How Much Luggage Should I Bring on the Garden Route Tour?
One of the questions we are often asked before our 5-day Garden Route tour is how much luggage you should bring. The good news is that you really don’t need to bring your entire wardrobe with you!
We recommend bringing one medium-sized suitcase per person, ideally weighing no more than around 20kg, together with a small backpack or day bag that you can keep with you in the vehicle.
A small day bag is useful for carrying things such as your camera, phone, sunscreen, water bottle, medication and anything else you may want during the day.
What should I pack?
The Garden Route is generally very relaxed, so comfortable clothing is the way to go. We recommend:
- Comfortable walking shoes or trainers
- Flip flops — or slops, as we call them in South Africa
- T-shirts and casual clothing
- Shorts and/or lightweight trousers
- A warm layer such as a fleece or jumper
- A lightweight waterproof jacket
- Swimwear
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Personal toiletries and medication
- Phone, camera and chargers
- A reusable water bottle
One important thing to remember is that the Garden Route can be windy at any time of year. Even during the warmer months, you can experience a surprisingly cool or windy day, particularly along the coast, so having a lightweight jacket with you is always a good idea.
What about rain?
Don’t let the possibility of rain put you off. The Garden Route is beautiful precisely because it has such a wonderful climate and varied landscape, but rain is always possible.
If you are travelling during the South African winter months, you should be prepared for some wet weather. Winter is also an excellent time for safari, as the cooler, drier conditions generally make wildlife easier to spot around waterholes and in the more open vegetation.
So, while winter can be fantastic for seeing wildlife, it can also bring periods of rain, particularly along parts of the Garden Route. Pack a lightweight waterproof jacket and you’ll be prepared.
What if I have more luggage?
Don’t worry about this.
Many visitors arrive in Cape Town with larger suitcases because they are travelling around South Africa for several weeks. If you’re spending a few days in Cape Town before joining us, your hotel may be able to store your larger luggage while you travel the Garden Route. We can then collect it when we return to Cape Town.
If your hotel isn’t able to store your luggage, don’t worry at all. We will have room in the vehicle to take everything with you. You don’t need to leave anything behind or spend time worrying about where to store your bags.
We simply recommend keeping your luggage sensible and manageable because you’ll be moving between different hotels during the tour.
The most important thing is to pack for comfort rather than quantity. Bring comfortable clothes, good walking shoes, your slops, something warm, something waterproof and your camera — and you’ll have everything you need for an unforgettable five days on the Garden Route with Convoy Tours.
