Driving the Must-See Southern South Africa Coastline

Last Updated on February 13, 2024 by Travelationship

We love a great road trip. The freedom to come and go as we please and the idea that one road may lead us to crazy, unexpected adventures fuels us to road trip whenever possible. When in South Africa, renting a car and driving the southern coastline between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth is an absolute must.

Not only will you gasp at the views along the famous Garden Route, but you will be amazed by all the little stops along the way. I have taken quite a few road trips in my lifetime all over the US, through the hills of Rwanda and down the west coast of Italy, to name a few, but the South coast of South Africa has to be my favorite.

South Africa Map - Thank You Google Maps
Southern South Africa Coast. Our Route from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town is 1065 km (662 miles)

There are so many places to stop and see along the drive it would be nearly impossible to name them all. Instead, here are a few of our can’t-miss locations.

Cape Recife

We initially headed to the Cape Recife area for a simple lunch and maybe a glimpse of the ocean, but nothing extravagant. We quickly learned this was not the expected trip as we turned off Marine Drive to head toward Cape Recife Nature Reserve. Looking up, we noticed we were being followed by vervet monkeys racing down the power lines. Upon approaching Pine Lodge Resort, we observed tons of different birds flying around, and they were also hanging out with the monkeys in the trees and power lines.

We kept driving into the nature reserve and eventually stopped to walk along the beach. Unfortunately, we did not note the particular beach’s name, but it was located between the Pine Lodge Resort and the end of the reserve. I loved this area and would highly recommend it because of the seashells on the shoreline.

I have never been on a beach with many intact, gorgeous seashells. The colors of the shells and the sheer volume kept us there, wandering, oohing, and ahhing for hours.

Check here for more information about Cape Recife in Port Elizabeth.

Crazy Red Shell on Cape Recife
Crazy Red Shell on Cape Recife
Sea Shell on Beach Close-up
Another of the Many Beautiful Shells on Cape Recife
A Vervet Monkey in a Tree
A Vervet Monkey Who Kept an Eye on Us While We Ate

The Garden Route

The Garden Route is a famous stretch of the southeastern coastline between the towns of Mossel Bay, located on the Western Cape, and Storms River, situated on the Eastern Cape. Named for its abundant and diverse terrain of greenery, lakes, lagoons, Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma Mountain ranges, and the Indian Ocean.

The GR is home to 10 nature reserves, several marine reserves, and thousands of flora, fauna, and animal species. Don’t be scared to divert your route from the main N2 freeway and explore one of the many side roads leading you into the beauty’s heart. Check here for more details and ideas regarding the GR.

A Fence with Rocks and a Mountain Peak in the Background
Part of the Endless Scenery Along the Garden Route

Addo Elephant Park

North of Port Elizabeth, you will find Addo Elephant Park. The park isn’t just an elephant park; it’s an entire Big Five safari destination. We loved our experience at Addo and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a self-guided safari tour. The park offers all levels of guided tours and accommodations at very reasonable prices.

There are a few different elephant parks or safari-type options along the southern coastline of ZA. We chose Addo because it maintains the most natural living experience for its animals. Although walking with an elephant or a cheetah would be fantastic, we felt those locations were more zoo-like, which we did not want to experience.

Addo was perfect for us, and we quickly spotted all the Big Five within our day and a half there. Check here for more information about Addo Elephant Park.

Read more about our Addo Elephant Park experience here.

Lone Elephant
Our First Elephant in the Park
Small Heard of Elephants
Using a little mud to deter the bugs and keep cool at Addo Elephant Park

Jeffreys Bay

We had difficulty getting to Jeffreys Bay, but it was worth every death-defying second. Anyone looking for a proper surfer beach-type holiday would be in heaven in JB. The locals are friendly, and the small-town vibe is welcoming.

We felt right at home during our stay in JB. We can’t wait to return to try more water activities and relax on the beach. Check here for more information regarding Jeffreys Bay activities and accommodations.

Read more about our Jeffreys Bay experience here.

Guy Surfing
Riding the Surf at Jeffreys Bay
Seashells
A Closer Look at Some of the Seashells on Jeffreys Bay

Storms River / Otter Trail / Tsitsikamma National Park

Located on the east side of the Garden Route, this area is to die for – literally! There is so much to do in this area, and the views are breathtaking in every direction you look. If you love the outdoors, hiking, biking, adventure, water activities, camping, and much more, this is the perfect place to hang out for a day or more.

Storms River is located in the heart of the Tsitsikamma National Park and is also a starting/ending point for the challenging Otter Trail hike. We would love to return and hike more or even the Otter Trail. We recommend camping or a cabin stay at Storms River Mouth Rest Camp if you are in the area. Check here for more information about the Otter Trail. Check here for more details regarding the Storms River Mouth Rest Camp.

Read more about our time in and around the Tsitsikamma National Park here and here.

Suspension Bridge Over a River
Suspension Bridge Over Storms River
Rocky Ocean View
View of the Indian Ocean from the Otter Trail

Gansbaai

Gansbaai is known as the White Shark capital of South Africa. We participated in a white shark cage dive with White Shark Diving Company. We arrived in Gansbaai 1 day after a 3-day storm and were treated to a bright blue cloudless morning of 9 different white sharks. The experience left us relaxed and in awe of these incredible, massive creatures.

If white sharks are not your thing, Gansbaai is famous for its Southern Right Whale-watching tours.

Read more about our Gansbaai White Shark Dive experience here.

Great White Shark
White Shark off of Gansbaai
Small Town Viewed from the Ocean
View of Gansbaai

Cape of Good Hope

The name alone makes it worthy of a visit, but who wants to pass on a chance to stand at the most southwestern point of an entire continent? The wind can be crazy and the water a little rough, but that is old hat for an area previously known by sailors as the Cape of Storms.

Cape of Good Hope Sign
Driving the Must-See Southern South Africa Coastline

Travelationship Rating:

5 out of 5 Travelationship High Fives. This is a dream trip. We recommend planning for seven days or longer. Of course, it can be done in less, but you will miss out on so much if you rush through it. We did it in 5 days and had one of our best trips to date, but we feel missed quite a bit. We are already in the works of planning a return trip.

South Africa - Shadow of Two People on the Beach
“Love Shadow” Cape Recife

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2 thoughts on “Driving the Must-See Southern South Africa Coastline”

  1. The South African coast line is so pretty and I can read you really enjoyed it. Your photos look stunning as well. As you say it’s a must see coast line 🙂

    Reply

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