Raise your hands if driving the Garden Route in South Africa is on your bucket list! If it's not, it should be!

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In Part One I covered These Points

• When should you travel to South Africa

• The safety issue

• Getting around

• Where should you stay in Cape Town and along the Garden Route

Your Itinerary, Activities, And The Best Things To Do Along The Garden Route - Part 2

The Garden Route offers something for everyone! It is packed with activities, animal encounters, and nature adventures for you to try on for size. For example, watersports, wildlife, hiking, caving, and whale watching. And this is just a shortlist.

The Garden Route is about a 300-kilometer stretch, some choose to start it in Port Elizabeth driving towards Cape Town while others like myself, start the drive from Cape Town, using Stellenbosch as a starting point AKA the Wine Route to Port Elizabeth.

Garden Route Itinerary

Day 1 ~ Cape Town to Stellenbosch

Day 2 ~ Stellenbosch via Hermanus to Mossel Bay

Day 3 ~ Mossel Bay via the Cango caves and sanctuary to Knysna

Day 4-5 ~ Explore Knysna's surroundings and the Tsitsikamma National Park

Day 5-6 ~ Plettenberg through Jeffrey's Bay to Addo Elephant National Park

Day 7 ~ Addo to Port Elizabeth

Day 8 ~ Fly back to Cape Town or Johannesburg

If you have an extra day spend it in Mossel Bay!

Activities, Wild Animal Encounters & Adventures To Do Along The Garden Route

It is always good to book your tickets in advance. This way you will save not only your valuable time, but you will also be able to take advantage of discounts that are only available when booking online ahead of time. Browse and book directly using the link below!

Stellenbosch ~ This stunning area is all about wine estates. Stellenbosch is the second oldest town in South Africa, packed with history showcased in the architecture, small museums, and art galleries around town. You have MANY gorgeous wine estates to choose from in Stellenbosch that offer wine tastings paired with beautiful food and even ice cream.

A fun way to explore this area is to hire a mountain bike or join such a tour to go on your merry way. If you feel like focusing more on the wine experience then Uber is the next best way to get around.

We chose LANZERAC and the DELAIRE GRAFF Estate- Simply divine!

PRO TIP ~ There are child-friendly tastings on offer. Gin tasting is possible as an alternative.

Hermanus and Mossel Bay ~ Hermanus is famous for two things: Land or boat-based whale watching and shark cage diving. September and October is the season when the whales come right into the bays to breach. Daily sightings are almost guaranteed!

Additional Exciting Activities In The Area

• Hire a chopper to explore from above.

• Rent a quad and go off-road.

• Walk the cliff path.

In Mossel Bay enjoy the beautiful wide beach and water sports. Kite surfing is big here!

On route to Knysna ~ Visit the Canga Cave and wildlife sanctuary in Oudtshoorn. This all started as a crocodile farm in 1977 which was transformed in 1986 to what it is today.

The best part here is the amazing wild animal encounters you can experience, including special packages for children. You can even cage dive with a Nile croc! Every activity is done ethically, putting the animals well being first. As natural as possible! We had unforgettable encounters with cheetahs and servals.

The caves are in a different area slightly further away, however, definitely worth visiting! The caves are one of the world’s great natural wonders, with fascinating limestone formations in a wide variety of colors. An underground wonderworld!

Knysna And Tsitsikamma National Park

Knysna is famous for stunning sights such as the Knysna Heads and Estuary. The Knysna Lagoon is all about such views. While here you have a chance for a small safari at the Knysna Elephant Park, caring for orphaned African elephants.

You can take elephant tours daily from 9:00-15:00. There are also elephant walks where you can follow the elephants on their route and observe them up close, it is extraordinary! Use the Outeniqua Mountain Range as a view lookout. You can spend a day out on the water, having a sunset cruise or a whale/dolphin watching cruise.

Tsitsikamma Park is a protected coastal reserve just filled with great activities to do, the time spent here was exhilarating!

You can choose a trail you would like to explore. Hiking trails, snorkel and diving route, the waterfall route, and an advanced hiking trail. It's an absolutely breathtaking landscape!

Hanging bridges to cross, viewpoints, mountains, a small beach to swim in, and ziplining (my personal favorite!). The Storms River has many adventures too: Rafting, kayaking, and floating on air mattresses AKA lilos which is the most fun!

Book Your Tickets Here

I loved the CANOPY TOURS ~ We took the waterfall zipline trail which was awesome!

Plettenberg ~ Here you can enjoy the beach, windsurfing, diving but the most fun for us was swimming with seals! What a unique swim it was swimming with these super cute, friendly, and slightly smelly creatures.

Addo ~ Addo Elephant National Park is a diverse wildlife conservation, it is one of the country's 19 national parks, third in size after the Kruger National Park. You can find here over 600 elephants, the Big 5, and a variety of other wildlife and birds. No booking is required for a day visit unless you want to partake in organized activities. You can just arrange a ticket and drive yourself.

Visiting Tips For First-Timers In Addo Elephant Park

• Hot days at waterholes are best for elephant viewing.

• Lions and spotted hyenas are most often seen in the early morning or evening to nighttime.

• Pets are not allowed in national parks.

• Bring along binoculars, cameras, and during the summer season sunhats and sunscreen. Insect repellent is also recommended.

• DO NOT get out of the car on your drive! If you do, you will be fined and kicked out of the park.

There are also horse trails, 4x4 trails, and hiking trails.

Port Elizabeth ~ It all happens on the beachfront here! Enjoy the Boardwalk, King's Market, the stunning beaches, and the cool restaurants where you can have a meal with a view. A perfect city for a beach break!

On these websites, you find additional updated information

• www.sanparks.org www.knysna-info.com

• www.tsitsikammaadventure.co.za

• www.untouchedadventures.com

• www.cangowildlife.com

• www.stormsriver.com

• www.hermanuswhalewatchers.co.za

Enjoy the Garden Route!

Take a look at this Ultimate Flight Packing List so you come prepared for your flight!

Want to be a better more savvy traveler? This article is for you!

Yours,

Diti