Garden Route by Rental Car: 8 Attractions

Rent a car and explore the stunning Garden Route in South Africa

For people traveling by rental car in South Africa, the Garden Route is one of the most popular trips, and it’s not hard to see why. This stretch of the South African coast boasts spectacular natural beauty, with more than ten nature and marine reserves.

Rent a car to explore this route at your own pace and stop whenever you want. Along the way, you’ll see sheltered lagoons, interspersed with lakes, mountains, forests, thick, fragrant shrubs (hence the name “Garden Route”), and stunning sandy beaches. Add to that the abundance of activities on offer, ranging from beautiful hiking trails to wildlife spotting, bungee jumping, and cave exploration. Do you love outdoor sports? Then the Garden Route has plenty to offer: snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing, kayaking, rafting, paragliding, and skydiving, to name just a few.

So what are you waiting for? Rent a car in South Africa and explore the Garden Route with your family or a group of friends! We’ll describe the route starting in Cape Town and ending in Port Elizabeth, but of course, you can also visit the 8 highlights in the opposite direction.

Starting or Ending Point: Cape Town

Spend at least a few days here before setting out on the Garden Route, as the city itself is a top attraction on any trip through South Africa. For many people, Cape Town is considered one of the most beautiful and fascinating cities in the world. With its blend of African and European cultures, it’s a city where there’s plenty to see and do.

After spending some time in Cape Town, it’s time to rent a car and hit the road via the N2. Just outside Cape Town, the road climbs upward, and you’ll drive over the Hottentots-Holland Mountains via Sir Lowry’s Pass. At the highest point (450 meters), there’s a large parking lot where you can park your rental car and enjoy the fantastic view. You can continue on your way to drive directly to Mossel Bay in just over 4 hours—the official start of the Garden Route. But if you want to see whales, you can also take a detour at Bot River to drive to Hermanus. The best time to see these marine mammals is between July and November. Or drive a little further along the coast and go cage diving with great white sharks in Gansbaai.

1. Mossel Bay

Mossel Bay is the westernmost point of the Garden Route. There, you can take a beautiful coastal hike of nearly 14 kilometers—the St. Blaize Trail—which runs from the cave beneath the Cape St. Blaize lighthouse through rugged terrain to Dana Bay. This trail passes the Point of Human Origins, a world-famous archaeological site containing the earliest evidence of human activity, dating back some 170,000 years. If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, the zip line near the lighthouse is for you. You’ll “fly” 90 meters above the crashing ocean waves!

2. Seven Passes Road

If you drive further east in your rental car, you’ll reach the town of George, which is a good place to stock up on supplies. From George, you can quickly drive to Knysna via the N2, but there’s a much more scenic route to explore in your rental car. Along the Seven Passes Road, you’ll truly experience the area’s spectacular natural beauty: mountains, dense forests, rolling hills, rivers, and streams. The route begins and ends on paved roads, but most of it is unpaved, so be sure to choose the right type of rental car. In George, follow the signs to Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University to find the start of the route, also known as the “Old George Knysna Road.”

3. Wilderness National Park

Don’t drive the entire Seven Passes Road in one go; instead, take a detour—for example, to Woodville Big Tree Park (right off the route) or, a little further south, Wilderness National Park, which is a little paradise for nature lovers. You can also get very active in this natural setting by canoeing, biking, rappelling, paragliding, or hang gliding. There are also various hiking trails, suitable for both beginners and experienced hikers. In this water-rich nature reserve, you can spot unique birds, such as the remarkable Knysna lourie or one of the five species of kingfishers found here. You can spend the night in the park in bungalows or at the campground.

4. Knysna

Via the final pass, Phantom Pass, you’ll arrive in Knysna (pronounced “naisnah”), beautifully situated on a lagoon. The narrow channel connecting it to the ocean is flanked by two cliffs, the Knysna Heads, from which you’ll enjoy a stunning view of the lagoon and the Indian Ocean.

Knysna is known as the city of oysters, and you can enjoy this seafood all year round. The highlight is the Oyster Festival, which lasts ten days and takes place in late June/early July. It’s not just about eating oysters, though; the festival also features sporting events, including cycling, rugby, and a marathon through the woods.

5. Plettenberg Bay

In your rental car, it takes about half an hour to drive the 30 kilometers from Knysna to Plettenberg Bay. Locals usually refer to this town simply as “Plett,” and it’s one of South Africa’s most popular beach resorts. In addition to relaxing on the beach, you can go for hikes through the Robberg Nature Reserve, located on a peninsula just south of Plettenberg Bay. There are marked hiking trails of 2, 5½, and over 9 kilometers. The longest trail leads to the spectacular view at the tip of the peninsula, which is simply called The Point. This longest route does require some climbing and scrambling.

6. Nature’s Valley

Continue east on the N2 and, about 20 kilometers from Plett, take the road to Nature’s Valley. You’ll descend via a steep, winding road to a stunning, unspoiled beach and a beautiful lagoon. Short hiking trails have been marked out in the immediate vicinity. This is also the endpoint of South Africa’s oldest hiking trail, the five-day Otter Trail, which begins at the mouth of the Storms River. During this trek, you’ll walk through dense wilderness, interspersed with breathtaking views of the coastline, waterfalls, rivers, and natural rock pools. However, the number of participants per day is limited, so you’ll need to book your spot well in advance—long before you reserve a rental car.

7. Storms River / Tsitsikamma

When driving to Storms River, you’ll come across a toll plaza on the N2. Please note: you can only pay here with cash or a credit card (no debit cards or bank cards!). Further on, you’ll cross the Bloukrans River via a spectacular arch bridge. Daredevils can try a bungee jump from this bridge. But you can also “just” take the skywalk tour, where you walk across a steel mesh structure and look down at the river 216 meters below.

South of the N2 lies the coastal Tsitsikamma National Park. It doesn’t look very spectacular from the main road, but the closer you get to the coast, the more beautiful it becomes. The more than 70-kilometer-long coastline consists of rugged cliffs densely covered with forests. Don’t miss the suspension bridge over the mouth of the Storms River. The view from the bridge is already stunning—with the river’s deep ravine on one side and the ocean on the other—but you’ll also enjoy a magnificent view from the high cliff on the opposite side. You can go kayaking on the river, and there are opportunities for swimming and snorkeling at the mouth.

8. Jeffreys Bay

Jeffreys Bay is one of South Africa’s best surf spots, and it’s no surprise that surfers from all over the world come here for the high, fast waves. Jeffreys Bay has plenty of shops where you can rent the right board and get information on current surfing conditions.

Not really in the mood to get wet? The dunes of Jeffreys Bay are perfect for sandboarding! It’s also fun for young children.

Starting or Ending Point: Port Elizabeth

For most people, Port Elizabeth (officially Gqeberha as of 2021) is where you drop off or pick up a rental car. But a surprise awaits just outside the city. From downtown, it’s a half-hour drive to the southern entrance of Addo Elephant National Park. As the name suggests, there are plenty of elephants to see, but the park is also home to zebras, buffalo, hyenas, rhinos, and antelopes. Lions and leopards are there too, but they rarely show themselves. You can drive through the park in your own rental car and even spend the night there.