Garden Route Attractions
The Garden Route is a coastal corridor on the western coast of South Africa, where ancient forests, rivers, wetlands, dunes, stretches of beach, lakes, mountain scenery and indigenous fynbos all merge to form a landscape of restorative beauty.
This is a strip of land like no other in the world in terms of beauty, natural attractions and unique flora and fauna - hence its name. Three of South Africa’s top hikes take place here - the Otter Trail and the Tsitsikama and Dolphin trails and man’s footprint has made little impact on the rugged and sometimes inaccessible coastline. The Garden Route is a paradise for eco-lovers, bird watchers and solitude seekers and one of the most beautiful parts of the Western Cape. It lies sandwiched between the Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean and is on every tourist’s itinerary. The Garden Route is a popular holiday destination during summer and a tranquil hideaway during the winter months - both seasons are equally beautiful and attractive due to the largely Mediterranean climate of the Garden Route.
Destinations / Regions of the Garden Route
Albertinia
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Albertinia
Albertinia, a peaceful little town lying at the foot of the Langeberg Mountain range, is known as the home of the Aloe. The indigenous Aloe ferox, or Cape Aloe, grows prolifically in the area and the leaves are ... Albertinia information
Brenton On Sea
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Brenton On Sea
Lying on the other side of Knysna’s Western Head, nestled on the shores of the Indian Ocean in a quiet, lazy bay, residents describe Brenton on Sea’s beauty as the coast that Knysna doesn’t have, and in reality, Knysna ... Brenton On Sea information
Dana Bay
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Dana Bay
Whilst often disregarded simply as a suburb of Mossel Bay, Dana Bay is in fact a conservancy, set in the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom, home to fine examples of coastal and limestone varieties of fynbos under threat ... Dana Bay information
Eersterivier
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Eersterivier
Easily confused with the other Eersterivier, which lies between Cape Town and the Cape Winelands close to Somerset West, the little holiday village of Eersterivier lies virtually unknown on the rocky coastline of the ... Eersterivier information
George
Where to Stay: Accommodation in George
Lying in a fertile, rich valley, surrounded by the Outeniqua Mountains, forests, rivers and prosperous farmlands, George lies just 420 km from Cape Town and 320 km from Port Elizabeth, making it a perfect stopover from ... George information
Glentana
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Glentana
Just east of the Great Brak River, almost half way between Mossel Bay and George, lies the beautiful seaside village of Glentana, its beaches topped by fynbos covered cliffs that plunge precipitously into the Indian ... Glentana information
Great Brak
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Great Brak
Whilst the adjectives - peaceful and tranquil - have been bandied about when referring to holiday locations, when applied to Great Brak they take on new meaning. This little village, just a few kilometres from both ... Great Brak information
Hartenbos
Where to Stay: Garden Route Accommodation
Between the towns of Mossel Bay and George lies a perfect holiday resort with an endless expanse of golden beach for walkers and anglers and a shallow, sandy lagoon that offers safe swimming and canoeing. Hartenbos ... Hartenbos information
Herolds Bay
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Herolds Bay
The beautiful, secluded bay called Herold’s Bay has held an allure for holiday makers since time of old. Sketches and photographs in the George museum tell of ox wagons filled with tents, goods and servants, camping out ... Herolds Bay information
Keurboomstrand
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Keurboomstrand
The word 'keurboom' comes from the local Keurboom tree or choice tree (Virgilia oroboides), which produces pretty pink-mauve flowers from August to September and again in December. Keurboomstrand ... Keurboomstrand information
Knysna
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Knysna
Knysna is a natural paradise of lush, indigenous forests, tranquil lakes and golden beaches. She nestles on the banks of a breathtakingly pretty lagoon, now a protected marine reserve that is home to the extraordinary ... Knysna information
Little Brak
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Little Brak
A tranquil little haven of sea, lagoon and river, virtually lost in time, wedged between Mossel Bay and Groot Brak on the Garden Route, is Little Brak River. Mainly a resort area, this part of the coast is renowned ... Little Brak information
Mossel Bay
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Mossel Bay
Mossel Bay is a bustling holiday town and port, set on the sunwashed slopes of Cape St Blaize overlooking the expansive bay, against the blueblack backdrop of the Outeniqua Mountains. Mossel Bay lies halfway between ... Mossel Bay information
Natures Valley
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Natures Valley
Possibly the best part about staying in Nature’s Valley is that, despite its being on the Garden Route and in spite of its overwhelming beauty, it has managed to remain relatively ‘undiscovered’. The peaceful valley, ... Natures Valley information
Plettenberg Bay
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Plettenberg Bay
The town of Plettenberg Bay lies almost on the border of the Western and Eastern Cape. Built on the hillside, most of the town is on a steep slope leading down to the sea, which means that regardless of where you find ... Plettenberg Bay information
Riversdale
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Riversdale
The lovely country town of Riversdale lies at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains, close to the towns of Still Bay and Witsand. Mountains feature predominantly in the village’s appeal and the well-loved Sleeping Beauty ... Riversdale information
Sedgefield
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Sedgefield
Lying between George and Knysna on the Garden Route and 490 km from Cape Town, Sedgefield is a beautiful seaside village surrounded entirely by lakes, sand dunes covered in fynbos, pine plantations, the Swartvlei ... Sedgefield information
Still Bay
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Still Bay
The little seaside village of Stilbaai or Still Bay lies just off the N2 between Mossel Bay and Riversdale on an estuary where the Goukou River meets the Indian Ocean. Essentially a retirement village and holiday ... Still Bay information
Tsitsikamma
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Tsitsikamma
The incredibly beautiful area of land that lies between the Tsitsikamma Mountains and the sea stretches west to the Bloukrans River and east to Eerste River, and is named after the San word that means ‘place of abundant ... Tsitsikamma information
Victoria Bay
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Victoria Bay
Victoria Bay (or "Vic Bay" as it is called by those in the know) is one of the smallest bays on the Garden Route. Traveling along the N2 National Road, Victoria Bay is 3km off the N2 and situated between George and ... Victoria Bay information
Vleesbaai
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Vleesbaai
The pretty little seaside village of Vleesbaai (or Vlees Bay) lies virtually hidden between the bays of Stilbaai and Mossel Bay, just north of where the Gouritz River joins the sea at the western end of the Garden Route ... Vleesbaai information
Wilderness
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Wilderness
Lying in the foothills of the Outeniqua Mountains in a region of incomparable beauty, Wilderness is an attractive holiday resort with beautiful beaches and numerous vantage points from which to watch the whales and ... Wilderness information
Garden Route Attractions and Destinations
"Must See" Attractions in the Garden Route
Garden Route National Park
The new Garden Route National Park, established by SANParks and also known as GRNP, spans an impressive 121 000 hectares and includes the existing Wilderness and Tsitsikamma national parks, the Knysna Lakes area and roughly 52 000 hectares of newly proclaimed land. Still regarded as 'new' the ... more information
Birds of Eden Bird Sanctuary
The world’s largest single span aviary, just a few kilometres east of Plettenberg Bay in the Garden Route, where birds are free to fly free provides an incredible experience for those who visit, and a wonderful way of life for over 2000 previously caged birds.The completely unique venture of Birds of Eden is... more information
Boosmansbos Wilderness Area
Boosmansbos Wilderness Area lies in the beautiful Langeberg Mountains, over 14 000 hectares that is, in turn, part of the Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve. It is regarded as a hiker's domain, a great space in which to scale peaks to reach views that are virtually unsurpassable, if clambering up ... more information
Bungee Jump at Gourits River Bridge
Bungee jumping in South Africa has earned a global reputation for its claim to having the highest commercial bungee jump in the world. Positioned along the Garden Route, the Bloukrans Bungee Jump will send you plummeting 216m, headfirst, towards the bottom. Because of the extreme height of this ... more information
Featherbed Nature Reserve
A Natural Heritage site, the Featherbed Nature Reserve in Knysna is an utterly unique privately owned reserve that lies on the Western Head of the famous landmarks known as 'The heads' in Knysna, accessible only by ferry. Many people make a day of it, catching the ferry across the lagoon, going on a drive or walk ... more information
Formosa Nature Reserve
Just north of Nature's Valley, between the towns of Kareedouw and Misgund, the Formosa Nature Reserve lies inland of what is arguably the most beautiful stretch of coastline in the country - the Garden Route. The Formosa Nature Reserve probably got its title from Bartholomew Dias, as early as 1488, when ... more information
Goukamma Nature Reserve
The glorious Goukamma Nature Reserve is one of those unrivalled hideaways that, despite being on the popular Garden Route, manages to remain relatively obscure and unknown - a treasure trove near the mouth of the Goukamma River. Goukamma Nature and Marine Reserve, just 20 kilometres west of Knysna... more information
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Lying in the heart of the Langeberg Mountains, roughly 22 kilometres north-west of Heidelberg in the Cape Overberg, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve is exactly as its name denotes - a wonderful large section of forest - 250 hectares of the largest remaining example of indigenous forest in the Langeberg. This ... more information
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Head off towards Nature’s Valley from Plettenberg Bay on the N2 and Keurbooms River Nature Valley lies roughly 8 km along the major route of the N2. The beautiful Keurbooms River nature reserve that stretches over a distance of 2500 hectares, is bisected by the Keurbooms River and overlooks the estuary... more information
Lakes Area National Park
Formerly this national park consisted of the Wilderness National Park and Knysna National Lake Area. Because of their proximity and similarities they are currently managed as a single unit. The Knysna National Lake Area is home to the endangered Knysna seahorse and a large diversity of marine... more information
Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary
Monkeyland is the worlds first free roaming multi-specie primate sanctuary. Monkeyland, is unique in that the sanctuary caters for several species of primate, and they are not caged, they are free to move about the forest, and do so in harmony. Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary is a modern primate sanctuary... more information
Outeniqua Choo Tjoe
One of the few remaining steam trains in the country. Steam enthusiasts are in their element and everyone enjoys the splendid views of lakes, forests, beaches and cliffs on the train's coastal route between George and Knysna. One-way 3 hour trip, Monday to Friday and ... more information
Outeniqua Nature Reserve
Not far from George on the Garden Route, the Outeniqua Nature Reserve lies in the heart of the Outeniqua Mountains, its 38 000 hectares divided up over the impressively solid barrier that separates the high rainfall, and subsequent abundance of the Garden Route, from the miraculously contrasting and arid Little Karoo ... more information
Rein's Coastal Nature Reserve
Pretty and remote Rein's Nature Reserve is a private nature reserve that lies between Still Bay and Gouritzmond on a section of rocky coastline that has managed to remain both incredibly unspoilt and beautiful, its 3550 hectares filled with pristine fynbos and a sense of peace and stillness ... more information
Robberg Nature Reserve
Just outside Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route is a beautiful, remote rocky peninsula touted as the most popular walking destination in and around Plettenberg Bay. Robberg Nature Reserve is a charged booster of outdoor living - incredible scenery, views over shoreline and sea, a thriving Cape fur seal colony... more information
Garden Route Attractions and Destinations
Featured Things To Do in the Garden Route
Tsitsikamma Canopy Tours
Where: Storms River
How much (per person): On Request
'Me Tarzan, you Jane.' Swing from the treetops across the forest canopy of the place named by the ancient San, Tsitsikamma (place of abundan ... more information
Dine aboard the Paddle Cruiser
Where: Knysna
How much (per person): On Request
The Paddle Cruiser is South Africa's only paddle-driven vessel, offering a unique and unforgettable experience on the Knysna Lagoon. For a u ... more information
Ocean Encounters
Where: Plettenberg Bay
How much (per person): On Request
Our Ecological adventure leaves from Central Beach with an exciting beach launch and heads east past the bird sanctuary and Keurbooms beach ... more information
Canoeing on the Knysna Lagoon
Where: Knysna
How much (per person): On Request
Hire a Canadian-style canoe for one or two people from Lightleys River Runners (The Boat People!). The canoes are easy to manoeuvre and they ... more information
Pick Strawberries at Red Berry Farm
Where: George
How much (per person): On Request
Pick your own strawberries at Red Berry Farm in George! You can pick strawberries, eat them, drink them all day long, while enjoying the won ... more information
- Introduction to the Garden Route
- Destination Guide
- Accommodation Guide
- Garden Route Search by Map
- Garden Route Conferences
- Wedding Guide
- Touring the Garden Route
- Transport & Travel Arrangements
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Urlaub in der Garden Route
destinations / attractions in the garden route
