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20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit the Garden Route

20 photos to inspire you to visit the garden route

Emily Moon River Lodge, Plettenberg Bay

Thesen Island, Knysna

forest in the garden route

Lemurs at Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary

Plettenberg Bay

Kayaking in the Wilderness

Jeffrey's Bay

jam

Plettenberg Bay

Birds of Eden Sanctuary in Nature's Valley

Emily Moon River Lodge

Jeffrey's Bay

Exploring Thesen Island in Knysna

Knysna Lofts

Wilderness

Plettenberg Bay

food in the garden routeemily moon bar

Hermanus

Knysna

The Garden Route in South Africa has been at the top of my bucket list since I moved to Cape Town two years ago. Located on the country’s East Coast, it’s famous around the world for its lush forests, rugged coastline, and incredible wildlife viewing.

During my first Garden Route road trip with my parents, we drove up from Cape Town and up to Jeffrey’s Bay. Along the way, we stopped in Hermanus, L’Agulhas (I got to stand at the southernmost tip of Africa!), and the Wilderness.

We went on a canoe and waterfall trip, hiked the Giant Kingfisher Waterfall Trail and stopped for lunch at the Timberlake Farm Village.

Next, my parents and I spent a few nights in Knysna on the beautiful Thesen Island. I had some of the best farm-to-table meals, rented a bike to explore the island and watched the sunset at East Knysna Heads.

The last part of our trip was a bit of a splurge. We spent the night at the luxurious Emily Moon River Lodge in Plettenberg Bay.

I highly recommend coming to the hotel’s onsite restaurant for lunch and dinner if you have time – the views are incredible!

We ended off our trip by camping at Wild Bush Camp in Nature’s Valley and spent two nights in Jeffrey’s Bay before driving back to Cape Town. It was an incredible trip, and the region definitely lived up to its name as one of the top road trips in South Africa!

I can’t wait to come back and explore more of the Garden Route!

Read More: The Ultimate Garden Route Road Trip Itinerary

Is the Garden Route in South Africa on your bucket list? Let me know in the comments below!

 

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    1. Aleem Khan

      thanks for sharing this article.

      April 29, 2019 at 12:43 pm · Reply
    2. Ashlea

      WOW! We’re planning a South Africa garden route trip, and now I must stay at Emily Moon River Lodge. That photo and the views look incredible!

      May 1, 2019 at 12:32 pm · Reply

    Instagram

    Pinching myself ❄️
    •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
    Did anyone else catch the dusting of snow in the Cotswolds?! I couldn’t believe my eyes!

    We had a week of perfect sunny weather with only one afternoon of rain (also so unexpected for November!) and, on my last morning in Bibury, I woke up to this incredible scene!
    •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
    #cotswolds #winter #snow #fairytale

    1727 66
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    Pinching myself ❄️ ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Did anyone else catch the dusting of snow in the Cotswolds?! I couldn’t believe my eyes! We had a week of perfect sunny weather with only one afternoon of rain (also so unexpected for November!) and, on my last morning in Bibury, I woke up to this incredible scene! ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• #cotswolds #winter #snow #fairytale

    Welcome to day 8 and the finale of my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) series autumn 🍂🍁 🚗

    Be sure to save this post for all the best Boston has to offer!
    •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
    After a leisurely breakfast and 2 hour drive from @trappfamilylodge, we concluded our 10-day road trip with a couple of days in the historic town of Boston—staying at the @fsboston!

    This hotel treats kids like royalty, with lots of luxury for adults too (full review coming soon)!

    If you find yourself visiting Boston in the Fall with a little one, here are some must-sees:

    - @bostonducktours
    - @museumofscience
    - @campstores x Bluey (ending soon)
    - Public Garden
    - Beacon Hill
    - Tadpole Playground
    - @bplboston
    - Childrens Wharf Harborwalk
    - @bostonteapartyships
    - @rosekennedygreenway
    - Commonwealth Avenue Mall
    - Esplanade Playground
    - Charles River Esplanade

    And for the foodies, you know I got you covered!

    - @tattebakery
    - @saltiegirl
    - @faneuilhallmarketplace
    - @maproom_lounge
    - @bovasbakery
    - @bostonpublicmarket
    - @parishcafe
    - Quincy Market
    - Legal Sea Foods - Burlington Mall

    After traveling around New Hampshire and Vermont, it was nice to get a glimpse of this bustling and historic city.

    If you’ve made it this far, thanks for joining us on our epic autumn road trip! Be sure to follow along for more adventures! There’s plenty of tips and tricks to come this Fall season!
    •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
    @meetbostonusa @visitma
    #visitmassachusetts #boston #newengland #fallroadtrip

    646 19
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    Welcome to day 8 and the finale of my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) series autumn 🍂🍁 🚗 Be sure to save this post for all the best Boston has to offer! ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• After a leisurely breakfast and 2 hour drive from @trappfamilylodge, we concluded our 10-day road trip with a couple of days in the historic town of Boston—staying at the @fsboston! This hotel treats kids like royalty, with lots of luxury for adults too (full review coming soon)! If you find yourself visiting Boston in the Fall with a little one, here are some must-sees: - @bostonducktours - @museumofscience - @campstores x Bluey (ending soon) - Public Garden - Beacon Hill - Tadpole Playground - @bplboston - Childrens Wharf Harborwalk - @bostonteapartyships - @rosekennedygreenway - Commonwealth Avenue Mall - Esplanade Playground - Charles River Esplanade And for the foodies, you know I got you covered! - @tattebakery - @saltiegirl - @faneuilhallmarketplace - @maproom_lounge - @bovasbakery - @bostonpublicmarket - @parishcafe - Quincy Market - Legal Sea Foods - Burlington Mall After traveling around New Hampshire and Vermont, it was nice to get a glimpse of this bustling and historic city. If you’ve made it this far, thanks for joining us on our epic autumn road trip! Be sure to follow along for more adventures! There’s plenty of tips and tricks to come this Fall season! ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• @meetbostonusa @visitma #visitmassachusetts #boston #newengland #fallroadtrip

    🎶 The hills are alive with the sound of music 🎶
    ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
    Love the Sound of Music? What if I told you that you can visit the real Von Trapp family’s lodge from the famed musical starring Julie Andrews in the quiet town of Stowe, Vermont?

    Day 7 of my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) started the day by driving through Smuggler’s Notch—it’s a short and super windy drive through a mountain pass that’s seriously beautiful.

    Helpful Tip: Get started on the drive as easy as possible. Traffic is notorious during foliage season so we hit the road at 7am and had it to ourselves!

    We then spent the entire day exploring nature trails and hanging with animals at @trappfamilylodge, an Austrian-inspired mountain lodge with 300 acres of farmland in the middle of Stowe.

    The Von Trapps, made famous from the movie The Sound of Music, fled Austria during WWII and ultimately landed in Stowe, VT where their hospitality lives on today. Did you know the Sound of Music is one of the top 10 highest-grossing films of all time??

    Had we had a little more time, we also would have added:

    🥾 Moss Glen Falls
    ⛪️ Stowe Community Church
    🍻 @alch3mistb33r
    ☕️ @blackcapvermont
    🥞 @butlers_pantry_stowe

    We did manage to catch a glimpse of the famed Stowe Community Church from afar, but any closer meant fighting traffic and huge crowds.

    Come back for day 8 and the final video of the series as we explore the beautiful and family-friendly parts of Boston!
    ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
    @vermonttourism @visitnew_england
    #vermont #newenglandroadtrip #stowevermont

    736 11
    Open
    🎶 The hills are alive with the sound of music 🎶 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Love the Sound of Music? What if I told you that you can visit the real Von Trapp family’s lodge from the famed musical starring Julie Andrews in the quiet town of Stowe, Vermont? Day 7 of my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) started the day by driving through Smuggler’s Notch—it’s a short and super windy drive through a mountain pass that’s seriously beautiful. Helpful Tip: Get started on the drive as easy as possible. Traffic is notorious during foliage season so we hit the road at 7am and had it to ourselves! We then spent the entire day exploring nature trails and hanging with animals at @trappfamilylodge, an Austrian-inspired mountain lodge with 300 acres of farmland in the middle of Stowe. The Von Trapps, made famous from the movie The Sound of Music, fled Austria during WWII and ultimately landed in Stowe, VT where their hospitality lives on today. Did you know the Sound of Music is one of the top 10 highest-grossing films of all time?? Had we had a little more time, we also would have added: 🥾 Moss Glen Falls ⛪️ Stowe Community Church 🍻 @alch3mistb33r ☕️ @blackcapvermont 🥞 @butlers_pantry_stowe We did manage to catch a glimpse of the famed Stowe Community Church from afar, but any closer meant fighting traffic and huge crowds. Come back for day 8 and the final video of the series as we explore the beautiful and family-friendly parts of Boston! •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• @vermonttourism @visitnew_england #vermont #newenglandroadtrip #stowevermont

    Arguably the MOST “autumnal” day of the trip: 🍎 🍂 🍩
    •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
    Welcome back to my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) series! We’re over halfway through our road trip on Day 6 and this was the perfect day of all things autumn.

    After a slow morning leaving @woodstock.inn, we were on our way to the famous town of Stowe, Vermont!

    I had originally created a jam-packed itinerary, but traveling with a toddler can definitely call for some readjusting and going with the flow. We made 2 of the stops I had planned:

    🍎🌳 Hunger Mountain Orchard
    🍎🍩 @coldhollowcidermillvt

    If we had a little more time, a lot of people add the 🍦 @benandjerrys factory tour on this day.

    We ended our day by checking into the @trappfamilylodge —owned by the real family from the Sound of Music where we enjoyed the lodge and property before dinner and bedtime.

    Be sure to come back for Day 7 with more on this amazing property and all the furry friends that live here!
    •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
    @vermonttourism @visitnew_england
    #vermont #newenglandroadtrip #stowevermont

    581 26
    Open
    Arguably the MOST “autumnal” day of the trip: 🍎 🍂 🍩 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Welcome back to my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) series! We’re over halfway through our road trip on Day 6 and this was the perfect day of all things autumn. After a slow morning leaving @woodstock.inn, we were on our way to the famous town of Stowe, Vermont! I had originally created a jam-packed itinerary, but traveling with a toddler can definitely call for some readjusting and going with the flow. We made 2 of the stops I had planned: 🍎🌳 Hunger Mountain Orchard 🍎🍩 @coldhollowcidermillvt If we had a little more time, a lot of people add the 🍦 @benandjerrys factory tour on this day. We ended our day by checking into the @trappfamilylodge —owned by the real family from the Sound of Music where we enjoyed the lodge and property before dinner and bedtime. Be sure to come back for Day 7 with more on this amazing property and all the furry friends that live here! ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• @vermonttourism @visitnew_england #vermont #newenglandroadtrip #stowevermont
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