Cape Town to PE via R62 & Garden Route

Hi all,

I am sure you have read this post thousands of times. Please note I have done some homework, but please feel free to re-direct me to other posts.

My boyfriend and I are travelling to South Africa in late November for over three weeks. We are flying into JHB arriving at 11 am on Saturday 22nd. We have friends in JHB, so we will stay for a couple of days to relax and catch up with them. Off to Cape Town by plane on Monday 24th Nov in the afternoon.

Next milestone is the flight back from PE early afternoon on Sunday 4th of December. This means we basically have 9 full days and two half days to visit Cape Town, drive from there to PE through R62 and Garden Route, and spend the last evening in PE as we also have friends in PE and we would like to have dinner with them.

My homework and friend's recommendation tell me the town/places below are worth visiting, but we clearly don't have enough time to do everything. And i want to spend some time in Cape Town, as I have never been there (wonder boy has).

My question is: what towns are worth stopping by and which one are worth just driving through? My gut says the once in pink are amazing, but you guys are the expert.

Cape Town

↓ 113KM 113
Worcester via Toits Kloof Pass

↓ 48 KM 161
Robertson

↓ 28 KM 189
Montagu
↓ 63 KM 252
Barrydale

↓ 79 KM 331
Ladismith

↓ 51 KM 382
Calitzdorp

↓ 52 KM 434
Oudtshoorn

↓ 60 KM 494
George

↓ 12 KM 506
Victoria Bay

↓ 8.8 KM 514.8
Wilderness

↓ 23 KM 537.8
Sedgefield & Buffalo Bay

↓ 25 KM 562.8
Knysna

↓ 19 KM 581.8
Harkerville
↓ 13 KM 594.8
Plettenberg Bay
↓ 66 KM 660.8
Tsitsikamma
↓ 115 KM 775.8
Jeffrey's Bay

↓ 75 KM 850.8
Port Elizabeth

Look forward to hearing from you!

Ana & Andre

as you mention, not enough time to do it all. where you go depends on your interests and is up to you. my highlights are not necessarly your highlights. i would include at least 4 nights in cape town, this is one of the most amazing places on earth in my opinion.

AS above.

You need time for CT.and around (the Cape).I'd agree with at least 4 full days.

That leaves you a few days of stopovers on the way.

Which ones depend on you,your interests..what you like doing,and what you want to do in those places.For example if you like surfing J Bay would be a priority...if you don't,I wouldn't bother with it......

Based on MY interests (and i haven't been to all of those,but most of them yes)...I'd go to Oudtshoorn,Wilderness and maybe Tsitsikamma.

BTW nothing is in pink,on my screen anyway ;-)

For variety, I would do stops in:
Winelands (Robertson or maybe even Montagu)
Beach/Garden Route (Wilderness or for better surf Vic Bay)
Forest (Tsitsikamma)

Agree Cape Town 4 days, you might be lucky with whales still being around. You must take advantage of good weather & get up Table Mountain before the tablecloth (clouds) sets in. That leaves 5 days only to get to PE, 2 nights Oudtshoorn, 2 nights Knysna or Plett not both, 1 night Tsitsikamma. PE is about 2 hours from here but you have no time to visit Addo !!! a must if in the area in my book or you may forever regret it.

Garden Route is definitely more scenic than the R62. My wife and I recently did a road trip down the R62 from Cape Town to Calitzdorp ; if you're interested, the story and photos can be found here. Enjoy!

nathalie2, lucapal, ghalied, braaiseason & pkilfoil: a big thanks for your input.

This is where we are: we will stay for three nights in Cape Town and then spend the third night in Robertson/Montagu/Stellenbosch or somewhere in the vineyards. This will give us the opportunity to be in Cape Town an evening, two full days and most of another day before we head off to the vineyards.

And then a little bit of mountain (Oudtshoorn), a little bit of beach to enjoy the beach and eat seafood. It seems Tsitsikamma is amazing and i wouldn't want to miss Addo, but we will be 4 days or so in Kruger, is it worth visiting both? Are they completely different?

I wonder if it would be worth extending our visit for a couple more days.

My boyfriend doesn't drink alcohol so is there any foodie tasting you would recommend? I read somewhere the wineyards are also good for cheese. I even read something about olive oil tasting.

Regards,

Ana & Andre

I'd say Kruger is far more interesting than Addo.Unless you absolutely love elephants (though there are plenty in Kruger as well).

I'd also take the extra days,if you can..there is MORE than enough to fill them in South Africa ;-)

With the introduction that I prefer nature to cities? I'd put Tsitsikamma high on this list; the coastline and forest there were beautiful. We stayed in one of their park cabins (which was very nice) and the camping looked good too.

Ive also very much enjoyed Addo on both visits. It's pretty neat to drive around in your own vehicle and be able to get quite close to the Elephants. (Park by a watering spot, and they several times tromped by very close to us.) Also saw lots of antelope, water buff, monkey, and a black rhino. The rondavals (spelling?) there were very nice. Not fancy, but spacious and clean. Our porch overlooked the watering hole, and each evening we drank gin and tonics while the herds came to water. It was super.

Knysna was a really nice town to visit too. Good shops, restaurants, etc.

Enjoy your visit!