The Garden Route

Name: The Garden Route
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.7 (152 reviews)

Top 5 Places to Discover on the Garden Route

Storms River

The mouth of Storms River, where the waterway meets the Indian Ocean, is generally considered the start (or end) of the Garden Route. See the ocean break across the rocky shore whilst staying in a chalet overlooking the coastline. The area is a great place for bird enthusiasts with a variety of sea, forest and fynbos (scrubland) species present. Other resident animals include vervet monkeys, chacma baboons and clawless otters.

Hike in Tsitsikamma National Park

Getting its name from a local word meaning ‘place of abundant water’ and encompassing land and sea, Tsitsikamma National Park is a diverse wilderness of lush forest, epic canyons and magnificent coastal views. One of the most challenging hikes is the Otter Trail, a well-marked hike with some small ladders and boulder hopping. This is the only walk that has rocky shoreline sections to it, taking us through the forest, past the Strandloper Cave and ending at a waterfall dropping into the ocean.

Visit Kynsna Heads and Mossel Bay

One of the most picturesque sights on the Garden Route is Knysna Heads – a pair of sandstone cliffs that form a channel separating the calm waters of Knysna Lagoon from the turbulent Indian Ocean. Also worth a visit is Mossel Bay, a quaint coastal town home to The Post Office Tree, a landmark where seafarers once left letters to be taken home by Portuguese sailors.

Discover Oudtshoorn and the Cango Caves

The Little Karoo is a dry, hot region, located inland but still considered a great stop as part of the classic Garden Route. Oudtshoorn itself became renowned for its trade in ostrich feathers and is still regarded as the ostrich capital of the world. The Cango Caves are an extensive complex of caverns with stalactites and stalagmites. Discover these fascinating limestone caves with a local guide who will take you on a journey through the ages.

Whale Watching in Hermanus

Travel to Hermanus between June and November for a chance to spot migratory southern right whales as you stand on the shore. Whales visit the area each year to mate and calf in the secluded waters and can be seen frolicking in Walker Bay. A whale crier will sound his kelp horn when he spots whales off the coast. As well as land-based whale watching you can join a boat trip or visit the Whale Museum to discover more.

Garden Route Trips

The stunning scenery makes this stretch of coastline one of the world’s great drives, and Garden Route trips are widely regarded as a highlight of any holiday to South Africa.

The wine region of Stellenbosch enjoys world-wide fame, and aside from great wines, the rolling vineyards set out below rising peaks are a photographer’s delight. From the coast there’s also excellent land-based whale watching from August to early November. This area can be explored on foot or bicycle, and there’s the opportunity to try abseiling, black-water tubing or even bungee jumping too.

The Garden Route Adventure Holidays

12 Days from 2 275 €

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

South African icons: safari, dramatic coastal roads, electric cities and unforgettable landscapes

Culture

10 Days from 3 240 €

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Experience South Africa’s iconic adventure route with the people who know every twist, turn and hidden gem

Culture

11 Days from 6 360 €

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

From vibrant Cape Town to the wild African bush: this is South Africa’s greatest road trip in full bloom

Culture

12 Days from 3 275 €

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Vineyards, mountain passes and South Africa's coastline

Cycling

12 Days from 5 760 €

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Dramatic coastal scenery and world-class wine

Culture

14 Days from 5 340 €

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Join talented cycling leaders to ride the ‘greatest road trip in South Africa’ by bike

Cycling

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I can’t tell you how enjoyable this trip was. We were 8 people in the group, as well as our brilliant guide Ado and the excellent driver Gavin. So much work went into making this trip just amazing. Everything worked out just perfectly, we had no punctures or problems at all. Ado’s knowledge of South Africa and its history was incredible as well as the entire continent. The group all got on well with one another and we stayed at some really nice hotels along the way. The only thing is I wanted to do it all over again!

Jules Giddings Cycling the Cape & Winelands

This tour was well paced and a great introduction to South Africa, especially for travelers who enjoy exploring the world and finding the unexpected. One of the biggest surprises was the food. The cuisine was so unique and, as our guide advised us, plentiful. Paired with excellent South African wine, you are completely spoiled. Don’t hesitate to try new things such as Bobotie or ostrich.

All of the areas we visited were beautiful. I particularly loved Hermanus with its charming vibe and a spectacular whale watch, and I will dream of Tsitsikamma for a long time. Gazing into tide pools and spotting a beautiful octopus was incredible. Of course, a big part of Africa is the wildlife and this tour gives you plenty of exposure to many of the animals you hope to see. The elephants at Addo felt like something out of a movie. Cape Town is also fascinating. I had no idea the Cape of Good Hope was so vast. The beauty cannot be surpassed. We were lucky enough to have a perfect view at the top of Table Mountain, as well. The people are incredibly kind and friendly wherever you go and it we enjoyed experiencing the mixture of cultures.

The accommodations on this tour vary, but we enjoyed them all. The guesthouse in De Rust was so special as the hosts cooked incredible meals for us each night and treated us like special friends.

All in all, the time in South Africa was something I will never forget. The people, the scenery, the animals, the food…all of it was so much more than what I expected.

Anne Edwards Cape Town & the Garden Route

I have never been so close to the wildlife, from Addo National park to Harmenus – I been with the nature and the its amazing creatures. This trip is a must go if you want to experience good food, comfortable journey, natural beauties and off course the wild life.

Joyeeta Deb Cape Town & the Garden Route

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