Destinations / The Garden Route (Eastern Cape) >>

The Garden Route continues its long meander from Cape Town onto the ‘Sunshine Coast’ and Port Elizabeth. Most tourists underestimate the distances and times involved; to drive from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth alone is at least 12 hours driving. Add another three for East London. You may want to consider flying directly to this part of the coast to save yourself from these long, but beautiful drives.

This is best stretch of The Garden Route – the climate is more reliably warm, the undergrowth slowly changes from northern European to Mediterranean or even tropical (but the pesky baboons remind you that you’re definitely in Africa), the towns aren’t as over-developed and the beaches become less crowded. The N2 winds it's way over spectacular river gorges (one of which is home to the highest commercial bungee jump in the world) and through lush indigenous forest.

Hikers and nature lovers will enjoy Tsitsikamma National Park, Nature's Valley and Storms River Village, Jeffrey’s Bay and even Port Elizabeth have decent beaches, but Kenton-on-Sea has a better one. Addo Elephant National Park and Shamwari Game Reserve offer a fantastic opportunity for safari if you don’t have time to get to big five safari country further north.

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