A Bush and Beach Holiday
I recently headed from Cape Town to the Garden Route to film the lodges and safaris on offer in this part of southern Africa.
Flying from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth is definitely the best way to go. Once in PE, the lodges are all very close together and easily accessible. Pick up a hire car at the PE airport and let your road trip begin. The Garden Route is a great self-drive destination, with excellent and easily navigable roads, not to mention spectacular scenery.
I took my girlfriend along for company and we started with the Kichaka Private Game Lodge, moving on to Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Shamwari Game Reserve, Kariega Game Reserve and, lastly, the Hlosi Game Lodge.
Rain falls in summer on the Garden Route, not winter. Summers are hot, while the winters are drier and cooler, with cold nights that are perfect for cuddling in front of the fireplace with a glass of red wine. The climate can be temperamental though, as it was when I visited. The area had experienced unseasonal rains and so the vegetation was lush, green and beautiful with wild flowers everywhere.
Compared to the Kruger, this region has more open plains and it shares some vegetation with the Karoo since the areas are close together. This means the landscape is better suited to plains game including numerous antelope species, such as eland and springbok, which are more abundant here than in the Kruger. It’s also a better destination to see cheetah as they love the generous open spaces. There aren’t, however, wild dog in the Garden Route reserves as the reserves are too small in size for these animals.
Watch the video here:
About Garden Route Safaris
The Garden Route and surrounds are now home to some of South Africa’s most prestigious safari lodges and game reserves. They’re not really in one location along the Garden Route, but are scattered along it. We often refer to the game reserves and lodges in this area as the Garden Route Safaris or Eastern Cape Safaris. The border between the two South African provinces of the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape lies mid-way along the Garden Route. So in reality some of the reserves are in the Western Cape but most lie close to Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape at the Eastern end of the Garden Route. Lodges at the Western end of the Garden Route include Sanbona and Gondwana which can be driven to from Cape Town.
The Garden Route Safari lodges are popular as they offer the closest ‘real safari’ experience to Cape Town and are in malaria-free areas. An easy combination of beach and bush. The Garden Route game reserves are becoming increasingly popular because of the incredible diversity, numerous activities and child friendly nature of the destination.
Another bonus about going on safari along the Garden Route is that you can combine it with a trip to the coast and spot not only the Big 5 but also the Marine 5.
After being driven around the Kruger National Park and being spoiled with charter flights (tough life!), driving myself was a bit of change. But it was a nice change – it’s liberating having your own car and offers a greater degree of flexibility. The Garden Route is a great area in which to meander and stop off at numerous farms stalls and viewing points. I’m a pretty bad navigator but even I struggled to get lost here.
After spending some time in the Sabi Sand at incredible lodges such as Singita, and Londolozi, I didn’t know what to expect, but I must say that I was really impressed with the lodges and staff – they all far exceeded my expectations. People tend to stick to the Kruger but these lodges definitely offer something special and unique. If you have the time it’s really worth doing a Kruger Safari as well as a Garden Route Safari. Combining the trip offers the best of both worlds and an ultimate safari experience.
I did however get to see the Big 5, no problemo! But for those wanting to see leopard I would definitely recommend the Sabi Sand.
Highlights
- Getting to experience it with my girlfriend since, as Rhino Africa videographer, I usually travel alone
- Great game viewing and getting to spot a rare Serval
- Following a group of lion cubs and a lioness for two and a half hours at Kwandwe – we were totally riveted watching them play
- The Garden Route is bustling with activities, with spectacular beaches everywhere
- Malaria free
For more information about the Garden Route and the safaris and coastal activities available in this part of South Africa, talk to one of our travel experts. Also explore the Garden Route section on our website.