The Garden Route

The Garden Route is a popular stretch of the south-eastern coast of South Africa. It stretches from Heidelberg in the Western Cape to the Storms River which is crossed along the N2 coastal highway over the Paul Sauer Bridge in the extreme western reach of the neighbouring Eastern Cape.

The Robberg Beach Lodge , in Plettenberg Bay, sits at the heart of this remarkable stretch of coastline.  Set right on Robberg Beach, The Robberg Beach Lodge is the perfect base from which to explore the diverse natural, cultural and culinary experiences that the Garden Route offers.   

The name comes from the verdant and ecologically diverse vegetation encountered here and the numerous lagoons and lakes dotted along the coast. It includes towns such as Mossel Bay, Knysna, Oudtshoorn, Plettenberg Bay and Nature's Valley; with George, the Garden Route's largest city and main administrative centre.

It has an oceanic climate, with mild to warm summers, and mild to cool winters. It has the mildest climate in South Africa and the second mildest climate in the world, after Hawaii, according to the Guinness Book of Records.

Temperatures rarely fall below 10°C in winter and rarely climb beyond 28°C in summer. Rain occurs year-round, with a slight peak in the spring months, brought by the humid sea-winds from the Indian Ocean rising and releasing their precipitation along the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma Mountains just inland of the coast.

The Garden Route also offers a great variety of activities for adventurers, adrenalin junkies and families alike.  From golf to whale watching, Monkeyland to Birds of Eden, walking with elephants to wine tasting, the Garden Route is rich with experiences to suit every kind of itinerary.