But, if you’re to visit the Garden Route anytime soon, you may be wondering when is the best time. And that’s why this article has been put together for you.
Best Time To Visit The Garden Route
So, when is the best time to visit the region? The Garden Route has an all-year-round climate that is ideally suited for enjoying quality time outside. The temperatures rise the highest from November to April, which are the summer months. However, you should bear in mind that the route is also bustling during this period, especially over Christmas and school holidays.
To enjoy nature’s beauty without worrying about crowds, February to April offers the perfect period. There is little human traffic during this time, and the region opens up nicely to its array of natural land and marine wildlife. You should be careful, though, as you can expect rainfall at any time of the year.
When is the Best Time to See Blooming Flowers?
From September to November is usually the showstopper when it comes to spring in South Africa. This season brings to life a spectacular display of coloured blossoms in their full floral beauty. Although the entire country is home to a vast array of flower fields scattered across various areas, this article focuses only on the Garden Route.
Whether you are a Botanist, hobby gardener, or someone who simply loves to admire and smell the flowers, this coastal strip stretches through a variety of floral breeds that will make each moment worth remembering.
From August to October (it may even stretch to November), you will find a fantastic array of different ‘floral kingdoms’, offering you a real treat. However, if you want to have the best viewing experience, it is best to visit before November, as many tourists will begin trooping in ahead of the holiday season. It is also important to note that different flower species along the Garden Route still grow in different seasons throughout the year. But their best, most spectacular blooming display is always during springtime in South Africa.
Where To Stay for the Best ‘Flower Experience’?
The Garden Route also offers various options as far as accommodations, including hotels and lodges and other options nearby. But if you’re looking to have the ultimate ‘flower experience,’ your best bet is to opt for the La Vista Lodge.
Located in Plettenberg Bay, right along the Garden Route, the La Vista Lodge is the ideal accommodation option for any Garden Route trip.
First of all, its location allows you to be much closer to blooming fields so you can enjoy the beautiful views as long as you want. Secondly, the lodge offers different luxury suites to choose from all with spectacular views of the ocean, mountains and, of course, the flowers.
That means you can also choose to enjoy nature’s carpet of splendid and colourful blooms right from the comfort of your room. But that’s not all; you can also treat yourself to wonderful meals with food grown on-site or very nearby.
How To Experience The Garden Route
As we already mentioned, the Garden Route stretches over 300 kilometres, beginning from Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape to the Mossel Bay in the Western Bay - or the other way round. Depending on how much time you have and the number of stops you want to make, a typical self-drive or road trip could last anywhere from three days to about two weeks.
When it comes to transportation, you have two main options. If you want to explore the region at your own pace, with enough time to make all the stops you wish, you can choose a self guided tour with a rental car or motorcycle. Thankfully, both car and motorcycle rental options are available and economically friendly. However, if you don’t have the luxury of time but still want to enjoy the blooming sceneries, you can opt for one of several guided Garden Route tours. Depending on what you want to see, these tour guides will help create the ultimate experience in a shorter time.
What To Expect When Visiting the Garden Route?
The route offers an enchanting and exotic collection of plant life for any nature lover, and so you can expect more than just flowers. For example, the Garden Route National Park has 244 alien plant species in 77 different families. Beyond the national park, the route is home to a wide variety of flowering plants, conifers, and ferns.
You will find: primrose flowers, fennels, sea figs, thistles, white flowers, lilies, treasure flowers, aloe varieties, olives, fountain grasses, daisies, blue inks, and the list is almost endless.
Must See Destinations On The Garden Route?
As we’ve already mentioned, the Garden Route offers one of the most popular and beautiful scenic drives in South Africa. And if you’re a lover of nature and flowers, you will consider this region a magnificent paradise on earth - without exaggeration. That means the area offers more than the bloom of gorgeous floral displays. So, what are some of the other scenic beauties you can enjoy in addition to the flowers?
One option is the Robberg Nature Reserve, which is a hiking paradise in Plettenberg Bay.
Another option is the Storms River Suspension Bridge, which spans the river’s swirling waters where it merges with the Indian ocean. You can also visit the Knysna Forest, with endless views of beautiful waterfalls, elephants, and winding rivers. You can also visit the Wilderness National Park, which offers a paradise for water birds.