The Garden Route
The Garden Route is a popular coastal self-drive
journey along the southern shore of South Africa. It is
better known as the stretch from Cape Town through
to Port Elizabeth, and its winding roads take you
past numerous stunning beaches. The name comes
from the verdant and ecologically diverse vegetation
found in the region, also its numerous lagoons and
lakes dotted along the coast. The Garden Route
journey includes towns such as Mossel Bay, Knysna,
Oudtshoorn, Plettenberg Bay and Nature’s Valley, so
take your own time to enjoy these delightful towns,
and choose your own Garden Route path!
5 days/4 nights Suggested Self-Drive
Day 1: Cape Town – Mossel Bay (385km)
An early departure from Cape Town will give you the best start for the
fi rst day of your journey. Hermanus can be your fi rst stop if you drive
90km towards Mossel Bay. Hermanus is a lovely little seaside town, well
known for its visiting whales between July and December, and is perfect
for a lunch spot. Spend the afternoon driving the Garden Route until you
reach Mossel Bay for a one night stay.
Day 2: Mossel Bay – Knysna (110km)
Enjoy a leisurely morning. With just over 100km to cover today, take
your time visiting George, Wilderness and any other spots you fi nd
interesting. Arrive in Knysna and settle in for a two night stay.
Day 3: Knysna
Explore Knysna and its surrounds in your own time, taking in this
wonderful town nestled into a lagoon. Known as the oyster capital of
South Africa, be sure to try their local delicacy. A must see is Knysna
Heads for a magnifi cent viewpoint of the Indian Ocean.
Day 4: Knysna – Port Elizabeth (260km)
Todays drive can be broken up by many unique stops along the way.
Plettenberg Bay is a beautiful cliff side holiday destination for locals, and
not far from Tsitsikamma Forest where there are some great walking
tracks to explore. Arrive in Port Elizabeth in the afternoon for an
overnight stay. Take your pick of many delicious seafood restaurants
Port Elizabeth has to off er.
Day 5: Port Elizabeth
Drive yourself to Port Elizabeth Airport at the appropriate time to return
your Europcar rental and check in for your onward fl ight arrangements.
Highlights worth seeing along the way
The Winelands – The Winelands is a little over an hour away from
Cape Town, and boasts over 200 wine cellars, waiting for your visit.
Franschhoek is a quaint village known for its French Huguenot Heritage,
dotted with award-winning restaurants and vineyards. The Winelands
towns of Stellenbosch and Paarl are also popular stops worth taking.
Hermanus – Hermanus is rich in breathtaking scenery and endless
adventure options, with the infamous shark cage diving just a few bays
over. Hermanus attracts visitors for whale watching, where up to 100
whales visit from Antarctica to breed and rear their young, and will even
come within 10m of the coastline to greet you. Art galleries, shopping and
markets also make up the vibrant atmosphere.
Oudtshoorn –