Garden Route National Park, Plettenberg Bay

Self-driving the Garden Route is on most people’s to-do list when it comes to exploring South Africa and after a quick google, it’s easy to see why. With its rolling topography, ocean-battered coast and incredible array of flora and fauna, this route is undoubtedly amongst the crème de la crème of the world’s greatest road trips. But “what makes it so special”, you ask? And that’s where the Garden Route National Park comes in, because it’s thanks to the natural beauty preserved by this park that the Garden Route is still as epic a journey as ever. 

Spanning an incredible 121,000 hectares and taking a handful of other national parks under its wing – from Tsitsikamma to Knysna – this is one of the most important conservation areas in the country. Think mile upon mile of untouched indigenous forest and unruly fynbos carpeted mountains, traced by a pristine sandy coast, all providing a vital natural habitat to the creatures that reside here. Breathtaking is an understatement and inspiring is a given. 

And protecting these areas is all part of a mission to right the wrongs of the country’s not so eco-friendly past. In the 19th century, much of the indigenous forests were destroyed and the areas turned into farming land, pushing out the wild animals that lived here. After years of exploitation, it wasn’t until the latter part of the 20th century that conservation projects began to be put in place. And the Garden Route National Park wasn’t formed until 2009, when the numerous national parks spread along this picturesque coast were amalgamated to ensure overall protection of the region. 

Now, the park protects a number of rare species, including the critically endangered honey badger and the elusive Knysna elephant, as well as stretching out into the ocean to pull the marine life of the Atlantic into its motherly embrace.