THE GARDEN ROUTE IN JUST ONE WEEK
THE GARDEN ROUTE IN JUST ONE WEEK
THE GARDEN ROUTE, WITH ITS INCREDIBLE COASTAL VIEWS, INTRIGUING ROADSIDE dorpies AND EXTRAORDINARY ENCOUNTERS WITH WILDLIFE, IS A LOCAL DESTINATION THAT LIVES UP TO ITS HYPE.
It’s easy to get a feel for the Garden Route within just a few days of travelling as it stretches along the Western Cape coastline up to the Eastern Cape. If you’re an ambitious traveller who is up for the challenge of conquering all the Garden Route has to offer in just seven days, we’ve asked a few local experts in the area to help craft the perfect itinerary for you.
With their help, we’ve compiled a self-drive holiday that has you picking up a car in Cape Town, meandering through the Cape Winelands and exploring the Karoo, before flying out of George.
DAY ONE TO THREE: CAPE WINELANDS
Just a 40-minute drive east of Cape Town is South Africa’s world-famous wine region, and the historic towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.
“The surrounding hills provide the ideal microclimate for vines, and the whole area is a feast for sore eyes. Wines have been produced in this region since 1659, and now it’s also become a culinary hotspot,” says Jeanneret Momberg, general manager of Visit Stellenbosch.
The vista-rich Winelands are so spectacular that they deserve at least two full days of your time, but with 148 wine farms in the Stellenbosch region alone, how does one choose? Momberg suggests you let food dictate your decisions.
“Regardless of what vineyards you visit during the first few days of your Garden Route trip, Babel in Babylonstoren is where you should definitely end up for lunch,” she says. “Donkeys, chickens and ducks run around among the 300-plus varieties of plants, fruits and vegetables, and they even have their own rice patch! Babel is the sincerest application of farm-to-table, and the food is spectacular.
“For dinner, nothing beats Indochine at Delaire Graff Estate. Chef Virgil Khan creates art you can eat in the name of Asian Fusion, served under a ceiling of 1,000 little birds.You’ll quickly be tempted to stay here overnight, too,” she adds.
DAY FOUR TO FIVE: ROUTE 62 & THE KAROO
The saying,“it’s about the journey, not the destination” couldn’t be truer than on the Cape’s spectacular Route 62, where you’ll find yourself doing the longest stretches of driving.
“Leave the Winelands via the Franschhoek Pass, and drive into the semi-desert region of the Little Karoo,” says James Fouche, a travel writer based in George in the Southern Cape. “The landscape changes dramatically, turning into something that best resembles the Australian outback.”
In the middle of this absolute nothingness, is Route 62’s most popular tourist pit-stop, Ronnie’s Sex Shop. It is located roughly three hours’ drive from the Cape Winelands – not taking into account additional stops that seasoned road trippers will definitely want to make.
“This roadside pub with graffiti on the walls and T-shirts hanging from the ceiling was originally just called Ronnie’s Shop until, as the story goes, his mates added ‘Sex’ to the sign to attract customers – and it worked!” Fouche adds.
While cruising along Route 62, you may also spot some ostriches on the side of the highway. For a face-to-face encounters, Fouche recommends a scheduled visit to Safari Ostrich Farm in Oudtshoorn.
DAY SIX TO SEVEN: DAY TRIPS FROM GEORGE
Head south from Oudtshoorn and you’ll soon find yourself in George. Though often referred to as a town, is indeed a city because it has a cathedral – St Mark’s Cathedral, with some of the oldest stained-glass windows in the country.
“Both the Sedgefield and George farmers’ markets are always bustling, with good food, warmth and fun,” says Peter Dros, sales and marketing director for Fancourt Estate.
Make Fancourt your base for the last leg of your trip, located just a 10-minute drive from George Airport. Spend your last few days exploring this incredible estate or take a day drive towards Plettenberg Bay, fondly nicknamed Plett.“A stellar place to grab a bite on the drive down is Timberlake Organic Village, located just east of Wilderness,” Dros adds. “It’s an adorable oasis hosting an eclectic collection of independent businesses and eateries, as well as a fairy garden.”
Once you hit Plett, you’re properly on the Garden Route, where nature excursions abound. Don’t miss out on hiking in the Robberg Nature Reserve, a World Heritage Site just 8 km south of the town, or make your way back to George through Knysna, one of the Garden Route’s most popular holiday towns.
And there you have it, the Garden Route in just one week. FlySafair flies to both Cape Town and George.