- Mossel Bay
Mossel Bay is halfway between Cape Town and PE, this coastal town marks the official beginning (or end) of the Garden Route. There’s a wide choice of backpacker hostels, beaches and adventure activities.
- Little Brak
A real beach holiday spot.
- George
George is very close to Oudtshoorn, Mossel Bay and Victoria Bay, it’s a convenient backpacker stop over point. George airport is a convenient way of arriving to explore the Garden Route.The Outeniqua Tjoe - Choo train comes puffing into the station once a week.
- Oudtshoorn
Oudtshoorn was home to rich feather barons until the turn of the century. The collapse of the feather industry meant the area had to find other attractions in order to survive. And boy, has it done a good job of that! You need daaaaays to “do” Oudtshoorn.
- De Rust
An interesting little one horse town.
- Victoria Bay
Victoria Bay is renowned as one of the world’s best surfing beaches and the waves here are often spectacular.
- Wilderness
Wilderness nestles in the green coastal hills, framed by the Touws River lagoon on one side and miles of superb beach on the other. The beautiful Wilderness National Park protects the unique eco-system that makes up the surroundings.
- Sedgefield
Straddling the N2 and in its turn surrounded by wetlands and sandwiched between the sea and the mountain, this is paraglider's paradise.
- Buffels Bay
This little coastal village lies just outside of Knysna and is a great place to relax and get closer to nature.
- Knysna
This backpackers haven is the centre of the Garden Route. The town of Knysna sprawls around the Knysna lagoon whose entrance is guarded by two rocky cliffs called The Heads. Knysna is the hub of the Garden Route and this once sleepy village is now a bustling town.
- Uniondale
Peaceful winding roads and lovely country side. The alternative inland route along the coast…
- Plettenberg Bay
Plettenberg Bay is a backpackers paradise. It was named “Baia Formosa” (Beautiful Bay) by early Portuguese explorers. Plettenberg Bay is now one of the Garden Route’s major destinations, primarily because the Portuguese weren’t far wrong.
- Bloukrans
The main attractions here are the Bloukrans Bridge, the world’s highest bungy jump and the beautiful surroundings
- Stormsriver
The major drawcard here is Mother Nature. And she’s a real Mother, but not the one you know. Wild, tempestuous, untamed, violent, calm, soothing, shouting, majestic and awe-inspiring if you can look past the hand of man.
Situated at the end of the Groot River pass, Nature’s Valley is surrounded by mountain, lagoon, sea and forest.
Positioned between the glitz of Plett and the adrenaline adventures of Storm’s River, this area has become known for its pristine beach, unusual art and craft studios and wild life sanctuaries, and the highest bungy jump in the world!
Straddling the N2, the Crags is made up of scattered settlements and a couple of shops, drawn together by a postal address more than an official boundary. It includes polo fields, exclusive hotels,
woodcutter’s huts, farms, and a number of animal and bird sanctuaries. Acres of watsonias colour the grasslands rosy pink in spring, proteas line the roads, fynbos punctuates the air and knotted forests clothe the rocky gorges where peat coloured streams run into the sea.
Here sugarbirds dart, loeries shriek warnings and baboons are king of the road. The countryside is peppered by creative people and within easy reach of splendiferous beaches (and bright lights and pubs if you need them...)
Hike along scented fynbos ridges and into cool Yellowwood forests. Skinny dip in Salt River Cove’s secluded waters or discover secret bays on free canoes at Nature’s Valley Beach.
Feed an elephant, walk with a cheetah, stroke a snake or just monkey about at nearby animal sanctuaries.
Support The Mill’s community craft studios.
Try the world’s highest bungy.
Back home, enjoy free internet, feed your soul with meditation and yoga, a telescope for stargazing and weekly drum circles in the driftwood boma.
Places to Stay
- Wild Spirit Lodge at Khoinania
Wild Spirit backpackers lodge just outside of Plettenberg Bay, is a wonderful place to stay at.
What to do
- Getting wicked at the Wild Spirit
These guys offer great adventure on the Garden Route.
Feeling lucky?(randomly selected service providers from all regions)
Swing into this jungle-side playground
(Hoedspruit,Limpopo)
A riding centre on the edge of the winelands.
(Joostenbergvlakte,Wine Region)
Hermanus Backpackers just gets better and better, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the live-wire owners, Braam and Hayley.
(Hermanus,Overberg )
This Ballito backpackers is hidden away in the trees above Shaka's Rock beach, this is close to a surf spot of note.
(Ballito and Shaka's Rock,Zululand)
A backpackers across the road from the 2010 world cup stadium
(Green Point,Cape Town)
A great backpacking hostel in the centre of Port Elizabeth.
(Port Elizabeth,Sunshine Coast)
This East London backpackers is conveniently close East Londons's beaches, shops and bus station.
(East London,Sunshine Coast)
Southern Comfort - a 26 hectare horse farm - is situated in the heart of the Knysna forest overlooking indigenous forest.
(Knysna,Garden Route)
Myxo’s Cultural Tours
(Manzini,Swaziland)
A discount card to backpackers in South Africa that offers great value.
(Ais Ais,Cape Town)
