Garden Route Adventure Trail Garden Route self-drive trip

One of the most beautiful areas in South Africa can be found between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. The road connecting these two cities is known as the Garden Route and it is a must for any traveller's South Africa itinerary. The breathtaking scenery is one reason to park your car and look around, but there are also many enjoyable outdoor activities that you can participate in as well.

This Garden Route adventure module is made up of 3 strategically planned stays. Below you'll find a list of must-see's and must-dos for each location:
- Knysna: visit Tsitiskamma Park and Knysna (pronounced: neye-z-na) lagoon, go hiking or go on a whale-watching cruise.
- Oudtshoorn: visit caves, the Swartberg pass (Black Mountain Pass) and see ostriches. 
- Swellendam: visit Cape-Dutch style houses in mountainous, green surroundings, go kayaking on the Breede River, ride a mountain bike, go trekking or rafting.

The Garden Route adventure can be done in 5 days and 4 nights. However, if you want to enjoy the surroundings, we suggest adding on 1 or 2 additional nights at one of the locations mentioned below. Naturally you can also travel through this module in reverse.

On the first day of your Garden Route adventure, you'll drive from Port Elizabeth to Knysna and if you like you can stop at the beach towns Francis Bay or Jeffrey’s Bay along the way. Eventually you'll reach the Tsitsikamma National Park, where you can stop for a while and hike one of the many trails set out through the area. For instance, go on a one hour walk to the wobbling Suspension Bridge.

At the end of the day you'll reach Knysna, your home base for the next couple of days. It's a vibrant seaside town at the hub of the Garden Route, and your hotel is centrally located near restaurants and the waterfront.

Total distance on Day 1 is approximately 290 km.

Today you'll spend the day in Knysna and surrounding areas. Knysna is one of the most important towns on our Garden Route adventure. Everything you could possibly need is nearby, including a beautiful lagoon. The town itself isn't very large; however there are fun bars, pubs and restaurants that feature live-music until late at night. There's plenty to do during the day as well: hiking, dolphin-spotting or whale-watching, kayaking on the Knysna lagoon, diving, snorkelling, mountain biking, rock climbing or visit Tsitsikamma or the Robberg reserve.

This morning you'll travel from Knysna lagoon to George, through the arid region of the Small Karoo. This is where you'll find the ostrich-feather capital of the world, Oudtshoorn. This spacious town has broad lanes, lovely old buildings and a hospitable atmosphere. Spend the night just outside of town, amidst ostrich farms, in our cosy guest house with swimming pool. Breakfast is included.

In the afternoon, you'll have several different options available to you such as a visit to the nearby Cango limestone caves. If you prefer to remain outdoors, drive on a little further until you reach the beautiful 'Rust en Vrede' ('Rest and Peace') waterfall. It's located in a small natural park that closes at 16.30. Another option is to visit the Cango wildlife ranch. This is a small zoo where you not only can look at animals, but you can also pet a cheetah, hold a snake and go cage diving with crocodiles. For more information on these Garden Route adventure activities, have a look at: Ostrich farming and Swartberg pass (Black Mountain Pass).

Note: If you want to see the ostriches, the caves and the Prince Albert pass, you'll probably need to book an additional overnight stay in Oudtshoorn.

Total distance on Day 3 is approximately 175 km.

After breakfast you'll drive along the N2 from Caledon to Hermanus through peacefully flowing fields flush with colour. Keep a close eye on the coast; you may spot a few dolphins leaping out of the water. If the season is right you may even catch a glimpse of a whale. While driving along the coast you'll head onto the Cape Peninsula and eventually reach Cape Town. If you enjoyed our Garden Route adventure, have a look at our Cape Town excursions.

If you're running late today, skip the peninsula and head straight to Cape Town. You'll be able to drive along the coastline trail tomorrow. A drive on the peninsula can also be combined with a visit to the wine territories Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl using our module Cape and Wine, Drive'n'Dine.

Total distance on Day 5 is approximately 225 km.