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Anyone done the Garden Route in SA?

9 replies

BusterTheBulldog · 26/10/2019 15:22

What are the best must stay places?

At the moment, we’re doing
Hermanus (I know not gr, but breaking up journey from cape town)
Mossel Bay
Kynsna
Plettenberg Bay
Storms River

Thinking about 2 nights kynsna and 1 night the rest. Before we are are staying in Franschhoek/ Clifton beach / Cape Town and then have safari after, so already lots planned!

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ToEarlyForDecorations · 26/10/2019 15:37

Sounds great. We were there twenty years ago.

Started in Cape Town which was fantastic. We also stayed at a winery, Kulls River, which was great.

Stellenbosh was good. Paarl was ok. There's a monument to the Hugenots who brought their wine making expertise with them from France when they were not welcome in France. Although, there was a village made of garden sheds somewhere in town, it's sad that's where the desperate people live.

We just drove down the Garden Route (completely made up name for the tourist market but hey)

Hermanus, ok but we didn't see any whales.

Kynsa - don't know, didn't stop there

Mossel Bay is pretty much just an oil refinery but I could be wrong.

Plettenburg Bay IIRC was great. Locally know as, 'Plett.' We just mooched round, looking for lunch and found a great hotel overlooking the bay. I can't remember the name of it and it wasn't that posh but it was good. Lovely Beach.

We turned around and headed back for Cape Town and didn't make it to Port Elizabeth which I think is known as P.E.

I can't remember where it was but there was a modest take away bar somewhere called, 'Cracklin' Rosie' we got a fairly average take away from there and lived to tell the tale.

BusterTheBulldog · 26/10/2019 15:48

Thanks toearlyfordecorations I’m 50/50 on Hermanus tbh, as well not get there till late on I don’t think... decisions!

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rollonoctober · 26/10/2019 16:11

We did it on honeymoon about 12 years ago. Started with 4 days staying in camps bay in Cape Town.

Then we did 1 night in hermanus, just long enough to do a whale boat, which was amazing. Saw loads of whales and we went out to shark alley where the seal colony is and saw a great white.

We did a night in wilderness, not much there to be honest, but lovely beach.

Then we did 3 nights in the tsitsikamma forest which was amazing. Did a great high ropes thing there and the bloukran bridge bungee jump.

I'm we stayed somewhere else too but can't remember where now. We ended up in port Elizabeth and then went on to the kareiga game reserve for safari.

Such an amazing trip, would go back there in a heartbeat.

rollonoctober · 26/10/2019 16:13

If you're going wine tasting while in Cape Town, the picnic basket lunch option at the boschendhal estate is absolutely amazing!!!

BusterTheBulldog · 26/10/2019 16:35

Thanks rollonoctober, we have done bochendal before but I’m v V tempted to go back as one of my favs!

Tsitsikamma looks great, think that is a definite now-thanks!

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flippetyfloppety · 26/10/2019 17:57

Not sure if Coffee Bay is on the Garden Route as it was about 15 years that I was there but it sticks in my mind as one of my favourite places in SA. Hope you have a lovely trip would love to go back!

TattiePants · 26/10/2019 18:50

We saw whales in Hermanus but we also saw them on our way to Cape of Good Hope. If you are staying in Cape Town then C of GH via Boulder / Simons Town is an easy day trip and there's lots of lovely coast line. We also had the pleasure of seeing a wanking baboon(?)!

Franschhoek is lovely and a great place for foodies with lots of great restaurants. We also did horse riding at one of the wine estates between Franschhoek and Stellenbosh which I'd recommend.

Hpfletch · 26/10/2019 21:42

We did part of the garden route this August (PE to Plettenberg Bay). We had 3 nights in Addo too - fantastic, don't drive past. I'd suggest that you don't need so many separate nights in places as they're not that far apart, you could just stop off in places to break up the driving. It also depends on the time of year. We were lucky this August and had a bit of beach weather in Plett (well, UK summer type weather anyway) but no point going just to beach places if weather is on the chilly side. We had 5 days in Plett and it wasn't enough to do everything we wanted (missed out Storms River) because there are a lot of family-friendly activities nearby. Whale-watching from Plett was great if you have good sea legs! We (us and 8 year old) also enjoyed Monkeyland and Plett Puzzle Park. We drove through Knysna to the airport in George and was glad we stayed in Plett, it didn't look very salubrious from the main road.

BusterTheBulldog · 26/10/2019 22:40

Thank you all!

Thanks hpfletch, that’s what I’m thinking a little too, may switch the knysna for Plet and base from there for a few days. We have Addo booked for last couple of days Smile

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