"The Garden Route is one of the most-loved vacation destinations in South Africa, and while the popular holiday towns of Knysna and Plettenberg Bay are among the most alluring in the country, it’s the area’s natural beauty that really steals the show. The route boasts tranquil lagoons, pristine beaches and wetlands, striking mountains and gentle rolling hills – all along a 300-odd-kilometre stretch of verdant coastline.”

- Narina Exelby

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The Garden Route

When towns along a stretch of coastline have names like Wilderness, Storms River, Nature’s Valley and Still Bay, you know it’s got to be a pretty special area. That stretch of coastline is known as the Garden Route – its name a give-away as to what makes this area so alluring.

The Garden Route sits along South Africa’s south-west coastline between Mossel Bay and Storms River, and between the Indian Ocean and the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains. It’s an area of incredible biodiversity – so much so that it has been added to Unesco’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The vegetation that shrouds the rugged mountains and hugs the edges of pretty lagoons and rivers is a mix of temperate forest and fynbos, the smallest and most diverse of the world’s six floral kingdoms. Almost 300 species of birds are found along the Garden Route; large mammals here include elephants, rhinos and buffaloes; and the adjacent marine protected area is home to 200 species of fish, sharks and rays as well as 11 of the 17 threatened fish species in South Africa.

While this biodiversity translates into unforgettable walks, vistas and wildlife experiences, the towns along the Garden Route add to the area’s appeal. In Wilderness the picturesque lagoons are the big drawcard while the river and estuary at Still Bay attract water sports enthusiasts. The pretty holiday villages of Sedgefield and Natures’ Valley offer tranquil getaways while the arts and crafts on offer in Knysna, along with a plethora of restaurants, enjoys plenty of attention.

When to go

Find out when is best to visit

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SUMMER

A beautiful time to visit with plenty of sunshine and warm weather. The area does occasionally experience heat waves during these months with temperatures climbing over 35°C/95°F

The Garden Route is situated between KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape and its climate is a bit of a mixture of the two. Its coastal areas enjoy both a subtropical and Mediterranean climate while inland things get a bit hotter. The geographic location between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean give the region rather mixed rainfall patterns, with no distinct dry period as found within the Western Cape. Rainfall amounts are however usually minimal with plenty of sunshine throughout the year!

SUMMER

A beautiful time to visit with plenty of sunshine and warm weather. The area does occasionally experience heat waves during these months with temperatures climbing over 35°C/95°F

The Garden Route is situated between KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape and its climate is a bit of a mixture of the two. Its coastal areas enjoy both a subtropical and Mediterranean climate while inland things get a bit hotter. The geographic location between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean give the region rather mixed rainfall patterns, with no distinct dry period as found within the Western Cape. Rainfall amounts are however usually minimal with plenty of sunshine throughout the year!

AUTUMN

With more pleasant midday highs and generally clear conditions this remains a fantastic time of year to visit.

The Garden Route is situated between KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape and its climate is a bit of a mixture of the two. Its coastal areas enjoy both a subtropical and Mediterranean climate while inland things get a bit hotter. The geographic location between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean give the region rather mixed rainfall patterns, with no distinct dry period as found within the Western Cape. Rainfall amounts are however usually minimal with plenty of sunshine throughout the year!

AUTUMN

With more pleasant midday highs and generally clear conditions this remains a fantastic time of year to visit.

The Garden Route is situated between KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape and its climate is a bit of a mixture of the two. Its coastal areas enjoy both a subtropical and Mediterranean climate while inland things get a bit hotter. The geographic location between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean give the region rather mixed rainfall patterns, with no distinct dry period as found within the Western Cape. Rainfall amounts are however usually minimal with plenty of sunshine throughout the year!

WINTER

The Eastern Capes location so close to the Indian Ocean offers much more pleasant midday temperatures in comparison to the Western Cape, averaging around 19°C/68°F. Morning can be a little cool, so do pack some warm clothes!

The Garden Route is situated between KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape and its climate is a bit of a mixture of the two. Its coastal areas enjoy both a subtropical and Mediterranean climate while inland things get a bit hotter. The geographic location between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean give the region rather mixed rainfall patterns, with no distinct dry period as found within the Western Cape. Rainfall amounts are however usually minimal with plenty of sunshine throughout the year!

WINTER

The Eastern Capes location so close to the Indian Ocean offers much more pleasant midday temperatures in comparison to the Western Cape, averaging around 19°C/68°F. Morning can be a little cool, so do pack some warm clothes!

The Garden Route is situated between KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape and its climate is a bit of a mixture of the two. Its coastal areas enjoy both a subtropical and Mediterranean climate while inland things get a bit hotter. The geographic location between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean give the region rather mixed rainfall patterns, with no distinct dry period as found within the Western Cape. Rainfall amounts are however usually minimal with plenty of sunshine throughout the year!

WINTER

The Eastern Capes location so close to the Indian Ocean offers much more pleasant midday temperatures in comparison to the Western Cape, averaging around 19°C/68°F. Morning can be a little cool, so do pack some warm clothes!

The Garden Route is situated between KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape and its climate is a bit of a mixture of the two. Its coastal areas enjoy both a subtropical and Mediterranean climate while inland things get a bit hotter. The geographic location between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean give the region rather mixed rainfall patterns, with no distinct dry period as found within the Western Cape. Rainfall amounts are however usually minimal with plenty of sunshine throughout the year!

WINTER

The Eastern Capes location so close to the Indian Ocean offers much more pleasant midday temperatures in comparison to the Western Cape, averaging around 19°C/68°F. Morning can be a little cool, so do pack some warm clothes!

The Garden Route is situated between KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape and its climate is a bit of a mixture of the two. Its coastal areas enjoy both a subtropical and Mediterranean climate while inland things get a bit hotter. The geographic location between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean give the region rather mixed rainfall patterns, with no distinct dry period as found within the Western Cape. Rainfall amounts are however usually minimal with plenty of sunshine throughout the year!

SPRING

With more pleasant midday highs and generally clear conditions this remains a fantastic time of year to visit.

The Garden Route is situated between KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape and its climate is a bit of a mixture of the two. Its coastal areas enjoy both a subtropical and Mediterranean climate while inland things get a bit hotter. The geographic location between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean give the region rather mixed rainfall patterns, with no distinct dry period as found within the Western Cape. Rainfall amounts are however usually minimal with plenty of sunshine throughout the year!

SPRING

With more pleasant midday highs and generally clear conditions this remains a fantastic time of year to visit.

The Garden Route is situated between KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape and its climate is a bit of a mixture of the two. Its coastal areas enjoy both a subtropical and Mediterranean climate while inland things get a bit hotter. The geographic location between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean give the region rather mixed rainfall patterns, with no distinct dry period as found within the Western Cape. Rainfall amounts are however usually minimal with plenty of sunshine throughout the year!

SUMMER

A beautiful time to visit with plenty of sunshine and warm weather. The area does occasionally experience heat waves during these months with temperatures climbing over 35°C/95°F

The Garden Route is situated between KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape and its climate is a bit of a mixture of the two. Its coastal areas enjoy both a subtropical and Mediterranean climate while inland things get a bit hotter. The geographic location between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean give the region rather mixed rainfall patterns, with no distinct dry period as found within the Western Cape. Rainfall amounts are however usually minimal with plenty of sunshine throughout the year!

SUMMER

A beautiful time to visit with plenty of sunshine and warm weather. The area does occasionally experience heat waves during these months with temperatures climbing over 35°C/95°F

The Garden Route is situated between KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape and its climate is a bit of a mixture of the two. Its coastal areas enjoy both a subtropical and Mediterranean climate while inland things get a bit hotter. The geographic location between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean give the region rather mixed rainfall patterns, with no distinct dry period as found within the Western Cape. Rainfall amounts are however usually minimal with plenty of sunshine throughout the year!

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