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.
May 7, 2024
Very helpful even with ever changing trip!
Anja was very helpful in getting our tour booked for our group. With date changes, time changes, even up to the last minute flight changes, she was on top of things! We will use Safari.com in the future for our Kenya safari trips.
May 7, 2024
Wonderful experience with Safari.com
Wonderful experience with Safari.com. My Safari Agent, Dolan, has 20+ years of experience in booking a memorable safari. He guided me in picking the right lodging and safari within my budget. He offered several options and answered all my questions. His response time was fast, regardless of the international time difference, and we were able to make quick decisions. Highly recommend.
May 7, 2024
Dorothy was very helpful and courteous
Dorothy was very helpful and courteous. Very patient and kept me at ease. One thig did not work she offered something else. Amazing problem solving skills , communication and something I do not see a lot of today.. Great customer service!!!
May 6, 2024
Excellent service
I have been extremely impressed with the communication with John Pascal. He has taken care of my trip and I look forward to my visit. He has reduced my stress!
May 6, 2024
I would like to thank all the staff at…
I would like to thank all the staff at Safari.com. I have just returned from a fabulous trip to South Africa organised with their help. Very helpful, efficient and kind people.
May 5, 2024
Shann was very responsive
Shann was very responsive, provided multiple options, and was flexible to our changing needs and desires. Our travel selection was somewhat last minute and Shann was able to accommodate with many price points and reserves that were lower malaria risks.
May 3, 2024
Exceptional Planning and Service by Shann & Safari.com
I had an exceptional experience working with Shann as my travel advisor for planning my upcoming trip to Kruger, Botswana, and Victoria Falls. She was incredibly attentive and accommodating, seamlessly tailoring the trip to fit our budget and preferences. Shann’s meticulous attention to detail in the planning process has given us complete confidence that our trip will be smooth and memorable. She is always prompt in her responses and available to answer any questions we might have. I highly recommend her and safari.com
May 3, 2024
Leigh-Ann was amazing.
Leigh-Ann was amazing. She worked incredibly hard to provide us with our complex safari in Botswana and our travel and accommodation in South Africa. Leigh-Ann was always very helpful and encouraging which must have been very difficult for her as we were within a very tight time schedule to arrange our holiday. She was very thoughtful and even included a list of the things we would need to take. I am so happy with the final outcome and I am very thankful to Leigh-Ann and the other Safari.com team members who worked so hard to make our dream safari a reality.
May 2, 2024
Super!!!
Shann is great. From the first moment we got in touch. Very friendly, helpfull, patience and always available. We have a very good feeling. Looking forward to everything she arranged. Not only the safari, but also the rest of the holiday. I am sure it will be unforgettable. Thank you sooo much.