Overview
Take a trip to Garden Route on your South Africa Vacation
Located between Heidelberg and Storms River, the Garden Route is a popular stretch of the southeastern coast of South Africa. The name “Garden Route” comes from an abundance of flora and fauna including lagoons, lakes, lush forests, wildflowers and a pleasant and comfortable year-round climate to be enjoyed on a South Africa vacation.
The Garden Route intersects with various towns including Mossel Bay, George, Wilderness and Knysna. The town of George is seen as the administrative and commercial hub and is considered “The Gateway to the Garden Route”.
Chosen by many as the ideal self-drive holiday destination on South African tours, the Garden Route has garnered another nickname – “the driving route”. Following the coastline of the Indian Ocean, there are many places to stop and much to do. There are wine tastings, good hiking, diving and surfing and some of the best golf courses in the country.
With nineteen nature reserves and national parks located within the expanse of the Garden Route, there is no shortage of wildlife available. Due to its proximity to the coast, marine parks are a particular specialty of the Garden Route. Various bays along the coast are nurseries for endangered Southern Right Whales that come to calve in spring and summer.
The name seems to suggest relaxation and while there are many spots to rest and unwind, there are also many exciting activities to explore when embarking on the Garden Route during South Africa travel.
With nineteen nature reserves and national parks located within the expanse of the Garden Route, there is no shortage of wildlife available. Due to its proximity to the coast, marine parks are a particular specialty of the Garden Route. Various bays along the coast are nurseries for endangered Southern Right Whales that come to calve in spring and summer.
The name seems to suggest relaxation and while there are many spots to rest and unwind, there are also many exciting activities to explore when embarking on the Garden Route during South Africa travel.
At a Glance
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South African Rand (ZAR)What do the experts say?
Skip the more commercial wineries and visit artisanal producers—you’ll find sparkling wines and small-batch reds that are absolutely world-class.
Djembe drumming at GOLD in Cape Town is an immersive African experience through their 14-dish food safari and unique live entertainment.
The game viewing in Kruger and Eastern Cape always draws me back—it’s truly superb.
South Africans are famously warm—when you’re new in town, you're often invited to a braai, our way of welcoming people through food.
South Africa is a wonderful starting point for Africa. It's got some of the top cities in the world, stunning food and wine, and exceptional value for money.
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ExcellentBased on 5,205 ReviewsWe had a blast and felt covered by GoAway throughout. This was our first time using a travel agent and Melissa and her team made it easy. I also appreciated the quick communication while on our trip. I only wish that we got our official itinerary and tickets sooner as we did not receive them until a week prior. But it is busy season so I understand. Courtney McCarthyElise created a fantastic trip to South Africa. Our experience could not have been better. Thank You so Much!!Dave McVayOur trip to Japan was great. All our Goway arrangements preformed like clockwork and the guides for the tours were wonderful. Unfortunately, Mt. Fuji was in total fog but at least the lunch was very good and so was the drum solo, also our tour guide kept our spirits up ( she was the best).
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Harjit CElisa planned our trip. We were met at the airport by Paul who drove us to Arusha. Adam, our guide and driver was with us the whole trip and was very knowledgeable about the country and the animals & birds we encountered. Accommodations were excellent, meals were delicious and the Tanzanian people we met at each location were so kind and welcoming. A wonderful trip.pat vickersWe had a wonderful trip to Peru for 11 days organized by Goway. Overall the trip was great, we loved our guides throughout, some of the hotels were truly amazing and it was helpful having everything organized and having a point person to ask questions and check in while we were there.
Some main highlights were:
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