Free South Africa Guidebook

We've put together a guidebook with everything you need to know about South Africa. Written by our specialists, it details destination information, a wildlife guide, some suggested itineraries and plenty more to inspire your holiday. Fill in the form below and if you live in UK, your guidebook will arrive by post within the next couple of days. For those who live abroad, we will send you a link by email which will allow you to download your own copy.

Cape Floral Kingdom

This self-drive South Africa itinerary allows you to explore captivating Cape Town and the unique Cape Floral Kingdom, the smallest of all plant kingdoms and yet with the highest concentration of species in the world.

Route 62

Route 62 traverses the Klein Karoo and runs parallel to, and makes a great alternative to, the coastal road that makes up the Garden Route. With mountain passes meandering through imposing landscapes, Route 62 is as scenically pleasing as the Garden Route, and of course takes in the ostrich capital of the world at Oudtshoorn, as well as one of the longest wine routes in the world!

To start planning your tailor-made holiday, call us on (646) 934-8870

Route 62 offers a visually stunning road trip option in South Africa and has been popularised to replicate the legendary Route 66 Stateside. Considering its relatively close proximity to the lush Garden Route, the environment couldn’t be more different – a stark landscape that is arid and inhospitable in the height of summer.

The main settlement is at Oudtshoorn, which found fortune during the ostrich feather booms of the late 19th and early 20th centuries – during this period a farmer could obtain more wealth from a tonne of ostrich feathers than the equivalent weight in gold! Ostrich feathers no longer hold such high a value (although ostrich leather goods are in higher demand than ever), but they are popular with visitors keen to learn more about these unique birds. Visitors to Oudtchoorn have the opportunity to watch the ostrich race, and in some cases even ride them themselves.

Another popular attraction in the area is the Cango Caves, which form a chain of calcite caves that are regarded as some of the world’s finest. Measuring over 4km, only around a quarter of these caves are accessible to the public, and only as part of a guided tour, as the aim is to conserve them in as best condition as possible.

Whilst it is possible to explore Route 62 whilst staying along the Garden Route, it is best to do these two areas in combination. Driving along Route 62 before dropping down to join the Garden Route at George can be a good way to avoid the more mundane drive between Cape Town and Mossel Bay.


To start planning your tailor-made holiday, call us on (646) 934-8870

Route 62, South Africa

Augusta de Mist is a stylish historic Cape Dutch guest house in Swellendam on South Africa’s famous Garden Route. Augusta de Mist offers an exceptionally friendly service; amazingly inventive food and delightful gardens filled with rare fynbos plants.

Augusta de Mist

Oudtshoorn, South Africa

De Zeekoe Guest Farm is a beautiful rural farmhouse near Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo. Peaceful and romantic, De Zeekoe is one of the best places to see meerkats, and offers superb activities that let you fully experience rural South Africa at its best.

De Zeekoe

Near Oudtshoorn, South Africa

La Plume is a relaxing family-run guest house on a working ostrich farm near Oudtshoorn in South Africa's Little Karoo. Majestic views and friendly and welcoming staff make La Plume a great base for families to explore the area's natural attractions.

La Plume Guest House

Oudtshoorn, South Africa

Rosenhof Country House is an elegant guest house near Oudtshoorn in South Africa’s Little Karoo. The old world ambience and warm welcome make Rosenhof Country House an ideal base for couples to relax, visit the Cango Caves or visit a local ostrich farm.

Rosenhof Country House

Robertson, The Winelands, South Africa

The Robertson Small Hotel is an understated chic country hotel in the centre of Robertson, a favourite stop on South Africa’s famous Route 62. Warm and inviting, The Robertson Small is a great stopover on a tour of the Cape wine region.

The Robertson Small Hotel

Ruiterbos Valley, South Africa

Eight Bells Mountain Inn is a charming country inn located in the Ruiterbos Valley region of South Africa’s Garden Route. Perfect for families, providing outstanding service and beautiful grounds, this Inn offers guests a wonderful sense of peace.

Eight Bells Mountain Inn

Route 62, South Africa

Situated in the 54,000-hectare malaria-free Sanbona Private Reserve in the Little Karoo Region of South Africa, is the luxury Dwyka Tented Lodge. Hidden between striking rock formations, this camp offers complete seclusion and comfort.

Sanbona Dwyka Tented Lodge

Route 62, South Africa

Offering an authentic walking safari in the heart of the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, Explorer Camp is a rustic tented camp with wonderful views of the surrounding Karoo landscapes. Guests can experience the wonders of the Karoo like never before.

Sanbona Explorer Camp

Route 62, South Africa

Sanbona Gondwana Family Lodge is a superb child-friendly safari lodge showcasing the amazing Karoo landscapes of malaria-free ‘Big Five’ Sanbona Reserve. This stylish lodge is ideal to include on a Garden Route self-drive.

Sanbona Gondwana Family Lodge

Route 62, South Africa

Situated in the 54,000 hectare malaria free Sanbona Private Reserve in the Little Karoo Region of South Africa, is Tilney Manor.

Sanbona Tilney Manor

Route 62, South Africa

Sanbona Gondwana Family Lodge is a superb child-friendly safari lodge showcasing the amazing Karoo landscapes of malaria-free Big Five Sanbona Reserve. Gondwana Lodge is easy to include in a Garden Route self-drive, and is just three hours from Cape Town.

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve

Oudtshoorn, South Africa

The Thorntree Country House is a warm, characterful guest house located in South Africa's Little Karoo. Friendly and personal, Thorntree is perfectly located to explore the Cango Caves, incredible Swartberg Pass and the areas unique landscapes.

Thorntree Country House

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Eastern Cape, South Africa

Head out into the reserve accompanied by your guide, and work alongside a tracking team to get up close to the game on foot. Without the noise of the vehicle you will be astounded by how close you can get and all the sounds of the bush.

Walking Safari in Eastern Cape

Route 60 - 62, South Africa

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve has about 600 species of plants, most of them flowering between August and September. Go on a walk around the Reserve to see how Sanbona's conservation efforts have made this floral kingdom flourish.

Sanbona Wild Flower Walk

Route 60 - 62, South Africa

Take the opportunity to take in your surroundings and discover all Sanbona Wildlife Reserve has to offer from your own two feet. With a variety of nature walks, hiking and wilderness trails available, there's plenty to be explored.

Sanbona Nature Walks

Route 60 - 62, South Africa

With seven recorded sites of ancient rock art throughout Sanbona, you could spend time exploring these 3,500 year old sites and learn about the Khoi-Khoi people that lived in the area until 100 years ago.

Rock Art in Sanbona

Route 62, South Africa

Wake up early and visit the nearby habituated meerkat colony at sunrise. Meerkats are part of the 'Shy Five' and this tour allows you to see them in their natural environment as they appear out of their burrow as the sun rises.

Meerkat Experience

Kruger, South Africa

Game drives are conducted in early mornings and late afternoons, when wildlife is most active. Late afternoon drives often end with a sundowner drink and driving back to camp with spotlights may mean spotting nocturnal wildlife.

Game Drives in the Kruger

Garden Route, South Africa

Set at a terrifying 216 meters above the ground the Bloukrans Bungee is the world's highest commercial bungee and definitely one for the thrill seekers. Suspended over the Bloukrans River, under the main bridge, this is 216 metres of pure adrenaline!

Bloukrans River Bungee Jump

Garden Route, South Africa

Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre at Plettenberg Bay offers guests a truly unique wildcat experience as they are taken on a guided tour of cheetah, leopard, serval, caracal and other wildcats, baboons and birds.

Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre

Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route, South Africa

Monkeyland is a unique primate sanctuary that rehabilitates and frees previously caged primates. All of the monkeys here move about the forest freely and peacefully and allow you to view them as they would be seen in their natural habitat.

Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary

Garden Route, South Africa

The Robberg Peninsula is an outcrop of land from the western side of Plettenberg Bay. The Peninsula is now a nature reserve and a marine protected area which makes for spectacular scenery, wildlife, flora and fauna.

Robberg Peninsula Walk

Oudtshoorn, Little Karoo, South Africa

Visit the Cango Caves to experience the large underground limestone caves of the Klein Karoo. With towering stalagmite formations and dripstone caverns you'll be amazed at how big they are and learn about the legends of the cave.

Visit the Cango Caves

Oudtshoorn, South Africa

Oudtshoorn along the famous Route 62 is the ostrich capital of the world. You can see how the birds are bred as well as the various ways in which ostrich products are fashioned and marketed. If you are lucky you may even get an ostrich hug!

Visit an ostrich farm

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