Destinations / The Garden Route (Western Cape) >>

The Garden Route is a broad term to describe the stretch of coastline that is very popular with tourists running from Cape Town all the way to Port Elizabeth. But this is a mixed bag – some nice towns and beaches but also some frankly very disappointing resorts where it becomes clear town-planning is not South Africa’s strength. What should be quaint beach fronts are in fact uncontrolled developments on busy roads.

Depending upon your preferences and time in South Africa, we suggest you consider Route 62 as an alternative and take in the quieter beaches of The Wild Coast.

Most international tourists visit…

Hermanus

Hermanus is an attractive 100KM drive from Cape Town and offers visitors very good beaches to the east of town, a pretty harbour with some nice eating options, decent hiking and one of the best places from which to view Southern Right Whales from (June to November). There’s a vibey town centre and harbour with some fine dining to be had. Nearby Arabella is one of the best golf courses in South Africa. Pick of the beaches is nearby Grotto Beach.

Arniston & Cape Agulhus

Arniston is refreshingly different from the majority of other ugly Garden Route coastal towns. Strict building regulations have ensured it has retained its identity as a small fishing village – quaint white-washed buildings by a nice beach. The pick of the accommodation is The Arniston Hotel, however there are also more affordable guesthouses and self-catering alternatives. Nearby, at Cape Agulhus, you can walk to the most southerly point in Africa and watch the daily battle between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The good news… if you’re heading north, you know that the sea will be a lot warmer now!

George & Knysna

George is the golfing capital of South Africa and well-situated on the Garden Route, whether you’re driving along the coast or Route 62. There are four courses in the Fancourt complex alone, the most famous being The Links which hosts a number of international competitions. However the Gary Player-designed Montagu Golf Course is an excellent alternative. Although George is not right on the coast, nearby Victoria Bay offers a decent small beach from which to contemplate your next round. But unless you’re a golfer, we don’t recommend it. The same can be said of Knysna – lots of tourists go there, but we’ve not worked out why. It’s a big town with bigger traffic problems and little to redeem it other than a pretty harbour and the nearby Knysna Heads – two headlands with some nice views. One of those towns that’s great to drive past. Belvidere, Brenton-on-Sea (across the other side of Knysna Lagoon) and Leisure Island are significant improvements upon Kynsna Town itself.

Mossel Bay

Probably the site where the first ever European stepped onto sub-saharan soil, things have gone mainly downhill since Batholomeu Dias came this way in 1488. The relatively pretty town centre of Mossel Bay has been drowned in uncontrolled development, including a major oil refinery. There’s still a good beach and some decent scuba diving, including in cage dives to see Great White Sharks, but rather save your oxygen and drive on by.

Wilderness

Long a favourite of backpackers, Wilderness is less of a town than an area where holiday homes are scattered over lush green hills surrounding a lagoon. Unfortunately the N2 ploughs through the middle of town, cutting much of it off from the excellent beach, so choose your accommodation wisely. Options for activities abound, including sea and lagoon kayaking, kloofing (basically following a rocky coastline both in and out of the water), great mountain biking and horse-riding. Inside the actual Wilderness National Park, there are some excellent hiking trails around an extensive lake system that attracts rich birdlife. The town centre, if you can call it that, is tiny, but there are some very good restaurants and a holiday town vibe.