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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Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, EnglishCurrency
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 5,242 ReviewsWe went on a highly customized comprehensive (though quick tour) of England and a bit of Scotland through Goway. Ingrid Aird did an amazing job of planning and arranging every detail with her deep experience, insight, thoughtfulness and creativity, tuning into the needs of each traveler; and she did so even though our decision to travel was rather spontaneous and last minute! Our family had the best time! We look forward to working with Ingrid and Goway again!Vilja BreilingWe used Goway to put together an itinerary for East Africa , and Zanzibar . Everything was great and went smoothly DawnI can't tell you enough how much I love to work with Callie. She is a life saver and I love how attentive she is. Every time I give her an itinerary for a client- she really knocks it out of the park with the proposal. If there are any issues- she is on it right away. Her work ethic is outstanding.Michelle LabarcaI had the pleasure of working with Amelia on a booking for a family of 4 to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. She executed everything perfectly, was attentive to needs and the family was over the top happy with their vacation. She was quick to answer questions and provide helpful feedback. Highly recommended!Jessie WilliamsWe were trying to navigate Swiss Travel Center to book a 10 day train trip through Switzerland. It was exactly what we wanted but navigating their site was extremely difficult for us. Goway Travel picked up on our plight and put us in contact with Jacqueline Fagooli, one of their agents. From there on everything was so smooth. Their efficiency, communication, and thoroughness were beyond our expectations. The trip was fabulous and kudos to Jacqueline and Goway for their help in making it so.Carolyn McCormackThe destination specialist I've worked with (Kim Rawlings) has provided exceptional service. She is very knowledgeable of her region and everything they have to offer. She is very prompt in her communication and follow-up. She listens and is very attentive to my client's needs and wants. Kim's personality makes one feel like they've known each other for years.
If GoWay had a customer service model, Kim is it.T. Jackson, Tribe Trek TravelWe had a wonderful and amazing two weeks in North-West Scotland. Shoutout to Jacqueline at Goway Toronto and the driver/guides with Rabbie's minibus tours (Stefan and Willie). Well-chosen hotels and no worries with dietary requirements; every detail was taken care of. Thank you!
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