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Chicago to South Africa's Garden Route: Gqeberha, Knysna and Oudtshoorn

Chicago → Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) → Knysna → Oudtshoorn

Knysna
"Knysna_waterfront.jpg" by Terence27, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
City Hall Port Elizabeth-003 (Port Elizabeth)
Photo: Leo za1, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Elephants, lagoons & the Little Karoo Best season (general guide): Oct–Apr

The Garden Route is a stretch of South Africa's south coast, with lagoons, forests and beaches, and inland lies the dry Little Karoo. This route drives west from Gqeberha to Knysna and then inland to Oudtshoorn. From Chicago you'll connect through Johannesburg.

How to pace it: Spend days one and two in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth): day one, the seafront; day two, Addo Elephant National Park. Then spend days three to five in Knysna: day three, travel west via Tsitsikamma and Storms River; day four, Knysna lagoon and the Heads; day five, forest walks. Then spend days six and seven in Oudtshoorn: day six, over the mountains to Oudtshoorn; day seven, Cango Caves.

From Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth, take a game drive in Addo Elephant National Park, home to hundreds of elephants as well as buffalo and lions.

The road west passes Tsitsikamma, part of the Garden Route National Park, where a suspension bridge crosses the mouth of the Storms River. Stay in Knysna, on a large lagoon, protected from the sea by two sandstone cliffs, the Knysna Heads.

Then drive over the mountains to Oudtshoorn, the centre of the Little Karoo. It became famous for ostrich farming, and the Cango Caves nearby have large chambers with stalactites.

October to April is the warmest time, but the coast is mild all year and rain can fall in any season.

Between the national parks, the coast has quiet beaches and small towns, such as Wilderness and Plettenberg Bay, with walks along the sand and lagoons. Distances are manageable, and the scenery changes from green forest to dry semi-desert as you cross the mountains.

Practical notes: a hire car is essential. Drive only in daylight, keep valuables out of sight and follow local advice. Book Addo game drives and Cango Caves tours ahead.

Whale watching from the shore is possible along parts of this coast in winter and spring, and restaurants in Knysna serve local oysters from the lagoon.

Suggested outline

  1. Chicago

    Start

  2. Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)

    By air · 2 nights suggested

    Gateway to Addo Elephant National Park.

    Addo elephants waterhole
    "ADDO - African bush elephants at a waterhole in Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa, 2017.jpg" by Josep M. Gracia, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

  3. Knysna

    Overland · 3 nights suggested

    A lagoon town with the Knysna Heads and the Tsitsikamma coast nearby.

  4. Oudtshoorn

    Overland · 2 nights suggested

    Ostrich farms, the Cango Caves and the dry Little Karoo.

    Oudtshoorn
    "View_of_Oudtshoorn,_South_Africa.jpg" by thomas, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) — Arrive; the seafront· Chicago → Gqeberha, Port Elizabeth (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day
  2. Day 2 · Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) — Addo Elephant National Park
  3. Day 3 · Knysna — West via Tsitsikamma and Storms River· Gqeberha, Port Elizabeth → Knysna (overland)
  4. Day 4 · Knysna — Knysna lagoon and the Heads
  5. Day 5 · Knysna — Forest walks
  6. Day 6 · Oudtshoorn — Over the mountains to Oudtshoorn· Knysna → Oudtshoorn (overland)
  7. Day 7 · Oudtshoorn — Cango Caves
  8. Day 8 · Oudtshoorn — Travel home from Oudtshoorn· Oudtshoorn → George (overland), then George → Chicago (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

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Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)

More about Port Elizabeth →

Plan the trip: Port Elizabeth

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Knysna

Nearest airport: George

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