Luxury Garden Route Holidays

The Garden Route, South Africa, Itinerary

This is where to come on holiday to really immerse yourself into nature and taking time to explore the surroundings pays off. You will find some of the best hikes in the country thanks to the stunning coastal trails decorated with indigenous flora and fauna. While for wildlife enthusiasts, it is the ideal place to spot whales, seals, and white sharks.

Our Africa and safari specialist Tom Turner says:

“Hiking in this region is so magical, it has an other-worldly beauty about it thanks to the fynbos that is bursting with colour. There is something truly special in knowing that what you’re seeing is one-of-a-kind, as 6,000 out of the 9,000 species of plants here aren’t found anywhere else in the world."

Officially, the Garden Route starts in Mossel Bay (400 km from Cape Town) and ends in Storms River. However, people often set off from Cape Town stopping in Hermanus or De Hoop Nature Reserve and travelling on to the Eastern Cape for safari. You can also access the route from the Winelands or by flying to George or Plettenberg Bay from Cape Town.

Excellent road conditions and scenic views make the route a dream for self-drivers and even works well for families as the distances are manageable in just a few hours. We tend to recommend stopping at each destination for 2-3 days, allowing for a leisurely pace to appreciate the sublime coastline. 

When you are limited on time, we’d suggest choosing just one or two stops on the Garden Route, South Africa, itinerary sandwiched between a visit to Cape Town and a safari on the Eastern Cape.