"Our Country is Beautiful": SA Travel Creators Share Itinerary and Costs of Spots Along Garden Route

• Travel creators shared a breathtaking video of free natural swimming spots along South Africa's Garden Route coastline
• The footage highlighted iconic locations including Gericke's Point in Sedgefield and Arch Rock at Keurboomstrand
• South Africans flooded the comments to share their own Garden Route memories and travel tips

South Africa's Garden Route is home to some of the country's most breathtaking coastal scenery, and a new travel video is reminding locals just how much there is to explore.

Travel creator couple Lifeofbettsguides posted a video on 1 October 2026, guiding viewers through a series of natural swimming spots and rock formations along the Garden Route coastline.

Gericke's Point and Arch Rock steal the show

Two spots stood out in the footage. The first was Gericke's Point in Sedgefield, a rocky coastal outcrop popular with swimmers and hikers who come for the tide pools and panoramic ocean views. No entrance fee is required to visit.

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The second was Arch Rock, also known as Cathedral Rock, located at Keurboomstrand near Plettenberg Bay. The natural rock arch sits at the edge of the sea and is accessible to visitors at no cost, making it one of the Garden Route's most photographed landmarks.

Both locations are part of a broader stretch of coastline that runs through towns like George, Wilderness, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, offering travellers a mix of beaches, lagoons, forests and cliffs within a relatively short drive of one another.

A budget-friendly Garden Route itinerary

Beyond the free entry points, a Garden Route road trip can be done affordably. Petrol remains the biggest variable cost depending on where travellers start their journey. Accommodation options range from backpacker lodges and campsites to self-catering units, with campsites in the area available from approximately R200 to R350 per night. Most of the natural attractions, including beaches and coastal walks, carry no admission fee.

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Paid activities along the route include the Knysna Heads boat cruise, the Cango Caves near Oudtshoorn and bungee jumping at Bloukrans Bridge, where the jump is one of the world’s highest commercial bungee jumps at around R1,600 per jump. For travellers sticking to free activities, the Garden Route delivers remarkable value.

A useful guide for travellers

The video is part of a broader focus on Garden Route itineraries and costs, giving viewers practical information alongside the visual highlights. For South Africans planning a road trip or a long weekend away, content like this offers a useful starting point for stretching a travel budget without missing out on the scenery the Garden Route is famous for.

View the Facebook video below:

South Africans share their Garden Route experiences

The video sparked a lively conversation in the comments, with viewers sharing personal memories and practical warnings on the page:

@Tammy Koekemoer Du Plessis said:

"Just went to the bridge. Entry to the park is not free. The walking routes inside are ❤"

@Dillon Swartz added:

"Storms River bridge is def not free."

@Ridhwaan Choonara wrote:

"Our country is honestly so beautiful. I went for the Otter trail couple years back with some friends and it was phenomenal."

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@Shafwaan Ebrahim shared:

"I just love Garden Route."

@Eleana Barnard said:

"Garden Route is the best place ever. Natures Valley is also a must visit."

@Carry Smith cautioned:

"Just be careful, there's been a number of incidents where people were mugged. Might've changed, but this was a few years ago."

Several commenters were quick to flag that not every attraction in the video is actually free, with Storms River Bridge inside the Tsitsikamma National Park requiring a paid entry fee. The walking routes within the park, however, remain free to use. It is worth checking entry costs before visiting, as conditions may have changed.

More Briefly News stories on costs

• Former City of Johannesburg CFO Sarika Lakraj-Naidoo says she lost her job, income and PhD studies after reporting alleged corruption in the city's vehicle fleet.
• Minnie Dlamini tells Thando Thabethe on 947 Drive who paid for her R1.5m wedding, details lost brand deals, her brother’s death and divorce status in interview.
• Driving Johannesburg to Durban on the N3 could cost up to R3,770 return as October’s projected fuel hike pushes petrol towards R30 a litre, plus five toll gates.

Source: Briefly News