South Africa's legendary Garden Route runs for about 220km from Mossel Bay to Storms River (west of Port Elizabeth), taking in some of the most stunning scenery of the Cape coast: lakes, mountains, fantastic beaches, and coastal forests.
It offers a superb holidays in its own right. Knysna is famed for its birdlife, forest, watersports and oysters; Plettenberg Bay has beautiful beaches and various walking trails; Tsitsikamma NP offers indigenous coastal forest, dramatic rugged shoreline, and the start of the popular 5 day 'Otter Trail' hike, at Storms River Mouth. There are all kinds of accommodation along this coast ranging from small hostels to fabulous hotels like Hunter's Country House at Plettenberg Bay.
This is an ideal route for those wishing to include a few day's self drive in their itinerary. You need to allow at least five days and most people continue on from the Garden Route to (or from) Port Elizabeth where you can visit Addo Elephant Park or Shamwari Game Reserve.
