In a nutshell
- In this article, we share everything you need to know about where to stay on the Garden Route — with our top hotel picks across all price ranges for every key town along the way.
- Our strongest recommendation: base yourself in Wilderness and Plettenberg Bay. Both towns are perfectly positioned for day trips to all the major Garden Route highlights.
- Traveling with kids? Our article Garden Route with Kids highlights the most family-friendly accommodation options along the route.
- Keen on a safari? We’ve also included our Top 3 Game Lodges at the end of this article — all with Big 5 sightings and game drives included.
Where to Stay on the Garden Route?
There are two ways to approach your Garden Route trip:
- Option 1: Multiple accommodations — move around frequently
- Option 2: As few accommodations as possible
Our personal recommendation is Option 2. We’d suggest booking one place to stay in Wilderness and the surrounding area, and a second in Plettenberg Bay.
These two towns are the ideal base for day trips to all the highlights along the Garden Route. You’ll never have to drive more than an hour to reach anything worth seeing.
If you have plenty of time and want to explore the lesser-known spots on the Garden Route too, Option 1 works great — just know you’ll spend more time packing and unpacking between stops. The upside is you’ll get a much deeper feel for the route.
Regardless of which approach you take, we’ve got the right hotel recommendations for you here. For each town, we’ll walk you through a selection of genuinely great places to stay across all price ranges.
Accommodations in Mossel Bay
If you’re coming from Cape Town, Mossel Bay is the starting point of the Garden Route. The city has a strong industrial character and isn’t exactly pretty, but it does have a few charming corners — like a historic lighthouse and the Dias Museum, which features a faithful replica of a 500-year-old ship.
An overnight stay in Mossel Bay is really only worth it if you want to explore every corner of the Garden Route. If you’d rather focus on the highlights, we’d suggest booking your first accommodation in Wilderness instead.
The selection of hotels in Mossel Bay is relatively limited — but compared to other towns along the route, prices are noticeably lower.
Our Hotel Tips in Mossel Bay
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
Accommodations in Wilderness
Wilderness is one of the most beautiful towns on the Garden Route. With only about 6,000 residents, it sits on a gorgeous beach surrounded by green hills — and the vibe is seriously relaxed.
It’s a perfect base for your South Africa trip to explore the area’s attractions, and there’s excellent hiking and canoeing right on your doorstep. We recommend staying two to four days here. The range of accommodation is excellent.
Our Hotel Tips in Wilderness
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
Accommodations in Knysna
Knysna is probably the most well-known stop on the Garden Route. It’s famous for its stunning lagoon, the many great restaurants along the waterfront, and an overall atmosphere that feels more European than anywhere else on the route.
If you want a few relaxed days with good food and boat trips through the lagoon, Knysna is a great choice.
Our Hotel Tips in Knysna
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
Accommodations in Plettenberg Bay
Plettenberg Bay is our personal favorite town on the Garden Route — and honestly, we think it’s the single best place to base yourself.
From here you can reach so many highlights in 45 minutes or less, including Tsitsikamma National Park, Bloukrans Bridge, Nature’s Valley, and Knysna. The beautiful Robberg Nature Reserve is right on the edge of town.
Plettenberg Bay appealed to us even more than Knysna. It has a younger, hipper feel overall, the restaurant scene is excellent, and there are some truly great hotels to choose from.
Our Hotel Tips in Plettenberg Bay
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
Accommodations in Jeffreys Bay
Jeffreys Bay sits at the far end of the Garden Route, between Tsitsikamma National Park and Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha).
The beach here is world-famous among surfers, and the whole town reflects that energy. Think classic surf-town vibes: cool bars, laid-back restaurants, and salt in the air.
If you want to wind down with a few relaxed days at the beach at the end of your Garden Route road trip before heading back via Route 62, this is a great spot for it. Just know that beyond the beach and surf scene, there isn’t a whole lot else going on.
Our Hotel Tips in Jeffreys Bay
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
Game Lodges on the Garden Route
Want to fit in a safari during your South Africa road trip? That’s absolutely possible along the Garden Route — even though there are no large national parks with wildlife in the area itself.
There are plenty of private game reserves where you can stay and go on game drives. At most of these lodges, you can spot the Big 5 (lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and buffalo).
The lodges are often stunning — and yes, they’re on the pricier side. Most rates include half board, and game drives are generally included too. Check out our article on the Top 10 Safari Lodges on the Garden Route for the full rundown.
These are our top 3 game lodges on the Garden Route:
Garden Route Game Lodge – a beautiful game reserve near Mossel Bay with tasteful bungalows. Game drives are included in the price and you can see the Big 5. Excellent value for money.
Gondwana Game Reserve – arguably the most luxurious game reserve on the Garden Route. Located near Mossel Bay, it offers every amenity and of course the Big 5. Full board and game drives are both included in the price.
Amakhala Game Reserve – this reserve is located at the other end of the Garden Route, near Port Elizabeth. The Big 5 can be spotted here too, and you can choose from a range of lodging options: from tents to lodge rooms with a pool.
