Garden Route

WHEN TO GO

Since August is when the southern right whales calve, September and October are the prime months for seeing the whales and their newborns close to shore. Be prepared to share the magic with crowds of other whale lovers, though. Christmas is high season, and the density of visitors is at its peak. The hordes thin out and the weather gets fine between February and early April—autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.

HOW TO GET THERE

AIRPORT

There are international airports at Cape Town and at Port Elizabeth, both of which are perfectly placed for the Garden Route. South African Airways offers nonstop 14.5-hour flights from Atlanta (27-11-978-5313; www.flysaa.com).

GETTING AROUND

Public transportation is limited and can be expensive; it's better to rent a car through Avis (800-331-1084, 27-11-923-3660; www.avis.com), Budget (800-472-3325; www.budget.com), or Hertz (800-654-3001, 27-21-935-4800; www.hertz.com). All three have locations at the Cape Town and Port Elizabeth airports.

TRAVEL TIPS

Recommended tour operators include:

Abercrombie & Kent (800-554-7016; www.abercrombiekent.com)
Carrier (44-1625-547-010; www.carrier.co.uk)
Cazenove & Loyd (44-20-7384-2332; www.cazloyd.com)
Cox & Kings (800-999-1758; www.coxandkings.com)
Elegant Resorts (44-1244-897-555; www.elegantresorts.co.uk)
ITC Classics (44-1244-355-550; www.itcclassics.co.uk)
Bailey Robinson Worldwide (44-1488-689-700; www.baileyrobinson.com)

TOURIST INFO

South African Tourism
Bojanala House
90 Protea Road, Chislehurston
Johannesburg
Tel: 27 83 123 6789
Tel: 800 593 1318 (toll-free)
info@southafrica.net
www.southafrica.net

The extensive website for this national tourist office provides interactive maps, hotel and spa information, activity listings from horseback riding to hot-air ballooning, and much, much more.

View South Africa Factsheet