Top 10 Things To Do Along South Africa's Garden Route

The Garden Route, stretching from Mossel Bay to Storms River, combines the most beautiful landscapes and scenery, from forests, rivers, beaches, and lakes to mountains, indigenous flora, and fauna. Here’s why a self-drive trip of the famous Garden Route is a must for every traveller.

Whale watching

When it comes to whale watching in the Garden Route, boat-based trips are the way to go. There are many tours that allow guests to get up close to these gentle giants, including a three hour whale-watching trip to Seal Island near Mossel Bay. Remember your camera as these tours promise amazing photographic opportunities.

Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis)

The Outeniqua Transport Museum

Wilderness National Park

Wilderness National Park has much to offer in terms of outdoor activities, from hiking and canoeing to abseiling, fishing, birding, and paragliding. Situated right in the middle of the Garden Route, between George and Knysna, the park is a captivating arrangement of rivers, lakes, beaches, forests, and mountains. One can easily spend days on end taking in the views.

Beer tasting

Family-owned Sedgefield Craft Brewery, a boutique-style craft brewery, specialises in quality-handcrafted beer. They produce a list of custom ales ranging from a simple, refreshing summer-style blonde to a deep copper, well-hopped complex IPA. Join them for a tasting, and purchase bottled beer to enjoy at your next destination.

Featherbed boat tours

Featherbed Co. in Knysna gives visitors to the Garden Route an unforgettable experience on the lagoon. Some of their many boats include a 45 ft (13.7 meters) Catamaran sailing boat, a one-of-a-kind Paddle Cruiser, the famous John Benn, and a Rivercat ferry. All (with exception of the Rivercat) offer restaurant-and-bar facilities to cater for luncheons and dinner cruises.

The Paddle Cruiser is South Africa’s only paddle-driven vessel

Mountain bike trails

Harkerville Trail offers a range of mountain-biking routes, perfect for the adventure traveller, regardless of fitness level or experience. Get into nature and take in the lush plantations, fynbos, and indigenous forest.

Knysna Elephant Park

The Knysna Elephant Park was the first facility in South Africa to house and care for orphaned African elephants. Over the last 20 years, the park has cared for more than 40 elephants. These animals include orphaned calves and ex-circus animals. Some have made the park their permanent home while others have been relocated to other reserves.

The park welcomes volunteers from all over the world

Diving

Pro Dive in Plettenberg Bay offers exciting diving tours that are sure to be unforgettable. Choose between reef or seal dives, and prepare to be amazed by the variety of marine life found so close to shore. The seal dives, needless to say, is an experience like no other.

South African Fur Seals (Arctocephalus pusillus)

Birds of Eden

Birds of Eden, a bird and monkey sanctuary, has a unique two hectare dome (the largest in the world) that spans over a gorge of indigenous forest. The sanctuary is currently home to over 3,500 birds, including exotic as well African birds.

Tsitsikamma canopy tour

The Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour takes place in the Tsitsikamma indigenous rainforest, and many of the platforms are built around giant Outeniqua Yellowwood trees that are up to 700 years old. With spectacular scenery and birdlife, lucky visitors may spot a pair of Knysna Loeries or the elusive Narina Trogon.

The Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park hosts the world-famous Otter Trail

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.