These towns fall along the N2 from Cape Town to Gqberha, and while not all considered to be part of the official South African Garden Route, they are often combined as stops on many Garden Route itineraries.

Hermanus
At a glance: Seaside resort town known as a premiere destination for whale watching from July – October
Distance from Cape Town: 138 km, via the coastal route (86 miles)
Driving time from Cape Town: ~2 hours
Recommended days: 1 day
Just about 2 hours east of Cape Town if you’re following the coastal route (highly recommended!), Hermanus makes a great stop on your way to the official Garden Route. This seaside resort town is a world-famous destination for whale watching as a breeding ground for southern right whales. Despite its popularity, the town has widely maintained the charm of a once-humble fishing village.

If whale watching, wine tasting and beaches sound good to you, you won’t want to skip this stop!

L’Agulhas

At a glance: A coastal resort town located on the southernmost tip of Africa on the mainland
Distance from Hermanus: 127 km (79 miles)
Driving time from Hermanus: 1 hour 45 minutes
Recommended days: 0-1 day
Ever wondered what it would be like to stand at the southernmost tip of Africa, knowing the entire continent is stretched out in front of you? A bucket list experience for many, a pilgrimage to L’Agulhas while making your way to the Garden Route is a fairly easy detour. The coastal holiday town isn’t very large, but there are still some fun activities to keep you busy for a day or two.

Mossel Bay
At a glance: The official start to the Garden Route, a sleepy coastal town with nice beaches and some cool things to do
Distance from Cape Town: 384 km (239 miles)
Driving time from Cape Town: 4 hours, 45 minutes
Recommended days: 1-2 days
A harbor town in the western Cape, Mossel Bay occupies the Cape St. Blaize Peninsula, which is known for its rocky shores to the south and the wide Santos Beach to the north. The 19th-century Cape St. Blaize Lighthouse sits at its point providing unparalleled views of the surrounding sea.

Oudtshoorn
At a glance: A town in the inland Klein Karoo area of the western Cape known for its ostrich farms and the Cango Caves system
Distance from Mossel Bay: 85 km (53 miles)
Driving time from Mossel Bay: 1 hour 15 minutes
Recommended days: 1-2 days
Situated inland in the Western Cape, Oudtshoorn (pronounced “oudt-shorn”) is known as the ostrich capital of South Africa because of the abundance of ostrich farms in the vicinity. Though you can no longer hop on the back of an ostrich for an adrenaline-pumping ride (we’re glad they are cracking down on animal tourism!) there are still lots of other things to do in this city that attract tourists.

Wilderness
At a glance: A small coastal town with a long wide stretch of beach, tons of hiking and outdoor-loving population
Distance from Mossel Bay: 59 km (37 miles)
Driving time from Mossel Bay: 45 minutes
Recommended days: 1-2 days
The perfect combination of back-to-nature tranquility and adrenaline-pumping fun, you won’t want to skip this stop on the South African Garden Route. Wilderness has lush green mountains, an expansive stretch of beach, plenty of waterways and all the charm of a small town with a population as excited about the outdoors as the visitors passing through.

Knysna
At a glance: Most-visited stop along the Garden Route, Knysna features an island-dotted lagoon making it perfect for water sports and outdoor activities
Distance from Wilderness: 47 km (29 miles)
Driving time from Wilderness: 40 minutes
Recommended days: 2-3+ days
As the most well-known and developed coastal town on the Garden Route, Knysna is usually the highlight of most itineraries. The popular town is full all year round with vacationers, transplanted retirees and locals. The vibe here feels upscale and relaxed at the same time and you really get the feeling of a beach holiday here.

Plettenberg Bay
At a glance: A seaside town adjacent to the Robberg Nature Preserve peninsula with lots to do and explore
Distance from Cape Town: 32 km (20 miles)
Driving time from Cape Town: 30 minutes
Recommended days: 2-3 days
My personal favorite stop along the South African Garden Route, Plettenberg Bay (or “Plett” for short) is a beautiful holiday town with great beaches and incredible nature. A popular holiday spot for South Africans to vacation, this makes a great homebase to explore more of the Garden Route adventures. You could easily spend an entire week here and still find things to do!

Storms River
At a glance: Technically the last stop on the official Garden Route and nearest town to Tsitsikamma National Park
Distance from Plettenberg Bay: 65 km (40 miles)
Driving time from Plettenberg Bay: 45 minutes
Recommended days: 1-2 days
While Storms River is technically the last stop on the official South African Garden Route, there really isn’t much to do or see in this tiny town. The real highlight is the surrounding nature and jagged coastline of Tsitsikamma National Park.

Its name means “the place of much water” and it’s no wonder because the Tsitsikamma National Park stretched 5km out to sea protecting the reef and sea life such as visiting dolphins and southern right whales as well as the Cape Clawless Otter that makes its home on the shore.
On land, the park stretches over kilometers of temperate high forest where ancient rivers carve through on their way to the ocean. The Storms River Mouth is at the heart of it all and a must-visit for adventure-seekers.

Jeffreys Bay
At a glance: A laid back surf town and mecca of sorts for surfers due to its right-hand point break
Distance from Storms River: 99 km (62 miles)
Driving time from Storms River: 1 hour
Recommended days: 1-2 days
Though not considered part of the official South African Garden Route, Jeffreys Bay or “J Bay” as the locals call it, is a cool enough town on the Southern coast to make it on some Garden Route itineraries.

Surfers flock here as a sort of pilgrimage because Jeffreys Bay has some world-class surf breaks that offer great waves for beginners all the way up to die hard surfers. The town, which can be described as a much larger version of Muizenberg, has a laid back vibe and it’s not uncommon to see barefeet and sun-bleached heads everywhere you go.