A Garden Route itinerary, with Plett in the middle
Five to seven days from Mossel Bay to Storms River, planned around the things that need a booking.
The route in one paragraph
The Garden Route runs for about 200 kilometres along South Africa’s south coast, from Mossel Bay to Storms River. Five to seven days lets you stop in Wilderness, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Tsitsikamma without rushing. Plettenberg Bay sits two thirds of the way along and deserves at least two nights.
| Leg | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Town to Mossel Bay | about 390 km | 4 to 4.5 hours |
| Mossel Bay to Wilderness | about 60 km | 45 minutes |
| Wilderness to Knysna | about 45 km | 40 minutes |
| Knysna to Plettenberg Bay | about 32 km | 30 minutes |
| Plettenberg Bay to Storms River Mouth | about 65 km | 1 hour |
| Storms River to Gqeberha | about 170 km | 2 hours |
Day by day
Day 1: Cape Town to Wilderness
The long drive. Break it in Swellendam or Mossel Bay and reach Wilderness for a walk on the beach before dark.
Day 2: Wilderness to Knysna
Paddle the Touw River or walk to the waterfall in the morning. Drive to Knysna for the lagoon, the Heads and oysters.
Day 3: Knysna to Plettenberg Bay
Half an hour on the N2. Stop at the Saturday Harkerville market if the day is right. Afternoon on the beach, sunset from Signal Hill.
Day 4: Seals and Robberg
Book the 10:00 seal swim from Central Beach. After lunch, walk the Witsand circuit in Robberg Nature Reserve and look down on the colony you swam beside.
Day 5: The Crags and Nature’s Valley
Birds of Eden and Monkeyland, lunch at a wine farm, and a swim in the lagoon at Nature’s Valley.
Day 6: Tsitsikamma
Bloukrans Bridge for the bungee or just the view, then the suspension bridges at Storms River Mouth. Stay in the park or drive back to Plett.
Day 7: Onwards
East to Gqeberha and Addo Elephant National Park, or back west along the coast.
Fitting in the seal swim
The swim takes about two and a half hours door to door, so it fits any day you wake up in Plett. Three things help:
- Book it for your first morning, so there is a spare day if the sea cancels.
- Check the season. Swims pause in June and July. The seal viewing trip runs all year.
- Book ahead in December, January and at Easter.
When to drive the Garden Route
It is a year-round route. Summer, from December to February, is warm and busy. Autumn and spring are mild and quieter. Winter is green, cool and the time for whales. See our month by month guide for the sea conditions in Plett.
Last checked 10 October 2026.
While you are in Plett
Ready to meet the seals?
Trips leave Central Beach at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 every day, weather permitting. Pick a date and we will have a wetsuit waiting.