the garden route a slidedoc by tayler schaut. introduction 01 table of contents the western cape 02...
TRANSCRIPT
The Garden RouteA Slidedoc by Tayler Schaut
Introduction01
Table of Contents
The Western Cape02The Eastern Cape03
The Wild Coast 04Final Words of Advice05
3
First of all, welcome to South Africa!Congratulations on choosing the most magical study-abroad destination UCEAP has to offer!
Speaking from experience, I know you’re life is about to get exponentially more fun, but to make sure you don’t miss out on one of the (in my opinion) greatest things South Africa has to offer, I created this slidedoc to help you out.
Whether you’re here for summer, fall, winter, or spring, I am sure you will hear all about the Garden Route. In case you haven’t yet, the Garden Route is a highly sought after trip for tourists and locals looking to explore South Africa’s beautiful coastline. It stretches from the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape and consists of a myriad of lively hostels, adventurous activities, and beautiful beaches to stop at along the way. It is entirely up to you to decide where you want to stop, but to make planning easier I outlined my favorites in the following slides. I also included some price ranges for certain things to give you a feel for how much you might want to budget.
I know money is generally an issue for students like us, but if you can afford this trip, take it. It’s a chance to go on your own adventure, to get out of Cape Town’s big-city life, and to get a feel for South Africa in something other than a tour bus or safari truck.
Introduction
section 01
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Travel OptionsThe first thing to get sorted is your mode of transport.
Personally I think renting a car is the best option; you have the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want, and it’s cheaper. I know that some people might be afraid of driving in a foreign country, though, so another good option is the Baz Bus. Those are really the best options, but if you are willing to drop big bucks you can always hire a driver or do the trip through a tour company.
Introduction
section 01
Renting a CarCar rentals are very reasonably priced in South Africa. Most rental places have similar price ranges; manuals cost about 200-300 Rand per day and automatics cost about 250-350 Rand per day. Keep in mind that you will probably split that cost between the people you go with, so it will be cheaper.
Baz BusThe Baz Bus costs a little bit more because you pay per person, but if you are doing the trip on your own then it might be a safer option. You sign up for a hop-on-hop-off pass for as many days as you will be on the trip and then call them and let them know where to pick you up each day. The cost will depend on how many days you go for, but it’s 2100 Rand for a seven day pass which you will at least need to get through the route.
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LodgingHostels are the way to go. They are cheap, fun, and easy to book.When you decide where you want to stop, just look up hostels in that area and when you find one that looks intriguing, call them up and ask if they have room. There is almost always a spot in the dorms, so just take that option; it’s the cheapest and easiest way to make friends with other travelers anyway. Most hostels will charge between 100-200 Rand per night for a spot in the dorms. When you get to your first hostel, pick up a Coast-to-Coast traveler’s book at the front desk (they’re free) so you have a list of hostels on hand for times when you can’t access the internet.
There are a ton of hostel options and almost anywhere you choose to stay will be a good time, but some hostels we stopped at were out of this world. Here are a few that I would definitely recommend staying at:
Introduction
Wild Spirit, Nature’s Valley
section 01
Ubuntu,Jeffery’s bay
Wilderness Beach House,
Wilderness
The Coffee Shack,
Coffee Bay
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Possible Destinations
Cape town
Cape Agulhas
Mossel Bay
Oudtshoorn
Knysna
Wilderness
Sedgefield
Nature’s Valley
Plettenburg Bay
Tsitsikamma
Storms River
Cape St. Francis
Jeffrey's Bay
Port Elizabeth
Coffee Bay
There are a ton of places to stay and play all along the Garden Route, but if you’re strapped for time
the following places are a must!
Introduction
section 01
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Mossel Bay/OudtshoornIt’s a sleepy little beach town, but if you are interested in doing some touristy activities, it has a lot to offer.
The Western Cape
section 02
That’s me!
This is probably the best place to stop first, on your way out of Cape Town. There isn’t a ton of stuff to do in the town of Mossel Bay, but it’s in a great location for accessing all the adventure activities in the Western Cape. The hostels are incredibly helpful when it comes to planning your activities. They usually have a special employee who will call companies, set up appointments, help you find transportation, etc., so you don’t have to plan all of that ahead of time. If you only have a day or two, these are your best options for activities:
Make the quick drive to Oudtshoorn and go explore some caves and/or ride
an ostrich!
Go sandboard the Dragon Dune- the largest sand dune in
South Africa.
Also: if you’re into sushi, there is a R60 all-you-can-
eat sushi buffet in the little downtown
area that is definitely worth a
visit!
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WildernessThe Western Cape
This is a great place to stop if you need a break from car time, but I recommend saving this stop for the long trip home. You are going to want to break up the drive home into at least a couple of days, and if there is one place to have a last relaxing night before you get back into Cape Town, it’s Wilderness.
section 02
The greatest hostels can be found in Wilderness, but the ones I liked best were Wilderness Beach House and ____.
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Nature’s ValleyTake a quick break from all the beaches and go get lost in the forest.
Reserve yourself a spot at Wild Spirit Backpackers. It was by far my favorite hostel I stayed at during my time in South Africa. If you have a couple of days to spare, spend them here. Go on waterfall hikes, learn to play the bongos, help cook the community dinner, swim in the natural pools, and get a feel for what it’s like to live off the grid.
The Eastern Cape
section 03
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Bloukrans Bridge Bungee JumpThe Eastern Cape
section 03
You don’t really need to stay the night in Titsikamma or Storms River, especially if you stay in Nature’s Valley, but you should stop at Bloukrans Bridge and do the bungee jump. It is the highest bungee jump bridge in the world and quite possibly the coolest thing I have ever done in my life. I am extremely afraid of heights, but I immediately wanted to do it again after they brought me back up. It costs about 700 Rand for the jump, and then a little more if you want pictures/video(which you will). There’s also a little restaurant where you can watch everyone do the jump and grab some food while your adrenaline settles and you gear up for the rest of your drive.
You have to. I insist.
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Jeffery's BayCheck out South Africa’s surf capital and catch some waves at J-bay’s world renowned beaches.
The Eastern Cape
section 03
There are several hostels to stay at, but if you are looking for some delicious post-surf grub and some great company, Ubuntu is the place for you.
Get a surf lesson and brag to your friends about how you surfed at one of the world’s most famous surf spots.
Grab some grub at Nina’s Real Food- personally one of my favorite restaurants in South Africa.
There are a variety of factory stores for major surf brands where you can get killer deals on all sorts of beachwear.
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Port ElizabethStay a night in PE and brush up on some South African history.
The Eastern Cape
13
Coffee BayThe Wild Coast
section 04
Hike out to see the Hole in the Wall and jump in the ocean.
Chill out with locals and other travelers at the Coffee Shack.
Take a guided walk through the Transkei with a local who can show you what it’s really like to live off of the land in South Africa.
Take the road less traveled and I promise you won’t be disappointed.
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Do it allFinal Words of Advice
Click to insert chart from template
section 05
