Garden Route

Hi everyone... I'm back again with a very nice topic. Today we are talking about Garde Route.

Garden Route is one of the most beautiful and interesting trips that you may go on in South Africa; the trip goes from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. In the way to Garden Route, you will appreciate stunning landscapes, amazing places, curious animals, and many other things. 

First of all, you have to arrange a car and 3 or 4 friends to join you. Here my tip is traveling with friends from different nationalities is a very good opportunity to learn and practice your english (I did it twice and can assure you it worth). You might have a GPS which makes your journey safer and faster (but don’t forget a map).

I have been on the Garden Route exactly thrice and in each time I had a particular and unique experience. You don’t need to arrange too much stuff, beyond the car and friends. In case of you don’t get a GPS, get a good map or a travel book. And so, be ready to have some fun, during the trip.

To go through on Garden Route, you must start your journey taking N2, from Sea Point (on the way to airport). Driving on N2 is a pleasant and safe experience, because the road is well-signalized and there are no wholes. Find bellow the places that you can visit and the amusement you can find in each one.

Mossel Bay: normally that's the first stop on Garden Route’s trip. Leaving Cape Town, you may arrive at Mossel Bay after nearly 5 hours driving. That small town has a very charming old century english architecture. Over Mossel Bay you may find some nice restaurants by the beach where you can enjoy a delicious meal while watch some dolphins or even whales jumping out from the sea. You can also visit some museums in town, like the traditional Marine Museum which keeps a bit of Mossel Bay’s history. It's quite easy to find a B&B or Backpacker over there, even if you don’t have a GPS or a travel book.

Wilderness: Wilderness is one of the most magical places you can visit in Garden Route. The town is quite small, which takes place by the ocean though is surrounded by mountains. So, keep yourself  some time and enjoy Wilderness and the landscapes. You can’t waist a chance to stay at Wildfarm Backpackers… that place is amazing, beyond the good price (R120) and a breathtaking view to the ocean. Here I go with some tips: go to visit Woodville Tree (it's a small forest where you can admire an 800 years old tree); take your time by the lake to make some shoots; and go to the beach to explore the rail road tunel.

Knysna: that's a delightful place where you usually find a good and warm weather with colorful fields in a small, but no less comfortable, town. My tip is: go to Knysna Waterfront and have a meal at 34º South Restaurant… their price is nearly nothing and the view is quite beautiful. Afterwards, you can go to visit the orphans elephants at Knysna Elephant Park, where you can enjoy a nice elephant encounter, feed it or even ride it.

Plettenberg Bay: woww that is the most adventurous part in Garden Route. The place is simply amazing (as usual) and surrounded by the Tsitsikamma Mountains. You may enjoy some time in the beach or swimming on the ocean, if you’re up to. But few minutes away from town you can find the biggest bungy jump on bridge in world… get ready because the 216 meters jump is a life-changing experience. If you are crazy enough, just like me, then go there, book yourself a jump and the guys from Face Adrenalin will provide you anything else… you just have to pay a small fortune of R1000 (jump, photos, dvd and t-shirt).

Tsitsikamma National Park: next stop is really excited, as well. Tsitsikamma is a huge National Park, with stunning landscapes and gorgeous mountains. Over there, you may enjoy your time in one of the beautiful beaches, mountains, viewpoints, camping places, and whatever. Of course, for being a National Park, you must to pay an entrance fee of R88 (foreigner’s price) which worth each cent. Once there, go to the famous suspension bridges and climb up the mountain until a viewpoint, right on the top. From there, you may have the most beautiful view in Garden Route (promise you). So, take your time there: relax, think abouth your life, try to feel the place, sing, jump, cry… but, please, don’t you forget to take lots of photos (You might want to keep this in your memory).

Jeffrey’s Bay: the most famous destination in Garden Route. For those who know about surf, JBay is an old friend, because the place hosts the Billabong Pro, every year. Furthermore, Jeffrey’s Bay has the most beautiful and astonished sunrise that I’ve ever saw in my life (so, wake up early and don’t lose it). The beach is other spectacular thing… so, take your time enjoying a bit of it. My tip is to stay at Vibe Island JBay Backpackers… that place is formidable and quite cheap (R120). In Vibe Island you can have some fun with friends in the bar and meet some new people, as well. Nevertheless, JBay is not only about that… the city is also famous because of the surf brands mega-stores where you can get real good prices. So, enjoy this opportunity to buy some gifts to your folks.

Port Elizabeth: the last destination on the trip. To be honest, Port Elizabeth is just a big town where the one of the biggest harbors in country is taking place. That’s why the city is so important and famous. Although I have been there twice, I don’t know the city; so unfortunately I can’t talk too much about that.

Addo Elephant National Park: if you want to put more adventure in it and if you also have time enough to do, so keep driving through on the road, 72 km away from Port Elizabeth. Once there, the National Park is able to provide you anything you may need, even nigh-safaris. My tip is to do a self-driver safari which is the cheapest way. The entrance fee is R110, however they have a very good discount for students (so keep your LAL card, if you have one). The tour takes an entire day but is very interesting because, during the way, you can see a rich sort of wild animals like buffalos, elephants, wild pigs, and so many others. Whether you want to stay there for one night, the cheapest way is staying outside the park; so, the best place is Orange Elephant Backpacker (R120)!

Route 62: if you don’t have any time to go through into other places, you should star your journey back via Route 62. The road is as safe and beautiful as N2 with mountains, fields, and marvelous landscapes. Don’t lose a chance of make a stop at Ronnies Sex Shop which places just by the road. My glue is to go to Oudtshoorn to visit the Kango Caves doing an adventure tour over there (you won’t regret). Afterward you can have some good and delicious time tasting some ostrich meat.

Do you really think you have seen all? If you have money and time enough my advice is to going on through East London, in the famous Wild Coast. On that way, there is a quit and beautiful university town called Grahamstown… my tip is to make a stop over there and visit The Rat and Parrot, the most traditional pub in town. You should also visit Coffee Bay, wich is famous for a stirred nightlife.

So... that's all for now. About all that you have read today, my tip is: Do not leave Cape Town without that experience! Whether you don't find anyone to share a car, you can book yourself a tour, it's so easy!