On the coast the daytime temperature seldom drops below 15 degrees and seldom gets higher than 30. Rain falls all year round on the Garden Route, supporting the largest indigenous forests in Southern Africa. The result is a lush temperate landscape.
- 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 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
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.Backpackers in Knysna are varying.
- 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.
The Garden Route is a favourite for backpackers and has some of South Africa's best backpacking lodges.
The Garden Route stretches from Mossel Bay to the Tsitsikamma River Mouth like a necklace of bays, beaches, cliffs and rocky capes strung together along a line of pounding white surf.
Mountains crowd the shoreline and high rainfall on their peaks provides a consistent supply of water to the narrow coastal terrace where every bit of soil nourishes some plant growth.
The ocean teems with game fish and divers delight in the silent underwater world of bright colours and brave fish.
The rivers, stained amber by the soil, have lovely navigable stretches, the Knysna lagoon lends itself to cheerful indulgences and the forests provoke cool walks through tunnels of shade...
For many South Africans this is a piece of paradise they can discover on their own doorstep. Stretching from Mossel Bay to the Storm’s River Mouth, the Garden Route combines the best of Mother Nature with the best of first world creature comforts.
Many travellers hit the N2 and just drive through peering out the window occasionally. We suggest that you stop somewhere interesting, get out and Go Exploring. You’ll find mind-numbing indigenous forests sheltering in valleys, untamed beauty in the coastal fynbos and repose in the meandering rivers that lead down to wild expanses of unspoilt beaches.
The Garden Route manages to strike a good balance between development and long stretches of unspoilt loveliness. So you can go out for a few drinks or a good meal and still get to walk for hours without having to worry about whether your hairdo is handling or not.
The coastal plain of the Garden Route is backed by the Outeniqua Mountains which send rivers tumbling down their sides to meet the sea.
Rocky gorges make the mountains inaccessible, except to determined explorers, but the passes that negotiate the mountains are essential detours for travellers.
The lush and tangled forests that have survived are a reminder of the origin of their name – Outeniqua means the man laden with honey. Although the Khoi who named the land are gone the descendants of the 18th century woodcutters still live deep in the forest. You may see the bright flash of a Knysna loerie crossing the forest canopy or come across a clan of baboons occupying the centre of the road. More secretive animals are the last legendary Knysna elephants wandering unseen through undergrowth and the occasional (very elusive) leopard.
The forests give way to the ocean in all its incarnations – Mother Nature in a fury with wild waves crashing against rocks or lazy rivers and lagoons meandering into a perfect turquoise sea, beaches that are secluded coves or miles of magnificent sand. The rock pools and reefs harbour a multitude of miniature miracles, from scuttling hermit crabs to bright sea anemones.
Dolphins frolic in the waves all year long and the giant Southern Right whales come visiting in winter. There is plenty of adventure too - surf spots, great hiking trails, bungy jumping and all kinds of water sport from diving to deep-sea fishing.
The highest land based bungy jump in the world is at Bloukrans Bridge near Stormsriver.
You can take a ride on an original steam train between George and Mossel Bay. The Outeniqua Tjoe-Choo runs every day except for Sundays and some public holidays.
An ostrich’s brain weighs less than its eyeballs.
A brief history of the Garden Route
Get out those boots, get away from people and go hiking.
Places to Stay
- African Jewel Lodge
The newest of backpacking hostels in Knysna and is worth giving a go!
- Lake Superior Backpackers
This Knysna backpackers overlooks the Knysna Heads and is in town.
- Outeniqua Backpackers
Outeniqua backpackers was the first backpackers in George. It is a great place to stop over if you want a base whilst backpacking the Garden Route.
- Plett Backpackers
Plett Backpackers in the newest backpackers in Plettenberg Bay. It is in the centre of town and boasts an awesome view over the Plettenberg Bay beaches.
- Wild Spirit Lodge at Khoinania
Wild Spirit backpackers lodge just outside of Plettenberg Bay, is a wonderful place to stay at.
What to do
- Adrenaline Tours - Garden Route
Do the Garden Route and get high on adrenaline.
- Bungy Bus
Wanna bungeeeeee? But don't know how to get there? Get the Bungy Bus.
- Getting wicked at the Wild Spirit
These guys offer great adventure on the Garden Route.
- Kwantu Game Reserve
Take a game ranger's course or volunteer at this private reserve.
- Tsitsikamma Mountain Trail
An awesome hiking trail.
- White Shark Africa
White Shark Africa provides some of the best shark cage diving in South Africa and can befound in Mossel Bay on the Garden Route.
Feeling lucky?(randomly selected service providers from all regions)
Think of a cultural tour in Zululand and they probably offer it - or something like it.
(Eshowe,Zululand)
Ashanti backpackers is one of Cape Town's biggest hostels. They are a Cape Town backpackers which is busy, organised and knowledgeable and have a great building in a good location near the city centre of Cape Town.
(Cape Town City Bowl,Cape Town)
A get-to-know the locals type of stop in an old hotel that oozes history.
(Stutterheim,Eastern Cape Inland and the Karoo)
This is Cape Town's original backpackers
(Cape Town City Centre,Cape Town)
A backpackers in mountains of Swaziland.
(Northern Swaziland,South Coast)
Colesberg is one of those famous half way stops between here and there.
(Colesberg,Eastern Cape Inland and the Karoo)
They are close to Tourist Information and in the centre of town.
(Cape Town City Centre,Cape Town)
Safaris to the Southern Kruger.
(Hazyview,Mpumalanga)
(Muizenberg and Kalk Bay,Cape Town)
A backpackers in the heart of trendy Melville.
(Johannesburg,Johannesburg)
