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.
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.
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A World in One Country: Kruger, Zululand & Cape
Western Cape, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town, Boulders Beach, Table Mountain, Garden Route, Knysna, KwaZulu Natal, Zululand, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and JohannesburgGreat value, group tour explores South Africa in depth. Staying in moderate hotels, travelling by road, see Cape Town, Kruger, the Garden Route and more.
14 days
From US$4,410/p.p.
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Cape Town, Garden Route & Safari
Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Garden Route, Knysna, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town, Boulders Beach, and Table MountainWander through South Africa's enchanting landscapes, from Cape Town's streets to the wildlife-rich Kariega Game Reserve. Each day unfolds unforgettable sights and stories.
11 days
From US$5,561/p.p.
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South African Eco Explorer: Johannesburg to Cape Town
Western Cape, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town, Boulders Beach, Table Mountain, Garden Route, Knysna, Eastern Cape, Port Elizabeth, KwaZulu Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and Kruger National ParkExperience South Africa on an eco tour, starting in Johannesburg and ending in Cape Town. Discover wildlife, stunning landscapes, and rich culture throughout your journey.
18 days
From US$3,684/p.p.
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South Africa's Garden Route: Wildlife & Wine
Western Cape, Garden Route, and KnysnaImmerse yourself in South Africa's diverse landscapes, from the Garden Route's rugged cliffs to serene vineyards. Indulge in remarkable wildlife sightings and exquisite wines.
6 days
From US$1,772/p.p.
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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.
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The accommodations, transfers, transportation, guides' input and visits' setup met the highest standards and expectations.Nadia & Cristian We recently completed a trip to Crete, Greece - our third trip with GoWay - and I have run out of superlatives to laud their efforts. This was a self drive trip, and as has been our experience with GoWay, we were permitted to customize the standard offered itinerary to suit our personal preferences. Brooke, our agent on this trip, went the extra mile to make all the adjustments we requested, including providing for an English-speaking guide at the Phaistos archeological site. The hotels which Brooke booked on our behalf were truly excellent, and - again, per our wish - just outside of the urban chaos of Heraklion, Rethymno and Chania, but close enough to readily access the cities' benefits. Each hotel was a beachside sanctuary, and we spent several serene, idyllic days never leaving the hotel, and yet there was plenty of time for more distant and adventurous sight seeing.
I cannot overstate how happy we have been with our GoWay experiences - most notably in their willingness to listen to our preferences and make those manifest in the itinerary - and this most recent trip just confirms our already positive opinion of GoWay, and we will be certain to consider them again for our next travel adventure.Frank VenutiVenessa Lloyd at GoWay organized a trip to Africa for us- We just returned last week. It was very well organized and included everything we requested, and more. We did two safaris - one in Tanzania and one in South Africa. They were both excellent, with first class accommodations and guides. We absolutely would recommend GoWay and Vanessa to anyone. SandraOverall, the hotel and tours were amazing. We had issues with communicating with the driver. At times I was asked where, I was gone. The local company handled the situation and there were minor issues after. I would recommend a local English-speaking guide every day. My clients loved the trip. The area we stayed in had many restaurants and local markets nearby. I recommend the cooking class, flamenco dance show, wine tasting and taps tour, and the city tour. Jolynn TizenoAni M was absolutely amazing to work with! I actually chose Goway for our group trip because of her recommendations. She was the only agent who took the time to explain that we really needed to split our travels into two separate trips if we wanted to experience everything on our wish list, and I really appreciated her honesty and guidance.
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Flexible with package details and accommodated changes we preferred with activities. He put together a superb tour with transportation and guides that were very knowledgeable. Would book with them again on next trip to Europe.Christopher Carey
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