Garden Route
A ~300 km coastal drive of indigenous forest, lagoons and dramatic shoreline, from Mossel Bay to the Storms River in the Tsitsikamma.
- Distance
- 300 km
- Duration
- 5–7 days
- Best season
- Spring to autumn (Sep–Apr); southern right whales pass Jun–Nov
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
The Garden Route is South Africa's classic self-drive, tracing roughly 300 km of the southern Cape coast between Mossel Bay and the Storms River. Indigenous forest, tidal lagoons, mountain passes and beach towns follow one another in quick succession.
It is as much an adventure route as a scenic one — kayaking on the Knysna lagoon, forest canopy tours, whale watching and the leap from Bloukrans all lie along the way.
Along the route
- 1
Mossel Bay
The western gateway, where the drive meets the Indian Ocean.
- 2
Wilderness & Knysna
Lakes, lagoons and the forested Garden Route National Park around the Knysna estuary.
- 3
Plettenberg Bay
White-sand beaches and a Whale Heritage coastline.
- 4
Tsitsikamma & Bloukrans
Ancient forest, suspension bridges and the world's highest bridge bungy.
Bloukrans Bridge Bungy