Garden Route | The Ultimate South African Road Trip

This blog post has become a window into our adventure. We take you on an unforgettable safari, to deserted beaches, to delicious local restaurants, on dives with cute seals and many more experiences.

We started in the majestic city of Cape Town, a city full of colour and contrasts that offers a unique mix of urban flair and natural beauty. A trip to Table Mountain is an absolute highlight. You can easily reach the cable car station by hire car, taxi or the red double-decker bus from City Sightseeing. After paying for your ticket, you experience the cable car ride and reach the viewing platform at the top of Table Mountain. We set off later in the afternoon to enjoy the sunset with a romantic picnic on the beautiful viewing platform. Hiking enthusiasts can also climb Table Mountain on foot – either up and back down or hike one way and take the cable car the other.

TIP: To stay safe in and around cape town, check out our Safety Guide for South Africa.

There is a lot to experience in Cape Town. That’s why we have recorded our highlights, such as the V&A Waterfront, the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood and the botanical garden, in a separate blog entry.

CABLEWAY OPERATING HOURS (SUMMER): 

First Up: 8:30am
Last Up: 6pm
Last Down: 7pm

CABLEWAY TICKET PRICES (FULL DAY): 

Adult: OneWay: 280 Rand (15 USD) | Return: 430 Rand (25 USD)
Children: OneWay: 150 Rand (8 USD) | Return: 215 Rand (12 USD)

A 45-minute drive from Cape Town is the Stellenbosch wine region, one of the oldest and most beautiful towns in South Africa. You can feel the charm of Stellenbosch as soon as you arrive. The town not only offers unique wine estates and excellent wine, but also a cultural centre with various art galleries, elegant Cape Dutch buildings and an impressive landscape. We stayed one night in Stellenbosch and soaked up all the charm of the city. A top recommendation is the wine safari at the Waterford Wine Estate.

The next day we travelled on to Hermanus. The picturesque beaches are mesmerising and if you visit between July and October, you have the chance to see whales migrating along the Hermanus coast during this period. Grotto Beach mesmerised us; the practically deserted beach invited us for a picnic and a chance to cool off in the sea. Please note that swimming is not permitted on all beaches in South Africa – pay attention to the respective information boards.

Ideally located on our route, we were able to experience our first safari in Albertinia. The day safari at Game Lodge Albertinia was a 2.5-hour tour. You also have the option to stay overnight and enjoy a longer safari. Our guide Suné impressed us with her great knowledge of the animals and her friendly manner. The animals at the game lodge safari live in a large fenced area but are not fed, which means that they hunt and live as they would in the wild. We experienced lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras and many more up close. After thorough research, we were very happy with our decision and can highly recommend this safari.

After our first safari, we travelled on to Mossel Bay, a coastal town with a relaxed atmosphere and natural beauty. Here, too, you can go whale watching between July and October. After a few enjoyable hours, we left the pleasant coastal town and made our way to Wilderness, 45 minutes away by car.

Wilderness was a real highlight for us. We immediately fell in love with this picturesque town. The unspoilt natural beauty and charming atmosphere are incomparable. The town is located between the Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean and offers many outdoor activities. Hiking enthusiasts should not miss the Wilderness National Park, which stretches along the coast and is surrounded by lush forests. For relaxation, Wilderness offers incredibly beautiful unspoilt beaches, such as the Wilderness Beach Front. For an exceptionally beautiful photo, we recommend the Wilderness Beach Viewpoint. For culinary delights, Joplins Steak Restaurant is a must – the best meat we’ve ever had.

TIP: Ask for their house sauce.

Our next destination was the town of George, 10 minutes away by car. George, one of the largest towns in the Western Cape, offers many shopping opportunities and is a paradise for golf lovers. We stayed three nights with a retired couple in a gated community where entry and exit is via a guarded gate. This secure neighbourhood was unusual for us, as we are not familiar with it from our home country, but it is common in South Africa. The whole neighbourhood was very clean and well-kept. We found George to be a lively town, which is often referred to as the heart of the Garden Route. There is no shortage of cosy cafés and restaurants here.

Just over an hour’s drive from George is the breathtaking Plettenberg Bay, one of South Africa’s best-kept secrets. Here we experienced an unrivalled adventure – snorkelling with seals. With our guide Angelo, snorkelling among hundreds of wild seals was an unforgettable experience that we can highly recommend. But it wasn’t just this adventure that brought us to Plettenberg Bay; the beautiful Lookout Beach relaxed all our senses with the sounds of the waves and the warm sun. Enter “The Lookout Deck” in the gps for the ideal route. We highly recommend to check out our blog about the best beaches in South Africa.

Deeply relaxed, we continued on to the Robberg Nature Reserve. Admission costs around USD 2.70 per person, but it’s really worth it. There are three different hiking trails (short, medium and long). After a long hike, the barbecue station with a view of the sea is a great place to relax. The nearby Bloukrans Bridge, where you can experience bungee jumping, provides an adrenaline rush.

On the way back to George, we stopped in Knysna to visit the 250-hectare elephant park. A local guide accompanies you and you get to see the impressive elephants up close and even feed them – great photos guaranteed. After saying goodbye to the elephants, we headed back to George. If time allows, enjoy the town of Knysna and its beautiful beaches.
From George we travelled back to Cape Town, where we spent the last few days to let the wonderful experiences sink in. This road trip has enriched us with countless wonderful memories and experiences.

OPENING HOURS: 

Days: 365
Time: 9am – 4pm

PRICES FOR ELEPHANT FEEDING: 

Adult: 460 Rand (26 USD)
Children: 285 Rand (16 USD)