The Garden Route

South Africa’s Garden Route is regarded as one of the most beautiful drives in the world. By no exaggeration, you’ll want to stop and take a photograph every few minutes along this 300-kilometer stretch of coastal road. One side of the road is bordered by the Indian Ocean. You will never get tired of seeing the blue, azure waters sparkling under the African sun – it’s simply unforgettable. On the other side of the road, the mountain rangers of Tsitsikamma and Outeniqua stand tall and strong, dominating the skyline.

The Garden Route National Park is a protected area that encompasses these vibrant, green landscapes and ecosystems. Because of the quality of the road, self-driving the Garden Route is particularly popular. With a hired car (which we can help arrange), you can enjoy leisurely driving this route, embracing all of the viewpoints and stops along the way. You’ll pass through picturesque towns with beautiful family-owned coffee shops and restaurants, as well as quaint gift and craft shops.

We’d suggest four or five days to enjoy driving along the Garden Route. From Cape Town, you’ll drive through the Mossel Bay and Tsitsikamma Forest to the idyllic town of Knysna. This town has some stunning bays, with white-sand beaches and glistening ocean views. Continue driving through to Oudtshoorn – an area famous for ostrich farming. In fact, it’s often referred to as the Feather Capital of the World because of the number of ostrich farms that you can go and visit. There are also the Cango Caves located just outside of Oudtshoorn, which are also worth visiting because of their impressive limestone rock formations.

The Cape of Good Hope in Cape Town is often mistaken for this title, but further along, the coast in a place called Agulhas is the real southernmost tip of Africa. There are jaw-dropping views out to the open ocean here. Continue through Walker Bay and you’ll reach Hermanus – the whale-spotting capital of South Africa. There is so much to do along this stretch of coast – from eating at award-winning independent restaurants to adrenaline-fueled activities like shark-cage diving. Of course, between September and November, there is a good opportunity to see whales – both the Southern Right and the Humpback Whales. Although shy in nature, you can sometimes find the Bryde whale species too. Find out more about the best places for whale-watching in South Africa.