drive the glorious garden route

Listed by many as one of the worlds best drives, this 125-mile stretch of windy roads through charming seaside towns, dense forests, rugged coastlines and some of the best golf courses in South Africa, are certain to leave you with nothing but lifelong memories.

CHARMING COASTAL TOWNS AND INCREDIBLE SCENERY

Start of your amazing trip out of Cape Town or the Winelands by visiting the lovely seaside town of Hermanus, where southern right whales settle in Walker Bay to breed (July to November). This is an excellent spot for whale watching as well as an exhilarating shark diving experience in nearby Gaansbai.

Alternatively, you can drive inland and the take dramatic Route 62, through rugged valleys and rolling vineyards. Stop off at the delightful town of Montagu with its traditional white Cape Dutch architecture, before heading off on an amazing safari adventure at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve tracking down the ‘Big 5’. Further along, the desert-like town of Oudtshoorn offers a unique opportunity to meet its local residents: ostriches and meerkats.

The neighbouring towns of George and Wilderness are a great base to relax, with a number of fantastic lodges, nearby beaches and several championship golf courses dotted through stunning countryside scenery. There is easy access to a number of rivers, estuaries and beaches of Wilderness National Park, which can be explored by foot, bike or even canoe.

Knysna is one of the main hubs on the Garden Route with a fantastic all-year-round climate, making it an ideal base from which to explore. This lively fishing town has a fantastic waterfront complex with a number of excellent shops and restaurants renowned for its delicious oyster dishes. Elsewhere is a host of activities for everybody to enjoy, from the sheltered Knysna Lagoon, protected by the Knysna Heads, to hiking in the wonderful Featherbed Nature Reserve.

Something that can’t be missed on your Garden Route adventure is a visit to the incredible Knysna Elephant Park, an excellent rescue facility where guests can closely interact with elephants in their natural habitats.

Further east is the upmarket and picturesque town of Plettenberg Bay (or ‘Plett’ as it’s known locally). The town is the summer home of the rich and famous and is a ‘must visit’ when travelling to this part of the world, with miles of sweeping golden beaches, boutique shops and chic cafés. There is an endless amount of activities to do here, such as surfing, scuba diving and fishing as well as marine spotting with seals, dolphins and whales (in season) visible from the shore; boat trips are also available for an even closer look.

Nearby is the Tsitsikamma National Park, an indigenous forest teeming with bird and marine life. This is a magnificent place for walks, horse-riding or mountain biking with varied trails and scenic viewpoints. Once your incredible Garden Route holiday sadly comes to an end, you can either head back to Cape Town or drive further eastwards to Port Elizabeth where you can hop on a domestic flight to any part of South Africa.

Spend a half-day, or entire day in the stunning Robberg Nature and Marine Reserve, which sits on a Peninsula just south-east of Plettenberg Bay, home to some incredibly scenic coastal walks, and is teeming with wildlife.