South Africa’s Garden Route Itinerary.

The story behind this post office tree is that a sailor from the 1500-1600’s left a letter in a tin or shoe and placed it near the tree; it was discovered by another sailor around a year later and this this informal exchange became the a post-office system of some sort in South Africa. From then on, seagoing sailors would leave notes and hang it here. Note that the post-office tree is shaped like a boot near the milkwood tree. You can’t miss it as there are pathways to it along with signs!

Here’s a 10-second video I posted on Instagram when I mailed my postcard.

Alternatively you can mail it from the Giant Mail Box located in the gardens of the Protea Hotel and Café Gannet (which is located right next to the museum). As the name implies, the massive mail box is… bigger than your normal mail box but conveniently a ladder is provided to climb and post your letter/mail! Similar to the “Post Office Tree”, any letters or postcards are marked with a special stamp!

Pro Tip! If you’re planning to mail a postcard/letter from The Post Office Tree or the Giant Mail Box, it’s best to come with your own postcard and prepaid stamp! I don’t recall anywhere that sold stamps, although there is a small souvenir shop inside the museum where you can buy postcards

Feeling hungry from the drive? A quick delightful lunch / rest stop can be enjoyed at Kaai 4 Braai Restaurant, a short drive away from the Bartholomeu Dias Museum, an inexpensive, harbour-side restaurant featuring freshly caught catch of the day cooked in the traditional South Africa braai (bbq/grilled) style. The food is decent and although not the most bang for your value kind of spot but the experience and views make up for it!

After a quick late lunch/early dinner, I continued my way to Knysna where I had booked a 3-days, 2-nights stay at the fabulous Orange Inn; Knsyna serves as an excellent base for my adventures since it’s conveniently a 30-50 minute drive each way to explore other popular Garden Route stops!

Day 2: Knysna to Tsitsikamma National Park

Hiking / Camping / Kayaking or blackwater tubing / Bungy-jumping Bloukrans Bridge

A day is the minimum time you should spend at Tsitsikamma National Park – SANParks (South Africa National Parks) does an excellent job at managing their various national parks and it is possible to book accommodations on-site (camping or self-catering chalets) if you want to spend some time exploring which is highly recommended! I didn’t and felt that although 1 day was enough time, I would have loved to do more hiking and exploring!

Tsitsikamma National Park was the highlight of my Garden Route trip – lots of activities to be enjoyed from hiking, camping, kayaking, blackwater tubing, horse-riding, abseiling and more! You really cannot be bored here and given how many activities there are to enjoy, you’ll want to consider booking ahead of time given the cap.

Things to do in Tsitsikamma National Park

1. Hiking the Mouth Trail to the Tsitsikamma National Park Suspension Bridge (2km – 1 hour) – the bridge is a popular photography spot and hangs over the Storms River Mouth before it flows into the Indian Ocean. Why is it so popular? It hangs just 7 metres above the surface of the water, so prepared to get wet!
2. Blackwater Tubing (3 hours): If you think the suspension bridge is the closest you’ll get to experience the Storms River Mouth, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that tubing or kayaking are great alternatives to get really wet! Kayaking with Untouched Adventures will take you to caves, cliffs, and ancient indigenous forests over a 2-3 hour trip. Great and popular for the young and old alike!
3. Kayaking (2-3 hours): An alternative is tubing with Tube n Axe for those who wants a different kind of water-based experience
4. Segway tour: for a more relaxed experience, you can check out the Tsitsikamma Segway Tour which takes you to various spots on a segway scooter. Tours are typically 1-2 hours long.
5. Horse-riding with Kurland Park: Another unforgettable alternative for those looking to experience the park and its surrounding on horseback. There are several options to choose from including carriage tours and mountain/forest rides in addition to children-friendly lessons
6. Hiking the Otter Trail (45km, 5 days): anyone serious about hiking might want to consider hiking the popular Otter Trail. It will set you back up to 5 days due to its distance but you will be rewarded by some of the finest sights the country has to offer. SANParks requires hikers interested in hiking the trail to sign a waiver form and watch a training/safety video as well as bringing their own first-aid, and cooking/emergency equipment. Resting huts are located all over the trail and a “check out” certificate is issued at the De Vasselot Rest Camp.
7. Bungy-jump off Bloukrans Bridge: absolutely not for the faint-hearted, bungy-jumping is an adrenaline-pumping activity you can take a short drive away from the park. FaceAdrenaline operates the popular jumping activity spot. Booking ahead is highly advisable and for those not interested in the activity, there’s a viewing spot with a restaurant you can visit and “people-watch” those brave enough to do the jump.

Day 3: Exploring Knysna

Visiting the Knysna Heads Viewpoint / Knysna Heads, Relaxing at Knysna Quays

After an adrenaline-filled day at Storms River, I opted for a much more relaxing day exploring Knysna. Not a massive area by any means, and a lot of things can be squeezed in one day. I opted to start my day visiting the Knysna Heads Eastern Viewpoint where you can get a stunning panoramic view of the world-famous Knysna lagoon on one side, and the lagoon flowing into the ocean on the other.

There is very few parking here which is why I opted to visit the spot first thing in the morning. The trail is very easily done and if you really want to, you can also take a boat ride and enjoy the lagoon in a boat. From my vantage view, the churning of the water made my stomach queasy so I opted to enjoy it from the trail.

A can’t miss experience in Knysna is their oysters! I found myself at the 34 Degrees South twice during my visit, enjoying their oyster specials but also because they are a unique type of restaurant – complete with a tapas / sushi bar, as well as their own fish monger and grocery, this is the place to pick up some unique spice blends and souvenirs to bring home. As you will be sitting right next to the quay, this makes the perfect boat-watching spot as well.

There are plenty of less expensive restaurants and local shops at the Knysna Waterfront. I particularly enjoyed a spot called Sailor Sam (Opens on Google Maps as they don’t have a website). Great seafood options, cooked to your preference and a great bang for your bucks. You can pick up more Knsyna oysters here as well!

There is a Knysna Mall near the waterfront with grocery stores, banks and FX office if you need to pick up basics or if you need to exchange money (as I did when I ran out of cash for parking and small items!)

Day 4 (AM): Plettenberg Bay (Plett)

Surfing / Visiting the Robberg Nature Reserve & Birds of Eden Sanctuary

I didn’t spend too much time at Plettenberg Bay (Plett) which is a small harbour town between Knysna and Stormsriver but stopped by to have lunch and pick up some snacks from the grocery store. I would have loved to spend more time here as I hear impressive things about the town’s beaches and the awesome things you can do nearby from archery, paragliding, spas, and multitude of markets. If I had more time, I certainly will ensure I spend more time at Plett!

Things to do in Plettenberg Bay

1. Exploring the Robberg Nature Reserve: Part of the Garden Route, the reserve is a beloved, picturesque stop if you haven’t gotten your fill from Tsitsikamma! There are several hiking trails you can enjoy
2. Paragliding with Flytime: If paragliding down Sea Point in Cape Town makes you want to do more of it, check out Flytime in Plett which gives you a much more unique views of the landscape than the Mother City!
3. Birds of Eden: The largest free-flight aviary in the world which covers an area of 2.3 hectares of forest waterways with 1.2km of walkways is worth checking out! It is also home to 3500 birds of some 200 species.
4. Yoga Retreats: If you’re looking to relax and chill, Plett provides a great deal of options to choose from! Yoga retreats with stunning views of the mountain and ocean!
5. Visit the various wineries: Winelands can be found aplenty and Prett is home to many that boasts quality drinks outside of Stellenbosch and Frankshoek.
6. Visit the day and night markets: I am obsessed with visiting local markets and checking out all local artisans and shops have to offer! The market options are many in PLett and worth spending some time checking out!

Day 4 (PM): Wilderness (George) to Cape Town

My last stop on the Garden Route is Wilderness (15km away from George), where you can find “The Map of Africa” viewpoint and go paragliding. There wasn’t much to do here so after taking a few pictures of the viewpoint (which also looks like the front of a crocodile), I began my trip home to Cape Town.

This viewpoint is one of the trickier one to find even though it is a popular paragliding take off spot. It is easier if you input the GPS coordinates as opposed to trying to follow the directions.

If I had more time, I would have taken a detour to Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world where you can visit an ostrich farm and buy a beautifully carved ostrich egg souvenir or visit Cango Caves on guided tours! As it was quite out of the way for me, I opted to drive straight back to Cape Town!

Another optional step includes the popular Cape Agulhas viewpoint which is where the Indian and Atlantic ocean meet and also the southernmost point of the African continent!