Garden Route South Africa Road Trip + Map: Best Stops for Beaches & Safari 🚗
The Garden Route is South Africa at full volume. One minute you’re cruising past beaches and lagoon viewpoints, the next you’re in dense forest, and then boom, elephants. I’d do this as a one-way trip starting in Cape Town and finishing in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) so everything links up neatly with zero backtracking rage. The main route follows the N2 (the classic), with an optional inland detour via Route 62 if you fancy caves, ostriches, and a change of scenery.
Before you roll, I’d sort the boring but essential bits: car hire, stays via Booking.com, and any activities like whale watching, canopy tours, or add-ons through GetYourGuide. And yes, I’m going to be that person who says grab travel insurance because it’s cheaper than learning life lessons the hard way.
I have added the FREE Google Map Itinerary lower down!
Garden Route South Africa Road Trip
🚗 Quick Trip Facts
✅ Start: Cape Town
✅ Finish: Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
✅ Route backbone: N2 (most popular + easiest), optional Route 62 detour for Oudtshoorn
✅ Ideal length: 7–10 days (9 days is the sweet spot)
✅ Vibe: beaches + forests + cute towns + safari finale
✅ Driving style: easy tar roads, just watch for wind, rain, and the odd animal cameo
✅ Safari stop: Addo Elephant National Park (self-drive friendly)
✅ Cost note: one-way car drop fees can be spicy
Map order:
Cape Town → Hermanus → Swellendam → Oudtshoorn (optional) → Wilderness → Knysna → Plettenberg Bay → Tsitsikamma/Storms River → Addo → Gqeberha
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Download offline maps before you leave Cape Town. Some stretches get patchy and you don’t want your navigation plan to be “gut feeling and prayers”.
🚗 Recommended Car Rental: DiscoverCars
Itinerary (9 days) 🗺️
Day 1: Cape Town → Hermanus (1.5–2.5 hrs)
Hermanus is the perfect soft launch. Easy coastal walks, sea air, and a smug little sunset that makes you feel like you’ve already won the trip. If it’s whale season, you’ll be scanning the water like you’ve been hired by National Geographic. Keep tonight chilled because the road trip rhythm kicks in properly tomorrow.
📍 Things to do
- Cliff Path walk (pick a section, no need to power-walk the whole coastline)
- Grotto Beach for sunset
- Café stop and a wander around town
- Road snacks restock for the next stretch
Day 2: Hermanus → Swellendam (2–2.5 hrs)
Swellendam is that calm little “reset” town you didn’t know you needed. It’s leafy, pretty, and a great place to slow down before you hit the bigger Garden Route names. This is also your chance to have an early night and pretend you’re a responsible adult.
📍 Things to do
- Easy nature time nearby (nothing intense, just fresh air)
- Old-town wander, galleries, small shops
- Bakery mission (mandatory)
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Plan one slower day early on so the rest of the trip doesn’t turn into a highlight-reel sprint.
🚗 Recommended Tour to get you started: Cape Town: Robben Island Prison Tour
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Day 3: Swellendam → Oudtshoorn (Route 62 detour) (3–4.5 hrs)
Optional, but I love this detour. Route 62 swaps coastal greens for semi-dry landscapes and big-sky views. Oudtshoorn adds a totally different vibe: caves, ostriches, and a bit of “how is this the same country?” energy. It’s a great contrast day before you head back to the coast.
📍 Things to do
- Cango Caves tour
- Scenic drives and viewpoints
- Ostrich farm visit if you’re curious (or just here for the laughs)
Day 4: Oudtshoorn → Wilderness (2–2.5 hrs)
Back to the coast and straight into that green, wild scenery. Wilderness is long beaches, lagoons, and that “I should move here and become a morning person” lie we all tell ourselves. It’s outdoorsy, but in a very approachable way.
📍 Things to do
- Wilderness Beach walk (sunrise if you’re feeling ambitious)
- Lagoon paddle or a chill viewpoint stop
- Short nature trails nearby
🔹 Pro tip: If the wind is doing the most, swap your beach plans for lagoon time. Still stunning, way less sand-in-your-face.
🗺️ Recommended Read: All Our Guides to Africa
Recommended Tours and Tickets From Get Your Guide
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Day 5: Wilderness → Knysna (1–1.5 hrs)
Short drive day, which is a gift. Knysna is all about lagoon views, relaxed wandering, and the famous Heads viewpoint where everything looks ridiculously scenic for no reason. It’s also a brilliant base for exploring without packing up every five minutes.
📍 Things to do
- Knysna Heads viewpoint (morning or late afternoon is best)
- Waterfront wander and a long lunch
- Nature reserve visit if you want an easy “outdoors but not sweaty” activity
Day 6: Knysna → Plettenberg Bay (30–45 mins)
This is barely a drive, more like a repositioning manoeuvre. Plett is pure beach holiday energy with a side of epic coastal hikes if you want them. If you’ve got time to linger anywhere, this is one of the best spots to slow down and just enjoy being on the route.
📍 Things to do
- Robberg Nature Reserve hike (choose the loop that matches your energy)
- Proper beach time (towel down, snack out, no guilt)
- Viewpoints and little coastal walks
🤚 Must-do: Robberg in golden hour light. It makes your camera roll look like you know what you’re doing.
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Day 7: Plettenberg Bay → Tsitsikamma / Storms River (1–1.5 hrs)
Adventure day. This is where you get forests, gorges, and those famous suspension bridges. It feels dramatic without needing technical gear or a survival plan. Stay in Storms River village for cosy vibes, or closer to the park if you want to roll out of bed and straight onto trails.
📍 Things to do
- Storms River Mouth suspension bridge walk
- Short hikes (pick one, don’t try to collect them all)
- Canopy tour if you fancy something a bit adrenaline-y
Day 8: Tsitsikamma → Addo Elephant National Park (3.5–5 hrs)
Big drive, but worth it for the safari finale. Addo is very doable as a self-drive, even if your wildlife knowledge starts and ends with “that one’s definitely an animal.” Try to arrive with enough time to settle in, stock up on snacks and water, and get an early night.
📍 Things to do
- Keep stops light today, tomorrow is the main event
- Settle into your Addo stay and prep your safari kit
- Optional sunset drive if you book one
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Pack a little cooler bag situation for the car. Cold water and snacks on safari days feels elite.
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Day 9: Addo Safari Day → Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
Early start, slow driving, big payoffs. Addo is elephant-central, and it’s one of those places where patience wins. Do a morning loop, take a break, then head out again later if you’ve got time. Afterwards, roll into Gqeberha for your flight or a final easy night.
📍 Things to do
- Self-drive loops early (best light, best wildlife activity)
- Picnic stop
- Optional guided add-on if you want expert spotting help
💡 Fact: Safari mornings hit different. You’ll be tired, a bit dusty, and weirdly delighted by everything.
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Grab the Map
Access to the map
No sign up required and totally FREE. Literally just using Google Maps to plot your route! Saves you messing! We don't gatekeep here! Enjoy.
Map will be located under "YOU" and then under "MAPS".
ℹ️ Add the map to your Google Maps app.
After opening Google maps, click YOU and then scroll down to MAPS. It should be located there. Any issues, just get it touch, it’s no problem!
Pit Stops & Side Detours 🚗✨
If you can add a few extras, do it. Just don’t overstuff the route and turn it into a “drive, sleep, repeat” situation.
- Mossel Bay for a quick coastal stop
- Sedgefield (great for a mellow break)
- Nature’s Valley for quieter forest-meets-ocean vibes
- Bloukrans Bridge (watch bungy jumpers, or be one… if you’re built like that)
- Jeffreys Bay for surf-town energy and long beaches
- De Hoop Nature Reserve (bigger detour, huge scenery payoff)
🍽️ Local Eats Worth Chasing
This route is made for farm stalls and seafood. Don’t over-plan meals, just follow the busy-spot rule.
- Seafood platters in Knysna and Plett
- Oysters in Knysna if you’re into that
- Farm stall pies and strong coffee on the N2
- Biltong for road snacks (dangerously snackable)
- At least one proper braai-style meal
🎶 Road Trip Playlist
- Goldfish, We Come Together
- Paul Simon, Graceland
- Jeremy Loops, Down South
- Fleetwood Mac, Go Your Own Way
- ABBA, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
- The Beatles, Here Comes the Sun
- Milky Chance, Stolen Dance
- Vance Joy, Riptide
- Coldplay, Adventure of a Lifetime
👉 Good to know: Download offline. Signal can be patchy and your playlist deserves better. 📲
🎙️ Podcasts to Queue Up
- Against The Odds
- Stuff You Should Know
- The Rest Is History
- No Such Thing As A Fish
- 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy
Road Trip Essentials (All Year Round) 🎒🚗
- Driving licence + digital copies of key docs
- Phone mount + charger + power bank
- eSIM for reliable data (especially handy for navigation, bookings, and “where’s the nearest petrol station?” moments)
- Offline maps downloaded (belt and braces, always)
- Sunglasses (coastal glare is real)
- Light rain jacket + a warmer layer for evenings
- Refillable water bottle + snack stash
- Basic first aid kit
- Bug spray for evenings near water
- Microfibre towel (beach, rain, mystery moments)
👉 Must-do: Keep a tiny “car crate” (snacks, wipes, tissues, spare layer). It turns “minor inconvenience” into “barely noticed it” in about 3 seconds.
Rent a Car
What to know How to Plan or Save for a Trip? Here are our best:
FAQs
How many days do you need for the Garden Route?
7 is doable, but 9–10 is way nicer if you want proper beach time and Addo without rushing.
Do you need a 4x4 for this route?
Nope. Normal cars handle it fine. A slightly higher car is comfy, not essential.
Is Addo worth it as a self-drive safari?
Yes. It’s beginner-friendly and still feels like a proper safari day.
What’s the best direction to drive it?
Cape Town → Gqeberha is my favourite because it builds up to the safari finale and ends near an airport.
Travel Planning Resources
Ready to book your next trip? These trusted resources have been personally vetted to ensure a smooth travel experience.
Book Your Flights: Kick off your travel planning by finding the best flight deals on Trip.com. Our years of experience with them confirm they offer the most competitive prices.
Book Your Hotel: For the best hotel rates, use Booking.com . For the best and safest hostels, HostelWorld.com is your go-to resource. Best for overall Hotel ratings and bargains, use TripAdvisor.com!
Find Apartment Rentals: For affordable apartment rentals, check out VRBO. They consistently offer the best prices.
Car Rentals: For affordable car rentals, check out RentalCars.com. They offer the best cars, mostly brand new.
Travel Insurance: Never travel without insurance. Here are our top recommendations:
- EKTA for Travel Insurance for all areas!
- Use AirHelp for compensation claims against flight delays etc.
Book Your Activities: Discover walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more on Get Your Guide. They have a vast selection of activities to enhance your trip. There is also Tiqets.com for instant mobile tickets.
Book The Best Trains: Use Trainline to find the most affordable trains or Rail Europe for rail passes!
Travel E-SIMS: Airalo Worldwide! Use your mobile phone anywhere!
Need More Help Planning Your Trip? Visit our Resources Page to see all the companies we trust and use for our travels.
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Author
Claire Taylor
I am a storyteller, podcaster, and global explorer deeply intrigued by the nuances of unconventional living. I transitioned from conforming to conventional norms to embracing a life that defies the ordinary
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