Garden Route – South Africa road trip

Leaving Cape Town behind is not easy, but the Garden Route quickly provides many new great impressions. The goal was to reach Jeffreys Bay, a famous surf spot, within 5 days. The first day took us via Cape Aghulas, the southernmost point of the African continent, to Swellendam. At Cape Aghulas we were a bit surprised that no other people visited this place where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. I can definitely recommend a trip there. In addition to a beautiful lighthouse, there are also nice little cafes by the sea in the village.

In Swellendam we stayed at the Backpackers Adventure Lodge in a wooden hut in the garden. For one night this accommodation was fine, it was also adventurous, but I wouldn’t have stayed there much longer. The tricky thing about the South African winter is that it gets very nice and pleasant 20 degrees during the day, but the nights can be very very cold due to a lack of insulation and heating. In this wooden hut we had to wrap ourselves in different layers of clothing and still froze.

The next day we drove via George and Wilderness to Mossel Bay, which we didn’t like so much. But maybe it was also because there is really nothing going on in July and the whole thing seems a bit extinct. We were more convinced by Knysa, where we took the chance of the low season and rented a luxury bungalow with a bubble bath for two nights. From there we took a day trip to Plettenberg Bay, where we took a boat for about 1.5 hours on the sea for whale watching. At this time of year, you can see many humpback whales along the coast. The trip cost around $100 and we saw both whales and seals. Afterwards we explored the Robberg Island Nature Reserve on foot. There are several circular trails that offer something for everyone, depending on the time available and physical condition.

On the 5th day we tackled the last stretch to Jeffreys Bay. On this stage you will pass the world’s highest bungee jump from the Bloukrans Bridge (just awesome!). Unfortunately, we missed the Billabong Pro competition, which takes place annually in Jeffreys Bay, by a few days, but in our accommodation the “Cristal Cove” there was enough surf feeling to enjoy. This accommodation is very great and highly recommended.

Conclusion: The Garden Route is a must-see!