Discover the Garden Route: A 2-week South African road trip

The Garden Route is one of South Africa’s most stunning road trips, offering a mix of dramatic coastal views, vibrant wildlife and charming towns. If you’re planning your adventure, here’s a day by day itinerary based on the 2-week trip we did. Follow along for tips, highlights and what to expect. 

Day 1: Cape Town Airport to Hermanus

Distance: ± 109 km (1h30m drive)

Stay: 1- 2 nights

Kick off your Garden Route adventure by heading from Cape Town Airport to Hermanus. Known as one of the best whale-watching destinations in the world. The whale season is from June to November, during these months you will have the best chance to spot whales. Hermanus offers beautiful coastal views and a relaxed atmosphere. Spend the evening strolling along the cliff paths and end the night at one of the local restaurants to taste fresh seafood and local wines. 

Tip: Go to Walker Bay for a chance to spot southern right whales from the shore. 

Day 2: Hermanus to Mossel Bay

Distance: ± 307 km (3h30m drive)

Stay: 1 night

The trip continues to Mossel Bay. Mossel Bay is a little coastal town known for its long white sandy beaches and many walking trails. The hike we recommend doing is the St. Blaize Hiking trail. This trail is fairly easy to walk on, and the views are from the trail are stunning. The whole trail is 12,5km but you can choose to only walk a certain part of the hike. We ended our hike at the St. Blaize Lighthouse, where breathtaking ocean views and a glass of fine wine made for a perfect ending. To top it off, we spotted a whale in the distance!  For those seeking an adrenaline rush with the same stunning views, you can opt for a thrilling zip line ride over the ocean.

Days 3-5: Mossel Bay to Plettenberg Bay

Distance: ± 138km (1h50m drive)

Stay: 2 nights in Plettenberg Bay, 1 night in Kurland

Plettenberg Bay is a jewel on the Garden Route with beautiful beaches, outdoor adventures and wildlife encounters. Over the next three days, explore the area by visiting:

  • Monkeyland & Birds of Eden: Wander through two of the world’s largest free-flight sanctuaries. At Monkeyland, we encountered a fascinating variety of monkey species while walking around with a small guided group. The guide was excellent, sharing interesting facts about the monkeys, which made the experience truly memorable.
  • Seal Swimming: Snorkel alongside playful seals with a certified guide. We highly recommend Pro Dive. 
  • Lookout Beach and The Lookout Deck restaurant: The perfect blend of natural beauty and vibrant local culture. The beach itself is stunning and the restaurant provides a great view, especially at sunset, making it an ideal spot for dining. Our trip took place during South Africa’s participation in a major rugby event, which made the evening even more unforgettable. The atmosphere was electric as it felt like the entire town had gathered to cheer on the national team. 
  • Robberg Nature Reserve: Hike along dramatic cliffs with amazing ocean views.

We stayed in the heart of town at a lovely accommodation called Eleven, which we highly recommend. After two days, we continued our journey to Kurland (just a 20 minute drive), where we spent a night in a glamping tent surrounded by South Africa’s stunning wilderness. If you’re looking to reconnect with nature, this is an experience not to be missed! Spend the day exploring Nature’s Valley. The beach at Nature’s Valley is so serene and expansive that we didn’t encounter another soul during our visit. Watching the sunset here felt absolutely magical. For dining, make sure to stop by Blue Rocks Cafe & Grill.

Tip: Stop at Bramon Wine Estate for lunch or dinner and wine tasting experience in a vineyard setting. 

Days 6-7: Kurland/Plettenberg Bay to Jeffreys Bay

Distance: ± 142km (1h25m drive)

Stay: 2 nights

 

Jeffreys bay is a paradise for surfers and adventure seekers. We stayed at a wonderful accommodation, SA Surf Logde. We had a beautiful room with an own little terrace overlooking the dunes and the beach. The lodge offers all kinds of activities, and they work with a surf school where you can book some lessons. Spend your days soaking up the vibe of this beach town:

  • Learn to surf: J-Bay is a world-class surfing destination and the perfect place to take your first lesson.
  • J-By surf village: A place where local shops sell handmade surf wear and unique crafts. You can find lots of shops with surf clothing brands.
  • Bloukrans Bridge Bungee: For thrill seekers like us, the world’s highest commercial bungee jump is just a short drive away.
  • Quad Tour & Die Watergat: Explore the surrounding dunes on a fun quad biking adventure. During the tour you make at Die Watergat where you can cliff dive and go zip lining.

Days 8 - 9: Jeffreys Bay to Addo Elephant National Park

Distance: ± 119km (1h45m drive)

Stay: 2 nights

Head inland to the Addo region for wildlife encounters with South Africa’s big five. We had the pleasure of staying at Ndlovu Addo River Lodge, and it quickly became one of our favorite accommodations. The lodge provided us with an entire space to ourselves, complete with a view of the Sundays River. We even had access to a small private pier and a kayak, which allowed us to explore the river. The amenities were exceptional, including a private braai area and a jacuzzi on the terrace. The couple who run the lodge is amazing. They not only assisted us in getting a flat tire fixed when we were out but also shared fantastic recommendations for the rest of our trip. Their hospitality truly made our experience at Ndlovu Addo River Lodge great. 

Addo Elephant National Park is home to over 600 elephants, as well as lions, buffalo and more. Book a guided tour or do a self-drive safari to get up close to the animal. We did a self-drive safari and it was so fun. We saw plenty of animals from our car. 

We also went on a second safari, which we booked through the lodge. This was a half-day excursion at Scotia Safaris Private Game Reserve, and it was absolutely worth every penny. We spent the entire afternoon exploring the reserve encountering an incredible variety of wildlife, including lionesses, buffalo, a hippo, giraffes, elephants, and more. As evening fell, we paused at a scenic spot within the park to enjoy a delicious braai. Following the meal, we continued our drive under the cover of darkness, a prime time to observe different animals as they become more active.

Days 10-14: Port Elizabeth to Cape Town

Flight: Short flight from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town

Stay: 4 nights in Cape Town

End your journey in the vibrant city of Cape Town. With its iconic landmarks and natural wonders, this city offers plenty to explore:

  • Lion’s Head Hike: A relatively short hike with panoramic views of the city and Table Mountain.
  • Table Mountain: Take the Platteklip Gorge hike up the mountain.
  • Chapman’s Peak Drive: One of the world’s most scenic drives that is perfect for capturing those last road trip photos.
  • Fairview Wine and Cheese: One of our highlights! It is a renowned wine estate in Paarl, just outside Cape Town. Fairview offers wine tasting paired with artisanal cheeses. After wine tasting, shop for amazing wines, cheeses and other local produced goods at their shop. Also have lunch or dinner at their Mediterranean restaurant, one of the best meals we had.
  • Boulders Beach: Visit the famous penguin colony in Simon’s Town. Don’t stick with just the two viewing platforms there are when entering the area. We found these platforms to be overcrowded and you couldn’t properly see the penguins. We walked a bit further to another beach where we climbed between some rocks. Here we were completely alone and we saw a few penguins closely. 
  • Cape Town Ostrich Ranch: This is a family friendly farm experience located about 20 minutes from Cape Town, showcasing the fascinating world of ostriches. Take a guided tour to learn about ostriches. Feed and interact with these giant birds in a safe space. 
  • The ladder Café: An aesthetic café in Cape Town with great coffees and breakfast/lunch options. Ideal for a quiet break after exploring the city or for remote working with free Wi-Fi. 
  • The pottery, Camps Bay: Ceramic Painting Experience. This is a creative studio in Camps Bay offering ceramic painting workshops. Paint and personalize your chosen item with an Aperol Spritz on the side. Your finished piece will be professionally glazed and fired, ready for collection in a few days.

Packing tips for the Garden Route:

  • Clothing: Comfortable layers for hiking and safaris. The month of September has nice temperatures during the day, but we found it cooled down a lot at night so bring enough warm clothes to wear in the evening and at night. 
  • Shoes: Bring sturdy walking shoes, for the many great hikes there are on the Garden Route and in Cape Town. 
  • Essentials: Sunscreen, binoculars (for wildlife) and a reusable water bottle.

The Garden Route offers a mix of adventure, wildlife and relaxation. By following this itinerary you’ll experience the best this region has to offer, from the rugged beauty of Hermanus to unforgettable wildlife encounters in Addo.