South Africa
The stunning Garden Route
At this point, you're already half way your trip. It's time to take a domestic flight from Durban to Port Elisabeth. Here you will continue your way further south to Capetown along the beautiful Garden Route
Flying from Durban to Port Elizabeth
Wake up early, you have a flight to catch today. From Champagne Valley, it's only a 2,5 h drive to the airport in Durban. You can also choose to drive all the way to Port Elisabeth, but this will take you all day (+/- 12hours). By plane, it only takes 1,5 h. So for us, it was an easy decision to make. By arrival in Port Elizabeth, pick up your car at the rental place and start making your way further south/west along the Garden Route. The Garden Route is a beautiful 300km stretch of coastline in the Eastern and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa. A perfect route for a selfdrive. It runs from the small town of Mossel Bay , along places like George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, all the way to the mouth of the Storms River. The Garden Route can be driven either way starting in Cape Town and finishing in Stormsriver or the other way around depending on your trip itinerary. We Chose Port Elizabeth as the starting point of the Garden Route.
When driving towards the Bloukrans Bridge, break the two-hour drive with a stop at the surf mecca of Jeffrey’s Bay.
Bloukrans bridge & Storms River bridge
The Garden Route officially begins at the Storms River Mouth and the nearby Bloukrans Bridge is the perfect spot to brave one of the world’s highest bungee jumps (=216m!) It’s more than worth the money, it’s one of the most adrenaline-pumping activities you can do on the Garden Route with incredible scenery.
Close to the Bloukrans Bridge, you will find the Tsitsikamma National Park.
Tsitsikamma National Park
A stop at Tsitsikamma National Park is highly recommended. This region stretches from the Bloukrans River in the west to the Tsitsikamma River in the east and is bordered on the north by the imposing Tsitsikamma Mountains and in the south by the Indian Ocean. A popular thing to do in the Tsitsikamma National Park is crossing the Storms River Suspension Bridge. The walk to the suspension bridge starts at the Storms River Mouth and will take you through a forest with spectacular views of the mouth and the ocean. It covers 900 meters of the Tsitsikamma Forest and hangs just seven meters above the churning waters of the river. Some other attractions you'll find in the park include snorkeling or diving the reefs, hiking along some of the famous otter and dolphin trails, kayaking and whale watching from the pristine beaches. The park is also home to what locals call the ‘Big Tree’.
It's a 3h drive, which will take you along beautiful viewpoints and places, such as Plettenbergbaai and Knysna.
Ostrichs in Oudsthoorn
When you have more time than we did , make sure to stay a little bit longer at Plettenbergbay. This bay is known for the great beach atmosphere, water sport activities, nature reserves, and hiking trails. Oudsthoorn is named the Feather Capital of the World due to South Africa’s ostrich farming industry being centered here. So what better place to visit an ostrich farm than in Oudsthoorn.
Drive to the last stop of the day : Swellendam
Swellendam
Swellendam connects the Southern Overberg with the Garden Routeand, is just off the N2 and is about 240 km outside of Cape Town. It is one of the oldest towns in South Africa, and the accommodation and restaurant options are some of the most charming places to go. So this little town is the perfect place to break this long day.
