The well-known Garden Route in South Africa is celebrated for its spectacular landscapes, offering travelers endless stretches of awe-inspiring coastal views.
The complete version stretches over 500 miles. Cape Town from the west to Port Elizabeth (renamed Gqeberha in 2021) in the east, it boasts a wealth of attractions including mountain ranges, wildlife , wine regions, captivating towns brimming with culture and history, along with a variety of outdoor activities.
It ranks amongst the greatest road trips Among the world's best, comparable to America’s Pacific Coast Highway and Australia’s Great Ocean Road.
Given my passion for driving and my fortunate experiences exploring this stunning nation, coupled with marrying a South African, I was incredibly thrilled when we planned to journey through a significant part of the area during the initial week of January.
However, being a dad to two young boys, I found myself pondering: will this be suitable for our family vacation?
Traveling with kids can definitely be tough. It’s rare to find young ones who can stay seated in a vehicle for extended durations without either a. having a tantrum, b. arguing with their brother or sister, or c. getting carsick, often all at once.
As I packed the trunk on the morning of our trip, I attempted to push aside these worries. The upcoming days were sure to create lifelong memories, and I sincerely hoped they would be remarkable for entirely positive reasons.
Day 1: Cape Town to Stanford
We departed from my mother-in-law’s place in Durbanville, a charming hilly neighborhood in Cape Town offering breathtaking vistas of the Stellenbosch mountains. The journey to our initial destination for the trip was expected to take around two hours via a fairly straightforward route. Blue Gum Country Estate .
We took a break around 45 minutes into the trip to join our friends. Blaauwklippen One among many picturesque vineyards lining the R44 route through Stellenbosch, this place offered ample enjoyment for the kids as they played in the well-equipped adventure playground. This area was conveniently shielded from the intense summer sunlight by a dense canopy of trees, allowing us to unwind with some coffee on the neatly maintained lawn. Such family-oriented outdoor setups have become increasingly common across South Africa recently, providing parents numerous chances to unwind knowing their children can keep themselves occupied.
As we hit the coastal stretch leading into False Bay, an expansive aquatic expanse running from Cape Point up to the Hottentot Holland Mountains, our journey truly began. This route features breathtaking shores such as the well-known Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town, which shelters a safeguarded community of African penguins.
Our journey led us through winding roads hugging steep cliffs and serene seaside hamlets until we arrived at our initial accommodation for the trip. The Blue Gum Country Estate, an operational vineyard, sits cozily within a valley offering views of the lush shores lining the Klein River.
We stayed in one of the property’s Mountain View rooms, all equipped with their individual "grilling" spots for cooking your meal. This spot is ideal for connecting with nature as marked hiking paths lead right into the mountains. As we sipped some wine on the porch, we noticed a tiny tortoise in the meadow—an initial encounter among several unforgettable wildlife sightings.
Day 2: Hermanus
I began my day by walking Finlay early in the morning through the vineyards, encountering our tortoise neighbor along the way. We then hiked a brief stretch up into the hills overlooking the farm, sitting atop a boulder surrounded by indigenous fynbos to soak in the scenery.
This was immediately followed by a brief swim in the pool prior to making our way to Hermanus, which is about 45 minutes away, for a full day at the beach. This coastal town boasts magnificent shores and serves as an excellent location to observe Southern Right whales in the Atlantic during South Africa’s winter and spring seasons.
We went to Voeklip Beach, known for its excellent waves suitable for both surfing and bodyboarding with lifeguards present. The kids thoroughly enjoyed getting tossed about in the waves where the water was surprisingly shallow.
On our return journey, we made a stop at Stanford — a charming small market town — to get dinner, which we enjoyed beneath the starry sky back at the Blue Gum.
Day 3 and Day 4: Knysna
Once back on the road after a brief pitstop for breakfast, we embarked on an extensive journey heading eastward—a four-hour trip covering 240 miles—to reach the picturesque coastal town of Knysna. Along our way, as the path took us deeper into the countryside, towering mountain ranges bordered lush green valleys until we arrived at Swellendam.
This town ranks as the third oldest settlement in South Africa, established in 1743 by the Dutch East India Company approximately a century following their establishment at the 'Cape of Good Hope.' It boasts breathtaking surroundings featuring the Bontebok National Park and the nearby Langeberg mountain range.
Starting from Swellendam, you'll need an additional two and a half hours to reach Knysna. On your way, consider stopping at the charmingly named Riversdale, which houses the nation’s second-biggest assortment of artworks by renowned British landscape artist Thomas Bowler. Additionally, this town takes pride in hosting South Africa’s sole museum dedicated to Ukrainian culture, due to a cultural partnership between the town and the city of Voznesensk.
As soon as the kids began murmuring about feeling "restless," a troupe of baboons magically emerged beside the road, sparking an uproar of enthusiasm within the vehicle that persisted throughout most of the journey to Knysna—during which time the young ones maintained constant vigilance, scanning for additional monkeys.
We arrived in the late afternoon when The Turbine Hotel & Spa - Our accommodation for the upcoming two evenings.
This charming hotel located on Knysna’s Theysen Islands originated from a power station constructed in 1939 and remained operational until 2001.
The extensive three-year refurbishment turned it into an upscale designer residence with a view of the canal. To unwind after our lengthy journey, we unwound at the rooftop pool terrace where we observed stand-up paddlers, canoeists, and tiny vessels leisurely passing by.
The 24-room hotel keeps machines from its electricity-producing era that have been beautifully refurbished.
In addition to its captivating past, the Turbine Hotel has gained local fame for its culinary offerings. The menus overflow with mouthwatering dishes made from fresh, regional ingredients such as steamed Saldanha Bay black mussels cooked in aromatic coconut broth, bo-kaap seafood curry prepared using a special blend of spices and tomatoes, and roasted fillets of smoked springbok that are simply delightful.
A voyage across the Knyssa lagoon ought to rank highly on every traveler’s agenda. This journey will lead you alongside the famous "heads" —two massive promontories guarding the mouth where the estuary meets the Indian Ocean.
Those who love spending time outdoors can take pleasure in a stroll through Knysna Forest, which was historically known as a sanctuary for a substantial group of African bush elephants. Uncontrolled hunting and the destruction of their natural environment caused their numbers to dwindle dramatically; however, reports suggest that a lone female elephant still roams there.
If your aim is to have an up-close experience with the planet's largest terrestrial animal, then a trip to Knysna Elephant Park It is absolutely essential. Located just a thirty-minute drive away from the town, this sanctuary houses five female elephants. The eldest among them is Sally, born in 1989 and brought to the park in 1994. The youngest resident is Thato, who joined the group as a three-month-old calf in 2008 following the death of her parents at the hands of poachers.
Equipped with a container full of squash, carrots, and various delicious items, you have the chance to personally feed the elephants and even stroll alongside them as they eat—all under the careful supervision of attentive and highly informed guides. This is an encounter none of us are likely to ever forget.
Day 5 & 6: Stay at Swartberg Private Game Lodge followed by returning to Cape Town
The Garden Route stretches for an additional approximately 60 miles beyond Knysna up until Storms River, passing through Plettenberg Bay, which claims to host the planet’s largest bridge bungee jump (thanks but no thanks), and the beautiful Nature’s Valley.
However, with our return flight to chilly London just around the corner, we needed to make our way back toward Cape Town. To break up the lengthy 290-mile journey through the breathtakingly arid Klein (little) Karoo, we opted for an overnight stay at the Swartberg Private Game Lodge.
The lodge is incredibly secluded when traveling through the Garden Route, located at the base of the Swartberg Mountains approximately 20 miles down an unpaved dirt road branching off the R62 towards the west from Oudtshoorn—the area’s main city known for its ostrich population and close proximity to the Kango Caves.
The landscape is indeed breathtaking; however, it seemed to garner more admiration from the grown-ups upfront rather than the children at the rear who couldn’t wait to exit our small rented Volkswagen after jolting down the bumpy path for an hour.
We received a warm welcome from our affable host, Willem, who led us to our opulent suite with a view overlooking the mountains. The lodge has five suites in all—Zebra, Kudu, Giraffe, Nyala, and Gemsbok—and each one is elegantly designed to highlight the charm of their respective animals.
Eachsuite features a personal terrace offering vistas of the valley and a veranda that gazes upon the Swartberg Mountains alongside the well-tended aloe garden.
Visitors enjoy a game drive across the 2,000-hectare estate. The children were hardly able to hide their enthusiasm when they got an early look at a group of giraffes amongst the acacia trees.
During the 1.5-hour journey, we were treated to numerous incredible animal observations: a group of wildebeests racing across a river, springboks leaping through tall vegetation, as well as spiral-horned kudus and Cape zebras, among others.
That evening, while swapping wildlife sightings with fellow visitors during dinner—featuring succulent ostrich steaks served with red wine sauce and creamy mashed potatoes—we received an additional surprise when several wildebeests strolled onto the lodge’s property, mere feet away from the main entry.
The next day, we embarked on a secondary tour within the adjacent Swartberg Game Reserve, an area belonging to the expansive property. During our visit, we spotted buffaloes, known as one of the most dangerous animals in the "Big Five" of Africa, and strolled amidst groups of giraffes. Observing these serene giants personally marked another extraordinary experience during this remarkable journey.
In the early hours of the day, we set out for our lengthy journey back to Cape Town, pausing at midday for an extended meal in the charming town of Worcester situated near the borders of the Klein Karoo region. Afterward, we faced the last stretch which took us across the majestic Du Toitskloof Mountains—undoubtedly one of the most spectacular mountain chains within the Western Cape province. As we exited these rugged heights, verdant plains stretched ahead toward Cape Town until finally coming into view was the unmistakable silhouette of Table Mountain marking our destination from afar.
The flight
Similar to many long-distance travel spots, journeys to South Africa saw a significant increase in costs following the pandemic. Flights that previously cost approximately £650 directly before the onset of COVID-19 in 2020 escalated to over £1,000. The expenses become quite steep particularly when having to cover full fares for kids as well.
However, a far more budget-friendly choice has emerged with Norse Atlantic launching operations between London Gatwick and Cape Town starting from October 2024. This airline provides extremely inexpensive tickets but at the cost of reduced amenities—drinks and meals come as additional charges. Passengers also have to pay extra for in-flight entertainment headphones.
However, any minor inconveniences from this pared-down service ended up being insignificant. We just prepared lots of sandwiches and snacks to sustain ourselves, and the earphones were only priced at $2.
The advantage for this family of four was significant: by capitalizing on a ticket sale, we managed to secure our flights for approximately £2,000 less compared to what they would have cost with another direct airline.
The flight going out happened during the nighttime, allowing the children to sleep for much of the journey. On the return trip during the daytime, things were generally smooth as well, with the boys happily watching movies for most of the flight.
It's going to be fantastic," my wife reassured me as we loaded the trunk of our rental car. "South Africa is incredible for children.
A week later, when she returned to her mother's home on the outskirts of Cape Town, I realized she was correct—not only for children but also for parents. Lekker? Absolutely brilliant, more like.
Here’s what you should be aware of
Norse Atlantic flights from London Gatwick to Cape Town begin at approximately £450 for a round trip. https://flynorse.com .
A room at Blue Gum Country Estate in Mountain View costs R3,400 (approximately £150) and can accommodate up to five guests. https://bluegum.co.za/ .
The Turbine Hotel in Knysna offers standard rooms for R2560 (£110) per person, including breakfast when shared. https://www.turbinehotel.co.za/
The Swartberg Private Game Lodge offers family luxury suites priced at R4,250 (£183) per night, including a game drive and breakfast. Their restaurant features a fixed menu costing R380 per person, with options for children ranging from R120 to R150 each. https://swartbergprivategamelodge.co.za/
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