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Why visit the Garden Route?
The Garden Route presents an exquisite coastal stretch in the Western Cape, an extraordinary convergence of picturesque lagoons, amber rivers, rolling hills of fynbos, jagged mountains, lush forests, and long sandy beaches of the Indian Ocean. This popular tourism hotspot offers myriad landscapes ideal for fine dining, wine farm visits, hiking, scuba diving, beaches and coastal exploration.
Fun and adventure for everyone
Visitors can select a base in Olde Worlde towns such as Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, or Nature's Valley, and explore the extraordinary scenery day by day before rewarding themselves with an evening of fine dining or perhaps an afternoon at a picturesque wine farm. With the added advantage of several malaria-free nature reserves and national parks in the vicinity to tack on a safari adventure, a trip to the Garden Route is ideal for self-drive holidays and can be individually tailored to every need – from families with small children and sedate couples to intrepid solo travellers and adventure seekers.
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Garden Route quick facts
About 200km of coastline - from Mossel Bay to Stormsrivier. The town of Oudtshoorn marks the northern boundary, where the sparse Little Karoo scrub takes over from the iconic fynbos
The Garden Route National Park comprises three former national parks: Tsitsikamma, Wilderness, and Knysna
Residents include an eclectic bunch of artists, writers, musicians, retirees, and big-city escapees
Things to do in the Garden Route
Most towns are spaced about 45 minutes apart along the coastal road and offer a variety of activities, from boat and land-based whale and dolphin watching in Mossel Bay to spelunking in the Cango Caves, surfing in Jeffreys Bay, scuba diving and wine tasting in Plettenberg Bay, to feasting on oysters in Knysna and kayaking the Nature's Valley lagoon. There is abseiling and kloofing for adventurers and spectacular hikes and mountain biking for outdoor enthusiasts.
The variety of restaurants, coffee shops, farmers' markets, and other eateries beggars belief, and many feature live bands or other forms of entertainment. The Garden Route offers something for everybody, yet the region maintains a rustic, laid-back charm, especially outside the popular festive season.
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Garden Route FAQs
The weather along the Garden Route is temperate and idyllic, with mild to warm summers and mild to cool winters. Temperatures seldom drop below 10˚C or rise too far above 30˚C on the coast.
Unusually for South Africa, there is no set rainy season, and rain can fall all year round; and it does – the Garden Route receives some of the highest rainfall levels in South Africa.
There is a slight peak in rainfall during the winter months from June to August, which coincides with the arrival of migrating whales. The flowers celebrate the arrival of spring in September.
Peak season bookings require 12–18 months of advance planning. Trips outside of peak season can be arranged 6–9 months ahead, with better rates and availability.
Our safari prices typically include accommodation, all meals and described activities, park fees, experienced guides, airport transfers and 24/7 support from our team. Specific inclusions vary by package – contact us for detailed itineraries.
You only make your first payment when you book your Garden Route holiday. Your second (last) payment is about 90 days before you travel.
We have been handcrafting experiential safaris since 1991. Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?
Booking through a respected tour operator with many years of experience means that all you need to focus on is helping us design your safari and then having a superb vacation. The rest - all the nitty-gritty detail and admin is done while you relax. Our 24/7 concierges take care of problems such as flight changes and missed flights, last-minute road transfer and lodge changes due to unexpected events, and itinerary changes requested by you.
Remember that you will not save money by attempting to book and manage your own safari, but you will inherit mistakes and problems that arise.
Yes, your money is safe. Your payments go into a third-party TRUST ACCOUNT - protecting them in the unlikely event of a financial setback on our part. Also, we are members of SATSA who attest to our integrity, legal compliance and financial stability. See what travellers say about us.
Yes, by booking your safari with Africa Geographic, you make a significant difference because:
We donate a portion of every safari sold to selected conservation efforts at ground level
Your safari supports our conservation publishing efforts, which educate the world about Africa's incredible biodiversity and the local people who protect it
Our chosen lodges support local community initiatives, ensuring that tourism benefits the nearby villages directly. They also adhere to strict environmental practices, such as limited vehicle numbers and sustainable camp operations, which help protect the ecosystem
YOUR safari choice does make a difference – thank you!
Start planning your Garden Route holiday
Our travel experts will craft a no-obligation itinerary just for you. We have crafted over 5,000 safaris since 1991. Your personal details are protected; we only use this information to contact you.
Why choose us to craft your safari?
Handcrafted experiential safaris since 1991.
Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?
Trust & Safety
Guest payments go into a third-party TRUST ACCOUNT - protecting them in the unlikely event of a financial setback on our part. Also, we are members of SATSA who attest to our integrity, legal compliance and financial stability.
Make a difference
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.
YOUR safari choice does make a difference - thank you!