Discover the wonders of South Africa’s famous Garden Route with our carefully compiled three-day itinerary. This article is your little guide to a journey filled with natural beauty, diverse landscapes and vibrant culture. Welcome to an exciting journey along the charming Garden Route!
The most beautiful road in the world
Of course, South Africa has many scenic drives, such as the famous Panorama Route in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province or the unique Swartberg Pass in the Little Karoo in the Western Cape. However, the Garden Route is recognized as one of the most beautiful routes in the world, and it’s hard to disagree with this. This breathtaking 300-kilometer road between high mountains and the ocean, dotted along the way with quaint towns with colourful culture and architecture. It will definitely leave a mark on your heart and soul!
Where is it?
Many people believe that the Garden Route begins in Cape Town and, therefore, usually include it in their adventures. However, in reality, the route only starts in Witsand and ends on the outskirts of the Western Cape at Storms River. The most popular route is the distance between Mosel Bay and Storms River.
A complete Garden Route includes the following cities and towns:
💡 Witsand, Heidelberg, Riversdale, Stilbaai, Albertinia, Gouritsmond, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn, Great Brak River, Little Brak River, Wilderness, Sedgefield, Nature’s Valley, George.
The Garden Route is a relatively short trip as the distance can easily be covered in a couple of hours. However, to fully appreciate one of South Africa’s most scenic drives, spending quality time exploring all the best parts of the region is highly recommended. The length of the journey will depend on where you decide to start. Here are some of the options:
🚗 Cape Town – Storms River (583km / 7 hours)
✈️ Cape Town – George (1 hour) + 🚗 George – Storms River (200km / 2,5 hours)
✈️ Johannesburg – George (2 hours) + 🚗 George – Storms River (158km / 2 hours)
🚗 Mossel Bay – Storms River (200km / 2,5 hours)
Transport
Rent a Car The best way to explore the Garden Route is undoubtedly by car. You can rent a car in Cape Town or upon arrival at George airport (by the way, the cost of renting a car in George will be about the same as in Cape Town).
Shuttle If self-driving is not an option for you, you may want to consider using a shuttle service to take you from one stop to the next. Zeelie Taxi is a reputable and affordable service that offers its services throughout most of the Garden Route. At Beloc we can arrange this for you 🙂
We offer
Bus Tour
For those who do not like to travel independently, there are a huge number of large and luxury operators organizing tours for every taste and duration.
Garden Route in 3 days from Cape Town
It may seem that mastering the Garden Route in 72 hours is not an easy task. Some people will be put off by the many hours and kilometers in the car, while others will be afraid of missing an interesting location and not having time to see everything. But don’t worry too much, the three-day Garden Route itinerary covers all the highlights and gives you plenty of time to see all the important attractions, from the best cities and beautiful beaches to untouched nature and wildlife.
⏱️ 1000 km
🌓 3 days/ 2 nights
📍 Cape Town – Hermanus – Cape Agulhas – Swellendam – Mossel Bay (night) – George – Wilderness – Sedgefield – Knysna (night) – Storms River – Cape Town
Day 1. Cape Town – (Hermanus) – (Cape Agulhas) – Swellendam – Mossel Bay (387 km / 4 hours)
If you leave Cape Town early in the morning, you’ll be in Mossel Bay before lunch, giving you time to explore the city and relax. And if you are not in a hurry, before Mossel Bay, you can also stop in Hermanus and Cape Agulhas, because there is a lot to do and see (+2 hours by road).
We recommend stopping for lunch in Swellendam. It is the fourth oldest city in South Africa and is located approximately halfway between Cape Town and Mossel Bay. Just 6 km from Swellendam is the Bontebok National Park, where the rare and incredibly beautiful antelope of the same name lives.
Your final destination is the famous Mossel Bay. This port town and “adventure capital” of the Garden Route has a variety of hotels, hostels, eco-cabins and campsites for comfort and relaxation at the end of such a busy first day!
Day 2. Mossel Bay – George – (Oudtshoorn) – Wilderness – Sedgefield – Knysna (105 km / 1.5 hours)
The second day of the trip is filled with even more unforgettable emotions. You have to decide whether to continue from Mossel Bay and follow the coast past George to the Wilderness, or take a detour and head to Oudtshoorn (+160 km).
The main attraction of Oudtshoorn is the ostrich farm and the Cango Caves (Cango Caves). If your time is limited, or crawling through tunnels and watching ostriches doesn’t excite you too much, skip this place and stick to the coastal route.
George is the largest town on the Garden Route and just 40 minutes from Mossel Bay. This is a good place to shop because your options in the towns further along the route are quite limited. From George, there is an option of continuing along the N2 along the coast or driving a little inland along the Seven Passes Road – the old road connecting George with Knysna.
Another stop will be the village of Wilderness, where you will discover a world of rivers, lagoons, lakes, forests and mountains. There you can indulge in anything you can imagine from canoeing, hiking and bird watching to paragliding, delicious food and wine.
If you want to soak up the sun and plunge into the turquoise ocean, stop in Sedgefield, which is just 23 km from the Wilderness. The beach in Sedgefield is incredible and very long. Great for running and surfing in the lagoon. If you find yourself here on a Saturday morning, be sure to visit the Wild Oats Farmers Market.
We highly recommend spending the second night of your trip in Knysna. Whether you prefer a stylish tree-top Airbnb in a dense forest, a boutique hotel on the cliffs overlooking a dreamy lagoon, or a private villa away from it all – there’s a place just for you! Whether you find yourself in Knysna during the day or late afternoon, you’ll have plenty of time to get a taste of this oyster town.
Day 3. Knysna – Cape Town (488 km / 5 hours)
For many travellers, Knysna is one of the main attractions of the Garden Route, and for our readers it will be the final point of a three-day itinerary before returning to Cape Town.
Knysna’s undeniable appeal can be attributed to its million-dollar views, the hospitality of the locals, the exciting variety of land and water activities, and the city’s unrivalled natural beauty. The oyster industry, hiking, outdoor activities, fishing and water sports are popular here. Knysna also has a number of historical and cultural attractions: the Knysna Heads Clliffs, the Knysna Forest and the amazing Knysna Elephant Park.
Of course, the official end of the Garden Route is Storms River, an hour’s drive from Knysna. Therefore, if you really want to “check-in” at this place and you still have some energy left, then don’t miss the opportunity! We highly recommend going there.
Today Beloc has offered an “express” tour for those who do not have much time in South Africa or think that the famous road takes much longer. If you’re planning a trip to South Africa, don’t hesitate to add the Garden Route to your bucket list! This is an ideal place for a honeymoon, a pleasant family holiday with children or a weekend getaway. Let Beloc team do all the trip planning for you and organize the best Garden Route tour you could ever imagine. More information via the link.
Bon Voyage!
