What is a must to experience in South Africa ~ Cape town to Port Elizabeth?

Question

I am travelling from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth and want to find the best experiences along the route.
Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Kango Caves are amazing, and the valley of the Thousand Hills. Margate is also very beautiful. Not sure if it is between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth though.

Answer 2

You have been given a lot of information. Almost all of them are correct. I live in George ( the largest city after Cape Town and one of the areas mentioned). I would suggest that you take the route going through Oudtshoorn. The added advantage to that is you will travel through the winelands, and the little Karroo (semi-dry area) which is stunningly beautiful. You can then make a detour to Cango Caves before heading to George to start traveling in the garden route area. You best option will be to take a detour about fifteen kilometers outside Plettenberg bay to Natures Valley (there are adequate road signs). The road will be marked as going to Humansdorp. You can then take the off ramp to join the N2 to Port Elizabeth (the recent rains have damaged the alternative and picturesque road. So I'm not sure when will you be doing the trip and whether the road would be okay then. Maybe you should get into Plettenberg Bay and ask at the municipality whether the road is fine by that time. That would be the best route in terms of beauty.

Answer 3

As to Cape Town, Stevieboy has given you a few good suggestions. I'd like to add the 2 Oceans Aquarium to your itinerary while there. The marine life around the Cape is varied and fascinating, and this place is huge, including sharks, rays, penguins, and lots of other amazing marine life, both plant and animal.

Another tip in Cape Town is to take a trip around Table Bay on one of the many boats on offer. My favourite is the "Spirit of Free Enterprise". I took the sunset cruise on that and it was awesome.

The Garden Route itself is very beautiful, and the only place in the world to which the fynbos family of plants is indigenous. You will see a huge variety of different species in any given area where the fynbos is still intact.

There are lots of things to experience along the way: someone mentioned Kango Cave, which was wonderful. The monkey sanctuary in Plettenberg Bay is also well worth a visit. Watching whales is also fun, although right now is not the time of year for them. There are many privately-run safaris, ostrich farms where you can actually ride ostriches, places where you can go shark-cage diving in the season. I also took a helicopter ride in Mosselbaai, which was a real rush as it did a dive down a cliff-face towards the sea.

Whatever you decide to do along the way, I am sure you will have an amazing trip. Enjoy!

Edited to add: As Moloi suggested, it is a good idea to head for Oudtshoorn, and you need to pass that way to get to Kango Cave anyway. But I would suggest that, rather than starting from George for this, on the way up you turn up the Outeniqua Pass from Mosselbaai, as this is a stunningly beautiful drive. You can then take the other route back down towards the coast, so you end up in George, where you can pick up the Outeniqua Choo-Choo, as HB suggested, towards Knysna.

Knysna itself is a lovely little town, and should not be missed. While there, I would highly recommend the Knysna Oyster Company for a meal too. You won't taste better seafood anywhere!

Answer 4

Margate is not between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. You should visit the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, Table Mountain, Robben Island, The Wine Route. There will be various flea markets on aswell which I loved visiting.

Answer 5

1) The cable car up table mountain
2) Penguin beach at Simons Town
3) Bungee Jumping at Storms
4) Shark Diving
5) Whale watching at Hermanus / Pletenburg Bay. (time of year dependent, May - Oct is best)
6) The Oceanarium in Cape Town is fab
7) Robbens Island if you are into some heritage stuff
8) Shoppoing at Cape Town, fantastic malls.
9) Waterfront at Cape Town, nightlife in Camps Bay
10) Addo Park near PE

Winelands are really dull unless wine tasting tours do it for you

Answer 6

In Cape Town you should:
Visit Robben Island - the prison where Mandela was held
The top of table mountain
Cape Point (Simons town, Boulders Beach, Cape of Good Hope etc)
Winelands of Stellebosch and Paarl

Then on the way to PE (forgive me if these are in the wrong order) you should go to:
Hermanus
George to Kynsna on the Outeniqua Choo Choo
Knysna - lovley town

In PE you should go to:
Addo Elephant Park (you'll see LOADS of elephants)
Township Tour (Brighton Township)
Broadwalk Casino (I beat the house there!)
Toby Joes

Have a great trip!

Answer 7

You got a lot of good advise, I cant do any better but to tell you to have a wonderful trip. Cape Town is the most beautiful city in the world

Answer 8

Well it all depends on what's your focus. If you're about getting familiar with the indigenous people of S. Africa then, I would visit Cape Town. However, if you plan to take the scenic traveler route then, Port Elizabeth would be more your style.

Answer 9

Depends what you are in to. If you like astounding scenery, then drive along the coast - George, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, through the Storms River mouth (go on the old road, not over the new bridge). I'd miss Port Elizabeth entirely and go on to Grahamstown. There is lovely countryside, history, geology to see.

Answer 10

well,my suggestion. take the R62,its full of rich South African herritage and its the haroo area, then hop over to the N2 from oudsthoorn to george(its a bit firther but worth while) then youll see knysna and the forest. then if you do get the chance to go back to CT from PE,go through the 'langkloof' and then get onto the N2 again at George. its so loveley to experience the diff route and regions along these routes