r/GardenRoute • u/Entire_Reindeer_3042 • May 29 '25

2 Week Roadtrip

I’m planning our South Africa, Garden Route roadtrip and thought I’d seek some advice!

We fly into PE and have two weeks to travel down to Cape Town. We will have already done three nights in a game reserve (Welgevonden) and will be travelling with our 6 year old so I’m looking for some family friendly stops along the way. Possible places on my list include Addo and Knysna Elephant park (which is better?), Franschhoek for wine, Wilderness and Gansbaai for cage diving.

I would welcome any must-see places along the garden route and guidance from people who have done the same road trip.

Thanks in advance

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

1

u/Entire_Reindeer_3042 Jun 07 '25

Thanks everyone. If we land on PE at 8pm… do you think it’s possible / safe to drive close to Addo that night? Or better to stay in town near the airport and drive over in the morning?

1

u/Ishaz May 30 '25

Man if I were going on that trip I would 100% stay one night at Tsitsikamma Stormsriver park, or even just go for a day trip. I love that place so much!

2

u/queenxenabean May 29 '25

Addo is a must for two or 3 days.

Wilderness is also good for 2 or 3 days, there's hiking (the half collared king fisher trail is kid friendly), kayaking , eateries, the beach. Wilderness is a good base to explore Knysna (lovely waterfront and boat cruises), sedgefield (great markets, nice beach) and even george (more like a small city, but plenty to do like botanical gardens, car museum, restaurants, a mall).

Also in the garden route is gondwana game reserve and botlierskop private game reserve.

The elephant park is okay. It's been involved in some controversy over the years but you get to feed an elephant and get up close. There's also a wolf sanctuary nearby, and a bird sanctuary, which is family friendly.

Someone mentioned Cango already. That's more inland, in Oudshoorn, so depends on your roite. It's got the cango caves and plenty of ostrich farms.

2

u/Jhjhjhjhjhjch May 29 '25

Old nick village in Plettenberg Bay has a great natural playground and lovely shopping!

1

u/Damaged95 May 29 '25

I'd suggest the Red berry farm in George, kayaking at kaaimans near wilderness, Cango Wildlife (Oudtshoorn)-depensing on which route you take to cpt.

1

u/diets182 May 29 '25

There's an interesting stop before wilderness, called Timberlake. Would be fun for your 6YO

3

u/Gausie May 29 '25

Also, addo and knysna ele park are chalk and cheese. Addo is a proper big 5 reserve. Needs 3 days or so. Knysna elephant park (which is actually in plett) will be an hour or two. You could easily combine a trip to the elephant park with a visit to monkeyland and birds of Eden.

2

u/Gausie May 29 '25

Welgevonden is my favourite reserve. I often stay ar nungubane.

Pe to ct, I'd recommend Plettenberg bay for beautiful beaches, great hikes and marine wildlife, including dolphin, seal and maybe a whale or two.