Capetonians love the Garden Route. It’s no surprise that when the rest of South Africa is making their way to Cape Town for the December holiday, many Capetonians are fleeing to the Garden Route and complaining about GP drivers.
The Garden Route is the area stretching from Mossel Bay to the end of Storms River. It is renown for amazing scenery, nature and areas of tranquility. The landscape changes dramatically from stunning beaches to beautiful mountains and back again.
You are absolutely spoilt for choice of things to do and see along the Garden Route.
Extreme Sports
Bungee Jumping
Bloukrans Bridge
Bungeeee!
Bungee Jumping from the Bloukrans Bridge must be the most exhilarating experience you can have in the tranquil Garden Route . At 200m, it is the highest bungee from a bridge in the world. With over 43yrs of experience, Face Adrenaline has a 100% safety record. I like their odds.
Price: R850
Book online: Face Adrenaline
Ziplining is a big deal in the Garden Route. Suspended by a harness and sliding along inclined planes above trees, waterfalls and canopies can be an breathtaking experience. There are several options you can choose from.
Acrobranch Wildwoods comprises of 48 obstacles, all designed to test courage, agility and strength. Tarzan swings, balance posts and other aerial obstacles will demand respect while several Ziplines let you take flight above the natural forest floor.
Price- from R80 for kids to R250 for adults
Zipline Tour situated 8km from the Storms River Bridge on the N2, Tsitsikamma Falls Adventure Park offers spectacular Zipline adventure slides across the Kruis River. The eight slides, of which the longest is 211m, zigzag along cables across the river gorge, as high as 50m above the water in some places.
Price: R375pp
Tsitsikamma Canopy Tours involves traversing from one platform to another along a steel cable suspended up to 30 meters above the forest floor above Oteniqua Yellowoods. It includes a tour lasting 2.5-3hrs.
Price: R465.00 +R30 (concession and permit fees) = R495 p.p, including light refreshments & Guides
Paragliding
Jee Paragliding
See Jee’s video here
Tandem Paragliding allows anyone to take the leap. No experience is needed. Average flights last 10-15 minutes.
SA Paragliding Adventures Price: from R550
Cloudbase Paragliding Price: R550
Fly Time Price: 10 min R550, 15-20 min R950
Altitude Paragliding Price: from R550
Skydiving
The ultimate adventure with a pricetag to boot.
Skydive Plett Price: From R1850
Jamin Adventures Plett, Mosselbay and Grahamstown. Price: R1850
Skydive Mosselbay Price: From R2000
Blackwater Tubing
Sounds similar to white river rafting but more fun.
Tsitsikamma Blackwater Tubing Price: From R450
Other Sports
Golf
Pezula Golf Course
If you are a fan of the “rich man’s sport”, few areas have quality golf course with breathtaking panoramic views like the Garden Route. Several of these course house magnificent luxury accommodation including Pezula, Simola and Oubaai.
Pezula Championship Golf Course, Knysna
Simola Golf Course, Knysna
Fancourt (4 courses), George
Pinnacle Point Golf Estate, Mossel Bay
Oubaai Golf Estate, Herolds Bay
Hiking
The Garden Route is home to the most beautiful mountainous and forest areas in the country. There are hikes to suit anybodys needs from the romantic meanders to hardcore trail junkies.
Check out this helpful site for more info: Garden Route Adventure Guide
Game Lodges and Drives
Jee at Bottlierskop
With amazing malaria-free game reserves, the Garden Route gives you a taste of the big 5 in luxury tented camps and pricey lodges.
Garden Route Game Lodge, Albertinia- Rooms from R1045pp
Buffelsdrift, Oudtshoorn- Rooms from R980pp
Bottlierskop, Between Mosselbay and George- Room from R800pp. More info here
Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve– Room fromR1235pp
Gondwana Game Reserve, Mosselbay- Halfboard, Shot Left Package from R5300pn (For real!)
Animals
Birds of Eden/ Monkeyland/ Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary
Birds of Eden, Plettenberg Bay, is the world’s largest free-flight bird aviary (50 metres high, covering 23 000 square meters of forest). Birds of Eden houses more than 3,500 specimens of more than 280 species, with the main focus being African birds.
Monkeyland, The Crags, is a unique primate sanctuary and is the top eco-tourism attraction on the Garden Route They rehabilitate and free previously caged primates. They are free to move about the forest at their own leisure.
Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary, Plettenberg Bay, is home to big cats such as lions (white and tawny), cheetahs, tigers (Siberian, Bengal and white), leopard (spotted and black), jaguar, pumas, caracal, serval cats and other wildlife species such as zebra, wild dog, springbuck, zorilla, honey badger, raccoons and various snake species (which are housed separately).
Open: 8am-5pm
Current rates for either Monkeyland, Birds or Eden or The Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary is R175 per adult and R88 per child aged 3 to 12. They offer a special COMBO rate (choose two of or three sanctuaries). This COMBO costs R280 per adult and R140 per child and enables you to visit two of our three sanctuaries.The third option costs R368 per adult and R184 per child aged 3 to 12, allows you to visit all 3. Under 3’s are free of charge.
Knysna Elephant Park
Founded in 1994, The Knysna Elephant Park was the first facility in South Africa to house and care for orphaned African elephants. We had an amazing time at the Knysna Elephant Park. We got to get up close and touch the tough-skinned gentle giants. We highly recommend the Knysna Elephant Park.
Price: Adults R250, 5-12yrs: R110, <5yrs: free, pensioners and students R175
Cango Wildlife Ranch
Cango Wildlife Ranch, Oudtshoorn, Have been working tirelessly for 28 years the conservation of cheetah and other endangered species – they are one of the 5 biggest cheetah centres in the world and have for many years had the highest survival rate of cubs produced globally. They offer visitors the opportunity to swim with crocodiles, play with cheetah cubs, swing with lemurs and cuddle with snakes.
Entrance: R145 Adults, R90 kids
See the animal encounter rates here
Sites
The Cango Caves
The Cango Caves
You cannot go to Oudtshoorn without visiting the spectacular Cango Caves. Situated in a limestone ridge parallel to the well known Swartberg Mountains, you will find the finest dripstone caverns, with their vast halls and towering formations.
Opening hours: 9.30-1600
Rates: Heritage tour: Adults R80, Kids R45
Adventure Tour: Adults R100, Kids R60
Booking in advance is recommended
Taking a boat trip to the Knysna Heads
Boat trip to Knysna heads
Check out the different tour options from the Featherbed Company for a lovely cruise to view the Knysna Heads.
Prices: From R110 for adults for cruise only. Meal options are available.
There is so much more to do in the Garden Route. Please tell us what is your favourite pick!
Just goes to show you what you could be missing if you don’t spend time by stopping off as you road trip the Garden Route! Great examples of all the different things to do. Have you lasses been over the Swartberg Pass? If not here is what you are missing! http://www.where2stay-southafrica.com/blog/destinations/up-and-over-the-swartberg-pass
Thanks for the interesting read. We generally use the outeniqua pass to Oudtshoorn like the masses and often stop off to enjoy the view and take some pics. If we have more time Swartberg might be an interesting alternative on our next trip. Thanks for reading!