21/08/2026
South Africa’s iconic Garden Route has been named the world’s number-one road trip, placing the country’s spectacular southern coastline ahead of some of the planet’s most famous driving destinations.
Stretching for roughly 300 kilometres between Mossel Bay in the Western Cape and Storms River in the Eastern Cape, the Garden Route combines dramatic mountain ranges, indigenous forests, lagoons, beaches, cliffs and sweeping Indian Ocean views.
In a 2026 global study by AutoTrader, the Garden Route scored an impressive 90.6 out of 100, ranking first among international road-trip destinations. The assessment considered factors including road quality, scenery, weather conditions, visibility, temperature and overall driving experience.The route runs between the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountain ranges, creating a landscape where mountains, forests and coastline come together. Its natural attractions include the Garden Route National Park, Tsitsikamma forests, coastal lagoons and numerous beaches and hiking destinations.The region is also internationally significant for biodiversity. The Garden Route Biosphere Reserve forms part of the Cape Floristic Region, one of the world's major biodiversity hotspots. UNESCO added the Garden Route Biosphere Reserve to its World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2017, recognising its exceptional biodiversity and the importance of balancing conservation with sustainable development.
Adventure tourism is another major attraction. The area is home to the famous Otter Trail, while nearby Bloukrans Bridge is internationally recognised for its extreme bungee-jumping experience.
The Garden Route also has a remarkable elephant history. The Knysna forests were once home to a much larger population of forest elephants, but the population declined dramatically. Today, conservationists continue to monitor the remaining Knysna forest elephant population and work to protect wildlife corridors in the region.The route's international popularity extends beyond driving. A 2026 analysis of Instagram hashtag activity ranked the Garden Route sixth among the world's most Instagrammable road trips.
