If you are thinking about visiting South Africa anytime soon, then one place you simply shouldn’t miss is the illustrious garden route.  Stretching from the Western Cape right across to the Eastern Cape, this beautiful route of coastal highway will show you a range of ecologically diverse vegetation, stunning lagoons, majestic lakes, and rugged coastlines that might just take your breath away.

The perfect stepping-stone from Cape Town to the malaria free safari zone of the Eastern Cape, the Garden Route has plenty to offer the traveller, and whether you take an escorted tour or drive yourself, you will get to enjoy the highlights of Oudtshoorn, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, George and Port Elizabeth along the way.

The rustic town of Oudtshoorn is like something out of a Wild West film, and if you like Ostriches then you will think you have arrived in paradise!  With Ostrich farms on every corner this quaint town provides numerous opportunities to get up close and personal with these rather unusual creatures, take memorable holiday snaps, and shop for some exquisite Ostrich leather goods.

Heading back onto the Garden Route, the next recommended stop would have to be the picturesque seaside town of Knysna.  With great seafood restaurants, boat rides to the Knysna Heads, and the Featherbed Nature Reserve, there is plenty to keep you occupied in this pretty town.

Just a short drive from Knysna and my favourite place on the Garden Route is Plettenberg Bay.  With a stunning coastline, this picture-perfect town is a popular destination for South African tourists and it boasts some of the finest boutique hotels along this stretch.  A town packed with fine restaurants, great shopping and plenty of animal encounters such as the Elephant Reserve and Birds of Eden, Plettenberg Bay is a must!

Finally, before you cross over to the Eastern Cape, take an hour or two to visit the Tsitsikamma National Park – a stunning park of indigenous forests, Cape Fynbos and over 300 species of birds, it is the perfect place to end your Garden Route journey, before beginning your next South African Safari adventure!