You’ve seen Cape Town. Now experience the Garden Route.
Cape Town steals hearts with Table Mountain as its backdrop, vineyards at its doorstep, and its world-famous beaches. However, if you’re planning a trip to the Mother City, you’d be remiss not to venture further east to experience the equally beautiful natural wonderland that unfolds along the Garden Route. In particular, the towns of Knysna and Plettenberg Bay provide space for romance, adventure, and family-friendly fun.
Some of our favourite activities on the Garden Route include:
Ziplining
There are numerous zipline adventures along the Garden Route, including Mossel Bay Zipline, Tsitsikamma Canopy Tours, Knysna Ziplines and Acrobranch Garden Route. All are safe, fun-filled, and perfect for both families and adults in search of adventure.
Mossel Bay’s zipline is the world’s longest over-ocean zipline, stretching more than a kilometre from the cliffs to The Point below. While it’s fast and fun, it is only a single line and the ride is over in about one minute. One of our favourites is the Knysna Ziplines, which zig-zags across a gorge at the SANParks Kranshoek picnic site, with sweeping views over the gorge and the ocean beyond.
If treetop thrills appeal more than big views, then Tsitsikamma Canopy Tours is a great choice. Acrobranch, meanwhile, offers a treetop obstacle course with varying levels of difficulty, catering to both children and adults. These courses are varied, fun, and include some ziplining in between.
Boating
There’s no shortage of boat trips around Plettenberg Bay and Knysna. Sundowner cruises on the Knysna Lagoon are popular, with everything from sleek catamarans to smaller yachts and boats. The John Benn floating restaurant, with its yellowwood panelling, has been a fixture on the lagoon since the 1980s, serving a casual à la carte and tapas menu on board.
A boat trip with Keurbooms Ferries is another wonderful way to experience the Garden Route. Just 7km from Plettenberg Bay, the Keurbooms River Nature Reserve reveals forested gorges and habitats accessible only by water. As you glide beneath the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains, your guide will point out vervet monkeys and possibly a fish eagle or the vivid Knysna loerie. After a gentle five-kilometre journey upstream, you’ll stop at a quiet riverbank to wander among Yellowwood trees or unpack a picnic beside the amber waters.
Another family-friendly water adventure is kayaking up the Touw River in Wilderness. The tannin-rich, coffee-coloured water creates a calming soundtrack with each paddle stroke, while birds like Knysna loeries and rush warblers flit along the forested banks. If you want to extend the outing, you can beach your canoes after about 40 minutes of paddling and follow a two-and-a-half-kilometre trail through mossy trees and leafy boardwalks to a beautiful waterfall.
Beaches
The Garden Route is just as famous for its golden beaches as it is for its forests and mountains. In Knysna, the sheltered shores of the lagoon are perfect for families with young children. Bollard Bay on Leisure Isle is a favourite, with its calm, shallow swimming beach where little ones can splash safely while parents enjoy the view. If you’d like something more rugged, head west to Buffels Bay (Buffalo Bay), a wide stretch of sand and surf that feels blissfully unspoilt. Part of the Goukamma Nature Reserve, it’s popular for swimming, long walks, and spotting dolphins in the waves.
For something truly atmospheric, take a walk along Noetzie Beach. It’s backed by forest, where mischievous vervet monkeys play, and sits below the iconic Noetzie Castle. Its dramatic setting has made it a popular spot for wedding photography, with the castle towers creating a fairytale backdrop.
Just along the coast, Plettenberg Bay is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in South Africa – several of them Blue Flag accredited. Robberg Beach is a long, sweeping expanse perfect for morning runs or sunset strolls, with regular dolphin and seasonal whale sightings offshore. Central Beach is the hub of activity, with lifeguards on duty in summer and plenty of space for volleyball, bodyboarding, and family fun. Keurboomstrand offers a quieter experience, backed by forest and dunes, while Lookout Beach, where the lagoon meets the sea, is another gem for both swimming and photography.
Wilderness Beach, where you’ll find kilometre after kilometre of unbroken sand, is also a Blue Flag beach, and great for long walks or simply finding your own patch to relax. With the Outeniqua Mountains as a backdrop, it’s one of the most scenic coastal stretches on the Garden Route.
For surfers, the Garden Route has some excellent breaks. Victoria Bay (Vic Bay), just outside George, is a legendary right-hand point break that draws both locals and travelling surfers. In Plettenberg Bay, you’ll find good surf at Lookout Beach and Robberg, which offer consistent waves in a beautiful location.
Food and drink
In Knysna, East Head Café sits right at the entrance to the lagoon and the views are as much a draw as the food. Arrive early for brunch (it gets busy) and enjoy perfectly poached eggs Benedict on sourdough or daily chalkboard specials. Also in Knysna, Ile de Pain is a favourite for artisanal breads and pastries, while Emily Moon pairs eclectic décor with beautiful river views and a menu that blends global inspiration with fresh local produce.
In Wilderness, Pomodoro serves excellent, authentic Italian dishes, and in Plettenberg Bay you’ll find both fine dining and casual bites. Sky Villa Boutique Hotel is known for its chic setting and contemporary plates, while The Bungalow on Hobie Beach is a vibey spot for sushi with a sea view, loved by families, teens, and young adults alike.
Wine lovers will appreciate that Plettenberg Bay is South Africa’s smallest Wine of Origin region, producing crisp sauvignon blanc and elegant MCCs at boutique estates. For something stronger, gin enthusiasts can sample inventive small-batch infusions at Harmony Distillery near Mossel Bay, paired with a meal at Salt & Copper, while Inverroche Distillery in Still Bay is renowned for its award-winning gins infused with indigenous fynbos.
Beyond ziplining, beaches, and boat trips, you’ll find world-class golf courses set against spectacular backdrops, from Fancourt in George to Simola and Pezula in Knysna. Hikers and mountain bikers are equally spoiled, with trails winding through forests and along coastal tracks. Whether you come for fun-filled adventure activities, food, romance, or simply to soak up the scenery, the Garden Route offers a tapestry of experiences that are well worth exploring.
Happy travelling,
The Leopard Team
P.S. Watch our short YouTube video on South Africa to get a feel for the rest of the country, or contact us at info@leopard.voyage for assistance in designing your next African travel experience to be both seamless and meaningful, using our intimate destination knowledge.
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