Can't-Miss Spots Along the Garden Route in South Africa

Nature’s Valley is at the eastern end of the Garden Route, complete with a long golden beach and powerful swells. The beach continues to wrap around the protected Grootrivier Lagoon, an excellent swimming spot. In the off-season, the village’s population shrinks to just 100 residents, but woodpeckers, kingfishers, and owls fill the forests.

The town also serves as the beginning of the Otter Trail—a 27-mile (44-kilometer) trek through Tsitsikamma National Park, where hikers pass through fynbos shrubland, one of the most biologically diverse and endangered ecosystems in the world. Other activities in the park include exploring via off-road scooter and ziplining through the forest canopy.

Cheetahs, lions, leopards, and servals make their home at Tenikwa Wildlife Centre, giving visitors the chance to get close to these animals in a safe and protected space. As a rehabilitation and awareness center, all the animals have either been seized from illegal ownership, brought to the center as rescues, or acquired from other wildlife centers.

If you want to maximize your animal time, book a comfortable suite or a cozy cabin located just feet away from the lion enclosures. The center also offers several different tour options to cater to every interest, whether that be conservation, photography, or just getting to see as many big cats as possible.

Located in the Crags, this relatively new vineyard claims the title of the Western Cape’s easternmost winery, one of the Garden Route travel must-sees. Its small restaurant offers a menu with Italian influences, and they have a cellar full of sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, and pinot noir. Recently, they’ve been experimenting with sparkling wines made using the Cap Classique method (making sparkling with a second fermentation in the bottle), which you can sample in their chic tasting room, accompanied by a cheese board.

Characterized by long beaches and rolling green mountains, Plettenberg Bay is one of the larger towns and best scenic drives along the Garden Route. Dive into nature with a trip to the Robberg Nature Reserve, where you can take a tour to snorkel through the resident fur seal population or head to Monkeyland, where nine different species of rescued primates roam through the trees. Later, take a sunset stroll along the boardwalk at Central Beach or sample the catch of the day at Moby’s, a popular seafood restaurant overlooking the bay.

In June, the town of Knysna hosts a long-running oyster festival, and humpback whales start to play in the coastal waters. The town comes alive as oyster-eating and shucking competitions bring in the crowds, and whale-watching boats offer tours of the harbor.

Foodies will want to take an oyster tour to learn about oyster farming, while nature lovers can hop on a scooter and discover how to identify giant yellowwood and stinkwood trees in the lush forests. Other highlights of the town include Knysna Fine Art, a vibrant gallery space housed in a historic home, and the picturesque Pledge Nature Reserve, where you can get panoramic views of the town and the sheltered estuary below.

Located in the city of George, visit the Garden Route Botanical Garden to experience the unique flora of the region in a condensed setting. A peaceful pond, manicured paths, and flowerbeds bursting with color let visitors explore the area’s biodiversity and lush greenery.

Next door, you’ll find the Garden Route Birds of Prey Rehab Centre, which cares for hawks, eagles, and owls—if you’re lucky, you’ll be there for a live flight show to watch the birds in action. After exploring, grab lunch in the peaceful garden courtyard of Meade Cafe, where they serve up hearty sandwiches and fresh salads.

Looking over George, the Witfontein Nature Reserve is full of hiking trails and cycling paths, which are popular among visitors and locals alike. Mountain biking enthusiasts can check out the cross-country trails, and hikers can try the George VKM trail, which takes you on a steep climb to George Peak. Some scrambling is required, so wear sturdy shoes. Refuel with coffee at Rocket—a cool local café and roastery that donates 5 percent of all hot drink profits to charity.

With its Victorian beach pavilion and sweet holiday cottages, Mossel Bay is an ideal base for those exploring the Garden Route. Contrary to its serene surroundings, the town has become known for adventure tourism, with activities including cage-diving with great white sharks, skydiving with views of the Indian Ocean, surfing when conditions are right, and ziplining over crashing waves.

If you’re looking for something a little more relaxing, opt for the gin masterclass at Cape Saint Blaize Distillery, where you can distill a bottle of your own gin and learn about flavor profiles and techniques.

In the late 1990s, the Pinnacle Point Caves near Mossel Bay were the site of a major discovery. An archaeologist found evidence of modern human behavior in artifacts dating back 164,000 years, including ground ochre pigment and small stone tools. Today, the historical site is open to the public through advance bookings—as you tour the cave and surrounding area, learn about the early humans that walked the same path millennia ago.