South Africa's Garden Route: A Self-Drive Guide

The Garden Route stretches along South Africa's southern coast, a strip of indigenous forest, lagoons, beaches, and small towns that rewards slow driving. Most people start in Cape Town and end in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), or do it in reverse.

Mossel Bay is the official western start. It is pleasant but skippable if you are short on time. Wilderness is the first real stop: a village on a lagoon with kayaking, hiking, and a long beach. Sedgefield has a famous Saturday farmers market and a relaxed backpacker scene.

Knysna is the heart of the route. Stay on the lagoon or in the forested hills above town, eat oysters at the waterfront, and take a boat to the Heads, the narrow entrance to the lagoon. Nearby Plettenberg Bay has better beaches and whale watching in season.

Tsitsikamma National Park is the dramatic finale. Hike the Otter Trail if you can get a permit, or do the shorter suspension-bridge walk through the forest to the mouth of the Storms River. The park also offers kayaking, zip-lining, and the world's highest bungee jump at Bloukrans Bridge.

Addo Elephant National Park is an easy detour east of the Garden Route. It is one of the best places in South Africa to see elephants, and you can self-drive through the main game area in a few hours. Combine it with the route for a perfect mix of coast and safari.

You do not need a four-wheel-drive for the Garden Route, but a car is essential. Book accommodation in advance during South African school holidays in December and January. The best weather is September to April, though winter storms make the coast moody and beautiful.