Garden Route

About Garden Route

The Garden Route is the stretch of coast between Mossel Bay and Storms River where the mountains come down close to the sea and the vegetation changes every few kilometres. Indigenous forest at Knysna and Tsitsikamma, fynbos on the slopes above it, lagoons and estuaries at Wilderness and Sedgefield, and beaches most of the way along.

It is the easiest introduction to South Africa there is, which is also its problem in December: the N2 is busy and the good places go early. Come in spring or autumn and you get the same coast without the queue.

The stays here run from forest cottages to guesthouses in the coastal towns. Many sit beside a national park or a private conservancy, and the causes their bookings support tend to be estuary health, indigenous forest and the marine work along this coast.

Questions travellers ask

Where does the Garden Route start and end?

There is no legal boundary, but it is usually taken as Mossel Bay in the west to Storms River in the east, along the N2. Knysna and Plettenberg Bay sit in the middle and are the busiest bases.

How long do I need for the Garden Route?

You can drive it in a day, and most people regret doing that. Four to five nights lets you stop in two or three towns without spending the trip behind the wheel.

When is the best time to go?

December and January are the busiest and most expensive. Spring and autumn give you warm enough weather, quieter beaches and better value. Winter is green and mild on this coast, unlike the interior.

Is the Garden Route good for birding?

Yes, and the mix is unusual: forest species around Knysna including the Knysna Turaco, estuary and wader flocks at Wilderness and Sedgefield, and fynbos specials on the slopes. Several stays here are flagged bird friendly.