Self driving the Garden Route

Self driving the Garden Route in South Africa is especially popular with British visitors who enjoy the freedom to explore this scenic area at their own pace. The route is straight forward and although it technically only stretches from Mossel Bay to Port Elizabeth, most travellers depart from Cape Town, adding in a stopover in the Winelands and Hermanus.

It is possible to follow the same highway, the N2, all of the way, but there are plenty of scenic diversions along the way which encompass some quaint and historical towns and villages as well as points of interest. The roads are well sign posted in English, and South Africans drive on the left, the same as the UK.

Visions of Africa only use reputable hire car companies and cars are fitted with Sat Nav to assist with the navigation, but clients are also given a personalised travel digest on arrival in South Africa. This gives detailed driving directions, maps, contact details for the hotels and information about places of interest to stop at on the way. The digests are prepared for each client individually and give directions for every leg of the itinerary.

It is approximately 800km from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, so it is best to divide the journey into manageable bites. The staff at Visions of Africa have made this journey numerous times and are familiar with the best places to stop along the way. It is important to spend time enjoying the actual locations rather than seeing everything from the car window in a mad dash. 7 days is a recommended minimum but 10 will give more time to explore and a chance to unpack the suitcases for a few nights in the same location.

The most popular itinerary starts in cosmopolitan Cape Town, possibly then heading the short distance to the Cape Winelands and the towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek for a couple of nights. From the winelands it is just a couple of hours to the old whaling town of Hermanus. The town is now a renowned whale watching centre and visitors throng to the coastline here between July and November when the whales can be seen from the cliffs.

Continuing on, some visitors head inland towards Oudtshoorn, famous as the ostrich capital of the world, and also the location of some of the most spectacular caves in Africa at Cango. The road to Oudtshoorn is a famous wine route in its own right and there are a number of places to stop along the way and try the local speciality which is a fortified wine.

Alternatively visitors can continue to drive parallel to the ocean, catching glimpses every now and then as the N2 winds through farming land and small villages. The next large town is Mossel Bay, a thriving fishing port and home to some large refineries. For visitors to the area, there are a number of attractions including the Diaz Museum and some wonderful coastal walks.

George is the next stop for most people, either reached by a spectacular mountain pass from Oudtshoorn or along the N2 from Mossel Bay. This lively farming town has a vibrant community and is renowned as a golfing centre in South Africa, home to Fancourt and a number of other golf courses.

From George the road winds between a number of lakes and lagoons and follows the coast to Knysna. There are a number of seaside communities along the way, including the rugged coastline of Wilderness a popular spot for visitors that enjoy some beach time.

Knysna is probably the most visited location along the way. The town sits on the banks of a tidal lagoon which is almost entirely enclosed by the ‘Heads’, towering cliffs which guard the lagoon from the ocean. Knysna is famous for its oysters which are grown in the lagoon and for seafood generally, with a number of quayside restaurants. There are plenty of activities in the locale, from the elephant sanctuary to sunset boat trips, shopping and the Birds of Eden tree top aviary walk. Using Knysna as a base it is possible to explore Plettenberg Bay, George and Oudtshoorn as day trips.

Continuing east the road passes through the Tsitsikamma Forest that offers a number of adventure activities from bungee jumping and zip lining to more sedate walking trails. It is also possible to explore and participate in these from either accommodation in Knysna or Plettenberg Bay, but there are a number of small lodges hidden in the forest that offer a lovely relaxed and tranquil setting.

St Francis Bay is about a 90 minute drive further along the coast, this quaint little town is characterised by white wash houses and thatched roofs. It could easily be a country village in Britain. The town sits on a magnificent beach and is especially popular with surfers. The houses are built along small canals that wind through the community and can be explored on a guided boat trip.

Port Elizabeth is the end of the Garden Route but not necessarily the end for everyone’s holiday. Just an hour beyond the city there are a number of game reserves offering big 5 game viewing at luxurious safari lodges. The region has the added bonus of being malaria free and is a great way to incorporate a safari.

It is best to explore the Garden Route as a one way trip to maximise time without doubling back. It is easy to drop off the hire car at Port Elizabeth airport and then fly back from Port Elizabeth via Johannesburg. The hire car companies do charge a one way drop off fee but it would equate to no more than the cost of petrol to drive all the way back to Cape Town.

Petrol in South Africa is currently (Sept 2013) just over 80p as litre, and costs the same amount everywhere in the country. Stations are plentiful and offer good amenities such as coffee shops, clean toilets and usually an ATM should you want cash. They are generally large places much the same as our motorway service stations – busy and safe.

Self driving is suitable for anyone that enjoys this kind of travel. Daily distances can be restricted to a couple of hundred kilometres a day, there are numerous places en route to break the journey, even families are well catered for.

Accommodation on the Garden Route can range from 5* hotels to family run guest houses and even farm stays. The staff at Visions will pre book the accommodation for you, and plan the route to ensure that you will always have plenty of time to drive to your next destination. We will never recommend a route whereby you arrive after dark.