Port Elizabeth, Addo, and Garden Route: A 3-Day Jaunt You Won’t Forget

Okay, so you are thinking of squeezing Port Elizabeth, Addo Elephant Park, and a taste of the Garden Route into just three days, are you? Well, I’m here to tell you that you totally can! This packed itinerary will, like, give you a fantastic introduction to South Africa’s diverse beauty, even though it is a bit speedy. Get ready for coastal charm, gentle giants, and landscapes that could very well steal your breath away. Seriously!

Day 1: Settling Into Port Elizabeth

First thing’s first, when you land in Port Elizabeth, which some people now call Gqeberha, you may want to get your bearings. You’ll notice it has that warm, coastal city vibe. Grab your luggage, then possibly pick up a rental car — because you will be doing a fair bit of traveling over the next few days — or sort out transport to your accommodation. To be honest, there is quite a variety, that is to say from beachfront hotels with fantastic views to quirky guesthouses tucked away in calmer suburbs. Honestly, it depends on your budget and taste!

You can, that is if you have time after settling in, take a casual walk along the beach front. The main beaches, like King’s Beach, they almost seem to stretch on forever and are ideal for a gentle walk to kind of stretch your legs after your travel. There is, by the way, a friendly atmosphere, more or less, with families, joggers, and people basically enjoying the ocean air. When you are ready, pop to some local eateries and dive into some seafood; so the calamari is usually a safe bet, by the way!

Day 2: Addo Elephant Park – Big Trunks and Bigger Hearts

Okay, today it’s really time to get close to nature because Addo Elephant Park will most likely be calling! What you could do is leave Port Elizabeth pretty early; it’s like, only about an hour’s drive to the park’s main entrance. Something you should consider is opting for a self-drive safari — and it does give you more flexibility to, sort of, explore at your own speed — or a guided tour if you’re really looking for knowledgeable insights.

In Addo, so you might just see elephants, like lots of them! It has a dense population and they’re almost always going about their business, munching on vegetation or taking a dust bath. Then you might spot some of the other residents such as lions, buffalo, zebra, plus a variety of antelope, so that’s pretty neat! Keep your eyes peeled because it might just take patience, you know? Take plenty of water, so that’s one little tip for sure, slap on that sunscreen, too it’s almost mandatory under the African sun, and honestly prepare to be wowed.

Day 3: Garden Route Taster – Scenic Drives and Coastal Towns

Right, so, Day 3, it’s Garden Route time! You are possibly only getting a snippet of this incredibly beautiful stretch of coastline but you can still make it worthwhile. Consider this to start: set your sights on the scenic drive to somewhere like, say, Jeffrey’s Bay. That’s a hotspot for surfing! I can tell you it’s, arguably, home to some of the best waves in the country. In other words if you’re really not a surfer, so it is okay, anyway, it has a lively atmosphere and it has great beachside cafes where you might be able to sip your coffee as you are watching the pros ride those waves.

Onward and inland you can journey, that, in fact, might just take you through the Tsitsikamma region. In particular this has unbelievable forests and dramatic coastal views. How about this idea? You can actually stop at Storms River Mouth, go for a walk on the suspension bridge which does give a stunning view of the river meeting the Indian Ocean. Okay, there could be an opportunity to kayak if you like — or very much fancy it! — through the gorge for a different vantage point; it’s just an idea I am sharing!

Right then! Get this, on the drive back towards Port Elizabeth, should time allow, you are able to make another brief stop at one of the many farm stalls dotted around. It means you get a taste of the local produce and support some local vendors. Get the idea that by late afternoon you will then want to make your way back to Port Elizabeth. And that brings us to the end of the quick dip of the awesome experience you have.

A Few Quick Tips

Okay, get this, when you plan out that whirlwind jaunt: so here are one or two tiny points to just jog over quickly so it all kind of slots together nice and seamlessly.

1. Firstly, Book Accommodation & Tours Early: That applies especially if you travel during peak season so that’s almost essential, obviously.
2. Packing: Make sure you get clothes for all weathers and a few layers too and it tends to fluctuate.
3. Plan that Drive: Look, distances can sometimes be deceiving plus give yourself like loads of extra travel time just to, very much, make sure of safety breaks and unplanned stops!

Final Words

Doing Port Elizabeth, Addo, so there’s a possibility it might just mean the Garden Route on a tight timescale. Okay, right, that could almost be quite challenging — it is fair to say, right? You need to prepare for plenty of time traveling on those roads. Even so, if, very very much, that’s what you are up for: basically this three-day sample should still allow you, that’s the plan anyway, a thrilling, unforgettable experience that maybe means you go back someday to see more South Africa.