Garden Route, South Africa
We tackled the Garden Route on a relatively tight schedule—4 days and 3 nights—which definitely left us wishing for more time to explore. You’ll probably notice a recurring theme of “wish we had more time” or “would’ve gone if we had time” throughout, so fair warning for some repetition!
Storms River & Tsitsikamma National Park
We didn’t stay in Storms River, but it was one of our first major stops along the Garden Route. If you're looking to stay overnight, The Fernery Lodge and Spa seemed to be recommended by a lot of people (but we were based in Plettenberg Bay instead).
What We Did:
Mouth Trail to the Suspension Bridges: 100% worth it. The bridges themselves are a standout feature, offering sweeping views of the rough waters below. They were much longer than I expected but I felt perfectly safe. We didn’t kayak, but watching others tackle the waves was impressive. The trail starts conveniently near the parking lot by the café, and while most of it is straightforward, you do walk on sand and there’s a short section where you’ll need to time your steps around incoming waves so choose your footwear wisely!
Cafe by the water: Just steps from the parking lot, there’s a spacious cafe right on the shoreline, offering stunning views and a mesmerizing sight of waves crashing against the rocks.
Saw baboons: Right next to our car! A wild and very "we are officially in South Africa" kind of moment.
What We Skipped:
Otter Trail / Waterfall Hike: This is part of a famous multi-day hike. You have to book in advance — we didn’t, but it’s something to consider if you love hiking.
Loerie Trail (bird-watching, 1km) — Short and popular, but we passed due to time.
Blackwater tubing, kayaking in the gorge, zip lining: All looked amazing, but we did not have enough time. The waves did look wilder than I anticipated as well so I was not sad to miss any water activity.
Bloukrans Bridge Bungee Jumping: We drove over it but got there too late to watch anyone jump. There’s a cafe nearby if you're not planning on jumping but still want to watch others.
Nature’s Valley: Heard great things about the beaches, hikes, and views — we just didn’t make it.
Cape St. Francis: Worth a stop if you’ve got extra time and want great seafood specifically calamari!
Plettenberg Bay
Plettenberg Bay was our first overnight stop on the Garden Route.
Where We Stayed:
The Plettenberg Hotel : A beautiful hotel with incredible views. Our room was huge, the staff was lovely, and we even got a complimentary bottle of wine! This area is known for spotting whales from the shoreline during whale season which is June to November. We did not see whales this time, however we saw dolphins while sitting by the pool.
We ate at the hotel restaurant for breakfast and dinner during our stay. Both meals were delicious and the views were incredible.
What We Did:
Robberg Nature Reserve Hike: This was genuinely one of the best hikes we’ve ever done—no exaggeration. The trail offers breathtaking coastal views, frequent seal sightings, and a great mix of challenging yet manageable terrain. There are three route options depending on your time and energy: the Gap Circuit (about 2 km, 30 minutes), the Witsand Circuit (around 5 km, roughly 2 hours), and the Point Circuit (approximately 10 km, taking up to 4 hours). I would’ve loved to try the Point Circuit if we had more time, but the Witsand Circuit was absolutely incredible. The views were unforgettable, especially around “The Island.” While you can shorten the route by skipping the island loop after descending the dune, I found it well worth the extra effort. Just a heads-up, there’s a sandy stretch where getting sand in your shoes is almost unavoidable, even with hiking boots.
Downtown Plett: Smaller than we expected, but a nice area to wander around. We were able to stop at an ATM here, however the ATM was out of cash so don’t make our same mistake and get cash at the airport!
What We Skipped:
Tenikwa Wildlife Centre, Birds of Eden, Monkeyland — All popular animal sanctuaries in the area, but we opted out.
Cave exploration: Plett’s coastline has some historic cave sites. If we had more time we would have prioritized this stop next.
Where We Ate:
Adi’s Kitchen: We had lunch here and it was great. I had a falafel wrap, my fiancé had Mozambique prawns, and we split a rich chocolate cake — would 100% go back.
Ke Pasa Mexican: We wanted to go, but ran into a common thing in South Africa — parking attendants who expect tips. We hadn’t sorted cash yet, so we skipped it.
The Fat Fish: Didn’t go, but it has great reviews if you want seafood.
Wilderness
We didn’t stay overnight in Wilderness, but it’s a charming, popular stop.
What We Did:
Map of Africa Viewpoint: This was such a cool stop. The Kaaimans River below actually forms the shape of the African continent. A local woman was there sharing facts about the landmark.
Paragliding with Cloudbase: There are two possible launch sites for the jump: Sedgefield and Wilderness. Ours ended up being in Sedgefield, depending on the weather, and it was an incredible experience! The Wilderness site is located directly across from the Map of Africa viewpoint. Which location you start from really comes down to weather conditions on the day, but either way, you’re in great hands, our guide Jan is something of a paragliding legend in South Africa. Highly recommend!
What We Skipped:
Half Collared Kingfisher Trail & Touw River Waterfall: Both came highly recommended for easy scenic hikes — just ran out of time.
Dolphin Viewpoint: Didn’t make it.
Where We Almost Ate:
The Girls on the Square and The Green Shed: Both looked great — just couldn’t squeeze them in.
The Green Shed: We went to this one in Mossel Bay instead (keep reading!).
Mossel Bay
Mossel Bay was more of a drive-through stop for us, but we did find one hidden gem.
What We Did:
Scoped out the coastal zipline: It runs over the ocean, and the waves crash up toward the zipline path!
The Blue Shed Coffee Roastery
LOVED this place. Rustic vibe, delicious meat pies, excellent milkshakes and coffee. Definitely worth a stop.
What We Skipped:
Blaize Trail, lighthouses, waterfront restaurants: Didn’t have time, but Mossel Bay has more than meets the eye if you're not in a rush.
Knysna
Knysna was our second overnight stop where we stayed two nights.
Where We Stayed:
Villa Afrikana Guest Suites — Gorgeous property up on a hill with amazing views of the lagoon. The breakfast setup is next-level as they serve it on your balcony or in the dining room. Just a note: the staff is very attentive. Not a bad thing, just more proactive than we’re used to.
What We Did:
Sunset Cruise on the Lagoon: We booked with a small company and it ended up being just us and one other couple. We tasted oysters (wild and farmed), learned a lot, and even saw a seal up close! One of our favorite parts of the entire trip! Viator link for the company we used.
Knysna Heads Viewpoint: Stunning. Multiple vantage points, all worth checking out. Free parking as well!
Bike Ride around Thesen & Leisure Islands: We found a small rental shop just outside the bridge to Thesen Island. Leisure Island is mostly residential, but scenic. Thesen has shops, restaurants, and much more to explore.
What We Skipped:
The endangered seahorse "tour" at Turbine Hotel: This is actually not a thing, despite what some blogs say. The hotel confirmed this. But there is a little marine center on the jetty where you can see real Knysna seahorses in a tank.
Brenton-on-Sea for sunset: Still on the list!
Where We Ate:
East Head Cafe: Delicious Caesar salad, great drinks, and incredible views. We rode our bikes here and it was a perfect lunch stop.
Oysters & Tapas: located on Thesen Island. Great casual dinner spot with sports on TV and friendly staff. We also got a great deal for burgers and beers here!
Freshline Fisheries (pictured): Fun outdoor vibe with picnic tables and sand. You can BYO wine with no corkage fee! My fish was just okay (probably a bad ordering choice on my part), however my fiancé’s was excellent.
Coffee & Breakfast:
Île de Pain: Beautiful bakery/cafe. We only grabbed coffee to go, but wish we’d had more time to sit down and eat.
Red Bridge Brewing: Looked awesome — didn’t get the chance to visit.
Honorable Mentions: Just Outside the Garden Route
While not officially part of the Garden Route, we made a few stops nearby that were unforgettable and well worth the detour — especially if you're visiting during whale season (June to November).
Hermanus
Known as one of the best land-based whale watching destinations in the world, Hermanus lives up to the hype. During whale season, you can often spot whales right from the coast — no boat required. We literally pulled over on the side of the road and watched a whale swimming and breaching just offshore. If you're in the area during the right time of year, it’s a no-brainer.
Gansbaai
Gansbaai used to be the great white shark capital of the world, however this is sadly no longer the case. These days, great white sightings are rare (they’re now down to maybe one per year), and many attribute their disappearance to two local orcas named Port and Starboard, who have reportedly scared them off.
That said, we still had a blast shark cage diving. The birds overhead were more chaotic than I expected, but once in the water, we saw bronze whaler sharks, seals, and even a seven-gill shark. It was a fun adrenaline kick, even without the great whites.
Where We Stayed:
White Shark Villa: Highly recommend. Huge room, bathroom, and balcony. The owners were incredibly kind and even let us come back after the dive to shower before heading out.
Where We Ate:
The Great White House Restaurant: A fun, shark-themed spot that's right next to many of the cage diving companies. Definitely leans into the experience.
Cape Agulhas
Another memorable stop was Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa and the official spot where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet.
It’s a quick photo op, but a meaningful one — a "bucket list" sort of moment for anyone road-tripping around South Africa.