- 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.
- 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…
- Nature's Valley
Situated at the end of the Groot River pass, Nature’s Valley is surrounded by mountain, lagoon, sea and forest.
- 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.
Sedgefield
Straddling the N2 and in its turn surrounded by wetlands and sandwiched between the sea and the mountain, this is paraglider's paradise.
Famous for the concrete horse fence that decorates one of the houses on the main road (it's almost a national monument), Sedgefield mushroomed on the banks of the Swartvlei River and its lagoon. The sea is a short drive away, the beach stretches forever and the surf break off the point is a local secret. If you are yearning for some tasty cheese pop in to see the Cheeseman on the road to the beach, just off the N2. His cheeses don't come wrapped in plastic and don't have a sell by date. They don't last long enough to need one. But one of the best reasons to be here is the close to perfect thermals that have paragliders hanging out in the skies on most days of the year.
Places to Stay
- Afrovibe Adventure Lodge
A backpackers for adventure activities
Feeling lucky?(randomly selected service providers from all regions)
Situated within a vibrant Xhosa community overlooking a spectacular untouched beach, this is a true glimpse into rural Africa.
(Coffee Bay,Wild Coast)
This East London backpackers is conveniently close East Londons's beaches, shops and bus station.
(East London,Sunshine Coast)
This Plett backpackers is right up at the top of the Plettenberg Bay hill, with a great view.
(Plettenberg Bay,Garden Route)
Barry’s offers upmarket accommodation (linen and towels provided) at backpacker rates.
(Witsand,Overberg )
School at the sea side. Learn English AND learn to surf or just hang out on the beach.
(Jeffreys Bay,Sunshine Coast)
A genuine opportunity to volunteer and help children in need. You don't pay anything except your own costs, there is no placement fee or any other kind of fee to be paid.
(Graaff-Reinet,Eastern Cape Inland and the Karoo)
Kammanassie backpackers in Uniondale can be found on a road less travelled, and therefore a good alternative to the N2 zoom.
(Uniondale,Route 62)
this magical playground lies beneath the towering peaks of Cleopatra and Giants Castle.
(Highmoor,Drakensberg Backpacker Hostels)
This Paternoster backpackers could not get you any closer to the sea...
(Paternoster,West Coast)
A perfect backpackers to stay at when in Johannesburg.
(Johannesburg,Johannesburg)
