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.
At a Glance
Languages
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.
Travel Stories
Get Inspired About Your Trip to South Africa
Unlock more by subscribing to our newsletter.
With our newsletter, you’ll get access to regular communications that inspire you and help you explore the world your way.Exclusive Savings
Insider Benefits
Trending Stories
ExcellentBased on 5,181 ReviewsGreat country (Italy), great people and love the feel you get by just being you.
Ingrid Aird did a great job with a pair of tours one private and one group. Organizing pickup from airport and flights.
Hotel, Enterprise Hotel, after a bit of a rough start getting us into a proper room, was more than excellent.Thomas HelpsWe were looking forward to a magical vacation in Greece, and Goway Travel delivered on all fronts. This is the second time that we have booked with them (the first being an incredible excursion in Thailand), and everything went along swimmingly. Only on one occasion did a tour go sideways, but our Goway specialist (Patrick) took care of it for us.
When your tour involves many flights, numerous hotels, various tours, ferries, and transfers, it is nice to know that your travel specialist can handle it all. Goway (from Patrick to all the other staff involved) handled everything in such a professional manner. Thanks Goway for such an incredible experience in Greece. I look forward to another adventure in the near future!Jenny FriessWe recently returned from France - three cities in two weeks - and our trip was fantastic! Jacqueline helped us with a return to France with no worries and concerns. Drivers met us at every destination- hotels were superb and the individual tours memorable. This is a return vacation with Goway and we could not be more pleased. The customer service is top notch and all questions answered promptly. For us seniors, we appreciate all the thoughtfulness and consideration.ElizaGraywa saga bagus layana yaLastri UlanMy clients had an amazing trip and they told me that the trip was better than expected. I want to thank Brent Morris who was very helpful in the planning stages.
Job well done Goway & Brent it was great working with with you!!!
Sole Barraza
SoleWhile researching suppliers for a clients Thailand honeymoon, I remembered being referred to GoWay by a longterm TA ….because they “get it right and get it done!” I had already started their training modules, so I put in a quote. Immediately, Taylor responded with a very thorough email and we decided to chat. I gave him my specifics and he again responded immediately and matched my client’s travel needs 100%. I found it comforting to speak with a country expert with the knowledge I needed. My clients booked their vacation and are very excited about their itinerary! Thank you Taylor for making this process seamless.Karla BThe most amazing experience with Goway!! Phoebe did an amazing job planing the best trip to Paris, Florence and Venice with a great mix of relaxing and adventure days. Will be recommending to other travellers. Always someone available which is great when you are travelling in different time zones. Overall cannot be more happy with our experience working with Goway Lauren BouwOur rep at GoWay, Kimberly, was fantastic from start to finish. She came up with the exact itinerary we wanted for Melbourne, Uluru, Cairns and Sydney, and assisted us with both international and domestic flights to help us get the best rates. Once we were on the trip, everything flowed seamlessly and every tour and transport was on time.Lisa WildesAs a travel agent, this is not the first time I’ve chosen to work with Goway for organizing my clients’ trip, this time to Chile, and once again, the experience was outstanding from start to finish.
Throughout the entire process, I could count on truly professional service from Susanna. My clients are very experienced travelers and requested a highly customized itinerary, including many unique experiences that are not typically included in standard tour programs. There were also several occasions when, on behalf of my clients, I requested changes to an already prepared itinerary.
Susanna was consistently helpful, patient, understanding, and — just as importantly — incredibly kind and pleasant to work with. It was clear that she genuinely cared about creating the best possible experience for my clients. I’m also certain that much of the work she put in went well beyond standard hours and expectations.
My clients returned absolutely delighted with their vacation, which is always the greatest confirmation of a job well done.
Thank you, Susanna, for your dedication and exceptional support. And thank you, Goway, for another wonderful experience!BeataOur family trip to Machu Picchu was absolutely incredible, thanks to RuthAnne Leonty. Every tour was thoughtfully organized and the guides were top-notch. The private transportation and transfers were flawless, making everything run smoothly with zero stress from start to finish. Not a single hiccup...just an amazing experience!Barb
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified