RoadAtlas
Cape Town & Garden Route — South Africa — Scenic
Africa

Cape Town & Garden Route

South Africa

Point-to-point
Cape Town Storms River

In short: Cape Town & Garden Route is a about 850 km including the Cape Peninsula scenic road trip in South Africa, typically driven over 7 days, best in Oct–Apr. Highlights: Cape Town, Chapman's Peak Drive, Cape Point & Boulders Beach.

Distance
about 850 km including the Cape Peninsula
Duration
7 days
Best Season
Oct–Apr
LegendaryEasyScenicEV-friendly

South Africa's most celebrated road trip, from Cape Town's two-ocean peninsula along the Garden Route's coastal forest to Storms River. The Cape Point/Boulders Beach loop, Chapman's Peak Drive, the whale nursery of Hermanus, the lagoon town of Knysna, the Tsitsikamma forest's 800-year-old yellowwood trees, and the Bloukrans Bridge bungee jump (the world's highest) are strung along a coast of extraordinary biodiversity.

~1 refuel
~3 charges
Practical notes
Use seven days for the Cape Peninsula, Hermanus, Mossel Bay/Wilderness, Knysna, Robberg, and Tsitsikamma. Check Chapman's Peak and SANParks status, fees, and closures before each relevant day. Complete South Africa’s online traveller declaration when required from 1 July 2026. In Cape Town remain on recommended main roads, keep valuables invisible, avoid isolated stops and night driving, and treat Hermanus whale watching as seasonal, strongest June–November.

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Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1Cape Town

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway · Fyn Restaurant

Day 2Cape Peninsula clockwise loop; return to Cape Town

Chapman's Peak Drive · Cape Point & Cape of Good Hope · Black Marlin

Day 3Cape Town to Hermanus

Hermanus Cliff Path Walkway · Bientang's Cave Restaurant

Day 4Hermanus to Wilderness via Mossel Bay

Dias Museum Complex · Wilderness National Park · Café Gannet

Day 5Knysna

Featherbed Nature Reserve · Knysna Heads Viewpoint · East Head Café

Day 6Plettenberg Bay and Robberg Nature Reserve

Robberg Nature Reserve · The Lookout Deck

Day 7Bloukrans and Tsitsikamma National Park

Bloukrans Bridge Bungy Viewpoint · Tsitsikamma National Park · Marilyn's 60's Diner

Stops along the route

Cape Town — Departure — Cape Town & Garden Route — South Africa
Departure
Cape Town
Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, and Bo-Kaap's pastel Cape Malay houses. The Cape of Good Hope crowns the peninsula's southern tip, reached via the Boulders Beach/Cape Point loop south of the city.
Hotels
Mossel Bay and Wilderness — City — Cape Town & Garden Route — South Africa
City
Mossel Bay and Wilderness
Use a transfer day for the museum complex and a selected Wilderness walk rather than racing to Knysna.
Knysna — City — Cape Town & Garden Route — South Africa
City
Knysna
Two sandstone headlands frame the tidal lagoon's ocean entrance. Lagoon oysters, a waterfront market, and Featherbed Nature Reserve's forest trails define this Garden Route gem; the once-famous free-roaming forest elephants are now functionally gone from the wild.
Hotels
Storms River — Arrival — Cape Town & Garden Route — South Africa
Arrival
Storms River
Suspension bridges cross the Storms River mouth gorge. 800-year-old yellowwood trees and the start of the Otter Trail complete this wild finale.
Hotels

Things to Do

Chapman's Peak Drive — Landmark — Cape Town & Garden Route — South Africa
Landmark
Chapman's Peak Drive
One of the world's great coastal drives, 9 km of road carved into a sheer cliff above the Atlantic with 114 curves.
Cape Point & Boulders Beach — Nature — Cape Town & Garden Route — South Africa
Nature
Cape Point & Boulders Beach
A loop down the peninsula's eastern side to Simon's Town's Boulders Beach penguin colony, then on to the windswept cliffs of Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, before looping back north to Chapman's Peak.
Hermanus — Nature — Cape Town & Garden Route — South Africa
Nature
Hermanus
The world's top land-based whale watching site. Southern right whales breed in Walker Bay from June to December (peaking Aug-Nov), visible from the cliff path.
Plettenberg Bay — Nature — Cape Town & Garden Route — South Africa
Nature
Plettenberg Bay
A crescent of white sand between two rivers. Robberg Nature Reserve's peninsula walk circles a Cape fur seal colony above the Indian Ocean.
Bloukrans Bridge — Landmark — Cape Town & Garden Route — South Africa
Landmark
Bloukrans Bridge
At 216 m above the gorge, the highest commercial bungee jump in the world. Even non-jumpers can walk the arch for vertiginous views.
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway — Scenic Viewpoint — Cape Town & Garden Route — South Africa
Scenic Viewpoint
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
Ride to the summit of Table Mountain for panoramic views of Cape Town and the surrounding coastline.
Show 6 more
Boulders Beach Penguin Colony — Nature — Cape Town & Garden Route — South Africa
Nature
Boulders Beach Penguin Colony
Walk the boardwalks at Simon's Town to see a colony of African penguins up close on the beach.
Cape Point & Cape of Good Hope — Scenic Viewpoint — Cape Town & Garden Route — South Africa
Scenic Viewpoint
Cape Point & Cape of Good Hope
Reach the dramatic cliffs at the peninsula's southern tip, with a funicular and lighthouse walk above the meeting of two oceans.
Hermanus Cliff Path Whale Watching — Nature — Cape Town & Garden Route — South Africa
Nature
Hermanus Cliff Path Whale Watching
Walk the free cliff-top path above Walker Bay, the world's top land-based whale watching site. Southern right whales are commonly visible June through November.
Robberg Nature Reserve — Nature — Cape Town & Garden Route — South Africa
Nature
Robberg Nature Reserve
Hike the peninsula trail above Plettenberg Bay past a Cape fur seal colony and dramatic ocean views.
Featherbed Nature Reserve — Nature — Cape Town & Garden Route — South Africa
Nature
Featherbed Nature Reserve
Ferry across the Knysna lagoon to forest trails, fynbos, and viewpoints over the Knysna Heads.
Tsitsikamma National Park — National Park — Cape Town & Garden Route — South Africa
National Park
Tsitsikamma National Park
Explore lush forests, dramatic coastlines, and the famous Storms River Mouth suspension bridge.

Where to Eat

La Colombe — French — Cape Town & Garden Route — South Africa
French
La Colombe
Nestled in Constantia, this fine dining spot serves exquisite French-Asian fusion cuisine amidst serene vineyard views.
Fyn Restaurant — Japanese — Cape Town & Garden Route — South Africa
Japanese
Fyn Restaurant
A chic eatery in Cape Town's city center, offering a unique Japanese-African fusion menu in a stylish setting.
The Fat Fish — Seafood — Cape Town & Garden Route — South Africa
Seafood
The Fat Fish
Located in Plettenberg Bay, this restaurant offers fresh seafood dishes with stunning ocean views.

Nearby and similar drives

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Cape Town & Garden Route drive?

The Cape Town & Garden Route covers about 850 km including the Cape Peninsula from start to finish.

How long does the Cape Town & Garden Route take to drive?

Most travellers spend 7 days on the Cape Town & Garden Route, depending on stops and pace.

When is the best time to drive the Cape Town & Garden Route?

The recommended season for the Cape Town & Garden Route is Oct–Apr.

Where does the Cape Town & Garden Route start and end?

The Cape Town & Garden Route runs from Cape Town to Storms River.

What are the main stops on the Cape Town & Garden Route?

The Cape Town & Garden Route passes through Cape Town, Chapman's Peak Drive, Cape Point & Boulders Beach.

How difficult is the Cape Town & Garden Route to drive?

The Cape Town & Garden Route is rated easy and is best handled with any vehicle.

Can I drive the Cape Town & Garden Route in a regular car?

Yes — the Cape Town & Garden Route is paved end-to-end and a regular car is fine in normal conditions.

How many fuel stops are needed on the Cape Town & Garden Route?

Plan around 1 refuels (or about 3 EV charges) along the Cape Town & Garden Route, based on its about 850 km including the Cape Peninsula length.

Is the Cape Town & Garden Route EV friendly?

Yes — the Cape Town & Garden Route has charger coverage along the route and works as an EV road trip.

Is the Cape Town & Garden Route safe to drive?

Use seven days for the Cape Peninsula, Hermanus, Mossel Bay/Wilderness, Knysna, Robberg, and Tsitsikamma. Check Chapman's Peak and SANParks status, fees, and closures before each relevant day. Complete South Africa’s online traveller declaration when required from 1 July 2026. In Cape Town remain on recommended main roads, keep valuables invisible, avoid isolated stops and night driving, and treat Hermanus whale watching as seasonal, strongest June–November.

What scenic tier is the Cape Town & Garden Route?

The Cape Town & Garden Route is a legendary drive — The world's most extraordinary drives — once-in-a-lifetime road trips with cinematic scenery, legendary roads, and unmatched cultural depth.