Garden Route Holidays
Embark on one of the worlds most spectacular drives with a Garden Route holiday. Explore 300km of breathtaking coastlines, mysterious forests, golden beaches, peaceful lagoons, sprawling wetlands and picturesque towns on a road trip that uncovers some of the best sights of South Africa.
The world-famous Garden Route is overflowing with unforgettable hiking trails, forest adventures, wildlife encounters, relaxing beach days and insightful opportunities to learn about South Africa’s incredible history.
The iconic Garden Route
There are many natural wonders to explore on this stunning coastal drive and the Garden Route National Park is not to be missed. With a marine conservation belt that stretches over five kilometres out into the ocean, dramatic river gorges, rugged mountainscapes and vast stretches of sandy white coastline, it will take your breath away. Visit the Knysna Lagoon area, well known for its fresh oysters, walking tracks, lagoons and more. Spend your morning on a relaxing walk taking in the sights of this stunning location and then head into town to unwind with a delicious fresh-off-the-boat seafood lunch at Knysna Waterfront.
Our Garden Route highlights tour is a four-day journey which takes you to the magical Cango Caves of Oudtshoorn, the Knysna Elephant Sanctuary and Tsitsikamma National Park. Why not extend your stay with an exciting Big Five safari at one of our luxury safari lodges? Alternatively, opt for a self-drive tour and explore at your own pace and combine Cape Town, the Garden Route and Eastern Cape through our A Tale of Two Capes itinerary. With so much to see and do in this location, we recommend giving our Destination Specialists a call, they will help you put together a Garden Route holiday to remember.
Destination Highlights
Great sample itineraries
Browse through a wide selection of Garden Route tours, available for all kinds of holidaymakers. If you can’t see what you’re looking for below, give us a call to discuss all your options.
Garden Route and Eastern Cape Safari
Guide Price £3,599 pp
This 12-day self drive holiday gives you the opportunity to explore the vibrant city of Cape Town and its surrounding scenery, including Table Mountain and Robben Island, as well as stunning beaches and pretty coastal villages. Leaving Cape Town, you'll...
Adventure holidays
Cape Town and Eastern Cape Multi Centre
Guide Price £2,899 pp
One of the most popular South Africa itineraries twins a visit to the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town with the game reserves in the Eastern Cape province. Cape Town is the oldest city in South Africa and has been voted...
Self drive holidays
Highlights of the Garden Route
Guide Price £799 pp
Discover the unrivalled natural wonders of South Africa and enjoy the hidden gems of the world-famous Garden Route as you journey from your starting point in vibrant Cape Town to the coastal town of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape...
Escorted tours
Cape Town and Botswana by Belmond
Our Cape Town and Botswana multi-centre holiday allows you to combine the sophisticated urban cool of Cape Town with the breath taking wildness of Botswana’s Chobe National Park. It’s a brilliant way to see two different sides to Africa. Your...
Adventure holidays
Our favourite hotels
There are a wide variety of Garden Route hotels to choose from. We’ve listed some of our favourite places to stay below however, our Destination Specialists would love to assist you with any personal preferences.
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![a person sitting next to a body of water next to the ocean]()
Plettenberg
First named Bahia Formosa or 'beautiful bay' – and it's easy to see why – Plettenberg is home to stunning beaches and wonderful coasts, making it the perfect stop-off for some relaxation and sunset-chasing. Located just 600 kilometres from Cape Town, you'll find attractions such as the Robberg Peninsular Nature Reserve and the Birds of Eden aviary here, along with the chance to embark on a whale-watching or sea kayaking trip. Be sure to make a pitstop in Plettenberg for outdoor thrills and beautiful views.
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![a close up of a pier next to a body of water]()
Knysna
So perilous to seafarers that it never became a major port, the entrance to Knysna's blue-green lagoon is guarded by the towering natural defences of the Knysna Heads. Like buttresses of sandstone, they funnel the Indian Ocean through their narrow channel, sheltering the waters in their rocky embrace. Spend time on the lagoon on a catamaran tour or soak up the views from the hiking paths above.
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![Oudtshoorn]( "Oudtshoorn")
Oudtshoorn
Holidays in Oudtshoorn offer fantastic up-close encounters with nature. From the semi-desert Karoo and Cape thickets to the Fynbos, there's a spectacular diversity of flora and wildlife spread throughout the unique natural landscape of this Garden Route town.
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![a bridge over a body of water]()
Tsitsikamma National Park
Dramatic river gorges, indigenous forests and stunning coastline make Tsitsikamma National Park absolutely beautiful. With adventure activities that will see you soaring with birds and diving with dolphins, explore the serene wonderland high above the forest on a canopy tour, gently gliding from treetop to treetop amid the giant Outeniqua Yellowwoods with Knysna loeries, Narina trogons and vervet monkeys.
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Christie
Destination Executive
“Drive Route 62; the longest Wine Route in the world. This road trip provides a window to the Karoo, an extraordinary semi-arid landscape that runs parallel to the lush landscapes of the Garden Route.”
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Indianna
Sales Performance Leader
“Outdoor enthusiasts will absolutely love Storms River. With an abundance of raw natural beauty and endless scenes of splendour, this location has so much to offer it’s worth staying a night or two. Thrill-seekers may enjoy a bungee jump off Bloukrans Bridge, or for something a little less wild, try the canopy tour and zip lining in Tsitsikamma.”
Garden Route Events & Festivals
The Garden Route offers a huge selection of fun events and festivals held throughout the year that can be enjoyed by everyone. Here’s a couple of our top suggestions.
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Knysna Oyster Festival
One of the most popular annual events in the Western Cape. Enjoy oysters, served naked, cooked or garnished at over 30 local Tabasco Hotspots throughout the festival. There will be live music and comedy, bike races and marathons. This event is held in June and offers a fun day out for everyone.
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Knysna Timber Festival
Ideal for DIY enthusiasts! Enjoy workshops and talks on woodworking tools and wood joining techniques. This is a family-friendly event where kids can take part in woodworking activities and learn about the world of timber.
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Knysna Motor Show
Aimed at entertaining the entire family, the 2019 Knysna Motor Show is a one-day event where you can check out a wide range of impressive vintage, veteran and classic cars, as well as classic motorcycles and rare modern supercars.
Local cuisine
Along with many traditional South African dishes such as Braai, curries and stews, fresh seafood is the main attraction. From classic fish and chips to fresh-off-the-boat seafood platters and Cape Malay seafood curry, you’ll find the food on the Garden Route will be a highlight of your holiday.
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Cheese
With many of the Winelands towns situated on the Garden Route, there is no shortage of opportunities to fill your boots with cheese whilst sampling some of the best wines in the country. Fynboshoek Cheese in Tsitsikamma has no menu, you are simply greeted with warm doughy rosemary focaccia bread and a huge variety of award-winning cheeses accompanied with crunchy fresh salads. For dessert? Cheesecake of course.
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Seafood
Indulge in fresh-off-the-boat oysters, prawns, crab and lobster, washed down with a delicious ice-cold glass of South Africa’s finest wine. The Garden Route is renowned for its sophisticated seafood restaurants and they do not disappoint.
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Ostrich
Headlines Restaurant in Oudtshoorn is the only restaurant in the world that specialises in ostrich cuisine so if you’re keen to try ostrich for the first time, this would be the perfect place. This very lean meat tastes and looks like fillet steak yet lower in fat than skinned chicken or turkey.
Frequently Asked Questions
We recommend that you allow at least 4 –5 days to travel the Garden Route and stop off to explore. However, this is dependent on what you want to do and your overall itinerary.
In short, no – it's not necessary to travel from west to east. Cape Town is a natural starting point for the tour if you're flying in from the UK but it's just as likely that you might want to depart from there. You might also fly into George airport via Johannesburg (from elsewhere in South Africa) which is at the eastern end of the route.
We recommend you pack sunscreen, a hat or cap, binoculars, comfortable walking or hiking shoes and a good camera to capture your adventure. A jacket or lightweight rain coat is also a good idea – just in case there's a light shower.
