Garden Route
The Garden Route stretches along South Africa's southern coastline, from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. Heading East from Cape Town, the route passes through the Cape Winelands, Hermanus, Mossel Bay, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay until finally reaching Port Elizabeth. The lovely coastal scenery, beautiful beaches, lagoons, forest and mountains makes this route one of Africa's most popular. There are numerous boutique hotels and large resorts to plan your trip around.
Between Cape Town and Hermanus is Gansbaii, a great place for boat excursions to see seal colonies and great white sharks. Further east lies Grootbos, a private fynbos reserve with more than 740 plant species and 20 miles of pristine beachfront. Southern right whales usually start arriving offshore of Hermanus in June or July before departing by December; the best time to whale watch here, and all of the Garden Route, is August and September. En route to Mossel Bay is Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point in Africa and where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet.
Onward from Mossel Bay is the picturesque coastal town of Knysna. Plettenberg Bay is the Garden Route's most sophisticated resort area. The town's boardwalk complex has manys hops, restaurants and a casino. Before finishing in Port Elizabeth, there's Jeffrey's Bay, perhaps South Africa's most famous place for surfing.