Mossel Bay to Tsitsikamma National Park

The renowned Garden Route, stretching from Mossel Bay to around Storms River Mouth, is a very attractive part of South Africa's coastline. The name can be misleading to Europeans who come to the region expecting lush flowering gardens, which are in fact dense forests incorporating fynbos and hardwood trees. The Garden Route offers not only sea, sun & sand, but also a variety of activities ranging from whale watching and sea kayaking to forest canopy walks and bungee jumping for those people looking for adrenaline producing activities.

Things to do
Weather
Self-Drive

BAOBAB trips to the Garden Route can be arranged on a tailor-made and self-drive basis. Please examine the accommodation guide for our choice of B&B's and guesthouses with guideline prices and itineraries and then contact us for a precise quote for your chosen holiday (or for further assistance to help you make up your mind!!).

Accommodation & Activities along the Garden Route

Activities

All BAOBAB’s prices are excluding the international flight, which provides you with more flexibility, especially when you are based outside the UK. BAOBAB can arrange all aspects of your holiday once you are in South Africa, including car hire, whale watching, township tours, adrenalin sports and of course accommodation.

Historically this land was home to the Khoi herders who lived an agricultural life style before the European settlers arrived. After 1488, the region became a regular stopping off point for European sailors after rounding the Cape. Dutch settlers moved into the land in the late 18th century and rapidly changed the landscape. Today little remains of the indigenous forest that once covered the regions. Knysna Forest has some excellent preserved original forest land but elsewhere quick growing pines have often been planted. Despite environmental pressures, the Garden Route retains its beauty and still offers a rewarding experience for the adventure or nature based tourist. The Garden Route's 200 km of coastal plains and mountains with a mild climate has allowed a diverse flora to develop, which in turn supports a wide range of bird and animal life.

Things to do
The Garden Route is a highly attractive and densely forested stretch of coastline offering a variety of activities and places of interest. You can easily spend 4-5 days along the Garden Route and include activities such as:

Whale breaching on the Southern Cape

Cape fur seals at Robberg Peninsula

Sea kayaking with Ocean Blue

Qolweni tourship tour just outside Plettenberg Bay

One of the 14 species of monkeys in Monkeyland

Keurbooms Rivers meandering through the Garden Route famous forests

Tree canopy walks with Stormsriver Adventures

Garden Route's beautiful mountain scenery

Whale watching and marine encounters: Boat based whale watching is growing in popularity in South Africa, although only 16 permits have been issued by the government so as to keep the practice limited and non-intrusive to the whales. Ocean Blue Adventures offer marine eco-tours in the Plettenberg Bay area. Their boat traverses into the middle of the bay, where groups of migrating Southern Right & Humpback whales may be observed close up. Ocean Blue have been awarded a licence to approach to within 50 m of whales in the bay and record information on sightings for scientific purposes.

At the Robberg Peninsula there is a growing colony of Cape Fur seals, which are an absolute joy to observe. Pods of Bottlenose & Indopacific dolphins and sharks are also typically encountered. You will finish this marine experience with an exhilarating landing on Central Beach. More info..

Sea Kayaking: Kayak with an experienced guide from Central Beach to Robberg Nature Reserve - an amazing experience! Often dolphins will come up close to the kayaks and at Robberg Nature Reserve you will kayak amongs the Cape Fur seals. Your guide will introduce you to the wonderful marine life in Plettenberg Bay. In the whale season you may encounter these majestic mammals on you tour. All equipment is provided and beginners are welcome. More info..

Qolweni Township Tours: Interactive cross-cultural tours to Qolweni township - an unique and authentic experience. Weekly performances of the Umthombo Theatre Group can also be incorporated into these tours. All proceeds go directly to the Qolweni Development Trust with the main aim to develop basic amenities, schools, clinics and medical care for this disadvantaged community with the emphasis always being on building viable, self-sustainable projects and businesses, owned by the people that run them. More info..

There is also great shopping along the Garden Route with a marvellous arts & crafts, e.g. Curiosity (working together with local & underprivileded communities), Old Nick Village (various working South African artists & crafters) and Porcupine Pottery.

Mitchells Knysna Brewery: Established in 1983 as a brewer of handmade real ales such as Bostun’s Bitter. Mitchells claim to combine traditional British and German techniques under South African climatic conditions thus generating a unique tasting product. Beer tasting is available daily during office hours with a tour offered at 10.30 hrs week days.

Monkeyland: Monkeyland is a primate sanctuary offering walking safaris amongst the forest with 14 different species of monkey as well as numerous forest dwelling birds. All of the monkeys are rehabilitated after previously living in either zoos or private homes. Part of the experience is a 120 m long rope bridge. All safaris are lead by an experienced wildlife guide.

Cruise on Keurbooms River: An unforgettable cruise up the beautiful Keurbooms River on the spacious Blue Lounge. This river boat is an “Out of Africa” dream with unique fittings, luxurious lounges, deck chairs, hammocks, a fully-stocked bar and on-board toilet. Informative guides will introduce you to the many birds and natural wonders of the Keurbooms River and Reserve. More info..

Tsitsikamma Canopy tour: Glide between 8 tree top platforms in a harness with a professional guide to explain the ecology and birdlife of the region. This is the first activity of this kind offered anywhere in Africa and a proportion of the revenue is donated to the local Forest Regeneration Project. More info..

Activities for adrenaline junkies: Stormsriver Adventures are an extremely environmental and ethically conscience adventures outfit. They empoy and train many local black people as adventure guides. They offer adrenaline activities such as Stormsriver Gorge kloofing, abseiling, blackwater tubing and mountain biking. More info..

Outeniqua Choo-Choo: Between Knysna and George visitors can experience a steam train ride along a historic railway line, which winds through some of the Garden routes most spectacular scenery. The locomotive engine dates back to 1896 and runs Monday to Saturday. A return fare is R130 (adult) or R90 (child).

Four passes: Some of South Africa’s most dramatic mountain passes are easily accessible by motor vehicle and are within a full day's driving from Mossel Bay. The Four Passes trip runs via Robinson Pass to Outeniqua Pass across a rich Karoo landscape. The journey passes through isolated Karoo villages and an ostrich farm and is littered with unusual geological formations.

The climate in the Garden Route region is temperate rather than tropical. Approaching Mossel Bay it is sometimes possible to see snow on the mountain peaks in July (SA winter). Temperatures range from 25-30ºC in the summer and can drop to below 10ºC in the winter. Storms can move in quickly from the sea in the winter, but typically do not last long. This can however affect activities such as whale watching and diving. Hence, during the SA winter months it may not be possible to take a boat out on a particular day, but during the SA summer it is rare for boats to be unable to put to sea.

Garden Route temperate forest vegetation

Self-drive is very common in South Africa with generally good quality roads and they drive on the left. The Garden Route is not only beautiful, but also a joy the drive. It has good quality roads, plenty of viewpoints & picnic places and reasonable distances for day trips.