Swartberg Pass or not?
 

Working on our final plans for our September and are planning our drive from Hermanus to Knysna. We want to stop at the Congo caves and come down to through George. We want a scenic drive and have heard of a couple options. Is it worth the time (and does anyone have an idea how long it will take?) to go up to route 1 and then take the 407 which becomes the 328 as it passes thru Oudtshoorn and then mergers with N12 to George and then the N2 on to Knysna. Otherwise it looks like it's the N2 to George and then up north to the caves and then back down to Knysna That route doesn't look especially remarkable. Have I got this right? Would love some help and suggestions please

You would want to spend a night in Prince Albert if you do that route. It is a delightful town, incredibly scenic and worth it, if you have the time. We came back from a Garden route trip that way in 2012.

Thanks Uhoh. I assume that it's too long a drive if we're not able to stay there. We already have a deposit on our reservation in Knysna. Too bad!!

You are "close" from Cango Caves, BUT the drive through the pass is very curvy and bumpy. If the weather turns, you could find yourself driving in heavy fog (happened to us!) which is a stressful adventure. You can come back through another route (which is also gorgeous and less stressful) but that adds a lot to the drive to Knysna.

The drive from Capetown to Knysna is pretty nice. We spent the night in Wilderness, a small town not far from Knysna. It is not called "The Garden Route" because it isn't beautiful.

Sound like you had an interesting experience! Unfortunately we just don't have the time. I was looking at the map again and it seems that from the wine country we can get onto 62 and take that to Oudtshoorn and then go up to the caves. That seems more direct. Has anyone done that route recently?

You don't have enough time in one day to complete such a route

How long would it take to go from Hermanus to Oudtshoorn on 62? Maybe we can't go to the Congo Caves but I heard that 62 was prettier than N2. What other options do we have to get from Hermanus to Knysna?