Most people are probably familiar with the famous Garden Route (N2), which runs along the sea and boasts numerous highlights. But have you also heard of Route 62 in South Africa? This road takes you from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town, but runs parallel to the N2 through the interior of the country. Charming villages and towns, a seemingly endless wine route, countless ostrich farms, imposing mountain ranges and deep gorges, adventurous mountain passes, green valleys, and distinctive landscapes await you on this route.
The semi-desert landscape (Little Karoo) offers a very special charm, and in many places, you feel like you’re on Route 66 in the USA. In the following article, we’ll take you on a virtual journey and show you the most beautiful places, sights, and highlights along Route 62 in South Africa. For us, it’s definitely one of the most beautiful regions in the country. Have fun browsing!
- Route & Duration of Route 62
- Sights & Highlights of Route 62
- 1. Oudtshoorn
- 2. Swartberg Pass
- 3. Prince Albert
- 4. Meiringspoort
- 5. Calitzdorp
- 6. Ladismith
- 7. Ronnie’s Sex Shop
- 8. Barrydale
- 9. Montagu
- 10. Robertson
- 11. Worcester
- 12. Paarl
- Our accommodations along the R62
- 1. Oudtshoorn – Oakdene Guesthouse
- 2. Ladismith – Parkside Guesthouse
- 3. Montagu – Monte Vista Boutique Hotel
- 4. Worcester – The Habit Guesthouse
- 5. Paarl – Tempel Wines
- Route recommendation and duration for the R62
- Conclusion on Route 62 in South Africa
Route & Duration of Route 62
You can drive the approximately 850 km in two days, but this is not recommended at all. Allow at least 5 to 7 days so you can discover some of the many great sights and highlights of Route 62. We’re not fans of speeding through a country or region. We prefer to do the occasional activity or just laze around by the pool for a day. We also don’t want to just sit in the car and “casually” visit a few places.
Route 62 takes you from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth (or vice versa). The roads are in really good condition (as of January 2025), making them easy to drive. Furthermore, there’s not a lot of traffic on the R62, although this wasn’t the case until 1958. Back then, the R62 was the most important road between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, before the N2 expressway was opened in 1958 and traffic was diverted.
If you’re planning a round trip from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, we recommend taking the R62 on the way back. This way, you won’t drive the same route twice and you’ll get a wonderful impression of the beautiful semi-desert landscape and the lush coastline along the N2. And just between us, almost everyone knows the Garden Route, but what about Route 62? Is everyone aware of this?
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Sights & Highlights of Route 62
We found Route 62 in South Africa to be incredibly diverse, and it showed us a whole new side of South Africa. It was exciting to drive through the many small and large towns, to feel thevery special R62 vibe, and to simply stop whenever the mood took us. In the following section, we’ll tell you about our stops and personal highlights. Have you ever been to one of the places mentioned? Feel free to write about it in the comments!
1. Oudtshoorn
We started our tour along Route 62 in South Africa in Port Elizabeth and drove onto the R62 shortly after Jeffreys Bay. On our way to Oudtshoorn, we passed the towns of Humansdorp, Karredouw, Joubertina, Misgund, and Uniondale, which we didn’t think were particularly interesting, at least from a tourist perspective. Things get more exciting in Oudtshoorn, as there’s a lot to experience and discover around the town. The town itself offers a few nice restaurants, cafés, shops, and beautiful guesthouses. But that’s about it, in our opinion.
Restaurants & Café tips:
- Nostalgie Restaurant
- Bella Cibo
- Enchanted Coffee
- Beans about Coffee
- The Beans Café
- Rou Karoo
Visit to an ostrich farm
You should know that Oudtshoorn used to be the center of the road-farming industry, and no woman dared to go out on the street without an ostrich feather in her hat. At that time, the so-called “ostrich barons” made a fortune, as a single feather cost the equivalent of 23 euros. By 1914, the feather boom was finally over, and the focus shifted to the production of ostrich meat and ostrich skin.
Oudtshoorn is still the center of ostrich breeding today and boasts several ostrich farms. We were at the Highgate Ostrich Show Farm back then, but there are also the Safari Ostrich Farm, the Cango Ostrich Farm, and Dario Urbanski’s Ostrich Nest. At these farms, you’ll learn a wealth of interesting information about the animals and the farms. Fortunately, most farms no longer offer ostrich rides. Please don’t support such nonsense!
- Book tickets for the Highgate Ostrich Farm here*
- Book tickets for the Safari Ostrich Show Farm here*
Cango Caves Stalactite Caves
Last time we had little time, but this time we were finally able to take a look at the Cango Caves. They are one of the largest and most beautiful cave systems in the world and are partially open to the public. The caves are over 20 million years old, and so far almost 4 kilometers have been explored. During a 60-minute tour (R170 pp), we were able to visit various chambers and marvel at truly impressive formations of stalagmites and stalactites.
There is also the 90-minute Adventure Tour, which gives you a deeper insight into the cave system. However, you shouldn’t be claustrophobic or afraid of the dark. In some places, you’ll have to climb through very narrow crevices or squeeze through tiny holes.
Important note: If you’re visiting during peak travel times, it’s best to reserve your ticket in advance by phone or email. There are only a limited number of tickets per time slot. We simply emailed the team the day before and received confirmation. We showed our email at the counter and received the tickets.
- Heritage Tour daily from. 9am to 4pm (every hour on the hour)
- Adventure Tour daily from 9:30am to 3:30pm (every hour on the half hour)
- Prices Heritage Tour: R170 for adults, children R120
- Prices Adventure Tour: R240 for adults, children R170
- Reservations to: reservations@cangocaves.co.za or phone: +27 (0)82 303 0029
Game Drive in the Buffelsdrift Game Lodge
Not far from town is the Buffeldrift Game Lodge, which is especially popular with day visitors. Giraffes, lions, elephants, antelopes, hippos, buffalo, cheetahs, and many other species live here. You can sit back and enjoy a drive through the reserve with other guests in an open-top 4×4.
It’s a very touristy reserve and offers many trips per day. During peak travel times, be prepared for packed jeeps (up to 20 people). It’s not our cup of tea; we prefer the drives through the large national parks in South Africa. But if you really want to experience Africa, you should go to Botswana.
- Oudtshoorn: Game drive in an open vehicle & Refreshments*
- Night drive in an open vehicle at the Buffelsdrift Game Lodge*
Meerkat Tour
We visited a meerkat colony in Botswana and found the experience simply adorable. Similar tours are also offered around Oudtshoorn. So, if you have enough time, head out to see these incredibly interesting and cute animals. The tours always take place in the morning at sunrise, as this is the best time to admire the animals.
The tours do not take place in the rain, because the meerkats do not come out of their hiding places when it rains. The tours usually last 2 to 3 hours. Providers include De Zeekoe Guest House, Experience Days, and Five Shy Meerkats. The tours cost from 660 Rand per person (currently around €35).
Observing the starry sky
Are you also interested in stars, planets, and our solar system? How about a great stargazing tour? You can’t even imagine how impressive the night sky in the Karoo is. There’s hardly any light pollution from big cities, which is why you can discover unique constellations here.
We’re always amazed at the seemingly endless carpet of stars you can see in South Africa. On this tour, you’ll not only see the fascinating world of stars and galaxies through a special telescope, but you’ll also get a lot of information about our solar system. ☞ You can book this tour here*.
2. Swartberg Pass
Our highlight around Oudtshoorn was definitely the drive over the Swarberg Pass. It is approximately 27 kilometers long and reaches 1,583 meters at its highest point. The drive over this dirt road is easily manageable in a small car. However, you should not be afraid of heights, as in a few places the abyss is closer than you’d like.
Nevertheless, in our opinion, it is not dangerous. Along the way, you pass some truly magnificent viewpoints, and the view over the Swartberg Mountains is generally very impressive. Bikers and even cyclists enjoy taking on this challenge. At the end of the pass you reach the small, beautiful town of Prince Albert.
3. Prince Albert
Once you’ve passed the Swartberg Pass, you’ll reach the small town of Prince Albert, located right at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains. Here you can park your car and take a leisurely stroll through the town for 1 to 2 hours, enjoying coffee and delicious cake. There you’ll find several galleries, restaurants, small shops, guesthouses, and cafés. We particularly liked the pretty Cape Dutch and Victorian houses lined up along the main street. Our tip: Take a lunch break at the Lazy Lizard. You can also find many regional products there.
Along the main street you’ll find the Prince Albert Gallery, the antique shop “The Olde Shop,” The Coffee Shop, the pretty church, The Green Prince Gin Bar, the Prince Albert Café, the Fransie Pienaar Museum, and the Tourist Information Center. The region is known for its excellent olive oil, apricots, wines, cheese, figs, and lamb. At the Lazy Lizard, we bought a vintage can of olive oil to take home. If you stay overnight in Prince Albert, be sure to admire the starry sky at night!
4. Meiringspoort
From Prince Albert, our route continued on the R407 to Klaarstroom. Shortly thereafter, the journey began on the N12 through the impressive Meiringspoort Gorge. The road winds its way almost surreally through the beautiful Swartberg Mountains and took us past the Meiringspoort Waterfall. Here we were able to park the car and take a walk to the 60-meter-high waterfall.
The water collects there in a 9-meter-deep natural pool, in which you can even swim. A truly cool spot and perfect for a long break. Shortly after the end of the gorge, you will automatically drive through the town of De Rust, where you can also take a break in several restaurants and cafés.
5. Calitzdorp
Our journey took us from Oudtshoorn to the small, sleepy town of Calitzdorp. This town is especially known for its port wine. We were impressed by this on-site experience at the De Krans winery. There, you can sit comfortably under the vines and sample various wines. We also highly recommend the café (restaurant) “Calitzdorp Tuinateljee” and “Die Dorpshuis Calitzdorp.” Calitzdorp is suitable for a short stopover (also for refueling), but there isn’t much to see there.
6. Ladismith
From Calitzdorp, our journey continued over the Huisrivier Pass to Ladismith. This small town isn’t particularly interesting from a tourist perspective, but we planned to spend the night there anyway, as we didn’t want to spend too much time in the car. Ladismith is known for its cheese, fruit, and wine. You can, of course, buy all of these products locally in the small shops (e.g., the cheese from the local Ladismith Cheese Company).
We treated ourselves to a delicious pizza in the evening at the quaint restaurant Die Kanna Kombuis. Right next door is the Maud se Gat restaurant, where you can order mainly South African dishes. If you’re still looking for something to do, a hike might be interesting. Ladismith is said to be a good starting point. Many people also rave about the drive over the 12 km long Garcia’s Pass from Riversdale to Ladismith.
7. Ronnie’s Sex Shop
You haven’t been on the R62 if you haven’t made at least one stop at Ronnie’s Sex Shop. This quaint pub is truly an eye-catcher and quite unique along the R62. The walls are completely covered in scribbles and stickers with everything you can imagine. A simple miscellany from all over the world.
Tourists leave behind business cards, ID cards, banknotes, shirts, caps, bras, badges, certificates, patches, and everything else. Take a look at the walls; you’re sure to find yourself chuckling a few times. According to our own research, the pub is open daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. (there is also a snack bar on site).
8. Barrydale
After checking out Ronnie’s Sex Shop, we continued along the R62 and shortly after reached the pretty little town of Barrydale. We definitely recommend a stop here, because you shouldn’t miss the drinks and food at the vintage diner restaurant Diesel & Crème (open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). The milkshakes are particularly popular, but they’re so huge that you certainly won’t need dinner afterward. Quaint and iconic Art Deco items are everywhere, creating a very special “Route 66 feeling.” They also run the cool Karoo Moon Hotel* next door.
After dinner, we strolled along the main street and browsed through the small shops. You’re sure to find a souvenir or two for yourself or for family and friends here. The owner of “Hardy’s Memories of Africa” is also very friendly. We even bought a great African figurine for our apartment there. Another tip: If you want to drive to the Garden Route now, you can drive over the Tradouw Pass towards Swellendam.
9. Montagu
We spent the New Year’s Eve in the beautiful town of Montagu, which we immediately liked. It’s a very clean, beautifully decorated town with many attractive houses, great restaurants and cafés, lush gardens, numerous flowerbeds, and some great activities all around. Here we were able to recharge our batteries, sit back, and enjoy the cozy atmosphere of the town. Good coffee and delicious cheesecake are available at The Barn on 62 or at MonTQ.
It’s best to ask the super friendly staff at the tourist information office for advice. It’s located right in the center of town, next to the Montagu Country Hotel. There you can rent city bikes or mountain bikes and go on exciting tours in the surrounding area. You can also get maps of the surrounding hiking trails there. We recommend the Cogman’s Kloof Trail (12 km, 3-4 hours) with views over the city and the Cogmanskloof Pass.
Our tips for your stay in Montagu:
- Wine tasting at Blu Vines
- Hiking on the Cogmans Kloff Trail
- Cruising through the city on city bikes
- Visiting the Montagu Village Market (always on Saturdays)
- Ordering delicious vegan dishes at the Church 22 Restaurant
- Observing the birdlife in the Montagu Leiwater Dam (especially ibises)
- Idea: Game drive in the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve (only 45 km away)
- Rock climbing in the Montagu Mountains (book a tour here*)
10. Robertson
After four wonderful days in Montagu, we continued over the Cogmanskloof Pass to Ashton and Robertson. To be honest, we thought Robertson would also be a charming little town along the R62. But somehow the spark just didn’t fly there. Nevertheless, there are numerous great wineries, olive farms, and restaurants waiting for you, such as the Springfield Estate Winery, the Marbrin Olive Farm, the Four Cousins Restaurant, and The Small Restaurant. The Affieplaas Farm Stall is also a great place to browse.
We learned that at the Viljoensdrift Wine Estate, you can take great boat tours on the Breede River (book here). And how about a wine tasting? The Robertson Wine Valley offers interesting tours where you can taste up to five wines and learn all about their production (book a tour here*). Also recommended is the coffee at Strictly Coffee in Robertson as well as the Robertson Farmers Market (every second and last Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.).
11. Worcester
Shortly before the end of our journey along the R62 in South Africa, we made a penultimate stop in the city of Worcester. 25% of the country’s total wine production is produced here. Crazy, isn’t it? Around 127,000 people live in this industrial and commercial city, and somehow the city didn’t really blow us away. Nevertheless, there were a few smaller highlights in the area. We actually wanted to We definitely wanted to visit the “Willow Creek Olive Estate” olive farm, but it was unfortunately closed. So instead, we had a delicious meal and a free wine tasting at the Nuy Winery next door. The view of the mountains from the restaurant is truly fantastic.
We also made a detour to the Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden and took a closer look at some of the Karoo plants. It’s certainly more exciting here during the flowering season in spring, when the park transforms into a colorful sea of flowers (entrance fee: 40 Rand). In general, the area around Worcester is dominated by wine bottling plants. It’s better to continue on to the Winelands and don’t linger too long in Worcester. You’re not really missing anything by skipping Worcester. For some shopping, head to the Mountain Mill Shopping Centre.
Tips for a good coffee:
- Cafe Hugo / Hugo Roastery
- Coffee at Gallery
- Peacock Tea & Coffee
- Coffee-On
12. Paarl
Now we ended our tour in a relaxed atmosphere in Paarl and the surrounding area. While the town isn’t as visually stunning as Stellenbosch or Franschhoek, we still had a great time here. This was probably also due to our wonderfully beautiful accommodation (Tempel Wines) and the surrounding wineries. You don’t really need to stay long in Paarl itself. We recommend a trip to the Afrikaanse Taalmonument with its magnificent views of the region, as well as a detour to the Spice Route.
We also thought our morning at “The Alpaca Loom Coffee Shop, where we were able to not only observe but also feed countless alpacas. This is certainly a great adventure, especially with children. The Farm Sanctuary between Paarl and Franschhoek is equally cool. This time we visited the Babylonstoren Winery, which is more like a large adventure world and very touristy. Still, a beautiful area. Also popular are Nederburg Wines, the Laborie Estate and Fairview Wine & Cheese.
Other tips for your stay:
- Paragliding over the Winelands*
- Day hikes in the mountains*
- Motorcycle off-road tour in the Paarl Mountain nature reserve*
- Private wine tasting in the wine-growing region of Cape Town*
Our Accommodations along the R62
We spent 11 nights on Route 62 in South Africa because we wanted to explore this route at our leisure. Generally, you don’t need to plan for 11 nights; at least 4 to 7 nights are recommended. This way, you can experience one or two tours, take an excursion, or simply spend a relaxing day by the pool. In the following section, we have listed and linked our accommodations.
1. Oudtshoorn – Oakdene Guesthouse
During our time in Oudtshoorn, we stayed at the Oakdene Guesthouse* for 3 nights. This listed Victorian house, dating from 1853, is located right in the historic center of the city and is surrounded by large oak trees. The rooms are furnished in a rustic country house style and feature a comfortable double bed, desk and chair, wardrobe, safe, TV, Wi-Fi, and a bathroom with shower.
We particularly enjoyed the beautiful garden with pool and sun loungers, the lovingly prepared breakfast in the morning (R100 per person), and the hospitality of the two owners. We received many valuable tips from them and generally always had interesting topics of conversation. We would definitelyI’ll check in there again when we’re in Oudtshoorn again. A truly beautiful guesthouse with fantastic hosts!
2. Ladismith – Parkside Guesthouse
For our overnight stay in Ladismith, we booked a room at the Parkside Guesthouse*. This accommodation is located not far from the center and offers simple but nice double rooms with pool views, breakfast, and parking. There’s also a communal lounge where you can enjoy a glass of wine in the evening. Wi-Fi is free in all areas and works really well. The room has a small table and chair, air conditioning, a closet, and a small bathroom with a shower. This accommodation was perfectly adequate for us for one night.
3. Montagu – Monte Vista Boutique Hotel
Now we come to one of our absolute favorite accommodations in South Africa. We spent three nights at the enchanting Monte Vista Boutique Hotel* in Montagu. This stylish hotel is located in the center on Kerk Street, making it ideal for exploring the town on foot. We had a very nice double room with a huge bed and a spacious bathroom with a shower. Despite being on the main road, our room was quiet. The rooms around the pool and garden are certainly even better.
The highlights, however, are definitely the garden with the pool and the sun loungers. In general, everything is very modern, tastefully, and of high quality. In the morning, there was a small breakfast consisting of fruit, yogurt, juices, coffee, tea, various egg dishes, and toast. The breakfast was always very attractively prepared. There is also an honesty bar where you can help yourself to drinks and pay at check-out.
4. Worcester – The Habit Guesthouse
Before we headed off to the Winelands, we stayed two nights in Worcester at The Habit Guesthouse*. We wanted to get some work done, but also just take it easy. The guesthouse has several rooms with a garden, pool, and breakfast room. Our room was furnished with a double bed, desk, wardrobe, and armchair. The bathroom had a toilet, towels, and shower. Unfortunately, it was quite dark in our room because the window wasn’t particularly large. Breakfast was okay, with the standard toast, yogurt, fruit, egg dishes, etc.
5. Paarl – Tempel Wines
Our last highlight was definitely the accommodation at Tempel Wines*. We had no idea where we’d end up. The private winery offers four different rooms, all very modern and stylish. The owners are extremely hospitable and helpful; we felt completely at home. Our room was furnished with a large bed, a table and stool, a bathroom with a shower, a closet, a safe, and Wi-Fi. Right outside, we had a small private pool and sun loungers (shared with the room next door).
The highlight for us was definitely the huge infinity pool with a view of the mountains. We would have loved to stay there for a few weeks; everything was just perfect. In the morning, we had the best breakfast of the entire trip. There were freshly baked croissants, delicious bread, warm egg dishes, fresh fruit, yogurt, good coffee, and much more. The owners also showed us the wine cellar, which is currently being decorated with various graffiti. Absolutely recommended!
Route recommendation and duration for the R62
You might be wondering how long you should stay in each place? That’s not an easy question to answer, of course, as it’s often a matter of taste. However, based on our extensive travels, we would suggest the following overnight stops and route:
- 2 nights in Oudtshoorn (Swartberg Pass, Cango Caves, starry sky, meerkats)
- Stopover in Calitzdorp, Ronnie’s Sex Shop & Barrydale
- 2 nights in Montagu (hiking, cycling, wine tasting, relaxing by the pool)
- Stopover in Robertson and Worcester
- 3 nights in the Winelands (hiking, wine tasting, strolling through the towns)
Conclusion on Route 62 in South Africa
Route 62 in South Africa really surprised us. The Karoo is a completely different landscape and reveals another facet of South Africa. It was incredibly fun to discover so many new things away from the Garden Route. The vibe along the R62 is special and, in many places, truly reminiscent of Route 66 in the States.
The road is very well maintained and not at all busy. Often, we hardly encountered another car (mid-December 2025). If you’re looking for a great alternative to the Garden Route for your trip from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, the R62 could be just the thing for you.