One of the most beautiful places in South Africa, the Garden Route runs for 300 km (190 mi) along the coastline from Mossel Bay to the mouth of the Storms River. However, many start their journey from Cape Town, as part of their vacation in the city. Along the way, visitors can stop off at the pretty towns along the coast while heading through outstanding natural beauty all the way. Meanwhile, it is named the Garden Route for the beautiful forests along the way and its idyllic beaches. While there are many places to visit, here we concentrate on three towns along the route.

Start the Garden Route in Mossel Bay, Western Cape, South Africa

The official start of South Africa’s Garden Route, Mossel Bay lies on the Indian Ocean coast. It has an interesting history as the town was founded after the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias sailed into the bay in 1488. While  Dias named the bay “Aguada de São Brás” a Dutch navigator named Paulus van Caerden renamed it in 1601 to Mosselbaai (Dutch), which translates to an English version, Mossel Bay.

According to the town’s official website, Mossel Bay offers 300 sunny days each year and has a very moderate climate. Meanwhile, the seaside town features 24 km (15 m) of sandy beaches, offering all the usual water sports. Other popular activities here are whale watching and shark cage diving for the brave. Moreover, the area has plenty of golf courses and access to game reserves.

Visit Wilderness

The next major town on the Garden Route is Wilderness, which might conjure up scenes of wild beaches and unspoiled countryside. However, it is actually a pretty town, set in a beautiful location. Wilderness is backed by forested hills, with wetlands leading to the coastal dunes, which overlook an idyllic white-sand beach. When visiting at the perfect time, it is sometimes possible to watch the dolphins and whales playing off the shore.

Moreover, the Wilderness National Park is worth a visit, with its meandering waterways. The best way to explore is in a rented canoe and along the way, birders can find well-placed bird hides to spot the local species.

Knysna on the Garden Route

Further down the Garden Route is the friendly town of Knysna, which isn’t actually a beach location. However, the town is wrapped around a beautiful lagoon, with two rocky promontories, The Heads, standing guard on either side. This area is beautifully scenic offering spectacular landscapes over the Indian Ocean. While in Knysna, make time to visit the town’s private nature reserve.

The town itself features pretty Georgian and Victorian buildings and offers coffee shops, craft and souvenir shops and a selection of restaurants. To get more of an idea about what Knysna and the Garden Route have to offer, sit back and watch the video included below.

Bear in mind, this is a very brief introduction to the wonders of South Africa’s Garden Route. When traveling in the Western Cape, make sure you take time to explore this beautiful part of the country. Find out more on the official tourism website.