South Africa · Western Cape
The Garden Route travel guide
A coastal road trip through forests and lagoons
The Knysna Heads on the Garden Route. Photo: Terence27, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Garden Route runs about 300km along the south coast between Mossel Bay and Storms River, past lagoons, beaches and forests.
Highlights include Knysna's lagoon, Plettenberg Bay's beaches, the suspension bridge in Tsitsikamma and the world's highest bungee jump at Bloukrans.
What The Garden Route is known for
- Knysna
A lagoon and the Heads.
- Bloukrans bungee
The world's highest bridge bungee.
- Tsitsikamma
Forest and suspension bridge.
- Dolphins and whales
Off Plettenberg Bay.
Top things to do in The Garden Route
Where to stay in The Garden Route
Best time to visit The Garden Route
Best value: Apr–May, Sep–Nov. October to April: warm and mostly sunny.
- Best valueGood weather, smaller crowds
- PeakBusiest, highest prices
- QuietCheapest, cooler or wetter
Getting there and around
About 12h 30m from London to GRJ, and flights from most UK airports. How long is the flight from your airport?
Hire a car from Cape Town or fly to George.
Car hire in The Garden Route Airport transfer to The Garden Route
Good to know
- Allow at least five days with Cape Town.
- Combine with a malaria-free Eastern Cape safari.
- Avoid driving after dark.
The Garden Route FAQ
How long is the Garden Route?
About 300km.
How many days do I need?
Four to seven days.
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StellenboschWine · Western Cape
HermanusCoast · Western Cape
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