Garden Route Trips

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Garden Route

is a scenic coastline

in the Western Cape

suffers from heavy over-development

The Garden Route is located in the Western Cape of South Africa.

This famous section of the coast starts at Mossel Bay, around 350 km east of Cape Town, and runs for 200km to the mouth of the Storms River.

Here the mountains of the Karoo Desert encroach upon the ocean to provide a relatively narrow band of dense forests, rich agricultural landscapes and broad beaches.

The ‘Garden Route’ concept was first invented in the 1980s by the local tourist board in an attempt to lure more international visitors to this relatively remote and little-visited stretch of coastline.

Rarely has a venture been more thoroughly a victim of its own success!

Over the intervening decades this area has changed enormously, with the string of what were once pretty little coastal villages having now been massively extended by main roads, holiday homes, retirement villages, shopping malls and golf courses.

We find it all very depressing to be honest. The area may well be a pleasant place to live, but so far as most of our guests are concerned it’s generally an area to avoid in favour of other more beautiful, authentic and interesting parts of the Western Cape.

For example, the inland route that deviates around the R62 through the Little Karoo tends to be much more enjoyable these days.

There are some major exceptions however, specific reasons why it may be worth including this area and, indeed, a few sections of the Garden Route which remain unspoiled and gorgeous.

We divide the Garden Route into seven areas, each of which is very different from the next.

The Garden Route starts at Mossel Bay and runs for 200km east to the mouth of the Storms River.

Here the mountains of the Karoo Desert are folded against the ocean, providing a narrow band of dramatic forested scenery above broad sandy beaches.

Not so long ago, this area contained a string of incredibly beautiful and atmospheric small towns.

The unfortunate reality today is one of a very busy main road connecting sprawling towns packed with holiday homes, retirement villages, shopping malls and golf courses.

These towns may be great places to live, but they have definitely lost a great deal of their appeal for international visitors.

However there are exceptions and it is still just about possible to include the Garden Route in quality self-drive trips.

We sub-divide the Garden Route into seven main areas, each with their own distinct character ...

Nature’s Valley is by far the quietest and most naturally attractive area.

Storms River is a very cool area for outdoorsy activities, but short on accommodation.

Plettenberg Bay is a very busy and fast growing town with a resort style atmosphere.

Knysna is in a fabulous natural harbour, but the town has expanded massively in recent years.

Wilderness and Sedgefield are naturally beautiful areas whose appeal is also much impaired by modern development.

George is another seriously blighted place, but does contain some famous and very high quality golf courses.

Mossel Bay has never been a pretty place, but does offer some superb palaeontology and modest wildlife reserves.

Gallery

Map

Set in the Western Cape, George is a large commercial town which is heavily blighted by modern development and of little general interest to most international visitors, with the notable exception of the high class golf courses and hotels in the area.

famous for golf

The famous golf courses at Fancourt lie to the northwest of the town.

These high class courses, hotels and timeshares are the main reason to visit the area.

Go to George

Set on the Garden Route, Knysna is a provincial town that surrounds a fabulous natural lagoon and harbour. Not so long ago this was a very quaint and scenic place, but it’s now blighted by a massive expansion of holiday homes and retirement villages.

maybe a nice place to retire

Knysna is set around an incredible natural lagoon and surrounded by dense hardwood forests.

The lagoon is accessed from the ocean through this narrow gap between ‘The Heads’.

It is easy to see why international visitors were once so attracted to this stretch of coastline.

In recent years Knysna has expanded almost out of recognition.

Most of this development is aimed at a domestic residential audience.

Unlike the other towns on the Garden Route, the main N2 highway cuts right through the middle of Knysna.

The old fashioned Leisure Isle is a nice relaxed suburb out near The Heads.

Further relaxed suburbs line hillsides on the ocean side …

… as well as several decent golf courses.

There is a vast range of accommodation options.

Go to Knysna

Set on the Garden Route, Mossel Bay is an industrial port which has never really had the allure of the prettier towns in the area, but whose vicinity does offer some amazing palaeontology and a couple of modest wildlife reserves.

incredible palaeontology in sea caves

The most easterly of the Garden Route towns, Mossel Bay does have a few significant points of interest.

Inland there are some modest wildlife reserves, perhaps most interesting for families with very small children.

Go to Mossel Bay

Set on the Garden Route, Nature’s Valley is a wonderfully peaceful settlement in an absolutely beautiful bay and is by far the most attractive section of this coastline, with some really strong accommodation options. Good for hiking and horse-riding too.

the prettiest section of the Garden Route

The sleepy settlement of Nature’s Valley lies blissfully removed from the outside world, encircled by wildife reserves.

The village itself consists of just four streets of private holiday homes and is extremely relaxed.

The beach is absolutely stunning and popular with families.

There are also some superb hiking trails in the area.

Our favourite trail leads west to this fabulous secret cove at the mouth of the Brak Rivier.

The area has loads of activities for kids, several including interaction with animals …

… plus a handful of wineries with tasting rooms and restaurants.

There is a decent range of accommodation options, largely in The Crags area further inland.

The area is usually accessed as part of a 7 to 14 night self-drive trip between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.

Go to Nature’s Valley

Set on the Garden Route, Plettenberg Bay is a coastal town set on a dramatic peninsula with some lovely beaches, lagoons and marinas. Unfortunately the town is growing at a fearsome pace and has lost a great deal of its charm, but it remains popular with domestic holidaymakers and retired folks.

a major beach resort

Plettenberg Bay is set on a prominent headland above two sweeping east facing bays.

It it a very fast growing and substantial town, a mix of residential, vacation and retirement homes.

The place has changed and expanded out of all recognition in recent years.

The previously sleepy little village has turned into a bustling town, especially during peak seasons.

The lagoons to the north are popular for sailing and kayaking in particular.

To the south the Robberg Peninsular has some decent hiking trails.

Only a handful of good quality accommodation options are aimed at the international market.

The area is usually accessed as part of a 7 to 14 night self-drive trip between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.

Go to Plettenberg Bay

Set on the Garden Route, Storms River is a dramatic ocean location with some great outdoor activities, notably including a couple of well known multiple day coastal hiking trails and an enormous bungee jump, but light on quality accommodation.

an adventurous section of the coastline

The Storms River reaches the ocean through a dramatic defile in the cliffs.

The area is famed for its fantastic multiple day coastal hikes.

Outdoorsy activities in the area include kayak and lilo trips upstream into the precipitous gorge.

Inland lies the famous Bloukrans Bridge, the world’s highest commercial bungee jump.

For accommodation there is a large and rather mediocre restcamp down at the waterfront.

Further modest lodges can be found in the settlement further inland.

Most of our guests visit Storms River from a base in the Nature’s Valley area just to the west.

Go to Storms River

Set on the Garden Route, Wilderness and Sedgefield is an area of great natural beauty, with fabulous sandy beaches and a remarkable string of inland lagoons. Unfortunately this has largely been spoiled by a massive main road right through the middle and rampant modern development either side.