of the highest rainfall levels in South Africa, hence the verdant foliage). There is a slight peak in rainfall during the winter months from June until August, which coincides with the arrival of migrating whales. The flowers celebrate the arrival of spring in September.

As already discussed, this is not a “route” but rather an exploration and visitors can make the best of their stay by choosing one or two places to stay and travelling to the various attractions from there. Careful planning and research will ensure the best out of a trip, and even when time is limited, it is better to make the most of specific areas rather than cramming in every attraction.

It’s hard to encapsulate the magic of the Garden Route – there are many beautiful coastlines in the world. Yet, this special patch of Africa stands out as a truly extraordinary destination. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that the Garden Route offers everything from dramatic scenery, hiking and wilderness adventures to beach holidays, scuba diving and wine farms, all in the same vicinity. The eclectic collection of local artists, writers, musicians, retirees, and big-city escapees who have chosen to live there adds to the vibrant atmosphere. Whatever it may be, it is undeniable that the Garden Route casts a kind of spell over those fortunate enough to explore its many wonders.

For more on the this magnificent piece of South Africa, read The Secret Garden Route

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A complete guide to south africa's garden route.

Our guide to one of the most breathtaking parts of South Africa

22 Aug 2022

The Garden Route, a breathtaking part the Western Cape is one of the most popular destinations for a South Africa holiday and rightly so. Given its notoriety, one would expect this to be a vast area, but it is in fact relatively small, stretching just 204kms from the town of Mossel Bay in the west to the Storms River Mouth in the east. The area is incredibly diverse, with jagged mountains, lush forests, beautiful beaches, charming towns and villages, world-class golf courses and amazing activities to enjoy.

With so much to see and do, it is easy to get overwhelmed when planning a trip to The Garden Route and end up missing out on some of the experiences that you want to enjoy. Our complete guide to the Garden Route will tell you where to visit, the best places to stay and what to do to ensure that your time there is enjoyable as possible.

The Garden Route is generally enjoyed as part of a self-drive trip through South Africa’s Western Cape. It can be accessed from the Cape Winelands region (usually the previous stop) with a drive of around 6 hours, although this journey can be broken at the charming town of Swellendam, which usually halves the driving time from the Cape. It is also possible to fly to The Garden Route, with scheduled flights operating to George (from Cape Town and Johannesburg) as well as Plettenberg Bay (from Cape Town).

Practicalities

Most visitors will spend between 4 and 6 nights on The Garden Route and, whilst the temptation is to try and stay in two (or sometimes more) different spots, the reality is you don’t really need to do this. The majority of places to stay are within easy reach of all the things to do and places to stay, so it tends to serve most visitors best to stay in one place and really have the opportunity to settle in and enjoy that one spot. Given the logistics of getting around, the distances needed to travel and the almost complete absence of taxi services, it is necessary to have ones’ own car for exploring The Garden Route. Guided tours are possible, although they are expensive and can lack the opportunity for impulsivity which makes visits to the area so enjoyable.

The Garden Route has a typically “European” climate (albeit in reverse), with warm, largely dry summers, pleasant spring and autumns and cold winters that can be very wet, but also interspersed with beautiful clear days.

November to March is regarded as summertime here, with lovely warm days and only the occasional rain. It is also the busiest time so it is worth booking hotels well in advance if travelling at this time, especially over Christmas and New Year when it is very busy.

April and May are also pleasant months to visit, although it is noticeably quieter with some restaurants closing and certain activities not running every day. June and July are very quiet so prices are low, but some hotels are closed and certain activities shut down altogether. August is a little busier than a preceding couple of months and things really start to ramp up again in September and October as the temperatures climb and locals start to gear themselves up for the busier summer months ahead.

Where to stay

The best place to base yourself on The Garden Route really depends on what you are looking to do during your stay.

There are 5 principal places to stay, albeit with some charming little fishing villages dotted in between. The small villages tend to be spots for holiday homes rather than commercial hotels or B&Bs, so we will focus on the main places to stay that are requested by visitors for this piece.

For each area, we have selected some of our favourite places to stay.

1. Plettenberg Bay

Perhaps the best-known of the towns on the Garden Route, Plettenberg Bay, or just Plett as it is affectionately known is an affluent seaside town found toward the eastern end of the area. The difference from the other towns along the Garden Route is marked, with a strong “holiday village” feel prevailing in Plett, especially during the summer months when roads are busy, restaurants packed and barely a spot of sand to be found on the beach – think Cornwall in the school summer holidays and you are on the right track. Outside of these very busy months you will experience a charming seaside town, packed with wonderful places to stay, plenty of excellent restaurants and a wealth of activities to enjoy. If you want to be in the heart if the action and love to spend time in the most stylish destinations, then Plettenberg Bay is definitely for you.

The Plettenberg

Perhaps the best-known of all Garden Route properties, The Plettenberg sits on a headland overlooking the beaches of Plettenberg Bay and is an outstanding choice for where to stay in the region. The hotel is split into two parts, with the main area of the hotel, including the bars, restaurants, swimming pool and some of the rooms on one side of the road, with the remainder in another building on the other side. The benefit of this is that it never feels overly busy at the hotel as guests are often relaxing in their own rooms and enjoying the views, rather than congregating in one area.

With superb food, charming staff and one of the best swimming pools anywhere in South Africa, there are few better places for some downtime in the country than this true gem of a hotel. Add to this the easy access to the restaurants, shops and beaches of Plettenberg Bay itself and it is easy to see why it is so popular with honeymooners and those on a South African family holiday alike.

View The Plettenberg

Tsala Treetops

As you approach Plettenberg Bay on the drive from Knysna, an unassuming sign brown sign points you towards Tsala Treetops, so it is easy to miss. This is a huge shame as it is one of the region’s (and indeed South Africa’s) most iconic and sought-after places to stay.

The gorgeous suites are set overlooking the forest canopy and are a haven of tranquillity, with spacious bedrooms, indoor sitting areas even fireplaces for the cooler evenings the area can experience. Decking areas with their own private plunge pools are screened from passing guests and staff so there is a very private feel and these decks have been the site of more marriage proposals than most other hotels in the country and also make it a very popular spot for a South Africa honeymoon.

The outstanding Zinzi Restaurant is popular with visitors from all over the area, with priority given to guests at Tsala helping to make staying here an even more attractive option. Beautiful, iconic and superb value for the quality it delivers, Tsala should be high on your list of places to stay.

See Tsala Treetops

2. Mossell Bay

The western end of the Garden Route is marked by the large seaside town of Mossell Bay. Renowned for its wide-open beaches and large working harbour, it is certainly not without its charms, although it does feel very busy, especially in peak season and has a tendency to appeal more to locals rather than holidaymakers from overseas. There are some good restaurants here and, in Pinnacle Point, one of the country’s best golf courses, so it is worth considering as an option, but there are better places for tourists to stay.

Not dissimilar to Mossell Bay, George is the commercial hub of the region and is home to the main airport as well. There isn’t masses in the way of things to do and places to stay for tourists here, but it is home to the Fancourt Estate, home to 2 outstanding hotels and 3 world-class golf courses, the Montagu, Outeniqua and Links, the latter of which played host to the 2003 President’s Cup. For golfers, there isn’t a better spot than George as there are many other excellent golf courses within easy driving distance, but for travellers with other interests then the further east they head on The Garden Route the better.

Fancourt Resort

Found on the outskirts of George, the main town on The Garden Route, Fancourt is comprised of the larger Fancourt Hotel and the smaller, more intimate Manor House. The rooms of the main hotel are set overlooking the Fairways, one of the 3 golf courses on the resort, with the views back to them framed by the beautiful Outeniqua Mountains. The Manor House is a lovely spot for those seeking privacy and intimate service, but whichever option you choose you will be wonderfully well looked-after.

Golf enthusiasts will be in their element thanks to 3 championship Gary Player designed courses, including The Links, voted South Africa’s no 1 golf course. Leisure facilities include indoor and outdoor pools, a gym, an extensive spa and a beauty salon (as well as of course the golf courses), there are few better-equipped properties in South Africa for those looking to indulge themselves. The food is excellent and the facilities for children are superb, so it is a great choice for visitors of all inclinations.

View Fancourt Resort

4. Wilderness

A short drive to the east of George is the charming village of Wilderness is one of the preferred places to stay for visitors to this amazing part of the coast. The main part of the village is built around the mouth of the Touws River where it meets the Indian Ocean, meaning a choice of lovely riverside places to stay and restaurants to enjoy. Indeed, the town is renowned for having some of the best restaurants on The Garden Route and even if you don’t stay here it is a great spot to stop for lunch. The other choice of where to stay is along the beachfront, where a number of excellent hotels and charming B&Bs can be found – the views from these properties are spectacular and the direct access to the beach is very appealing. There are plenty of activities to enjoy in the region, many based around the river, but there are also some superb walking, hiking and horseriding trails to enjoy and the watersports on the beach are outstanding.

Views Boutique Hotel & Spa

A delightful beachside hotel just outside of the small town of Wilderness, Views is one of the newest additions to the Garden Route accommodation scene and offers unparalleled views out over the Indian Ocean.

With direct access to the seemingly endless expanse of beach in front of it, beautifully designed rooms and outstanding food (especially seafood) this is a superb choice if you are looking for top-quality accommodation on the lesser-visited side of The Garden Route.

The attractions of Wilderness are all found within easy striking distance of the hotel, as is the main road taking you through the area, the N2, meaning further afield attractions are easy to access, which again helps to make Wilderness and Views a hugely popular spot.

The town of Knysna is the next stop visitors choose to stay on The Garden Route and is arguably the best spot for travellers looking for the best “all around” experience of what the region has to offer. Geographically it is pretty much in the middle of the Garden Route, so access to all of the areas and attractions is easy, never much more than around an hour’s drive.

The selection of places to stay is also a huge attraction, with some lovely B&Bs on the hillside overlooking the town appealing to visitors looking for properties with a local charm. The Knysna Quays area is a smaller version of Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, with a superb selection of hotels, shops, restaurants and cafes, as well as a number of activities departing from there. The Knysna Lagoon is famed for cultivating some of the very best oysters in the world, with the annual Knysna Oyster Festival, usually taking place in July, a celebration of this.

Belvidere Manor

A charming historic property on the hillside overlooking Knysna lagoon, Belvidere Manor has a quintessentially English feel to it, with the neat cottages set on either side of the sprawling lawns heading down the hillside. Well-spaced from one another, so offer a wonderful feeling of privacy and are ideal for those on longer stays who like to spread out a little.

The lawns are a superb place to relax and enjoy the sunshine (as well as the views) with the sparkling swimming pool at the centre always popular with guests. The food is proudly South African, focusing on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients with seafood featuring prominently. The delightful Bell pub on site is a throwback to Belvidere’s interesting history and a great spot to congregate with fellow guests in the evenings. The staff are wonderful and really help to make a stay at Belvidere Manor a highlight of any trip to The Garden Route.

See Belvidere Manor

Things to do

The Garden Route is renowned for being the adventure capital of South Africa, with all manner of adventures to enjoy and things to do wherever you go. Naturally, the various activities on offer attract very different people, but a few of out favourite things to do are:

Golf – The aforementioned Fancourt is home to three of South Africa’s greatest golf courses, including the fabled Links which is regarded as one of the finest courses in the world. Beyond this there are some incredible layouts at Pinnacle Point (Mossel Bay), Pezula and Simola (Knysna) as well as Goose Valley (Plettenberg Bay). Wherever you go on The Garden Route, you are never far from an amazing golf course and the value for money is incredible.

The Featherbed Tour – one of the great attractions of Knysna is the chance to visit the Featherbed Nature Reserve, which sits on the “western head” - the headland on the far side of Knysna Lagoon. Home to a huge variety of indigenous fynbos – a hardy local plant – as well as small antelope, reptiles and a huge array of birdlife, a trip here involves a very interesting walk as well as a lovely cruise across the calm waters of Knysna Lagoon.

Ocean Safaris – operated from Plettenberg Bay, an “Ocean Safari” is a superb way to get acquainted with the abundant and varied marine life of the South African coast. Dolphins are seen in the bay throughout the year, as are sharks and one of these boat trips is a great way to learn more about arguably the most misunderstood residents of the Indian Ocean. Between July and November there are a number of whales, most notably Southern Right Whales, found around Plett and boat trips offer a great chance to get up close and personal with them. Throughout the year these trips offer the chance to see the vast colony of Cape fur seals that live on the Robberg Peninsula.

Take a look at our guide to whale watching in South Africa.

Tsitsikamma Forest – one of the most prominent features of The Garden Route is the Tsitsikamma Forest, where a wide variety of activities can be enjoyed. The hike across the Storm’s River Suspension Bridge and up to the top of the adjacent headline offers some of the finest views the area has to offer and is well worth the effort. The ziplining course through the tree canopies is one of the most iconic activities in the region and a must-do if you enjoy adventure activities. Nearby the Bloukrans Bridge is home to the world’s highest commercial bungee jumping site…not for everyone but a definite bucket list activity for some!

A range of other activities can be enjoyed around the region, including numerous walking, hiking, horseriding and biking trails, the chance to kayak on gently flowing rivers or try your hand at a variety of watersports including stand-up paddleboarding. You can also visit attractions such as the Knysna Elephant Sanctuary, Monkeyland and the Birds of Eden Project along the way. Little towns such as Sedgefield, Brenton-on-Sea and Nature’s Valley are also delightful spots to visit and immerse yourself in the laid-back way of life that is a hallmark of the area.

Classic South Africa Trip

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18 days from £4,055pp including international flights.

All told, despite its small size, The Garden Route is one of the most diverse and beautiful parts of South Africa, offering an amazing array of things to see and do, as well as places to stay. No matter what you are looking for, there will always be something for you to do here, be it out exploring or relaxing by the pool, enjoying world-class golf or bungee jumping from Bloukrans Bridge.

Our experienced team are here to guide you through everything that The Garden Route has to offer and ensure that your time here, no matter how long or short, is as rewarding as possible.

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The Garden Route and a spot of safari in South Africa

Traverse the country from west to east taking in city sights and the glorious scenery of the Garden Route, before ending with an Eastern Cape safari.

$ 1.9K / person

What you'll do

This self-drive route is a great way to see South Africa’s highlights in one laidback trip. The glitz and glamour of Cape Town combines perfectly with the rugged scenery of the Garden Route, and there’s even a chance for some wildlife-watching in the Eastern Cape. Your first few days in Cape Town will ease you into your holiday with sightseeing and plenty of wine farms to explore. Next up the picturesque Overberg region, choose between whale watching on the coast or the quaint and historic town of Swellendam, both make the perfect pit stop before you hit the road in earnest. With your own wheels, enjoy an easy sojourn along the Garden Route to beautiful Knysna for your choice of hiking, sailing - and feasting! But leave some energy for your safari – the Eastern Cape is home to some fantastic Big Five reserves, and lodges that will make you feel like a King (or Queen).

Start: Cape Town International Airport

Start your adventure at Cape Town International Airport

Cape Town, South Africa

Self-drive transfer

Collect your hire car from Cape Town International Airport and make your own way to your next lodge.

Where to stay

What you can do

Visit Cape Point and its dramatic views

Wine tasting at Constantia's wine farms

Head up Table Mountain

Meet the penguins at Boulders Beach

Explore the Cape Peninsula with your own guide

Check out Cape Town's best food spots with a guide

Learn about Cape Town’s history with a guide

Enjoy the white sandy beaches of Cape Town

Wander the colourful streets of Bo-Kaap

Hike to the top of Lion's Head

Wine Tasting in the Winelands

Cage dive with Great White Sharks

Wander the impressive gardens at Kirstenbosch

Step back in history on a tour of Robben Island

Kayak alongside dolphins at the Waterfront

Make your own way from your lodge to your next lodge.

Take in the views from a kayak on the lagoon

Take in the scenery on a quad bike adventure

Spot the whales from land in the Overberg

Head out for a stroll along the pristine coastline

Discover the wildlife on a nature drive

Discover more about the Cape Floral Kingdom

Horseback ride across the rolling hills of fynbos

Cycle on the beach and through the fynbos

Take a boat cruise out to see the whales

Go wine tasting along the south coast

Garden Route road trip

Enjoy a boat cruise to spot Dolphins and Whales

Take a catamaran cruise on the Knysna lagoon

Hike through the lush Knysna forests

3hrs 30mins

Explore the Wild Coast

Track the wildlife on a game drive

Track the wildlife on a guided walking safari

Go on a Schotia Tooth & Claw Safari

Go giraffe tracking in Bellevue Forest Reserve

Make your own way from your lodge to Port Elizabeth International Airport.

End: Port Elizabeth International Airport

End your adventure at Port Elizabeth International Airport

Eastern Cape, South Africa

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Garden Safari Activity

Introduction and preparation:.

Objective: Explain that the garden is teeming with life, from insects to birds to tiny plants, and today’s adventure is to discover and learn about this vibrant ecosystem.

Materials Needed:

• Magnifying glasses
• Garden safari checklist (you can create this or find printable ones online)
• Coloured pencils or crayons
• Small containers or jars for gentle observation
• A notebook for sketches
• Camera (optional for photo captures)

Start with a Stretching Exercise:

Mimic animals and insects you hope to spot, like fluttering butterflies, crawling ants, or chirping birds.

Divide the Garden into Zones:

Examples of Zones : Flowerbeds,vegetable patches, underneath stones/logs, pond or water feature,trees, and shrubs.

Exploration and Observation:

Insects and Bugs: Look for ants,ladybugs, caterpillars, spiders, beetles, and butterflies. Birds and Other Creatures: Listen for birds, observe their activities, and try to spot other creatures like squirrels or frogs. See if you can find tracks or signs of other animals too like foxes or chewed leaves that might be from rabbits or hares. Another good thing to look for are burrows in the garden beds or in the grass. See if you can identify what made them. Plants: Note the variety of plants, flowers, and trees. Look for different leaf shapes, colours, and any evidence of plant-eating insects.

Gentle Capture and Release:

If you spot an interesting bug, gently place it in a jar for a closer look. Remember to release it after observing and discuss the importance of treating all living creatures with respect.

Sketching and Noting:

At each zone, take a moment to sketch or write about the most interesting finds. Younger kids can simply make a mark or colour in their checklist.

Discuss the Role of Each Discovery

Pollinators: Talk about the role of bees and butterflies in pollination. Decomposers: Introduce kids to the idea that creatures like worms help break down organic material. Predators and Prey: Discuss the food chain in the garden, like how spiders eat other insects.

Physical Challenge – Mini Obstacle Course:

Set up little challenges around the garden, like “ant crawling” under a low rope, “frog jumping” over cushions, or “bird flying” between two points.

Conclusion and Reflection:

Gather and Share: Sit in a circle and allow each child to share their favourite discovery of the day. Sticker or Badge Reward: If you have stickers or badges, give them one as a “Garden Safari Explorer” token.

Extend the Learning (optional):

Craft Activity: Use leaves or flowers to make imprints in clay or make nature-themed paintings. Read Books: Read stories or facts about the creatures found in the garden. Plant a New Plant: Discuss the importance of plants in providing habitats and food for animals and insects. Let the kids plant a flower or shrub

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Garden Route

The Garden Route winds an enchanting spell along the southern coast of South Africa, a delightful stretch of indigenous forest, sublime beaches, quaint towns, and dramatic nature. We love its accessibility and ease, although we're cautious of the Garden Route's nickname as Africa for beginners. We think it's a piece of Africa that will charm everyone.

Where is it?

Officially the Garden Route stretches from Mossel Bay to the Garden Route National Park, although great experiences fill the entire coastline from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. Both these cities have airports and a one-way self-drive trip is a great way to explore the 500 miles of coast. Most destinations straddle the perfectly-sealed N2 highway, making it really easy to hop along from place to place, without spending too long on the road. Keep your camera to hand though as the scenic contrasts make this one of Africa's great travel routes.

Things to do along the Garden Route.

Ever-popular Knysna is continually voted South Africa's prettiest town. Plettenberg Bay is as relaxed as it comes, while the town of Wilderness aptly reflects its name. Dramatic indigenous forest drops straight into the ocean in the Garden Route National Park, a place of excellent hiking trails and tranquil afternoons watching the passing dolphins. Take the coastal road and there are over a dozen villages and towns with great beaches. Drive the inland route over the mountain passes and you explore the scenic splendour of the Karoo, where ostrich roam besides vineyards.

What will you see during your journey?

Tucked away across the Garden Route are small private game reserves, giving you an easy safari experience. Most feature the full big five and like everything on the Garden Route, there's a focus on luxury accommodation and connecting with nature. This area has always been a getaway and the tourist infrastructure is amongst the best on the continent. While it's one of Africa's most popular regions, the diversity and profusion of destinations ensures that nowhere feels crowded; take a drive here and you'll soon learn that Africa and Europe have very different definitions of space.

This is a fantastic place to explore if you're keen on the freedom of having your own wheels. It's safe, there's almost too much to see and do, and we love the little hideaways we can tell you about along the Garden Route.

Explore our suggested tours and safaris that include the Garden Route

For those of us who prefer a more leisurely holiday to fully enjoy all that South Africa has to offer from buzzing cities and astounding beauty along the garden route to the sense-tingling...

There is nothing more pleasing to the palate than locally sourced fresh produce and award winning wine and this self-drive tour has that in abundance.

From captivating Cape Town to fantastic game viewing in Kruger National Park, this 12-night self-drive itinerary boasts an array of activities and scenery that will heighten your senses...

Places to stay in Garden Route

Beautiful beachside villa with just five rooms and an elegant homely feel. Watch whales from the verandah and settle into an unsurpassed hospitality.

With sprawling golf courses, verdant mountain backdrops and a tranquil ambience, this luxury lodge just oozes South African charm.

An evocative escape on the edge of Africa, offering marine safari and exceptional coastal experiences. Private, secluded and unashamedly opulent.

Elegant late 19th-century Victorian house that emanates grace and grandeur. Conveniently located and a memorable insight into Port Elizabeth’s heritage.

An iconic escape and ideal base for exploring the Garden Route. Spacious suites offer privacy and luxury amongst sprawling gardens.

Stylish and modern boutique hotel a stone’s throw away from the beach in Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth’s most upmarket coastal suburb.

Luxurious accommodation where you will relax, unwind and renew your batteries in a stunning location with breathtaking views.

A decadent country house that immerses you in the heritage of Oudtshoorn. Choice of suites and inspiring vistas over the Swartberg Mountain.

Overlooking Walker Bay in Hermanus, in one of the best land-based whale watching spots in the world. This gorgeous hotel is clearly inspired by its naturally beautiful surroundings....

Perched on cliff along the Plettenberg Bay, this stylish hotel perfectly blends glamour with a laidback ambience. With unsurpassed views of the ocean and the wonderful whales and dolphins

Nestled in the semi-desert region of Little Karoo, this luxurious hotel offers a truly remote stay, and adds a touch of uniqueness to a South African safari.

Indulgent tree house accommodation in an indigenous forest. Romantic and secluded, yet well positioned as a base for exploring the Garden Route.

Discover more locations in South Africa

Gourmet food scenes, the beautiful Table Mountain, spectacular beaches, and fascinating culture - Cape Town is one of Africa's most exciting cities.

KwaZulu Natal easily blends Africa's wild beauty with indulgent luxuries, creating a harmonious experience full of cocktails, game drives, spas, and star gazing.

Home to the big five, private reserves, and some of the best game drives we've ever encountered, Greater Kruger has everything you need for a traditional African safari.

Madikwe's dusty savannah is an unspoilt hideaway full of wonderful wildlife, and one of our favourite places to get away from it all.

A luxurious and premier destination in South Africa, with indulgent vineyards, boutiques, art galleries, and luxuriant lodges.

Home to just one luxury lodge, this incredibly beautiful 15000-hectacre game reserve is the ultimate outdoor playground, offering true serenity, seclusion, and wonderful experiences....

Adjacent to Kruger National Park, this beautiful private reserve marries together authentic African safari experiences with pure luxury and indulgence.

A wonderful, year round destination nestled bestween Kruger and the Drakensburg Mountains, offering pure luxury with traditional safari sights.

Timbavati is a popular choice for those hoping to see the unusual, from wonderful white lions, to elusive wild dog, all the while enjoying an authentic safari experience.

A gorgeous hidden gem where you can enjoy a truly exclusive and secluded African safari, full of wonderful wildlife sightings.

This wonderful private game reserve is ideal for those hoping to catch a glimpse of Africa's most impressive predators, including elegant leopards

Unspoilt and naturally beautiful, this vast landscape is home to incredible wildlife, and offer the opportunity to immerse yourself in their world.

Phinda Game Reserve offers the unforgettable chance to get right up close to Africa's most impressive wildlife, so close that you can hear the craggy breath of a buffalo herd.

Those hoping to catch sight of elegant cheetah sprinting across beautiful landscapes will quickly fall in love with this unspoilt paradise.

There's certainly no doubt that elephant lovers will enthuse about this beautiful National Park - and it's perfect for a unique self-drive safari too.

Shamwari Private Game Reserve is all about the incredible, unique experiences - from professional photo tours, to exploring the big cat sanctuary.

This unspoilt landscape tucked into the folds of rolling mountains is home to a few gorgeous boutique lodges, adding a touch of style and charm.

Close-by to the Garden Route, this is a truly magical way to add a touch of authentic safari charm to one of the most scenic routes in the world.

Wildlife in abundance, incredibly luxurious lodges, exceptional guides...it's all here are Thanda Private Game Reserve.

This luxurious private game reserve offers the authentic African safari experience, with a touch of exclusivity and seclusion.

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Learn to Love Nature - Go on a garden safari

Learn to love n a t u r e

Garden Safari

Discover nature on your doorstep using the Seek by iNaturalist app.

Go on a garden safari

A garden safari is a fun way for families and young people to explore their gardens - or other outdoor spaces - and learn more about local flora and fauna using the brilliant Seek app by iNaturalist. We've also provided free educational resources to help you get the most out of the SEEK app; as well as a series of informative Garden Safari videos led by WWF's education team. Don't forget to share your observations on social media using #LearnToLoveNature #GardenSafari.

Get the Seek App

Get exploring!

Get sharing!

Garden Safari resources and activity sheets

Use some of the our free educational resources to help you get the most out of the SEEK app. And don't forget to share your most interesting wildlife finds online using #LearnToLoveNature.

Top tips for surveying wildlife

Wildlife spotter sheet

Colours and nature sheet

You don't have to travel far to find weird and beautiful wildlife. With the free Seek by iNaturalist app you’ll be able to identify any living thing in your patch - plants, flowers, insects, fungi, birds and animals. It’s like having a naturalist in your pocket!

Watch our past garden safaris

Check our YouTube videos to catch up on our earlier garden safaris.

Wildlife hotspots

Growing your own

Pollinators

Outdoor spaces

The Ultimate Garden Route Itinerary (with map) (2023)

This post may contain compensated links. Find more info in our disclosure policy

Stretching from Storms River Mouth in the Eastern Cape to Mossel Bay in the Western Cape the Garden Route is one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the world and, having driven the Garden Route from Cape Town and Port Elizabeth on numerous South Africa trips, we’ve put together our recommended Garden Route itinerary. This is our guide to the Garden Route and includes things to do, where to stay and where to stop along the way. It’s the route we used when we visit South Africa and is the perfect guide for planning your Garden Route Itinerary.

Table of Contents

The Ultimate Garden Route Itinerary

We’ve listed our itinerary in a loop coming from and returning to the Cape Town/Western Cape. Reverse the order if you are starting the journey coming from Port Elizabeth or the east of South Africa !

How long for the Garden Route

Having driven the Garden route a number of times we recommend 2 weeks for exploring the Garden Route. We find 2 weeks to be the perfect length of time as you can explore everything the Garden Route has to offer at a leisurely pace, with short drives between each destination.

Best Stops on the Garden Route

The Garden Route begins at Storms River Mouth and the nearby Bloukrans Bridge is the perfect spot to brave one of the world’s highest bungy jumps! Plettenberg Bay, a beautiful coastal town on the Indian Ocean is the next stop followed by Knysna, famous for its sea cliffs, the Knysna Heads. The Map of Africa in Wilderness is the perfect short detour of the Garden Route followed by Mossel Bay where the Garden Route comes to an end.

Extending the Garden Route Itinerary

Most visitors join the Garden Route either from Cape Town or Port Elizabeth and there are some fantastic stops at either end to extend your Garden Route itinerary including safari, Route 62 and the Cape Winelands.

Renting a Car

Renting a car in South Africa is the best way to explore the country and the Garden Route, plus driving is relatively easy in the country. Having your own car gives you the flexibility to travel at your own pace a see place that are simply not possible on group tours or public transport.

We’re huge fans of road trips and have driven rental cars in almost 50 countries so we have a lot of experience renting cars in foreign countries. Book your car now with RentalCars.com , where you will find great rental car prices

Book your rental car for South Africa now

Garden Route Itinerary Route Map

Our recommended route for the Garden Route is as follow:

Cape Town (1) – Hermanus (2)/Gansbaai (3) – Cape Aghulas (4) and Mossel Bay – Wilderness (5) – Knysa (6) – Plettenberg Bay(7) – Storms River (8) – Addo Elephant Park  (9) – Amakhala Game Reserve (10) – Oudtshoorn (11) – Stellenbosch/Franschhoek (12) – Cape Town (1)

Click here for the Google Maps version of the route

Day 1 and 2: Hermanus/Gansbaai

Hermanus and Gansbaai are stunning stopovers en route from Cape Town to the Garden Route and their natural beauty is mesmerising. The rugged coastline is as spectacular as the sea life in its waters: whales, seals, penguins and sharks are abundant in the area and it’s known as the Great White Shark capital of the World.

Things to do: in Hermanus and Gansbaai

• Whale watching is a must do in Hermanus
• Gansbaai is one of the most popular spots for cage shark diving if you so desire!

Drive time: 90 mins Cape Town to Hermanus, 30 minutes from Hermanus to Gansbaai

Where to stay in Hermanus and Gansbaai

• Misty Waves Boutique Hotel – beautiful boutique hotel where it’s often possible to spot whales from the balcony! – check prices now!
• Bellavista Country Place – If you’re visiting the Garden Route you have to stay in this  – incredible –  check prices now!
• Bellamente Serene – A stunning hotel located right on the beach in Gansbaai –  check prices now!

  Click here for Hermanus Hotel prices

Day 2: Cape Aghulas (optional) and Mossel Bay

Cape Agulhas requires an optional detour down to the coast between Hermanus and Mossel Bay before driving to Mossel Bay to spend the night and explore the town the following morning.

Cape Aghulas

Cape Aghulas is the most Southern point in the African continent (it’s often touted as the Cape of Good Hope but it is the most South Westerly point in Africa) and marks the dividing point of the Indian and Atlantic Ocean. The rugged wilderness, the crashing waves where two oceans meet and the stunning African sunset took our breaths away – after all it’s not every day you stand at the most Southern tip of Africa!

The seaside town of Mossel Bay is a step back in time and our highlight was the Post Office Tree. The story goes that in 1501 a Portuguese sailor sought refuge in Mossel Bay during a storm and he left a written account, with an address, in an old boot. The report was found by the person it was addressed to and the tree then served as a post office – it’s still possible to post letters at the old tree today!

Drive time: 90 minutes from Gansbaai to Cape Aghulas and 3 hours from Cape Aghulas to Mossel Bay. Driving directly from Gansbaai to Mossel Bay will reduce the journey time to just over 3 hours.

Where to stay in Mossel Bay

• Bar-t-nique Guest House : panoramic views of the harbor and Outeniqua mountains with nice home made breakfast – check prices here!
• African Oceans Manor on the Beach – great guest house, rooms have beautiful views of the Indian Ocean – check prices here!

  Click here for  Mossel Bay hotel prices

Day 3: Wilderness

The coastal town of Wilderness is home to two of our favourite sights on The Garden Route, the Map of Africa and Kaaimans River Bridge. The sleepy little village of Sedgefield, close to Wilderness, draws visitors to its lagoon.

The Map of Africa is a viewpoint where the flow of the river has formed a piece of land shaped exactly like a map of the African continent. It has a spectacular view overlooking the Kaaimans River Basin and is as intriguing as it is beautiful. The mix of mountain, forest and river is a beautiful sight!

Close to the Map of Africa sits the Kaaimans River Bridge in Wilderness. The curved bridge passes over the amber coloured water at the mouth of an estuary and is a beautifully photogenic stop on the Garden Route. A steam train operated on the line until 2009 but the railway bridge is iconic even in its absence.

The sleepy little village of Sedgefield, about 20 minutes from Wilderness, is surrounded by lakes, vegetated sand dunes, an Estuary and the beautiful Indian Ocean. Its lagoon is popular for fishing, swimming, canoeing, bird watching and riverside walks and the Saturday morning Wild Oats farmers market is unmissable.

Drive time: 45 minutes from Mossel Bay to Wilderness, 20 minutes from Wilderness to Sedgefield

Where to stay in Wilderness

• Oceans Wilderness: a beautiful beachfront guesthouse with an amazing design, great breakfast and magnificent views, our favourite! – check prices here!
• Lodge on the Lake: amazing lakeside views, great rooms and an infinity pool – check prices here!

Click here for Wilderness hotel prices

Day 4 and 5: Knysna

Famous for its oysters Knysna, a waterfront town along the Garden Route, is home to the Knysna Heads and is a beautiful spot to relax for a few days on the Garden Route. The Knysna Heads are two imposing sea cliffs which protect the entrance to the Knysna lagoon from the unrelenting Indian Ocean. The boat journey to view the heads often results in a sea drenching but it’s spectacular to watch the sea thrash through the narrow gap amid the stunning scenery.

Things to do in Knysna:

• Take a boat trip on the lagoon and check out the Kynsa Heads
• Take the ferry to the Featherbed Nature Reserve with spectacular viewpoints and a nice hike

Drive time:  40 minutes from Wilderness to Knysna

Where to stay in Knysna

• Villa Afrikana Guest Suites:  Offering panoramic views across the bay this is one of the best options for staying in Knysna and close to the restaurants –  check prices now!
• Augusta Bay Guest House:  Beautiful guest hotels with views over Knysna Bay –  check prices now!

Click here for Knysna Hotel prices

Day 6 and 7: Plettenberg Bay

Plettenberg Bay, or Plett Bay as the locals refer to it, is a South Africa hidden gem overlooking the Indian Ocean and the perfect base for a few nights along the Garden Route.

The architecturally stunning Bloukrans Bridge is close to Plettenberg Bay and, at over 200 metres, is the highest in Africa and arches dramatically over the gorge below. As well as being visually stunning, it is also home to one of the highest bungy jumps in the world. Dave immediately signed up, leaped off that bridge like a pro and had the time of his life so if you’re feeling brave … bungy jump!!

Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary and the Birds of Eden free flight bird sanctuary are both great places to visit while in Plett Bay.

Drive time:  30 minutes between Knysa and Plettenberg Bay

Where to stay in Plettenberg Bay

• Singing Kettle Beach Lodge: We stayed at this gorgeous beach lodge and toasted the beautiful sunset from our balcony – check prices now!
• The Plettenberg Hotel: 5 star luxury on the Garden Route with infinity pools and ocean views – check prices now!

  Click here for Plettenberg Bay hotel prices

Day 8: Storms River

Storms River Mouth is the dramatic starting point of the Garden Route where the Storms River enters the Indian Ocean. Tucked away off the main road in the Tsitsikamma National Park sits this breathtaking stretch of coastline where the Indian Ocean relentlessly pounds the headland. There are some amazing hikes up through the gorge and a stunning rope bridge for the adventurous types!

Drive time: 45 minutes from Plettenberg Bay to Storms River

Where to stay in Storms River

• The Fernery Lodge & Chalets – located at the base of the Tsitsikamma Mountains, The Fernery boasts amazing views over the Sandrift River gorge –  check prices now!
• Misty Mountain Lodge and chalets – surrounded by ocean, forest and mountains this property is a real treat on the Garden Route –   check prices now!

Click here for Storms River hotel prices

Safari (Optional)

Safari is always a good idea in South Africa! Kruger and Sabi Sands are our safari favourites but they’re a long drive or a flight away. If you want to squeeze in some safari while exploring the Garden Route we’d recommend making extra stops at the Addo Elephant Park and the Amakhala Game Reserve.

Day 9: Addo Elephant Park

Addo Elephant Park, just outside Port Elizabeth, is home to one of the densest elephant populations on earth as well as rhino, lion, buffalo and leopard. With 450 elephants the elephant encounters can be truly magical – we will never forget the moment a family of elephants walked alongside our car in the setting sun.

Drive Time: 3 hours from Plettenberg Bay to Addo Elephant Park

Where to stay in Addo Elephant Park

• Gorah Elephant Camp – You can stay right in the park with the elephants at Gorah elephant camp –  check prices now!
• River Bend Lodge – another option for staying in Addo park itself! –  check prices now!

Day 10 and 11: Amakhala Game Reserve

A malaria-free safari option, just outside Port Elizabeth, the Amakhala Game Reserve is home to the safari big 5 of lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino as well as cheetah, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and plenty of antelope species.

Where to stay in Amakhala Game Reserve

• HillsNek Safari – on the banks of Bushman’s River the luxurious tented chalets have panoramic views of the plains – check prices now!
• Woodbury Tented Camp: in the heart of Amakhala, the accommodation comprises en suite canvas tents with views of the valley – check prices now!

Book your safari stay now

Returning to Cape Town

Many visitors return to Cape Town via Route 62 after exploring the Garden Route. Here are some extra stops to add some variety to the drive back.

Day 12 and 13: Oudtshoorn

Known as the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn is home to Ostrich Farms, the spectacular underground Cango Caves and the Swartberg Mountains which are part of the Cape Floral UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s also home to the Meerkat Adventures, a dawn tour to hopefully see some adorable meerkats waking up to a new day.

Be sure to stop at Ronnie’s Sex Shop in Barrydale en route to the Cape Winelands. Despite the name it is actually a famous dive bar with graffiti plastered walls on Route 62 and a fun stop for a cold beer and a stretch of the legs.

Drive Time: 4 hours 30 minutes from Amakhala Game Reserve to Oudtshoorn

Where to stay in Oudtshoorn

• Hlangana Lodge: a small lodge in a beautiful setting with great breakfast – check prices now!
• Earthbound B&B: quiet, well equipped and spacious guest rooms at an excellent price – check prices now!

Click here for Oudtshoorn hotel prices

Day 12 and 13: Cape Winelands – Stellenbosch and Francschhoek

The Cape Winelands are a collection of historic towns famous for their wine production and are the perfect stopover on the way back to Cape Town.  Wine tasting, delicious food, incredible landscapes and beautiful architecture are synonymous with the region.

Stellenbosh and Franschhoek are its two most popular stopovers and the heart of its wine industry. Stellenbosh, South Africa’s second oldest town, is a charming university town and Franschhoek a charming village filled with galleries, restaurants and wine shops. Hop on the wine trams to explore the vineyards and indulge in some wine tasting and admire the whitewashed Cape Dutch architecture prominent in the region.

Drive time:  4 hours 15 minutes from Oudtshoorn to Franschhoek and 4 hours 30 minutes from Oudtshoorn to Stellenbosh

Where to stay in Cape Winelands

• Asara Wine Estate, Stellenbosch: Beautiful location in the rolling hills of Stellenbosch, lovely rooms and good value for money with wine tasting on site – check prices now!
• The Corner House, Francschhoek: amazing value with excellent rooms and a great location – check prices now!
• La Residence, Franschhoek: set in a private estate, La Residence is the ultimate in luxury . Luxurious rooms and peacock’s roaming around the grounds, this is one for the bucketlist – check prices now!

Click here for Cape Winelands hotels

24 thoughts on “The Ultimate Garden Route Itinerary (with map) (2023)”

Hello, Fabulous itinary! Could you give a rough idea of budget please? Thx in advance

Hi Geraldine, I’m not sure how much we spent in total but, depending on the hotels you pick, food, drinks, gas etc are quite cheap so it was quite reasonably priced overall. We’re Europe based so have a strong exchange rate on our side at the moment!

We are planning a 4-day tour of the Garden Route in September and we are coming from the US. We are not sure if we should go with a tour company or rent a car and do it on our own. I think if we rented a car we would miss the cultural and historic info about the region. Would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

Hi Charmaine

We really enjoy the independence of having our own transport – we picked up some Cape Town and Garden Route guide books to give us the context and history which helped! It’s an awesome trip, hope you enjoy!

loved reading your itinary and we are going to base our own route loosely around yours as we have been to Cape own twice before and stayed in De Kelders and Pearly Beach we have been to Cape Aghulas we have bits we can change but your whole concept is one of the best I have seen

In reply to Geraldine once you are in South Africa everything is so cheap, Food, drinks, car hire, fuel and of course accommodation whale watching is a must a sight so worth seeing

In reply to Charmaine what Elaine has said the flexability of your own transport really cant be faulted being able to come and go as you please is so much better

Hi Kaz, so glad you found the itinerary useful. I hope you have an awesome trip, I can’t wait to return!

Good work guys. I am thrilled for my upcoming trip. Thanks very much

i love layout of your itinerary, im planning on using it for my upcoming trip in December with my family( spouse and 3 kids). we are planning a 15day trip and i was wondering if you can give to some advise on where we should stop and spend the night. For example are the places we should spend stay 3 nights in a lodge /resort and use that as a mini base to visit a couple of the stops at a time… it will be difficult sleep in a new hotel every night with kids…

any suggestions will be welcomed.

thanks alot.

delighted to hear you like the itinerary. You could base yourselves in Knysna and explore the Garden route from there for a few days. From here you could visit Mossel Bay, George, Oudtshoorn, Plettenberg Bay and Kysna itself. Knysna was one of our favourite stops on the route. Check out family friendly hotels here

Are 4 days enough for Garden Route?

We are planning to do the Garden Route from Cape Town. If we rent a car, are we able to return the car at George airport or should we drive back to Cape Town? Is driving your own car doable if coming from the States?

Any info will be useful.

4 days would allow you to do some of the Garden route and with that time we’d recommend returning the car the George airport. This will give you the most time on the route. With 4 days you could aim to see Mossel Bay, Kysna and Plettenberg Bay. The initial drive from Cape Town will take one day, with the rest for sightseeing. Driving a rental car in South Africa is very straight forward. We’ve driven in over 40 countries and the Garden Route in South Africa relatively easy. Check out our post here for tips on driving in South Africa

Hi, Really enjoying your blog we have found it really informative. We have 14 days booked in South Africa in April 2019. We have four nights in Cape Town which we are basing our itinerary on yours.We then have three nights in the wine region staying near Stellenbosch.

We have 3 days to plan before staying for the remainder of our holiday at Pettenberg Bay for the remainder of our holiday.

Of all the places that you have visited where would you recommend that we visit and stay for the days between Stellenbosch and Plettenberg. We have a rental car and fly home from Port Elizabeth.

Great to hear you are enjoying the content. Cape Town and Stellenbosch are fab, I hope you enjoy! I’d probably stop in Mossel Bay or George for 1 night to split the drive and see some of the sights. Then I’d follow up with two nights in Knysna. Safari would be another great option – you could spend two nights in somewhere like this Gondwana lodge on the way to the Garden Route and then spend one night in Knysna.

Hope that helps, have a great trip! Elaine

Hi, thanks for the great itinerary. We are planning a trip from PE to CT over 4 nights. Not as much time as we would like but that’s life! Just wondering if you’d recommend 1 night in Plettenberg Bay AND 1 night in Knysna or just 2 nights in Knysner, given they are so close? Both towns look great. Also, if we plan our last night to be in Hermanus, which town between Knysna and Hermanus you recommend for our 3rd night? Something like Wilderness or Mossel Bay?

Thanks very much

Hi Adam, glad the itinerary is useful! I’d spend two nights in either Knysna or Mossel Bay (to avoid having to pack up and move!). My personal preference is Plett Bay as it’s really nice and laid back but you’ll probably spend a whole day in Knysna so I’d actually stay there – you’ll have more choice of restaurants etc as it’s much bigger. Knysa is beautiful and has a really nice vibe for tourists. We’ve stayed in Swellendam to split the journey before (but definitely stop by Wilderness for the map of Africa en route!). We stayed in Arumvale Country House . Mossel Bay would also be fine but you still have a longish drive to Hermanus after.

Hope that helps Elaine

We are two ladies in our late 50’s planning on hiring a car to go from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth in June. We have heard lots of horror stories about hiring a car in South Africa and are a bit concerned. What is your opinion on our safety should we hire a car? Thanks

We found it quite safe, you can read our driving tips here . Avoid driving after dark for sure and don’t park anywhere remote. Don’t leave anything in your car. The tourist sites are usually busy in Cape Town and along the Garden Route.

Great blog, very helpful!

What time of year did you go? I am planning on going in mid July and I’m not sure if it will rain everyday.

Our trips have all been Christmas time or March, I’m not sure on July

Hi, everything here is really useful. We are trying to put together an itinerary.

Leaving Cape town With Stop at Oudtshoorn,then Plettenberg Bay and onto a safari,before returning to Cape Town. We had thought about then stopping at Knysna.

Are Plettenberg Bay and Knysna to close together and can you suggest another stop off point

They’re about 30 minutes drive – we’ve stopped in both on previous trips as they’re both lovely. From Plet Bay you can visit Storms River, Bloukran’s Bridge etc and the leave the Knsyna sights until you return. We stayed in a Protea in George before – it’s a little closer to Cape Town if you want to shorten the drive.

hi thanks so much for this information. We will be in Cape Town for three days in January, before an overland tour from Victoria Falls back to Cape Town. Then we have 12 days to do the garden route, probably self drive. Thanks for the ideas

So glad it was useful! Victoria Falls is one of the most magical places we’ve visited, I do hope you enjoy!

12 days is plenty of time for the Garden Route, you could maybe look into a safari or another few days in Cape Town depending on which you prefer.

Enjoy! Elaine

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British Wildlife

British Wildlife is the leading natural history magazine in the UK, providing essential reading for both enthusiast and professional naturalists and wildlife conservationists. Published eight times a year, British Wildlife bridges the gap between popular writing and scientific literature through a combination of long-form articles, regular columns and reports, book reviews and letters.

Conservation Land Management

Conservation Land Management (CLM) is a quarterly magazine that is widely regarded as essential reading for all who are involved in land management for nature conservation, across the British Isles. CLM includes long-form articles, events listings, publication reviews, new product information and updates, reports of conferences and letters.

The Year of Sitting Dangerously My Garden Safari

About this book

From the acclaimed author of Rewild Yourself comes a brilliant new book that reveals the natural joys to be discovered on your doorstep. In the autumn of 2020, Simon Barnes should have been leading a safari in Zambia, but COVID-19 restrictions meant his plans had to be put on hold. Instead, he embarked on the only voyage of discovery that was still open to him. He walked to a folding chair at the bottom of his garden, and sat down. His itinerary: to sit in that very same spot every day for a year and to see – and hear – what happened all around him. It would be a stationary garden safari; his year of sitting dangerously had begun. For the next twelve months, he would watch as the world around him changed day by day. Gradually, he began to see his surroundings in a new way; by restricting himself, he opened up new horizons, growing even closer to a world he thought he already knew so well. The Year of Sitting Dangerously is a wonderfully evocative read; it inspires the reader to pay closer attention to the marvels that surround us all, and is packed with handy tips to help bring nature even closer to us.

Customer Reviews

Simon Barnes is the author of many wild volumes, including the bestselling Bad Birdwatcher trilogy, Rewild Yourself , On The Marsh , and The History of the World in 100 Animals . He is a council member of World Land Trust, trustee of Conservation South Luangwa and patron of Save the Rhino. In 2014, he was awarded the Rothschild Medal for services to conservation. He lives in Norfolk with his family and horses, where he manages several acres for wildlife. He was the Chief Sports Writer for The Times until 2014, having worked for the paper for 30 years.

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SELF DRIVE the GARDEN ROUTE & SAFARI

The southern cape coast, read more >.

Self - drive the coastal road from George to the the town of Port Elizabeth [airport to airport] , and you’ll be flanked by massive mountain ranges, dazzling lakes and an ever-changing ocean. One moment you’ll be climbing a mountain pass overlooking beaches with schools of dolphins, and the next moment you’re inside an ancient and mysterious forest. Let your heart beat with the thrill of big game safari viewing. Roll down your window and let the fresh air in - the Garden Route & Safari is a drive you will remember for the rest of your life.

Knysna Lagoon

Plettenberg bay, tsitsikamma forest & storms river, shamwari game reserve.

I live on the Garden Route so my idea of what a self-drive trip should entail is based on my own experiences living here and having visited the region for over 25 years. I don't believe you should spend hours on the road, while they are beautiful and wonderful to drive, the attraction of this area is about all that you can do while exploring the natural beauty. You can make your trip as action-packed and adventurous as you like or or keep it laid back. You can also spend a night or two extra and drive from Cape Town [read my ultimate South Africa Road Trip] but the true Garden Route begins in George and ends somewhere beyond the Tsitsikamma Forest, and that is the focus of my recommended trip. The safari portion of the trip rounds off an incredible week with big game viewing at a renowned Big 5 game reserve.

Owner Conservation Safari Company

The best time to drive the Garden Route in South Africa is during the spring or summer. From September to March (and even into early-April), you’ll have long days and warm weather.

If you want to catch the Fynbos in bloom, spring is the best time to see the flowers and the season only has moderate chances of rain. July to September [our winter] has very changeable weather and can be fantastic for a few days and rainy for a couple of days. July to October is an excellent time to see pods of migrating whales with their calves off the coast!

Price per person sharing (for 2 people)

From r63 600.00, [$4540.00 @ zar14 = 1usd].

Includes car hire in an automatic, four door sedan (or similar) for 10 days with supercover and unlimited miles, accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis except on the safari where it is full board and includes all safari activities.

Excludes activities on the Garden Route - which are all optional and should be planned once the weather is assessed each day, park entry fees, conservation levies, fuel, lunches and dinners on the Garden Route.

Before we can provide a detailed itinerary, we require a 10% booking fee, after which we book accommodation and propose your itinerary. If we can't provide a satisfactory itinerary we will refund the booking fee, but once you are happy we then collect a top up deposit on confirmation and full payment is required 90 days prior to travel.

Day 1, George to Knysna

Upon arrival in George Airport, head towards the car hire kiosks and collect the keys to your vehicle. A short drive gets you to the Kaaiman's River Valley, the first of many scenic twists and turns on this amazing road trip reaching the lookout point over the Wilderness' endless beach. Don't be surprised to see para-gliders soaring along the cliff edges or dune ridges along the road, keep your eyes on the road though as you pass the lagoon and river system.

Continue your drive past the picturesque towns of Wilderness and then Sedgefield, passing rolling forests, rich farmlands winding rivers and numerous lakes before reaching the Knysna Lagoon, your destination for the night.

There is no better way to end off the day - enjoying wine and oysters on a relaxing boat cruise and taking in the magnificence of Knysna as the African sun starts to set over the lagoon. Indulge your inner romantic and climb aboard the "Oyster Boat" before heading off slowly towards the impressive Knysna Heads, and take in the splendour of the tranquil lagoon as the sun sets. Relax while you enjoy a glass of wine with a few fresh local oysters. The cruise is slow and leisurely, ultimately relaxing and one can't help but just sit back, and take it all in! The sunset cruise is a fully guided cruise and is inclusive of complimentary white wine, soft drinks or water and oysters for tasting.

Your luxury hotel on the historic Thesen Island faces over the lagoon on the water's edge, barely a stroll from the most famous bakery and restaurant in Knysna.

Day 2, Knysna

If you came all the way here and just drove through with no time to actually dip your toes in, what a pity that would be! So what we suggest you do is explore the lagoons, ocean and or forest today!   Check the weather and head out >

Hire a kayak or a SUP (Stand Up Paddle board) and explore the Knysna Lagoon from a unique perspective.'Take your time, stop at the beach, and catch some sunshine along the way!' Explore our pristine lagoon on your own schedule. Knysna Kayaking is great fun for the whole family, provided you can swim!

Knysna has a history of established artists, you can explore the town and wander through galleries and boutiques while finding some fine coffee shops and restaurants to delight the palette.

Scootour of the Knysna Forest . This is a unique and true forest experience. Enjoy an exhilarating downhill on the Monster Mountain Scooter, descent through indigenous forest, sweepy bends and single track. A scenic minibus ride takes you into the heart of the forest to the best hills to start your descent in the Garden Route National Park. All of this while on the lookout for the our local wild life, the majestic Knysna loerie, the shy bushbuck and wild boar.

Ocean Sailing Charters and Boat Trips is a family owned and operated business, with a team of passionate people who love to travel and have fun sailing while enjoying good food! From the vantage point aboard one of their luxury catamaran cruises, you’ll be able to experience the natural beauty of the magnificent Garden Route, Knysna lagoon, and Knysna Heads. You may even be joined by a pod of dolphins or see humpback and Southern right whales and their calves as they migrate and mate down the coast from June – Dec. Enjoy an exhilarating day cruise or Knysna sunset cruise aboard one of their  luxury 55ft yachts with ample time for lazing in the sun, swimming, snorkelling and a delicious lunch with South African Bubbly, wines and beer. There is nothing that makes you feel more alive than breathing in the fresh ocean air while gazing out over the blue horizon with the sun on your skin.

Rent Electric Bikes from Bicycle South: The owners are wonderful, and the bikes are fantastic. They only have a few bikes so call ahead to reserve. If you need more than two bikes, there’s another rental shop at the roundabout. Ride the Bikes from Thesen to Leisure Island. A roundtrip cycle should only take about 1.5-2 hours (stopping along the way).

Stop on Leisure Island for a Coffee at Nadine’s Corner

Eat Lunch at East Head Cafe: They have delicious coffee, seafood, salads, and beautiful views.

All activities can be planned from your hotel reception, the booking office for all water activities is just a short walk from your hotel.

Recommended restaurants; Il de Pain for breakfast and lunch, dinners at Sirocco or Tapas & Oysters on Thesen Island. Dinner at VegTable: Only open Thursday through Saturday night, they take pride in true farm to table meals with organic fruits and veggies. Eat Lunch at East Head Cafe: They have delicious coffee, seafood, salads, and beautiful views.

Day 3, Knysna to Plettenberg Bay

The drive from the quaint lagoon town of Knysna to the beautiful beach town of Plettenberg Bay  is just thirty minutes. 'Plett' is South Africa's most famous holiday town with magnificent homes and sublime natural beauty. The town is South Africa’s favourite outdoor playground along the Garden Route. It’s lazy days on sunny world-class beaches and for others it’s boutique shopping, wine tasting, dining under the stars, incredible wildlife experiences and outdoor adventure. Whatever blows back your hair, it’s here in Plett and it’s all for you!

You will for sure wish you could stay longer, although I might biased because this is my very own home town, but if you love time on the beach, this is the place to add some more days - just let us know. Over two days there is so much to do, from whale boat viewing trips, ocean kayak excursions, surfing and lessons, coastal hikes, outdoor markets, diving with seals, picnics up the river, forest hikes, fabulous restaurants and so much more...

We suggest you head straight for the Robberg Peninsula Nature Reserve for one of the amazing coastal hikes .

The hike is a circular trail along the Robberg Peninsula, consisting of three different routes of increasing distance and difficulty. The longest and most difficult is 11 km long and will take between 4 to 5 hours. Each of the trails has the same starting point and track along the Northern side of the peninsula. These are the three trail options:

The Gap: This one is about 2 km long and will take you to “the gap” and back to the car park.

Witsand sand dune: Around 5.5 km long, you can walk to the Witsand sand dune and down to “The Island” and back.

The point: The longest trail is the round trip which will take you to “The point” and back (Not recommended for young children).

Around lunch time, drive to one of the famous wine farms . Plettenberg Bay is South Africa’s smallest wine growing region with 58 hectares of the 100 000 hectares planted countrywide. Their vineyards are the country’s most easterly and stretch 57 km along the thin coastal strip from Packwood in Harkerville until Lodestone on the Redford Road in the Crags. It is small, young, exciting and thriving. Newstead, Lodestone and Kay & Monty all offer a fine spread of lunch options.

Your guest house is on the beach and alongside Keurbooms Lagoon, from where you can end the day with a swim.

Recommended restaurants ; Nineteen89 [drive into town], Zinzi's is fine dining 15 mins out of town, Fat Fish, Barringtons micro brewery and Restaurant, Casual and outdoor Lookout Restaurant, The Grand is also reachable on foot. Lemon Grass.

DAY 4, Plettenberg Bay

Connect with the ocean. Another day in paradise, you just need to decide what to do!!!

If you are looking for some quiet time, just walk out your guesthouse and flop onto the sand. Plett's beaches are considered by many as the best beaches in South Africa , and testimony to this is the fact that Plett has been nominated 5 years in a row for the award for Africa’s top beach destination. Lounging in the soft, warm sand is only the beginning. Surfing, skimboarding and bodyboarding are popular among locals and visitors. With up to 12-foot waves, the beaches along Plett’s coastline are home to some of the best waves in South Africa.

Hog Hollow Horse Trails . Explore the beautiful natural surrounds at the foot of the Tsitsikamma Mountains on horseback – riding through fynbos, vineyards, indigenous forest and farmland to surrounding attractions including wine farms, animal sanctuaries and a picnic at the magnificent Kurland Estate. Situated 19km East of Plettenberg Bay, easily accessible from the N2, Hog Hollow Horse Trails caters for all level of riders and weights of up to 120kg on a herd of 33 rescue horses.

Africanyon - Kloofing  in South Africa is known elsewhere as Canyoning or Canyoneering - “the sport of travelling down a river situated in a canyon by a variety of means including scrambling, floating, swimming and abseiling” (Dictionary.com) Join their team on this Kloofing river adventure! You will be swimming through mountain pools, abseiling in and around waterfalls, rock-hopping and if opting for the 4hr Canyon Adventure, enjoying the thrill of the rock-pool zipline. For the outdoor enthusiast this trip offers hours of outdoor fun in beautiful indigenous surrounds.

Whale and Dolphin cruises - Well controlled boat-based whale & dolphin excursions, operating from Central Beach where you learn about teh various species that inhabit this ocean as well as pelagic bird life, conducted in the magnificent Garden Route town of Plettenberg Bay.

Swim with Seals. Join the experienced team from Offshore Adventures for an experience of a lifetime. This one and a half hour adventure starts with an adrenaline pumping beach launch into the sea, followed by an amazing boat ride along the scenic coastline to the Cape fur seal colony. There you will get to snorkel and interact with the oceans most loved character and see them playfully swimming in their natural environment.”

Old Nick Village in Plettenberg Bay is a landmark shopping destination on the Garden Route, featuring an eclectic collection of shops owned by creative manufacturers, designers and curators, Old Nick Village is so much more than a shopping centre it’s a truly sensory experience for the whole family as well as the discerning buyer. Originally built way back in 1880, Old Nick Village has a long and rich trading history, find out more here. Every Wednesday we host the Mid Week Market where you can find homegrown fruit and vegetables, ethically farmed meat and dairy as well as other local, natural and homemade products. Essential shopping can be done at the amazing Mungo Mill , their finest, locally made, linen products are world famous and made right here!

One of the best restaurants in the region is at Keurbooms Beach, 15 minutes drive away, Enrico's is perched on a peninsula overlooking the beach - the perfect spot to try local seafood, a pizza and watch the sun go down. If you plan to enjoy a few drinks, a taxi is easily arranged!

Day 5 Plettenberg Bay to Storms River

Another amazing drive today. We recommend taking in nature's Valley as you exit from Plettenberg Bay turn down towards 'Nature's on a beautiful winding road through the forest until you get to the lagoon and ascend the forest up again towards the main road.

A little further on is the Bloukrans Bridge , one of many epic bridges crossing the deep chasms carved out by rivers over thousands of years - on the national road of our famous Garden Route! Here you can launch yourself off the bridge with a stretchy rope strapped around your legs [crazy people] and shout 'bungee'...but even if you don't, the view point of the famous bridge has a great restaurant for a coffee stop!

Continue onward and head towards the Tsitsikamma Canopy Tours . Located in the magnificent Tsitsikamma indigenous rainforest, where  secure platforms are built high up in the canopy around giant Outeniqua Yellowwood trees that are up to 700 years old! From the moment you launch off the first platform, a new world unfolds as you slide on a steel cable across to the next viewpoint. Once you arrive at each platform you are encouragde  to stop for a while and enjoy the view while your guide points out interesting features or facts about the surrounding ecology.  If you are fortunate enough, you will spot a pair of Knysna Loeries or the brilliant red plumage of the elusive Narina Trogon. Whatever happens, we’re quite sure you’ll be back again!

If you still have time and or are looking for an alternative to sliding between tall trees, why not stay on the ground and take to a segway - which is fun in itself, but you can tour the village and forest as well - and even the famous Tsitsikamma Big Tree . Included in their 1 hour  Segway Tour is a 15-20 minute training session and then you journey through the quaint Stormsriver Village and follow one of a selection of routes among cool pine forest, indigenous forest, or even explore the historical Witteklip bridge or the local township. If you are up for more, join the 2 hour tour  which enters the ancient indigenous Tsitsikamma Forests to the famous and majestic 800 year old Tsitsikamma Big Tree and back to the village.

You could also just drive to The Big Tree , close to the  village of Storms River. Here standing guard over the treetop canopy in the heart of the forest is an eight hundred - year-old Yellowwood. This majestic tree towers over the rest of the canopy; standing 36+m tall and with a trunk circumference of 9m – this is a giant among giants.

Once you have had your fill of the forests, head to your luxury accommodation for the evening, which has enchanting views of the rugged coastline, river gorge, and surrounding plantations. Cap off a wonderful day with a drink while watching the sunset over the ocean or a relaxing spa treatment...

Day 6, Storms River

Your last day to connect with the ocean and what a fantastic day it can be, spend it down at the Storms River mouth, where booming breakers of the Indian Ocean relentlessly pound rocky shores, where temperate high forest and fynbos roll down to the sea in an unspoilt verdant carpet, where ancient rivers carve their paths to the ocean down rocky ravines.

There are some fantastic trails;

Waterfall Trail: (6km). This 6 km walk is the start of the Otter trail, and takes one along the rocky shoreline for 3 km to where the Tweeriviere River falls 50m into a large pool before cascading into the sea. You return along the same path. Suitable footwear is vital as there are sections over rocks. Allow at least 3 hours. Great picnic site and swimming is possible n the large pool of the waterfall. 

Stormsriver Mouth Hike (2km). Cross the small beach and then follow a boardwalk as it meanders up and down through coastal forest, allowing views of the sea, coast and river mouth. The highlight is the 77m long suspension bridge crossing the Storms River Mouth, taking you to a pebble beach, before ascending steeply to a viewpoint over the coast – well worth the effort! One does not have to go to the viewpoint, but can return immediately via a circular route that takes one over 2 smaller suspension bridges before rejoining the boardwalk.

Marine and River Activities

Kayaking and Lilo adventure up the Storms River is a two and a half hour Kayak & Lilo Adventure up the Storms River Gorge. You’ll get to explore deeper into the hidden world of the Storms River Gorge than most people ever do and experience the long, bottomless pools, deep caves and ancient indigenous forests with nothing but the quiet noises of nature around you.

Snorkelling in Storms River Mouth . Experience what lies beneath the ocean around the Storms River Mouth by snorkeling across the ocean’s surface, marveling at the spectacular marine life from above, chasing fish over the reefs and spotting sun rays on the ocean bed. The coastline along the Tsitsikamma National Park is a conservation area and remains untouched. All the marine life is protected and means that you will not only see more but get much closer too.

Head back to your lodge after an action-packed day for a final night in view of the ocean...

Day 7- 9, Shamwari Game Reserve

This will be the longest of the drives you take on the garden Route Self Drive, and it is only two hours or so and on good quality highways most of the way! Leave the mountains and forests behind, passing the city of Port Elizabeth, and on to Shamwari Game Reserve. There is one thing we won't compromise on and that is quality game viewing at verified and quality destinations. There are plenty of cheaper and smaller reserves claiming a lot of things but rest assured the additional money spent on a good reserve is well worth it. This may well be the highlight of your trip, spending time watching Africa's iconic wildlife, while being pampered in 5 star accommodation and looked after by their warm hospitality team.

Shamwari Private Game Reserve is a premier safari and holiday destination in South Africa’s ecologically and culturally significant Eastern Cape Province.

Shamwari, meaning “my friend” in Shona, is the pinnacle of private game reserves and home to the coveted Big 5. It’s a place where guests can exist in harmony with nature, however fleeting the moment, where wildlife roam the landscape under the relentless African sun.

Shamwari has 7 lodges and 1 explorer camp; each providing distinct experiences. From exclusive tranquillity, effortless family enjoyment or the back-to-nature appeal of a luxury tented camp.

For a luxurious, malaria-free experience, we love their tented camp,  offering guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in utter tranquillity, surrounded by the rich vegetation of this unique location that provides privacy and a feeling of seclusion with spectacular views of the African bush.

Game drives typically take place in the early mornings and afternoons. Surveying the variety of habitats, witnessing birds of prey or spotting the Big 5 from the comfort and safety of an open game viewing vehicles. Their rangers and guides are passionate about wildlife and knowledgeable in their respective fields of expertise. Expect to take away new insights, an appreciation for Africa, and an unforgettable experience.

Day 10, Departure

After your final activity and breakfast, head back to the airport an hour away, to check in for your departing flight.

The end of an amazing Garden Route self drive trip!

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Notes about driving in South Africa

South Africans drive on the left-hand side of the road. If it’s your first time driving on the opposite side, start slow and don’t feel pressured to drive fast.

There are also lots of roundabouts, so make sure you brush up on how to safely use a roundabout !

As a general rule, on single-lane highways, if you are driving slow or have a car trailing behind you that wants to pass, you should drive slightly (and safely) onto the left shoulder make way and let vehicles pass.

Alternatively, you can pass someone in front of you if it is safe and there are no “no passing signs.” The car in front of you will likely pull into the left shoulder to give you more room to pass. Once you’ve completed the pass, turn your hazards on for 2-3 flashes as a “thank you” (you’ll see other people do the same if they pass you and you give them space by pulling slightly onto the shoulder).

The main signs you need to know are the speed limit signs with cameras (the speed limit is enforced with cameras & fines), no passing signs, and no stopping signs. Brown-colored signs are for tourism and will usually list turnoffs for rest stops, national parks, wine farms, and major tourist attractions.

I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with the road safety signs of South Africa . You can also download the image and keep it handy on your phone.

What to bring

Before you touch down in South Africa, check the weather predictions for your travel dates and use that as a guideline to pack for your trip. The Garden Route is in a coastal region, so you should pack for cooler temperatures, even in the summer.

There are countless hikes, rivers, and lakes, so if you’re adventurous, you’ll want to pack accordingly. You don’t need a super crazy hiking boot, but something that will keep you safe and comfortable on long hikes is recommended.

Here are some essentials that I recommend bringing along, so you’re prepared for anything!

Hiking boots , a casual shoe (for horseback or cycling), and flips flops

Rain jacket or poncho

Binoculars (whales, dolphins, birds and of course wildlife)

Zoom lenses (if you’re a photographer, don’t forget your biggest zoom lenses for this trip!)

Refillable water bottles (tap water in South Africa is drinkable)

Sunscreen and insect repellent (malaria-free but mosquitos still bite!)

Dry Bag (you may do a lot of water activities so maybe also a dry bag for your phone and camera)

Layers (pack enough layers for warm to cold weather)

Swimsuit and sun/rash vest (lots of water activity options!)

Travel Insurance (covers car rental + medical)

ID (You don’t need your passport, but you’ll need an ID for checking into hotels and activities)

Garden Route

Sub regions inside

Broader region.

The Garden Route stretches 300 kilometers along the south-western coast of Southern Africa. Accessible from three major airports, the garden route is easily combined with the vibrant city of Cape Town and a Big Five safari experience in Port Elizabeth. Most commonly explored as a self-drive, this beautifully scenic route consists of several major attractions including ostrich farms, pristine coastlines, natural forests, wildflowers, lagoons, hiking trails, whale watching, top golf courses, and an array of adrenalin activities.

The Garden Route is a popular tourist destination all year round.

Peak season is regarded to be in the summer between mid-December and early January.  Due to the long December school holidays, the coastlines do tend to get very busy.

February to April are the ideal summer months for travelers planning a beach vacation, however, it is important to note that unlike Cape Town, the Garden Route can experience rain at any time of the year.  

The winter wet season is predominantly from June through August . This is ideal for travelers with an interest in whale watching, as the season generally runs from June to October. Hiking is great in winter as well as the famous Knysna Festival which runs for 10 days in the month of July.

The Garden Route is a 300 kilometer stretch of the south-western coast of Southern Africa. Accessible from three major airports, the garden route is easily combined with the vibrant city of Cape Town, a safari in Port Elizabeth or with the commercial hub of the Garden Route known as George.

Most commonly explored as a self-drive, this beautifully scenic route consists of several major attractions.

Mossel Bay is a coastal village situated between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. This popular holiday town is surrounded by a sunbathed peninsula and the refreshing waters of the Indian Ocean. It is a busy summer destination as well as an ideal winter retreat, offering travelers an array of activities that include shark cage diving, hiking trails, abseiling, whale watching, and golfing.

Oudtshoorn is home to one of the world’s great natural wonders; the limestone Cango Caves. Oudtshoorn is also well known for its ostrich farms. Amidst the 400 ostrich farms surrounding the town, three have distinguished themselves worthy to be named " show farms". Become exposed to this exotic bird species, the largest in the world. Gaze with the awe at slithering crocodiles from all over the world. Imagine more than 400 crocodiles and alligators in their prehistoric unattractiveness.

George is the sixth oldest town in South Africa and is the Capital of the Southern Cape. The town is very centrally situated: halfway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth and is the center of the Garden Route - ideal from where to explore the areas many variants and diverse scenic wonders.

Wilderness is an all year round destination renowned for its warm hospitality and natural beauty. It is a great spot for water sports enthusiasts, who flock there regularly. There is 2500 hectare National Park with five rivers, five lakes, two estuaries and 18 kilometers of coastline. Wilderness sports many types of wildlife, in particular birds, making it the ideal location for bird-watchers. The many other types of recreation include hiking, dolphin and whale-watching, hang-gliding, paragliding, horse riding, mountain biking, scenic drives, Wilderness Lakes Art Route, day tours, ferry cruises, angling, boating and other water sports.

Sedgefield is a resort town located between Knysna and George and is the ideal location for outdoor enthusiasts and bird watchers. There are many hiking trails and bird hides established for just that pleasure. You can also marvel at the beautiful and colorful wildflowers and fynbos. To the west lies Swartvlei, forming a safe estuary for bathing. The estuary provides for good fishing for the enthusiastic angler and near Gerickes Point there are beautiful rock formations and a popular spot for spearfishing.

Knysna is renowned for its oysters and the Heads; which is the most striking geological feature along the entire southern African coastline. They flank a deep but potentially treacherous channel through which the sea pours in to flood the wide and breathtakingly pretty lagoon at the mouth of the Knysna River. Knysna has many attractions in the surrounding area including the Knysna Forest and Featherbed Nature Reserve.

Plettenberg Bay is a sporting paradise and boasts fabulous trails for hikers, mountain bikers, horse riders, and canoeists. The highlight of the area is undoubtedly the rivers, beaches and the bay with its ideal conditions for all facets of watersports, including sailing in the safe waters of the Bay, superb rock and surf fishing and scuba diving spots. Other popular attractions include the Plettenberg Elephant Park and Monkeyland.

Stormsriver / Tsitsikamma is the Khoi-San word for a place of many waters. The Tsitsikamma National Park is internationally recognized for its forests which harbor and conserve the giant Outeniqua yellowwood. Tsitsikamma is also Africa's oldest and largest marine reserve, playing a vital role in the preservation and conservation of marine fauna and flora. The region has many wonderfully scenic hiking trails including the world-renowned Otter Trail which is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Other activities include canopy tours, whale watching, and bungee jumping.

Apr 24, 2024

Kim helped us for the details of trip…

Kim helped us for the details of trip planning.

Apr 23, 2024

Shann was amazing

Shann was amazing , great prompt service and went above and beyond to meet our travel requirements.

Apr 22, 2024

My experience with safari.com is always…

My experience with safari.com is always incredibly, pascal made happen my dream again. He is the best always answering questions and making everything perfect.thank you again pascal, can’t wait to tell all about my second trip to Africa in October.

Thank you Heleen Coetzee for your excellent service!

Thank you Heleen Coetzee for your excellent service. We have booked through her at Kruger park numerous times. She is very helpful and quick to assist.

Apr 21, 2024

Fantastic travel agent for African safari family trip!

Wow! Shann was and is fantastic! She figured out a way to make our entire trip work. We are going on a 2 week trip to South Africa and Botswana. She really helped tie it all together as a wonderful, cohesive trip. She is super nice and super smart and very knowledgeable. She is also flexible and thoughtful, etc., etc. When the chips were down (and we literally were considering pulling the plug on the whole trip), she found a way to make the entire itinerary work and got us excited about our wonderful adventure! Highly recommend!

Apr 20, 2024

safari booking

We were looking for a Safari. Anja from Safari.com supported us to book accommodation and flights, she was very polite, super fast and very supportive. We can recommend her and Safari.com, it was great to book there.

The customer service was top-notch!

I was really impressed with the level of service I received from Heleen Coetzee. I had a great experience with the customer service team at this company. They were very responsive and helpful, and they were able to resolve my issue quickly. I would definitely recommend this company to others.

Excellent news information and service…

Excellent news information and service from Sara. She made it a smooth experience booking a safari.

Apr 17, 2024

Great experience!

Leigh-Ann was very helpful, responsive and knowledgeable about our safari options. Handled our safari booking, transfers and even hotel in Cape Town for us! We’re excited for our trip - Thank you :)

The Year of Sitting Dangerously: My Garden Safari

From the acclaimed author of Rewild Yourself comes a brilliant new book that reveals the natural joys to be discovered on your doorstep. In the autumn of 2020, Simon Barnes should have been leading a safari in Zambia, but Covid restrictions meant his plans had to be put on hold. Instead, he embarked on the only voyage of discovery that was still open to him. He walked to a folding chair at the bottom of his garden, and sat down. His itinerary: to sit in that very same spot every day for a year and to see - and hear - what happened all around him. It would be a stationary garden safari; his year of sitting dangerously had begun. For the next twelve months, he would watch as the world around him changed day by day. Gradually, he began to see his surroundings in a new way; by restricting himself, he opened up new horizons, growing even closer to a world he thought he already knew so well. The Year of Sitting Dangerously is a wonderfully evocative read; it inspires the reader to pay closer attention to the marvels that surround us all, and is packed with handy tips to help bring nature even closer to us.

More publications by Simon Barnes

Aja Naomi King To Star In NBC Drama Pilot ‘Grosse Point Garden Society’

Aja Naomi King , is jumping into yet another murderous drama, joining the NBC drama pilot Grosse Point Garden Society as a lead.

Deadline reports that King will star in NBC’s drama pilot Grosse Point Garden Society . She will join Melissa Fumero, Ben Rappaport and AnnaSophia Robb as series leads. Insecure’s Alexander Hodge and Matthew Davis will also star as part of the main cast.

King, Fumero, Robb and Rappaport will portray a suburban garden club from different backgrounds who get caught up in murder and mischief as they struggle to make their conventional lives bloom.

The How to Get Away with Murder plays Catherine, “an unhappily married mother of two younger children” who also works as a realtor. Her character description states that she “works off some of her loneliness with a very juicy secret.” Could it be an affair? Could she be a murderer? We will find out soon.

King’s recent roles include Black British rom-com Boxing Day and Apple TV+ drama Lessons in Chemistry starring Brie Larson.

Electrostal History and Art Museum

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Electrostal History and Art Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo lead incredible Knicks’ Game 2 win over Sixers | Takeaways

NEW YORK – The Knicks are officially in control.

They again battled back from a rough start to pull out a 104-101 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers Monday night in Game 2 of their first-round series.

The series now shifts to Philadelphia, where Game 3 will be held at Wells Fargo Center on Thursday (7:30 p.m., TNT/MSG Network).

The Knicks will head down the Turnpike with plenty of momentum after taking full advantage of a raucous and loud Garden crowd.

The Sixers took a five-point lead with 27 seconds left after a three-pointer by Tyrese Maxey and free throw by Kyle Lowry, but got Josh Hart got a steal and Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo drained back-to-back triples to push the Knicks ahead by one point with 13.1 seconds to go with the Garden exploding in the process.

It was a wild 14-second span in what’s becoming a wild series.

Maxey out of a timeout drove the basket for missed the layup.

OG Anunoby got fouled and hit both foul shots to make it a three-point game and Joel Embiid missed a three as time expired.

The Knicks won again.

It was a chippy first half that ultimately ended with the Sixers taking a 53-49 lead into the break – which was promising for the Knicks, who again got off to a slow start and trailed by 10 at one point in the first half.

The Knicks retook the lead in the third quarter, and once again it was a fight right down to the final second.

'WE'RE STICKING TOGETHER NO MATTER WHAT' Why you should never count these Knicks out

Big night for the Villanova three

The trio of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo all delivered for the Knicks as they head back to the city where they played in college.

Brunson finished with 24 points, Hart had 21 and DiVincenzo had 19. Hart was 4-of-7 from the perimeter while DiVincenzo was 4-of-8.

They’re the Knicks engine and it showed.

The Sixers aren’t making anything easy for Brunson, who shot 8-of-29 (1-of-6 from deep) but he delivered with a huge shot late.

Knicks turn in gritty performance… again

You can never count these Knicks out.

Slow starts. Bad shooting displays early in games. Double-digit deficits.

The Knicks still manage to find a way to climb back and regain leads. It’s something they’ve done all season on the way to earning the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. They earned the reputation of being one of the NBA’s toughest, grittiest teams to go against.

On a big stage in the NBA playoffs, they’re showcasing why.

Joel Embiid a target of the Garden crowd

The Sixers center and reigning Most Valuable Player has officially reached villain status at MSG.

Embiid heard vociferous boos throughout the night – during one sequence he got called for a personal foul and then quickly drew a technical foul after pushing DiVincenzo. The crowd let him hear about it, chanting “(Expletive) Embiid!.” Embiid heard loud boos whenever he touched the ball or whenever the Knicks defense shut him down.

Embiid finished with 34 points and 11 rebounds.

It still wasn’t enough on this night.

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40 facts about elektrostal.

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 02 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy, materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes, offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development.

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy, with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

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Tidewater Review | Amid budget crunch, King William may seek more…

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Tidewater review | amid budget crunch, king william may seek more money from west point for 911 services.

KING WILLIAM — The town of West Point faces a demand to pay more for the dispatch service King William County’s Sheriff’s Office provides amid a staffing crisis in the 911 center.

During the April 15 Board of Supervisors budget work session, one supervisor threatened to withdraw 911 dispatch from West Point unless the town pays more.

However, the town says the $40,000 it pays annually to King William comes on top of the taxes residents pay to the county.

The work session ended in board Chair Lindsay Robinson directing County Administrator Percy Ashcraft to open negotiations with Town Manager John Edwards over the dispatch contract.

During discussion, supervisor Ben Edwards took issue with the argument that West Point pays the same amount as other districts.

“They are not,” he said. “I feel like, personally, if they think they are doing so well, cut off 911 services and let them do it themselves. See how far they get with that.”

“I think it needs to be renegotiated,” said supervisor Mary Sue Bancroft. “I have read the contract and the contract specifically states that it is to cover the expenses to operate and provide such a service to the town. Well, $40,000 … in 2024 does not cover increased expenditures.”

She argued the cost of running a dispatch center “far outweighs that initial agreement” and the agreement must be brought up to date. “It is a big benefit and they are getting away with a very minimal if not a steal of an amount,” she said.

“I’d like to see that completed by the end of April if at all possible so that they can prepare their budget for July 1 as well. If they are going to need to pay more, they need to prepare that in their budget.”

David Wilson, a consultant hired by King William County, said West Point accounts for about 50% of all EMS calls. “I do know $40,000 does not seem enough,” he said.

Supervisor Bill Hodges, whose District 1 covers West Point, said the town pays the same as the other districts.

Sheriff Don Lumpkin said nobody has discussed the contract with West Point. He said it was his understanding that Ashcraft would be sitting down with the town manager to discuss the contract.

“If the board has a recommendation at some point that they would like to renegotiate the number I will take that information to the town manager,” Ashcraft said.

However, Ashcraft said under the contract no new agreement with West Point could go into effect until July 1, 2025.

Lumpkin argued the existing contract is void because it was drawn up by the previous sheriff.

During the budget work session, Lumpkin highlighted financial concerns related to the sheriff’s office, which he said is five positions short of its 45 complement. He said the money is not in the budget for at least three previously approved new hires. Lumpkin said deputies have been denied funds on their fuel cards on patrol.

Lumpkin said 911 dispatch is “burning overtime” and the dispatchers face training this month. “There are going to be two or three weeks of hell when they are going to be working day in, day out with their training and their work schedule,” he said.

Lumpkin said three deputies who are former dispatchers are covering shifts. “We are spending over $8,000 in overtime to cover training,” he said. “If we lose one dispatcher, we are not going to have dispatch,” he said.

Melissa Anderson, a spokeswoman for West Point, said the $40,000 the town pays to King William for EMS dispatch services is in addition to the taxes paid to the county that comprise about 21% of King William County’s general property fund taxes.

West Point Mayor Jack Lawson said either party can give notice of their intention to withdraw from the contract by Jan. 1 the following year. “The town has received no notice from the county. All we know of the county’s concern is what has been stated at (Board of Supervisor) meetings.

“In tax year 2023, King William levied over $3.5 million in property taxes on the citizens and businesses located in West Point,” Lawson said.

David Macaulay, [email protected]

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