garden route excursions

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Garden Route Tour Packages

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8-Day Cape and Garden Route Low-Key Self-Drive Tour

$814 to $966 pp (USD)

South Africa: Self-drive Mid-range Guest House & Hotel

You Visit: Cape Town (Start) , Cape Peninsula, Franschhoek (Winelands) , Oudtshoorn (Garden Route) , Knysna (Garden Route) , Port Elizabeth (End)

Indigo Safaris

4.8 /5  –  129 Reviews

11-Day South Africa Family Adventure

$6,344 to $9,505 pp (USD)

South Africa: Self-drive Luxury Lodge & Hotel

You Visit: Cape Town (Start) , Hermanus (Whales) , Garden Route, Kwandwe GR, Port Elizabeth (End)

4.8 /5  –  152 Reviews

13-Day Cape Town and Garden Route Big Five Safari

$3,327 pp (USD)

South Africa: Self-drive Mid-range Lodge & Tented Camp

You Visit: Cape Town (Start) , Hermanus (Whales) , Knysna (Garden Route) , Garden Route NP (Tsitsikamma) (Garden Route NP) , Lalibela GR, Cape Town Airport (End)

5.0 /5  –  42 Reviews

3-Day Big Five Safari Garden Route Game Lodge

$263 to $408 pp (USD)

South Africa: Shared tour (max 9 people per vehicle) Luxury Lodge

You Visit: Cape Town (Start) , Garden Route GR (Garden Route) , Cape Town (End)

Gems of Africa Safari and Tours   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

4.9 /5  –  103 Reviews

9-Day Cape Town to Addo Elephant Park

$4,180 to $4,400 pp (USD)

South Africa: Shared tour (max 10 people per vehicle) Mid-range Guest House & Hotel

You Visit: Cape Town (Start) , Hermanus (Whales) , Knysna (Garden Route) , Addo Elephant NP, Garden Route NP (Tsitsikamma) (Garden Route NP) , Ostrich Farm (Highlight) , Oudtshoorn (Garden Route) , Paarl (Winelands) , Boulder's Beach (Penguins) , Cape Town (End)

Travel your African Dream   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

4.6 /5  –  5 Reviews

9-Day Unforgettable Garden Route, Karoo & Addo Safari

$2,939 pp (USD)

South Africa: Private tour Mid-range Lodge & Hotel

You Visit: Cape Town (Start) , Oudtshoorn (Garden Route) , Graaff-Reinet (Town) , Addo Elephant NP, Garden Route NP (Tsitsikamma) (Garden Route NP) , Knysna (Garden Route) , Hermanus (Whales) , Cape Town (End)

Beyond Africa Safaris   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

Not yet rated

11-Day Cape Town and Garden Route Vacation

$3,300 pp (USD)

South Africa: Private tour Mid-range Guest House & Hotel

You Visit: Cape Town (Start) , Table Mountain (Cape Town) , Cape Point (Cape Peninsula) , Winelands, Oudtshoorn (Garden Route) , Garden Route NP (Tsitsikamma) (Garden Route NP) , Garden Route NP (Garden Route) , Hermanus (Whales) , Cape Town Airport (End)

Visit Afrika Travel   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

2-Day The Plettenberg - 1 Night

$350 to $550 pp (USD)

South Africa: Private tour Luxury Hotel

You Visit: Port Elizabeth (Start) , Plettenberg Bay (Garden Route) , Port Elizabeth (End)

East Cape Tours   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

5.0 /5  –  61 Reviews

11-Day Cape Town, Garden Route, Big 5 Safari (Self-Drive)

$2,274 to $2,529 pp (USD)

You Visit: Cape Town (Start) , Knysna (Garden Route) , Lalibela GR, Port Elizabeth (End)

Pembury Tours   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

5.0 /5  –  429 Reviews

17-Day South Africa Rainbow Route

$2,739 pp (USD)

South Africa & Eswatini: Shared tour (max 12 people per vehicle) Mid-range Lodge & Tented Camp

You Visit: Johannesburg (Start) , Greater Kruger, Kruger NP, Malolotja NR, Zululand (KwaZulu-Natal Province) , Royal Natal (Drakensberg Mountains) , East London (City) , Addo Elephant NP, Knysna (Garden Route) , Hermanus (Whales) , Cape Town (End)

Sunway Safaris   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

4.5 /5  –  30 Reviews

12-Day Cape Town and Garden Route Tour

$5,994 to $7,192 pp (USD)

South Africa: Private tour Mid-range Lodge & Tented Camp

You Visit: Port Elizabeth (Start) , Schotia GR, Addo Elephant NP, Garden Route NP (Tsitsikamma) (Garden Route NP) , Elephant Sanctuary Plettenberg Bay (Garden Route) , Knysna (Garden Route) , Mossel Bay (Town) , Oudtshoorn (Garden Route) , Robben Island (Cape Town) , Table Mountain (Cape Town) , Cape Peninsula, Cape Town (End)

Tourgy Tourz   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

4.9 /5  –  30 Reviews

8-Day Cape & Garden Route Classic Self-Drive Tour

$1,229 to $1,393 pp (USD)

South Africa: Self-drive Luxury Lodge & Guest House

You Visit: Cape Town (Start) , Franschhoek (Winelands) , Oudtshoorn (Garden Route) , Knysna (Garden Route) , Port Elizabeth (End)

13-Day South Africa Self Drive Honeymoon

$4,573 to $6,203 pp (USD)

You Visit: Cape Town (Start) , Winelands, Oudtshoorn (Garden Route) , Garden Route, Kwandwe GR, Chief Dawid Stuurman Airport (Port Elizabeth) , Port Elizabeth (End)

11-Day Luxury Garden Route Honeymoon - Whales and Safari

$8,429 pp (USD)

South Africa: Self-drive Luxury Lodge

You Visit: Cape Town (Start) , Hermanus (Whales) , De Hoop NR, Plettenberg Bay (Garden Route) , Kwandwe GR, Port Elizabeth (End)

6-Day Dynamic Cape Adventure Safari

$2,149 pp (USD)

You Visit: Cape Town (Start) , Garden Route NP (Tsitsikamma) (Garden Route NP) , Knysna (Garden Route) , Albertinia (Town) , Arniston (Town) , Cape Town (End)

5-Day Garden Route and Private Game Reserve

South Africa: Private tour Luxury Lodge & Guest House

You Visit: Cape Town (Start) , Oudtshoorn (Garden Route) , Knysna (Garden Route) , Garden Route NP (Tsitsikamma) (Garden Route NP) , Garden Route GR (Garden Route) , Cape Town (End)

2-Day Villa Afrikana Guest Suites - 1 Night

$253 pp (USD)

South Africa: Private tour Luxury Guest House

You Visit: Cape Town (Start) , Knysna (Garden Route) , Cape Town (End)

4-Day Garden Route Tour near Cape Town with Big 5 Safari

$652 pp (USD)

South Africa: Shared tour (max 12 people per vehicle) Mid-range Lodge & Guest House

You Visit: Cape Town (Start) , Oudtshoorn (Garden Route) , Storms River, Garden Route GR (Garden Route) , Cape Town (End)

14-Day Beach to Bush, Cape Town to Kruger Eco-Adventure

$4,017 pp (USD)

South Africa: Self-drive Mid-range Lodge & Hotel

You Visit: Cape Town (Start) , Hermanus (Whales) , Knysna (Garden Route) , Garden Route NP (Tsitsikamma) (Garden Route NP) , Johannesburg (City) , Kruger NP, Southern Kruger NP, Johannesburg (End)

3-Day Exclusive Garden Route 5 Star Luxury Safari

$1,610 pp (USD)

South Africa: Private tour Luxury+ Private Villa

You Visit: Knysna (Start) , Garden Route NP (Tsitsikamma) (Garden Route NP) , Cape Town (End)

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133 Garden Route tour packages with 538 reviews

Explorer Wildlife Jeep & 4WD Elephant Christmas & New Year +2

Garden Route & Addo Group Adventure - 6 Days

"You could even see the fuel station and shop owners light up when they saw her pull in with us in the van." Vanessa, traveled in March 2024

Explorer Wildlife Trekking Wildlife Christmas & New Year +2

5-Day Group Garden Route & Addo Adventure Tour (one-way)

"An excellent tour which we couldn't fault. We did everything we wanted to do and more." Graeme, traveled in January 2024

Explorer Wildlife Jeep & 4WD Big Five Christmas & New Year +2

11 Days Cape Town, Garden Route & Kruger

"The tour of Cape Peninsular was spectacular and lots of fun. The Kruger Park experience was incredible." ANTHONY, traveled in May 2023

Explorer Family Wildlife Sightseeing Christmas & New Year Wine tasting +3

7 day Garden Route, Cape Point and Winelands Combo

"This was by far the most amazing tour I have ever done! 5 stars, 10 if I could!" Kelsey, traveled in October 2022

Safari Family Wildlife Elephant Christmas & New Year +2

4 Day Cape to Addo Safari Tour (Return)

"The trip matches very well the description and Laurence was able to keep us all happy and busy." kerrie, traveled in November 2023

Explorer Family Wildlife Jeep & 4WD Christmas & New Year +2

4 Day Garden Route Adventure

"Very nice guest houses and hotels, good meals. Wonderful landscapes." Catherine, traveled in October 2022

Explorer Family Christmas & New Year +1

South Africa : Wildlife, Garden Route & Mother City Cape Town

"Our honeymoon vacation through South Africa was amazing! We got to see a little of everything and even with all the traveling around it was stress free." Leslie, traveled in December 2023

Explorer Family Wildlife Elephant Christmas & New Year +2

5 Day Garden Route Adventure Including Addo

"The tour was excellent, he gave us the best Vibes from Africa." Nereida, traveled in October 2022

Explorer Family Wildlife Christmas & New Year +1

5 day Best of South Africa Highlights: Garden Route with Addo National Park

"The tour itself took us to some wonderful places. All the accommodation was very good and the activities were well chosen." David, traveled in February 2024

Explorer Family Safari Wildlife Coach / Bus +2

Cape Town and the Garden Route

"An amazing tour once again with expat. Absolutely loved Sth Africa...I now want to book Kruger Park through expat." Roula, traveled in May 2019

• 10% deposit on some dates

What people love about Garden Route Tours

With Gareth we had a great, well organized short week, too short but ful of information, entertainment, fun.

An excellent tour which we couldn’t fault. Our guide, Rochelle, was superb. She was knowledgeable, always helpful and cheerful. We did everything we wanted to do and more. Highly recommended.

We cannot speak more highly about Cape Xtreme!! we had a wonderful time on our 11 day tour of Cape Town and Safari. Tariq was our very experienced guide in Cape Town, and he did an excellent job, give this man a raise! He was always punctual, knowledgeable and fun! He definitely was a highlight of our trip to SA. The tour itself is action packed, with early mornings and non stop activities, but this definitely a good thing when travellers want to see as much as they can in a short period of time. We would 100% book again with Cape Xtreme and would recommend to any of our friends back home.

Top operators

"This was my first experience with a guided tour and i'm very happy to have joined the family of Earthstompers, Christine was more than a guide she was more of a friend on this great tour. Well organized, great places to stay and the food been offered on tour was also very good.

Earthstompers Adventures is an expert in:

"We cannot speak more highly about Cape Xtreme!! we had a wonderful time on our 11 day tour of Cape Town and Safari. Tariq was our very experienced guide in Cape Town, and he did an excellent job, give this man a raise! He was always punctual, knowledgeable and fun! He definitely was a highlight of our trip to SA. The tour itself is action packed, with early mornings and non stop activities, but this definitely a good thing when travellers want to see as much as they can in a short period of time. We would 100% book again with Cape Xtreme and would recommend to any of our friends back home.

Cape Xtreme is an expert in:

"Brilliant if you don't have much time and want to experience a lot of wildlife and the best highlights along the garden route

Hotspots2c is an expert in:

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Guided Tour

Magnificent garden route, from r15 300 per person, duration: 4 days / 3 nights.

• About this tour
• What's included?

The Garden Route is a journey of exploration, discovery, and the chance to see why this part of the world is renowned for its beguiling diversity. This stretch of coastline connects Mossel Bay to the Storms River Mouth and has sandy beaches, lovely lakes and lagoons, lush, evergreen forests, and protea-studded slopes.

• Departure dates: Selected Departure dates
• Minimum guests: 2
• Maximum guests: 10
• 3 nights accommodation
• 3 Breakfasts
• Transportation in air-conditioned vehicles
• English-speaking tour guide
• Entrance fees as specified in the Itinerary

Get in touch

At Springbok Atlas Tours and Safaris, our team of travel specialists are passionate about helping you plan the trip of your dreams. Send us an enquiry or give us a call and let’s start planning a bespoke travel itinerary just for you.

+27 (0)21 460 4700

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Long-distance tours.

Garden Route Tours

The Garden Route is one of the most popular destinations in South Africa, known for its stunning coastal scenery, lush forests, and abundant wildlife. Located along the south-western coast of the country, it stretches from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to Storms River in the Eastern Cape. 

A Garden Route tour is the perfect way to experience all that this beautiful region has to offer including quaint coastal towns, safaris to spot the Big Five wildlife, scenic hikes and visits to world-renowned wineries. You’ll also have the opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities like whale watching, shark cage diving, and bungee jumping. 

Table of Contents

The best Garden Route Tours

Price of a garden route tour.

The price of a Garden Route tour can vary widely depending on the type of tour, the duration, and the level of accommodation and activities included. Generally, a basic 3-4 day tour can start at around $300-$400 per person, while a more luxurious 7-10 day tour can cost upwards of $1500 or more per person. 

Some tour packages may include meals, accommodations, transportation, and activities, while others may only cover a portion of these expenses. It’s important to research and compare different tour providers to find the best package that suits your budget and preferences. Additionally, keep in mind that the exchange rate of your home currency can affect the overall cost of the tour.

Tour breakdown for a Garden Route

Depending on the tour requirements selected, visitors have the option to see parks, wildlife, vineyards and more on a Garden Route tour. 

Garden Route tour highlights

• There are several private wildlife reserves along the Garden Route where you can spot the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino), as well as other African wildlife such as giraffes, zebras, and antelopes.
• Oudtshoorn is known as the “ostrich capital of the world,” and is home to many ostrich farms and the breathtaking Cango Caves.
• Knysna Heads is a natural landmark offering stunning views of the Indian Ocean and the Knysna Lagoon.
• Plettenberg Bay is a charming coastal town surrounded by white sandy beaches, lagoons, and wildlife reserves.
• The Garden Route is one of the best places in the world to spot whales, especially humpback and southern right whales, during their annual migration.
• Wine tasting is a popular activity on the Garden Route with the region known for its excellent wines, with many award-winning vineyards offering tours and tastings.
• Adventure activities are also popular amongst adrenaline junkies, offering activities such as bungee jumping, canopy tours, and shark cage diving.

Tour inclusions

The following details typical tour inclusions and exclusions on the best Garden Route tours:

Garden Route tour essentials and info

Is a 5 day tour of the garden route sufficient.

A 5-day tour of the Garden Route can give you a great taste of the region and allow you to visit many of the top attractions. However, whether it’s sufficient or not depends on your interests and what you want to experience during your trip.

If you’re mainly interested in visiting the main tourist hotspots and doing some popular activities like hiking, whale watching, and wine tasting, then a 5-day tour should be sufficient. You could visit places like Tsitsikamma National Park, Knysna, Oudtshoorn, Plettenberg Bay, and also take in a safari game drive in reserves such as Shamwari Private GR and Amakhala Private Game Reserve .

However, if you want to explore the region in-depth, and have more time for activities like longer hikes, wildlife safaris, and exploring lesser-known destinations, then a longer tour may be more suitable.The length of your tour should depend on your preferences, budget, and how much time you have available to explore the Garden Route.

Accommodation offered on a Garden Route tour?

After a long day surveying the incredible South African landscape and wildlife on offer, guests can look forward to the very best safari accommodation on their Garden Route. The accommodation is excellent with numerous options from tented camps, luxury lodges to camping grounds.

From camping in the bush with amenities to mid-range and luxury lodges located inside park reserves, there’s something for everyone. On a safari, high-end lodgings are commonly used on fly-in safari packages and excellent wining and dining is very much the norm.

Many others are small designer ecolodges, often made to blend into the environment whilst others near watering holes are superb for wildlife viewing and guests can enjoy a front-row seat to spot the wildebeest and zebras crossing the river.

Animals on a Garden Route tour?

You’ll find just about everything on a Garden Route game reserve safari. The surrounding area is home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo) and visitors will also find spotted hyenas and hippos depending on the particular country and park you visit.

Other animals you may encounter include giraffes, which can be seen at several reserves, including Gondwana Game Reserve, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, and Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve. Zebras can also be spotted in Plettenberg and Gondwana GR whilst bottlenose dolphins can be seen swimming in the ocean along the Garden Route coast.

During the migration season (June to November), you may also see Southern Right and Humpback whales in the waters around Hermanus, Plettenberg Bay, and other coastal towns.

What activities are a must-do on a Garden Route tour?

Before or after your safari in South Africa , visitors have a huge array of activities to choose from nearby Cape Town including driving south to visit the Cape of Good Hope (one of the southernmost points of the African Continent), the nearby beach town of Camps Bay, the vineyards of Stellenbosch and drive along Chapman’s Peak Drive. 

Closer to the city, you can climb (or cable car up) the breathtaking Table Mountain, ​​wander through the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, go shopping at the Victoria & Alfred (V&A) Waterfront or visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years during apartheid.

How many days do you need for a Garden Route tour?

The ideal length for a Garden Route tour is 5-7 days, which will allow you to explore the top attractions, enjoy adventure activities, and experience the region’s beautiful scenery and wildlife.

What is the best time of year to do a Garden Route tour?

The best time to do a Garden Route tour is from September to April when the weather is warm and sunny. It’s ideal for outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, and wildlife viewing, although the whale watching season is from June to November.

Is it safe to self drive the Garden Route?

Self-driving the Garden Route is generally safe, but it’s advised to take precautions such as driving during daylight hours, staying on main roads, and being vigilant for wildlife. It’s advisable to use a GPS and keep your car locked when parked.

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Garden Route Tours from and/or to Cape Town

A fabulous variety of garden route tours and safaris to suit your unique interests.

Doing one of our Garden Route Tours should be at the top of your list of Cape Town Tours and Trips when you visit South Africa’s rainbow nation. It rates as the no 1 tour activity or experience you can do from Cape Town. You are in for a scenic diversity treat of charming picturesque towns and villages, dramatic & scenic landscapes, tall trees, deep gorges, shimmering lakes, majestic mountain ranges, golden beaches and lush indigenous forests on all our Garden Route Tours .

Our guides are superb : engaging, knowledgeable and passionate professionals, and will do everything possible to make your Garden route experience the trip of a lifetime with extraordinary moments and travel stories.

The Garden Route with its abundance of natural beauty and wonders, is located along the picturesque Southern Cape Coastline of South Africa. It   stretches from Mossel Bay through George , Wilderness , Knysna , Plettenberg Bay up to Tsitsikamma and is a must-see highlight when you visit South Africa . A malaria-free Safari combines perfectly with the Garden Route.

For the best and diverse scenic tour experience , start and end your Garden Route Tour from Cape Town before or after doing our superb Cape Town Tours . Half the fun and diverse natural scenic splendor on our tours, is the route traveling to and from the Garden Route with  stunning rugged mountain scenery on route from Cape Town , beautiful landscapes, wine estates, quaint farmstalls and picturesque villages, the Cango Caves in Oudtshoorn, Cape Aguhas in the Overberg and Hermanus on the Whale Coast . This scenic feast of landscapes in a circular route to and from the Garden Route , makes Cape Town the ideal start and end destination for your Garden Route Tour

If you have a few extra travel days, add an authentic African Safari in the malaria-free Eastern Cape , home to the Big 5 wildlife animals, just a few hours’ drive from the Garden Route.

We offer a variety of fabulous Garden Route Tours with scenic, nature and leisure travel options, safari and wildlife options, activity and adventure options or a combination thereof. Whatever your unique interests and preferences when you are on holiday, one of our private or small-group Garden Route Tours  with our superb Guides would be perfect for your vacation.

Email us on [email protected] or select the “Enquire Now / Book ” button to obtain rates and availability:    

4 Days; 3 Nights

Explore the highlights of the Garden Route from Cape Town, including rugged mountain scenery on route to charming Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo on Day 1, the limestone formations of the famous Cango Caves , in Oudtshoorn. On Day 2 we travel along the scenic Garden route to Knysna – jewel of the Garden Route. On Day 3 we explore Plettenberg Bay with its long golden beaches, as well as and the dramatic beauty of the Tsitsikamma Forest and Coastal Park. On Day 4 we travel back to Cape Town via the Garden route, then turning inland.

We offer this tour as a Private Tour, fully customisable, as well as Small-Group Classic Garden Route Tours are offered. Our accommodation venues are superb 4-star establishments with many upgrade possibilities.

If you have limited holiday time in Cape Town and South Africa, and need to decide between the wide variety of Garden Route Tours, this is the best tour option to see the main highlights along this picturesque coastline .

Garden Route & Overberg Tour

5 days; 4 nights.

In addition to the Classic Garden Route Tour Highlights ( Oudtshoorn , Knysna , Plettenberg Bay and Tsitsikamma ), we add the Overberg  with quiant  Arniston  as well as Cape Agulhas , the southernmost tip of Africa and meeting place of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

We travel back to Cape Town via Hermanus  (with the best land-based Whale Watching from July to November) and the stunning coastal Clarence Drive . 

Because of the wonderful scenic diversity that the Overberg adds to your Garden route tour experience, this is the favourite of all our scenic Garden Route Tours. Read here to see our 14 Superb reasons why you should add the Overberg to your Garden Route Trip.

Garden Route & malaria-free Eastern Cape Safari Tour

7 days; 6 nights.

The Garden Route (with Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Tsitsikamma) is combined with a malaria-free Safari  in the Eastern Cape , a natural extension of the Garden Route and home to the free-roaming Big 5 of Africa (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo, Rhino).

You can choose between visiting  Addo Elephant National Park , with more than 600 Elephant, or one of the luxury private game reserves  with 4-star and 5-star luxury lodges. Experience the thrill of an authentic African Safari in the search for wildlife encounters, the peaceful surroundings of nature and the sounds of the bush.

Garden Route & Big 5 Kruger Park Safari Tour

10 days; 9 nights.

Combine your Garden Route Tour (including Oudtshoorn, Cango Caves, Knysna, Tsitsikamma) with a Safari in the flagship Game Reserve, Kruger Park , home to the free-roaming Big 5 of the animal kingdom (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo, Rhino)

Garden Route & Cape Town Tour

8 days; 7 nights.

Our Tour package includes highlights of cosmopolitan Cape Town, Table Mountain, Cape Point and Peninsula and the Cape Winelands as well as a Garden Route Tour, including Oudtshoorn’s Cango Caves, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Tsitsikamma, Arniston, Cape Agulhas and Hermanus on the Whale Coast

Cape Town, Garden Route & malaria-free Eastern Cape Safari Tour

Explore Cape Town City, Table Mountain, Cape Point and the Stellenbosch / Franschhoek / Paarl Winalnds before departing for the scenic Garden Route (Oudtshoorn, Cango Caves, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Tsitsikamma) and a malaria-free Safari within the Eastern Cape, home to the free-roaming Big 5 (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo, Rhino)

13 days; 12 nights

Highlights of Cape Town and the Garden Route as well as a Safari at the flagship Game Reserve, Kruger National Park, home to the free-roaming Big 5 (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo, Rhino) and the Panoramic route on the Mpumalanga escarpment

Garden Route & Big 5 Kruger Safari Tour

10 days; 9 nights.

Explore the Garden Route and add a Safari at the flagship Game Reserve, Kruger National Park or one of the adjacent private game reserves in the Greater Kruger area, a game reserve like no other and home to the free-roaming Big 5 of the animal kingdom (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo, Rhino)

Garden Route & Wildlife Tour

5 days; 4 nights.

The tour includes the classic must-do highlights of the Garden Route ( Oudtshoorn , Knysna , Plettenberg Bay and Tsitsikamma ) and adds a wildlife and nature experience on the malaria-free Garden Route at a 4-star Safari Lodge on a Conservation Reserve.

The Garden Route’s conservation game reserves are smaller than the Eastern Cape’s private Game Reserves with its free-roaming wildlife. Predators on the conservation reserves on the Garden route are kept separate in large camps and do not hunt.

This provides a soft safari experience and is the ideal tour if you have limited time and your travel budget is limited  and cannot include the malaria-free Eastern Cape.

Email us on [email protected] or select the “ Enquire Now / Book Now ” button to obtain rates and   availability or to book a tour.

Garden Route Tours in South Africa

The Garden Route , perennially green, has a mild Mediterranean Maritime climate and lies on a narrow belt between the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma Mountains and the Southern Coast of South Africa

Aside from the abundance of scenic landscapes, the Garden Route offers unlimited scenic photographic opportunities , animal interactions, wildlife experiences, active and adventure activities .

So whether you are interested in scenic beauty, leisure, landscapes, hiking or adventure , the Garden Route offers a diverse variety of holiday experiences and one of our fabulous Garden Route Tour options will match your interests.

Start and End destinations are   flexible : Cape Town , George (or the Domestic Airport at George ), Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Tsitsikamma, Port Elizabeth (or the International Airport at Port Elizabeth).

To experience one of the best highlights offered in our beautiful rainbow country, a Garden Route Tour should be right at the top of your travel bucket list of South African Tours and Trips .

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Garden Route Tours

South african garden route tours.

The most amazing a 400-kilometer stretch of coastal road in the south western point of South Africa regarded as the most beautiful regions in the Great country. The region its name from the Garden route national park , and the diverse vegetation and wildlife, and abundance of lagoons, lakes, mountains, forests, and beaches along its winding roads, situated between the Tsitsikamma , Knsyna and Wilderness regions, Home to abundant marine reserves, a round trip offers a variety of attractions, and activities and adventure sports, along the way, from hiking and whale watching tours, to exploring caves and deserted sandy beaches, and Big 5 Nature reserves.

The route meanders between the Indian Ocean and the Tsitsikamma and Outeniqua mountain ranges, with equally stunning views on either side. The beauty of the indigenous forests meets the rugged cliffs and the abundant coastal views, producing the type of panoramic views only found in South Africa, on needs 4-6 days to really enjoy the region, its people and Towns and its food, Join us on an adventure and experience of a lifetime.

6 Day Garden Route and Addo Tour

5 Day Garden Route and Addo Tour

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A Complete Guide to the Garden Route

The South African Garden Route is not something people who envision the African landscape would expect to encounter. Instead of dry grass and thorny acacia trees, the garden route is filled with dense forest, lush green mountains and rushing rivers that spill into the Indian Ocean.

The Garden Route is well worth visiting, and for those who are embarking on an exciting Cape Town tour, a trip through the Garden Route is a natural next stop. The Route, given its name from the fact that the area is a beautiful strip of botanical wonders, covers an extensive area and is only a mere 4 hours from Cape Town.

The stunning 300km stretch of land that the Garden Route covers has an unidentifiable starting point (the locals can’t quite agree on where it begins) and runs up the rustic Eastern Cape coast of South Africa.

Self-drive tours as well as guided ones, are all available at rather affordable rates. Many tours also include accommodation and entry fees to popular attractions.

The History of the Garden Route Unlike many of the other national parks dotted around South Africa, the Garden Route is not exactly one entity. Rather it is a variety of national parks, old picturesque towns and various natural attractions, and so the history of the areas is about as varied as the places you will encounter.

The history of the Garden Route is divided into two sections; ancient history and the more recent events that have shaped the area.

The ancient history dates back around 2000 years to the time when hunter-gathers lived a nomadic life in the region. These herders made use of the abundant natural vegetation and close proximity to fresh water sources to live. The tribe that dominated the area was the Khoi Khoi.

Hundreds of years later, when man took to the oceans to explore the world, Europeans landed in the area and instantly fell in love with the scenery, the natural forests, the natural harbours and the plentiful game that lived in the Garden Route at that time.

Many of them chose to make their homes here and established small villages of their own. This was soon after the arrival of Dutch Settlers in 1652.

Along with those who initially settled in the Eastern Cape, after arriving on ships in other parts of the Cape, Dutch settlers from the Dutch East Indian Companies relief establishment would soon after their arrival also start moving inland, in search of a new home.

The explorers who ventured inland would trade all sorts of things with the people they would encounter along the way. The numerous natural forests the explorers found along the way were not respected in a way we would today, simply because they lived such different lives. They saw the forests not as trees but as timber to be turned into ships and homes. So many sawmills popped up in the area.

A few hundred years later and gold was discovered.

The gold rush of South Africa is truly legendary and saw the rise and fall of towns, families and industries, and it gave the forests of the Garden Route temporary relief. But by then 200 years had passed and the forests and most of the game populations had been nearly whipped out.

In 1913, the Forest Act was passed. All woodcutters had to be registered and approved, making it more difficult for just anyone to move into the area and begin cutting down trees. By 1939, all woodcutters in the area were pretty much forced to pack up their tools. The forests of South Africa today include plenty of alien species but the Garden Route is one of the few places where indigenous hardwood trees grow freely.

In the present, South Africa’s national park authorities have set aside areas of the Garden Route where the natural habitat has been mostly revived and there is a firm dedication to conservation so that visitors from all over the world can enjoy some of our country’s most beautiful natural wonders.

When travelling through the forests, the smell of milkwood trees fills the air and in the summer months, all sorts of flowers bloom, attracting bees and other insects.

The more recent history of the Garden Route, saw the rise of towns and the establishment of roads between the cities of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. All along the route, there are various places to stay, countless bars and restaurants to explore, hiking trails to venture on, and friendly faces to meet.

Getting there

For those who are on the ultimate self-drive excursion, it’s basic knowledge that you have to know where you are going. And for those who are part of a laid back tour group, it’s of course natural to want to know where you are heading.

Getting there is half the fun, as they say, and when you are taking a winding trip up the coast, taking in the sights, smells and sounds along the roughly 200km route, this saying rings truer than you could possibly believe.

The Garden Route is considered one of South Africa’s ultimate road trips and its forests, national parks and isolated beaches are enough to attract most intrepid adventurers.

Most Garden Route tours will begin in Cape Town, especially for international travellers. Since most guests travelling to South Africa, wanting to visit the Cape, will start their holiday in Cape Town, it is quite natural that the Garden Route tours begin here to.

So, how do you get to the Garden Route?

To get to the Garden Route, you will be following South Africa’s fully tarred and well maintained, N2 highway. If you travel the route from beginning to end, you will rack up around 800kms, and likely end up in Port Elizabeth.

Officially, the Route begins at Mossel Bay and ends at Storms River. Knysna is considered to be about the middle of the Route.

The beauty of the Garden Route is that tours can stop all along the way, at every beautiful attraction or small town, and explore. There is also no real, or rather no official guide to determine where you should be stopping and what you should be doing. This is why most tour companies will create their own itineraries. Many tour companies will also provide guests with the option of customising their tours.

The other option that some guests like to use is flying. This option gives them the chance to land exactly where they want to and as such it minimises the amount of time they are going to be spending on the road.

But really, half the fun is getting there so if you were to fly into the area and only see the most popular places, then you will truly be missing out on a lot of the more exiting attractions.

Famous Garden Route Attractions and Towns

Known for its natural attractions as well as its many historical small towns, the Garden Route is without a doubt a top destination for everyone visiting South Africa.

Storms River Suspension Bridge

There are all sorts of exciting natural attractions to see and get lost in. The Storms River is a part of the Tsitsikamma National Park, which is now a part of the Garden Route National Park, and the best way to explore here is to put on your comfortable walking shoes and get hiking.

At a point you will come to sighting that is not for the faint of heart; a suspension bridge.

It stretches for 77 meters, covering the turbulent mouth of the Storms River. Guests walking across the bridge can watch the storms river merging with the Indian Ocean in a violent rush. The bridge is only about 7 meters above the water and those who stand on the bridge can feel the intensity of the wind as they take in the experience.

Those heading for the bridge should also look forward to the hiking trails that will lead them there. Walking through unbelievably beautiful natural forests, which occasionally give way to ocean views, and an array of spectacular waterfalls, the suspension bridge is really just the final cherry on the cake.

The nature in this part of the Tsitsikamma is also quite something. The birdlife is vibrant and full of song, and there are also all sorts of antelopes and monkeys living in the park. When gazing out at the ocean, you might have the opportunity to catch glimpse of some of the marine life that frequents the area.

When you are in the area you should also take the time to visit South Africa’s oldest tree. It is called the Big Tree and it is estimated to be around 800 years old.

Knysna Forest and Knysna Heads

From above the view could quite easily be that of an English country side. On the ground though, it is quite distinctly South African.

Knysna is situated right on a lagoon, between the forests and the ocean. It is without a doubt one of the most popular towns in all of the Garden Route and it is home to a gorgeous natural wonder, the Knysna Heads.

The Knysna Heads are two gigantic rocky outcrops, sitting in the mouth of the lagoon. The easiest way to see them is by boat and by taking a long walk along some of the trails in the area which have a couple of lookout points from which you will be able to see some of the most unforgettable panoramic views.

While on a walk, you can stop off at one of the local cafes for a pick me up.

Close to Knysna, the forests are a must-see. They are one of South Africa’s only natural forests and these forests are home to some of South Africa’s oldest trees, some of which are between 400 and 800 years old. Of these trees there are yellowwoods, stinkwoods and Cape chestnuts.

Knysna Elephant Park

Elephant herds once roamed the area although today they can only be found in conservation areas like the Knysna Elephant Park.

At the elephant park, you can interact with and even feed these legendary animals, under the careful eye of their devoted handlers.

The park was established some 20 years ago and at the time was the first South African sanctuary to look after orphaned elephants. Many of the elephants were rescued and rehabilitated at the sanctuary. This kind of experience is one that will certainly stick with you for the rest of your life and if you have a special love for wildlife, you need to embark on this tour.

Swartberg Pass

It’s not all forestry and lush greenery, there are some places in the area that are mountainous and during sometimes of the year, quite dry.

The Swartberg Pass is one of those places and along with its quite remarkable rock formations and unbelievable views, there are also a couple of places where you can go exploring.

The Pass climbs over the Swartberg Mountain Range, which is a natural boundary between the Great Karoo and the Little Karoo. The road travels some 200 km and at some points it rises up to 2 326 meters above ground.

The Swartberg Pass winds its way from Oudtshoorn to Prince Albert and it was built by convicts between 1881 and 1888 under the guidance of the road engineer Thomas Bain.

One of the flowers to lookout for along the way is the Protea, South Africa’s national flower.

Oudtshoorn Ostrich Farm

It is one of the biggest towns in the Little Karoo and it also happens to be one of the best known and most used ostrich breeding centers of South Africa. If you’ve had dreams of riding an ostrich, you will probably be able to do it here.

Oudtshoorn is a sort of side trip for guests because it is not actually a part of the Garden Route but there is a lot to see and do here.

A visit to the Cango Wildlife Ranch is worth it. Here you can go cage-diving with crocodiles, and you can get up close and personal with cheetahs and lemurs.

Wilderness National Park

Of all the Garden Route this is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places out of them all. Wilderness National Park sits between Knysna and George. In the north the park ends in the Outeniqua Mountains, and to the south it leads right into the Indian Ocean.

In this vibrantly colourful part of the world you’ll come across wetlands, estuaries, and lakes, as well as a diverse range of flora and fauna that are quite unique to the Garden Route. Along with seeing all sorts of birds, you can go hiking, canoeing, windsurfing, fishing, and sailing.

Bloukrans Bungy

One of the best things the Garden Route is well known for is its exhilarating sports. Canoeing, windsurfing, fishing, and bungee jumping.

Bloukrans Bungy is situated about 40 kms outside of Plettenberg Bay when you are heading in the direction of the Storms River. It is best known for being the world’s highest commercial bungee jump and those who are brave enough will take the 216 meter leap into the gorge below, while safely attached to a bungee cord.

To ensure that you make the best memories, bring along a GoPro or similar camera so you can record every single hair raising moment.

Plettenberg Bay

When you come back into civilisation after sometime out in the wilderness (no pun intended), one of the places you should certainly visit is Plettenberg Bay. For the locals it is a rather upmarket town, where only those of a certain income bracket can afford to live, and where students spend their “Spring Break”.

For international guests it is an oasis of calm and guests can look forward to some of the best accommodation and picturesque beaches. Be warned though, in the high season the town can be packed full of people.

It was once a place of industrialisation and quick growth, but these days it is dotted with coffee shops, places to buy antiques, and all sorts of second hand shops where you can buy a once loved something.

Once you’ve spent some time exploring the town, you can settle yourself on one of the blue flag beaches and enjoy a good book and a warm drink, so long as the wind isn’t acting up. You can also arm yourself with your camera and set off to snap a few pictures of some of the many, stunning historical buildings.

There is a natural conservation area called wilderness and there is also a town called Wilderness, so don’t confuse the two. In the town of Wilderness, there are sparkling natural lakes, untouched beaches, mountains, lagoons and estuaries full of birds. It is the ultimate outdoorsy town for anyone wanting to get in touch with nature while exploring the shops.

Wilderness has plenty of fantastic places to stay as well, so you can easily find some luxury accommodation while here.

Although many South Africans have chosen to retire in this quaint little town, making sure that the pace is nice and slow, Sedgefield is a fantastic place to enjoy some of your time while on a tour of the Garden Route.

The town has 5 hidden beaches, which lie just beyond the lagoons and sand dunes, and they stretch along the coast for around 6 kms. They are the perfect place to go for a walk, especially when the tide is low.

The town is quite well-known for its eclectic art vibe and while here there are a few places where you can soak up the creativity.

Storms River

It is not just the name of the popular river that runs through this area, but it is also partly the name of the town nearby, known as Storms River Town. The town lies just about on the beach and it plays host to all sorts of action packed adventures such as tubing.

The town of Storms River Mouth is surrounded by the Tsitsikamma National Park and it has become a favourite destination for holiday markers across the Cape. People love to stay here because so much of the accommodation looks out over the restless ocean and makes for the perfect place for those cold, stormy nights.

Nature’s Valley

One of the last must-visit towns is Nature’s Valley. The town is known as a real retreat into nature and there was one time when the town was completely inaccessible and situated between the daunting Tsitsikamma Mountains. The valley is characterised by a river, a number of beaches and the natural forest.

The village is quite hidden away from the world and occasionally the nature comes a little too close, although that is part of the appeal.

Dias Museum

While it will take a lot of strength to drag you away from the gorgeous nature that characterises the Garden Route, there are a few indoor attractions which are well worth the visit.

One such attraction is the Bartholomew Dias Museum.

The Museum is based in Mossel Bay and it pays tribute to the arrival of the Europeans and their subsequent meetings with those who already lived here. The museum gives guests a truly remarkable insight into the history of the area at that time as well as a look at the history of the Portuguese, British and Dutch sailors who were constantly coming and going.

Within the museum is a replica of the Dias Caravel which is the boat used by Bartholomew Dias to reach Africa. Guests can walk around the boat and imagine themselves living in an era when such travel was the norm.

Blue Ocean Adventure

When on the Garden Route, and so close to the shining ocean, exploring the waters and seeing some of its inhabitants is a must. The Garden Route has numerous places for experienced divers to take a dip, but you don’t have to be a diver to see what lurks beneath the waves.

Blue Ocean Adventure gives guests to the area the opportunity to spot the rare Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin, the Bottlenose Dolphin, Humpback Whales, Southern Right Whales and all sorts of other beautiful sea creatures while also being given a front row seat to a view of the landscape.

Whale watching is an incredibly popular past time for those living and visiting the area, and it would be a shame to miss such a sighting. The whales are not visible all year round, so make sure you plan your trip in such a way that you don’t miss them.

Gansbaai is without a doubt a highlight of the tour for everyone who has a love for sharks. It is the shark cage diving capital of the world, and anyone can sign up for a cage dive, you don’t need experience. Guests who go shark cage diving will be supplied with the necessary equipment and the accompanying attire. They are then taken out on to the ocean, climb into a cage and then drop beneath the waves to go on an underwater safari of sorts.

Cage dives take place all year round, but are heavily dependent on the weather, so certain times of the year are better than others.

The Ultimate Garden Route Road Trip

From natural wonders, to historical towns, and wonderful places to eat, the Garden Route has a lot to offer those who go exploring. Whether you want to spend your time swimming in the river while gazing up at the sheer canyon cliff faces, go deep sea diving to visit long forgotten ship wrecks, spend a few days hiking through one of the many national parks, or submerge yourself in the local vibes, with this ultimate Garden Route road trip you can plan your trip from beginning to end.

It is South Africa’s most scenic drive. Passing through indigenous forests, spotting lagoons and simply taking in that clear South African air, the Garden Route is one for the bucketlist.

Practical information

1. The Garden Route begins in Mossel Bay (officially, although the locals might claim otherwise), and ends in Storms River. It covers a stretch of about 200 -300 km (the official distance depends on who you talk to). 2. There is no set number of days needed to explore the route. Some people take 7 days, others 2 weeks. The time you spend on tour will likely be determined by the tour company you are travelling with, so plan carefully, you don’t want to miss the best attractions. 3. You can travel the route either way and as such you can begin in Cape Town and end in PE or you can begin in PE and end in Cape Town. There are also some travellers who journey down from Johannesburg and head straight for whichever attraction they chose as their starting point. Again, where you begin and end will depend on the tour company you travel with. 4. When it comes to the finer aspects of your travels, if you are travelling from overseas, it might be helpful to bring along a travellers adaptor plug for your appliances and chargers. In South Africa, power sockets are most the M type. 5. Accommodation is generally going to be decided by the company you are travelling with and you can expect some truly amazing, even luxurious accommodation, when you are on the road. If you are planning to tackle the route on your own, the most budget friendly accommodation will be camping. Luckily, the Garden Route has countless camping spots all along the way. 6. There are restaurants and family owned cafes in most of the small towns dotted along the route, so you will always find a place to eat or a place to stock up on food while on the road. In some cases, the area is quite old fashioned and dedicated to a slower pace of living, and as such you might find that restaurants are closed on a Sunday. 7. If you are planning a self-drive trip, keep in mind that South Africans drive on the left hand side of the road, and pass on the right. South African roads can be quite an experience so make sure you stick to the rules and just take your time. 8. The Garden Route is tarred the whole way so you won’t need a 4×4 vehicle when on a self-drive. 9. When you arrive at a national park and wish to enter, keep in mind that there are certain entrance fees that will need to be paid. Generally, when travelling with a tour group as part of a packaged trip, your entrance fees will be covered.

South Africa Travel Insurance Basics

It pays to plan your trip properly and this means planning for possible risks and/or disruptions in your plans. Travel insurance is used for in case things go wrong and it is especially important when you are travelling to a destination like South Africa, which is quite far-flung.

Travel insurance can also cover your personal well-being should you get sick or hurt while on holiday. Remember, South Africa is quite the action-packed holiday getaway, and the Garden Route has a number of activities which include hiking, surfing, canoeing, bungi jumping, and diving, and having insurance is going to cover any possibly accidents.

This type of insurance will also work to cover any losses due to theft or even damage. As you well know, South Africa has a bit of a reputation for theft, but your holiday doesn’t have to be ruin by a robbery.

With travel insurance, you can sit back and take in the beauty around you, without the worry about unexpected financial situations.

When you are choosing you insurance company, make sure that you have chosen the company that works predominantly with travel. More insurance companies are going to offer travel insurance, but instead opt for a reputable company which specialises in travel.

Travel insurance can be bought online and there are quite a lot of flexible insurance options available out there. Make sure that you have a look around, read the reviews and only settle for a company that will provide you with the service you expect. You should also look at customising your insurance instead of getting a blanket cover. You can choose to cover only certain aspects of your trip, and actually save money by not having to pay out extra money unnecessarily.

The best time to travel the Garden Route

South Africa is blessed with year round gorgeous weather. The Garden Route is no exception. The best time to travel the Garden Route is during the South African spring and summer, which begins in around September and ends in April.

While the winters might be a little gloomy with the romantic splash of rain, but since the winter months are off season, you can expect a quiet, and in some cases, a more personal, trip. The Garden Route enjoys an abundance of rain, most of which falls in the winter months with Cold Front systems whip the Western South Africa.

As the Garden Route winds into the Eastern Cape, the winter rains blow away before reaching land. The Eastern Cape, including the Tsitsikamma, receives summer rainfall with spectacular thunderstorms being quite normal.

To be on the safe side, simply assume that you will have rain during your trip and plan your attire accordingly.

As for the temperature, the summer months are always warm and pleasant. Unlike the bushveld of South Africa, and the north eastern coastline, where the summer temperatures get swelteringly hot, the Garden Route has a mild kind of heat. The average summer time temperatures range from 24 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius.

The Spring months as well as the Autumn which includes the months of September, April and May, are quite cool with the temperatures hovering at around 17 to 23 degrees Celsius. From June to August, the heart of South Africa’s winter, temperatures drop to between 16 – 20 degrees Celsius.

Garden Route Tour Itinerary and Highlights

Some of the best Garden Route Tours are the 5 to 6 day tours. This timeframe is ideal because it allows every day to be jam packed with action while not being too long drawn out. This means you can plan a longer trip to South Africa and fit the Garden Route into your time spent here without spending all your time on the Route.

Day 1 – Hermanus, Gansbaai, Cape Agulhas

The tour begins in the Mother City, Cape Town. Guests can stand on the Southernmost tip of Africa and be in awe of the endlessness of the Atlantic Ocean as it stretches out before you. From there, the tour heads through Cape Town and out towards the Garden Route.

The first day is spent really exploring, with the tour stopping at some of South Africa’s most beautiful beaches, including De Hoop Beach, welcoming towns, and idyllic eateries. The first day also includes a trip to the unforgettable De Hoop Nature Reserve.

Hermanus and Gansbaai are well-known for their oceanic viewing. Whales and sharks are often spotted close to the beach. A commonly enjoyed activity in this area includes shark cage diving, which is done off the coast of Gansbaai. Those brave adventurers who want to meet a Great White Shark, are kitted out in the right diving attire to keep the cold of the Atlantic away and submerged beneath the waves in a cage. While under the cold waters, curious Great Whites swim up to the cage and guests get to experience the exhilaration of witnessing these magnificent creatures.

For the rest of the trip, we travel on towards Knysna, taking the route via Malgas and Witsand. Guests will be accommodated in the same place throughout the tour. We choose a comfortable, central location from which to experience all that the Garden Route has to offer.

Each day is spent touring a part of the area. Guests can look forward to a trip into the Tsitsikamma, one of the most exquisite forests in the country. With its hiking trails and other fun things to do, it is difficult to be bored while you are here. Another day will be spent in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa’s whale watching hub. Whether from comfort of the beach or out on the ocean, seated safely in a boat, spotting the whales as they come close to the beach is an unforgettable experience.

The afternoons and evenings are for leisure time. Guests can spend them relaxing and reliving the days excitement. Our tours of the Garden Route make use of the very best 3 and 4 star accommodation so you can look forward to the best experience. The lodges we use come with all of the amenities you can expect and they are run by friendly staff. The tour accommodation includes breakfast, while lunch and dinners are at your own expense. The Garden Route is full of all sorts of family run restaurants, cafes and coffee shops.

Guests who are considering a tour should keep in mind that the tour will include plenty of walking, so it is important that you pack a pair of comfortable shoes and be prepared for a busy time out in nature.

Those who visit South Africa will usually want to visit at least one national park to see the country’s real pull; the wildlife. The Kruger National Park, in particular, is an attraction for many, but if your tour of South Africa is going to be confined to the Cape, you are likely to miss out on seeing this park. To make up for it, Kurt Safari can include a trip to one of the nearby nature reserves where you can see the Big 5.

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An Ultra-efficient Garden Route Itinerary for 5 Days

Streching for more than 300 kilometers (or 190 miles), South Africa’s Garden Route is perhaps the most popular road trip in the entire country. In some ways, the Garden Route is a condensed version of South Africa: it has forests, mountains, lagoons, grasslands, and deserts. This Garden Route itinerary is perfect for both the adventurous as well as the laid-back traveler, with plenty of activities to mix and match. And since there are so many things to do in the Garden Route in South Africa, you can let yourself be occupied from morning until night!

Personally, I loved South Africa’s Garden Route and could’ve spent twice the number of days here than I could. Especially if you love outdoors activities, you’ll be spoiled for choice with the fabulous national parks in this region.

Here are the highlights of my Garden Route trip, some tips on driving it yourself, extra activities I missed but wish I’d had time for, plus guided tours to the Garden Route from Cape Town in case you’re not renting a car.

Enjoy this beautiful slice of paradise ✨

Garden route accommodation

In general, you can stay in most towns along the Garden Route and not go terribly wrong. There are a lot of Garden Route itineraries that recommend a bunch of different locations, ranging from guesthouses to full-blown luxury lodges. These are the places I personally stayed at that ended up being excellent, both in terms of facilities and logistically, and won’t blow your budget.

• Hermanus – We loved our stay at The Nantucket . It’s a three-story guesthouse, and the owner will give you decades-worth of tips for the Garden Route. He even printed out a list of recommended stops for us! Great ocean views, our neighbors staying here saw whales from the balcony! Super clean and bright.
• Knysna – Another guesthouse, Cloud 9 has stunning views over the sea and the lagoon from its high vantage point. The cost per night is a steal, though access is along a weird dirt road Google doesn’t know about so be prepared.
• Port Elizabeth or Jeffreys Bay – We stayed at Brighton Lodge in Port Elizabeth, which ended up being very lucky as they gave us SUPER helpful tips for our trip to Addo Elephant Park, including where best to enter the park and which roads to avoid. Besides Port Elizabeth, you can also base yourself in Jeffrey’s Bay.

Garden Route Itinerary for 5 days

Day 1: cape town to hermanus.

• Day 2: Mossel Bay, Wilderness, Knysn

Day 3: Plettenberg Bay, Nature’s Valley, Tsitsikamma National Park, Port Elizabeth

Day 4: addo elephant park, day 5: return through klein karoo to cape town.

While not technically part of the Garden Route, Hermanus is a town that a lot of people (us included) build into their Garden Route itinerary. And why not? It’s on the way from Cape Town to Mossel Bay (the official start of the Garden Route), and is famous as the best land-based whale-watching capital of the world . From June to December every year, the Southern Right whale comes to the bay to give birth to its calves. That’s right – you can see baby whales!

Apart from seeing whales, you can also often see the Cape Fur Seal as well as dolphins.

Things to do in Hermanus

• Take a whale-watching boat tour – While Hermanus is famous for its excellent land-based whale-watching, you can get within 50m of these gentle giants by boat. Must-do if you are visiting during the whale season from June to December (there were still whales in the bay during our trip in early December).
• Hermanus Whale Festival – September is peak season, even if the whales can be seen for many more months. This three-day festival includes street food, activities for kids, live music, and whales obviously.
• Cliff Path – Another place you can watch whales from, this easy 10km coastal hike is a great way to spend time in Hermanus. You don’t need to stay long to enjoy the view and breathe in Hermanus’ famous “champagne air”.
• Go for oysters at locales’ favorite oyster joint – Recommended to us personally by our host in Hermanus, Lemon Butta has excellent seafood, especially oysters.

Day 2: Mossel Bay, Wilderness, Knysna

Mossel Bay marks the official start to the Garden Route, even though many people make sure to stop in Hermanus on the way here. Its name literally means “Mussel Bay”, like the mussels you might like to eat! If you’re trying to do this as a day trip, that probably means mussels for breakfast or lunch. Based on some reviews (and our trusty South Africa guidebook ), we ended up at Oyster Bar , which offered 3 oysters for under $10.

Things to do in Mossel Bay

• Eat oysters – You’ll notice this is a theme on the Garden Route! Oysters and other seafood are extremely popular here and you can find them ultra-fresh in Mossel Bay.
• Visit the Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex – Remember how we talked earlier about how sailors used to crash against the southern tip of Africa? You can visit a musem named for the explorer who was the first European to sail around it. It’s got ships inside.
• Diaz Beach – The biggest beach in Mossel Bay, with beautiful sand and has a restaurant and surf school nearby. You can go swimming here, just not too far because the area does have sharks.
• The Point – A popular surf point and beach, complete with both a small and a large tidal pool. Entry point to the St. Blaize hiking trail.
• St. Blaize Hiking Trail – A 15 kilometer long stretch of hiking trail along the coast of Mossel Bay.

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Knysna is famous for having both a beautiful coastline as well as an inland lagoon. Depending on your vantage point, you can actually see both sides of Knysna at the same time. Its unique geography also means it was famous as a dangerous place to sail (this seems like a theme, no?). The Knysna Heads has been called the single most dangerous ocean mouth in the entire world. Sounds like a place you want to hang out, eh?

Truth be told, Knysna is one of my top picks for places to visit on the Garden Route and you’ll soon see why!

Things to do in Knysna

• Eat oysters at the Knysna Oyster Festival – If you’re in Kynsna in June, you can eat oysters at the most famous place to eat oysters in the entire country! You can check the exact dates on the Kynsna website .
• Go for a boat ride – Just after telling you how dangerous it is to sail, I’m going to give you the idea to go for a boat ride! Often these are canceled owing to wind, but it doesn’t hurt to give it a try. You can do a Whale Watching Boat Tour in case you didn’t get a chance to see whales in Hermanus!
• Knysna Elephant Park – You’ve got a lot of chances to see elephants on this trip, and if you won’t make it to Addo Elephant Park (which, by the way, you SHOULD!) – you can also see elephant in Kynsna.
• See the Knysna Heads at the Eastern Viewpoint – One of the best spots to get a view over the lagoon in Kynsna!

This stretch is a very pretty drive, including stops in a national park and plenty of chances to see babboons! If you have more time, you can break this stretch up for this garden route itinerary into several days. We met people during our South Africa road trip that spent several days in Tsitsikamma National Park alone.

Plettenberg Bay

Also known as “Plett”, Plettenberg Bay is a city famous for its beaches. It’s a popular place especially for families who want to spend time together on the beach. You can come here and grab a drink overlooking the beach, or jump in the water. Keep reading for more information about things to do in Plettenberg Bay!

Things to do in Plettenberg Bay

• Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve – If you’re looking for somewhere to go on safari during your time on the Garden Route, my top recommendation is Addo Addo Elephant Park near Port Elizabeth. However, there are plenty of spots to do it before reaching the far end of the route, such as Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve .
• Go to Monkey Land – If you want to walk among the monkeys, this is the place to do it. This park has free-roaming monkeys you can interact with as you experience Monkey Land. Bring your camera but hold onto it tightly 😉
• Drive through Nature’s Valley – After Plettenberg Bay, you’ll have the option to veer off the N2 onto the R102. It’s a scenic drive and plenty of changes will arrive to see babboons crossing the street! Read more about Nature’s Valley in the next section.
• See the Bloukrans Bridge – Bloukrans Bridge is the highest bungie jumping point in the world. It’s set up in such a way that you need to zipline to the bungie jumping point, so it’s not for those who are afraid of heights! If you want to do it, definitely book your bungee jump slot in advance – when we went they were sold out for the day!

Nature’s Valley

Nature’s Valley is a small resort village along the Garden Route. Even if you don’t decide to stick around for long, you can drive through the area by taking a detour off of the N2 (The Garden Route) onto the R102. As you drive through be careful as babboons cross the road!

Tsitsikamma National Park

Tsitsikamma National Park is a marine reserve most famous for its suspension bridges you can walk to in about 15 minutes across wooden walkways. For the more adventurous and prone to outdoors activites, kayaking through the gorge or ziplining through the canopy of trees are two of the most popular things to do in Tsitsikamma.

Port Elizabeth

I honestly didn’t spend a lot of time in Port Elizabeth itself, and found the city relatively vanilla compared to most of the other places in the Garden Route. But it’s a great place to base yourself if you’ll he heading to Addo Elephant Park the following morning! We stayed at Brighton Lodge which was super easy to find, secure, and had a good location for driving to Addo the next day.

Addo Elephant Park

Addo Elephant Park is the third largest national park in South Africa after Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. It has more than 600 elephants, and is really special because it’s a place where you can see immense herds of elephants altogether. There are numerous watering holes (many man-made) which often attract elephants in large numbers.

When we were there we also saw zebra, buffalo, hartebeest, and a number of other animals. There are even plans to expand the park to include a marine area, making it the only park in South Africa to be home to the “Big 7” (elephant, rhinoceros, lion, buffalo, leopard, whale and great white shark).

Addo Elephant Park was one of the highlights of our South Africa trip! Keep reading for my top tips for visiting.

Tips for visiting Addo Elephant Park

Here are a couple of practical tips for your trip to Addo.

• Enter through the north entrance. Addo is an enormous park, you won’t have time to loop around. If you enter through the North, you can exit through the South and head back to wherever you’re staying.
• Roll down your window and talk to other self-drivers. Drive slowly and if you see other drivers and have a tip for them, or want to ask them something, don’t hold back!
• Go on a guided tour. Addo is an awesome place to experience budget safari in South Africa , because you can do both a self-drive safari (where you drive your own car around the park) and you can join a group guided safari (which will educate you and show you more of the smaller animals too!).
• Get plenty of gas in advance. There is gas available close to the entrance, but you’ll want to make sure you don’t run the risk of running out because obviously there is just anywhere to get gas inside.
• Bring water and snacks. You’re going to be in an air-conditioned car, but you’ll turn it off and wait at certain viewings and it can get toasty! Plus you’ll want to spend at least a few hours driving yourself around. Be prepared!
• Bring your binoculars! If you haven’t used them for real, binoculars are AWESOME when you’re on safari. It’s even better than looking through a zoom lens. We bought these binoculars by Olympus and they were so great everyone else on our later safari asked to brorow them!

If you’re flying back out of Cape Town, go ahead and loop back through the Klein Karoo. If you’re flying out of Port Elizabeth to go elsewhere in the country, like Johannesburg or Kruger National Park, you can do the Klein Karoo in between Hermanus and the other parts of the trip. In any case, this is a special area with open landscapes and rolling hills of farmlands.

Klein Karoo

Klein Karoo means “Small Karoo”, and it’s a desert region that stretches above the coastal region of the Garden Route. The most famous road through this area is called Route 62, considered one of the best roadtrips in South Africa as a whole.

Things to do in Klein Karoo

• Drive the famous Route 62 – Along this route you’ll find a number of towns serving up great wine or hosting ostriches!
• Go to an ostrich farm – One of my regrets in my South Africa trip that I didn’t get to visit an ostrich farm! Just please do not ride the ostriches , it puts the birds under stress.
• Follow the Klein Karoo wine route – Officially, the Klein Karoo wine route goes through Montagu, Barrydale, Ladismith, Calitzdorp, Oudtshoorn, De Rust, and Herold. Check out this website on the Klein Karoo wine route for suggested itinereries.
• Stop in Calitzdorp for a glass of Port – Our host in Hermanus explicitly recommended stopping at De Krans , though there are a number of different options in the area for port wine.
• Hike through the Swartberg Pass – There’s literally a valley in this area called Hell ! If you want to see a side of South Africa most people miss, you can do a guided hike through Swartberg Nature Reserve .
• Go on safari – If you only have a day away from Cape Town, you can still go on a big 5 safari in the Klein Karoo, the Big 5 being lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinos. Naturally, on safari, it’s not possible to ensure what you see, but the Klein Karoo is the only area near Cape Town that has all of the big five!

Safari in Klein Karoo

There are two main reserves in the Klein Karoo, both of which are home to the Big 5. If you drive yourself on this day trip from Cape Town you can save a lot of money on the transfer (which takes about two hours).

• Aquila Private Game Reserve (does not include transfer) – As you might know, sunset is one of the best times to see animals on safari. If you can, booking either a sunrise or a sunset safari a great idea, because that’s when the animals are most active.
• Inverdoorn Game Reserve (includes transfer) – You can go on a day trip to this game reserve, including a 3-hour game drive. Unlike many public drives, you only share the open-top jeep with up to 8 other people. Inverdoorn is unique because of its cheetah rehabilitation program!

Reach the Garden Route from Cape Town

While it’s possible to reach the start of the Garden Route from Cape Town on a day trip, your best option is to spend several days on the Garden Route. Personally, we loved driving ourselves down the Garden Route because it gave us a ton of flexibility. That said, driving in South Africa can be a little scary sometimes, and not just because of driving on the left. Roads aren’t always in the best condition and there is a lot of speeding. That said, we obviously survived 😉

As for guided tours, after a lot of research, I think the 5-day Garden Route + Addo Tour is the best value . You’ll have a better chance to see rare animals the more often you go on safari, and this tour gives you three safari opportunities. While it doesn’t visit Hermanus, you can easily do that as one of your day trips from Cape Town if you’re visiting in the whale-watching season from June to December.

Here are the pros and cons of the top two highest-rated Garden Route tours for different durations. Both of them have 4.9 out of 5 ratings or higher based on customer reviews.

Highlights not to miss: Addo Elephant Park (famous for having huge herds of elephants), Hermanus (best land-based whale-watching the world, June-Dec), Tsitsikamma National Park (kayaking and suspension bridge), Knysna (just plain beautiful).

How long does it take to drive the Garden Route?

The Garden Route itself (from Mossel Bay to Port Elizabeth) from a pure driving standpoint could be done in one day, but when you include stops, the main route requires at least 3 or 4 days to see it properly. That said, many people spend an entire week on the Garden Route and still do not see it all!

This Garden Route itinerary spends 3 days on the official route, plus one day in Hermanus and one day driving back to Cape Town through the Klein Karoo for a total of five days . If I were to do it again, I would spend more time in the Tsitsikamma National Park and more time in the Klein Karoo!

Best time to drive the Garden Route

We drove the Garden Route in early December, and it was warm enough to wear shorts and a t-shirt basically everywhere. It’s also really important, even in early Summer before peak season starts, to wear bug spray and sunscreen anytime you go outdoors. The peak season in South Africa is mostly the end of December through February, so be aware of that when booking accommodation!

Have you ever been to South Africa? Where’s the best place you’d like to visit in the Garden Route? Let me know in the comments if you have any extra tips for me!

About the author

Hi there! I'm Monica, an American expat living in Germany for over six years and using every opportunity to explore the world from my homebase in Berlin. My goal is to capture my memories in photos and posts that show how easy it is to start from scratch and travel the world by working abroad.

Follow along on Instagram , Twitter , Bloglovin , & Facebook .

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082 320 1979

The Garden Route is a little piece of heaven tucked away on the East Coast of South Africa. Our 4 day tour incorporates the highlights of the area along with the splendid scenery. This is perfect for those who don’t have much time but wish to experience the famous Garden Route along with many of its activities.

Depart Cape Town at 6am and head up to  Oudtshoorn  in the  Little Karoo semi desert area , which also is the  ostrich capital of the World . This drive follows the world-famous  Route 62  which is the  longest wine route in the world ! We’ll visit the  Cango Caves  for a tour through this magnificent cave system and also visit an  ostrich farm  for a closer look at this enormous bird. Tonight, we’ll stay in  Oudtshoorn  and have a delicious  ostrich meal  for dinner. ( Dinner )

Leaving Oudtshoorn we’ll cross the mountain range to the coast and the  gorgeous Garden Route . Our first stop is the scenic ‘ map of Africa ‘ lookout in the Wilderness and then we’re off to  Knysna  (consistently voted as South Africa’s favourite town). Here we will visit the  Knysna Heads ,  Waterfront ,  markets  and explore thoroughly. After Knysna we pass through  Plettenberg Bay ! We also stop at the  World Highest Bungee Bridge  (at 216 meters!) where we overnight in  Storms River Village . ( Breakfast, Dinner )

Today we head through to  Tsitsikamma National Park  for a hike to the ever famous Storms River mouth – walk on the recently finished Hanging Bridge, where we can take a dip in the  Indian Ocean !! From here we head to the  Garden Route Game Lodge  where we can enjoy a Big 5 sunset  game drive , fantastic buffet dinner and hot spring under the stars. We’ll also overnight in their  award winning chalets .  (Breakfast, Dinner)

Early morning Game drive to see some animals you perhaps didn’t see the evening before followed by a scrumptious breakfast!  . Around 10Am, we make our way to Hermanus , which is famous for being the best land-based  whale watching site  (in season) in the world and is a beautiful little town with wonderful cliffside walks. Making our way back towards Cape Town, our last stop is at  Stony Point  where we visit the  local penguin Colony  – making our way back with spectacular views over False Bay. (Breakfast)

Although there are many decisions to make when choosing a tour company, the easiest decision of all is to choose Bokbus at the start. At Bokbus, we strive to offer our clients the highest quality service possible. Not only can we offer you a huge range of excellent tour options, we can also promise very competitive prices.

• 4 days | 3 nights
• Departs on: Fri
• From R9950/person

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6 Day Garden Route & Addo Group Tours

6 day garden route group tour incl. addo elephant park.

Join us for the road trip of a lifetime! Earthstompers Adventures has been specializing in Garden Route & Addo tours since 2006. Our 6-day group Garden Route Tour from Cape Town is a safe and affordable way to explore the Western Cape, Little Karoo, Whale Route, Addo Elephant National Park and Route 62. Tour the Garden Route while experiencing a good mix of nature, culture and adventure. This trip will give you a taste of some of the best things the spectacular Garden Route has to offer. This tour starts & ends in Cape Town and departs every Monday.

6 day Garden Route group tours include:

• Services of a professional tour guide/driver
• Pick up and drop off
• Air-conditioned transport
• 5 nights’ accommodation (backpacker or guesthouse options)
• Klein Karoo Route: Dinners and breakfasts (except Day 4)
• Overberg Route: Dinners and breakfasts (except Day 5)
• Local wine tasting
• Klein Karoo ostrich farm tour
• Canoeing and hiking in Wilderness National Park
• Game viewing safari in Addo Elephant National Park
• Hiking in Tsitsikamma National Park
• Visit to the Southern Tip of Africa, Cape Agulhas
• Entrance to the African Penguin colony at Stony Point

Please read our group Garden Route tours notes, terms and conditions here .

6 Day Garden Route group tour itinerary

*Please note that this Garden Route tour can operate in two different orders, as described below. The routes are called the Overberg Route and the Klein Karoo Route.  Both routes include the exact same destinations and attractions, but are conducted in a different order to avoid overbooking the accommodation establishments.*

Day 1 highlights: tour the Garden Route

We depart from Cape Town early on Monday morning for Hermanus. (Shark cage diving clients will be picked up very early in the morning by the diving operator, and will miss the first half of Day 1 which includes the visit to the African Penguin Colony and Hermanus). We follow the scenic coastal road and stop at Betties Bay to view a colony of endangered African penguins. You can spend the afternoon in the seaside resort town of Hermanus, famous for hundreds of Southern Right Whales during the whale season (July to November) and many shops, restaurants and markets. In the afternoon we will drive on to Cape Agulhas, the most southern tip of Africa, where we visit a viewpoint known as the “real” place where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet.

Day 2 highlights: tour the Garden Route

We travel to Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo, known as the Ostrich Capital of the World, via the spectacular Route 62, which is South Africa’s longest wine route. We’ll have a lovely lunch and wine tasting at a local winery, before checking into our accommodation, which is on a working game farm in the Little Karoo. As the sun goes down, we can enjoy a tour of the ostrich farm, taking in the views of the Outeniqua and Swartberg mountain ranges in the background.

Day 3 highlights: tour the Garden Route

After breakfast we head over the marvellous Outeniqua Mountain pass where we will explore Wilderness National Park with some canoes. Enjoy a paddle up the Touw River through indigenous forest, enjoying the abundance of bird life. After about 40 minutes, the canoes will be left for a 2 km hike along a boardwalk, which will take us to a lovely waterfall and rock pools. Late afternoon you can spend exploring Sedgefield, with its expansive views and beaches.

Day 4 highlights: tour the Garden Route

Today, we will head to the famous town of Knysna via the lavish Lake District of the Garden Route. We will visit the Knysna Heads viewpoint, for some magnificent views over the Knysna River estuary and the Indian Ocean. After Knysna, we will stop at Bloukrans Bridge to view the world’s highest bungee jump bridge (216 meters). There is plenty of time for the adventure seekers among you to test their courage. Midday will be spent in Tsitsikamma National Park, with its unique combination of indigenous forest and beautiful Indian Ocean coastline. The Park has a wide choice of activities for all, including hiking, crossing a suspension bridge and swimming. In the afternoon, we will leave the Garden Route for Big 5 country, Addo.

Day 5 highlights: tour the Garden Route

We will spend the morning exploring Addo Elephant National Park. We will spend up to 2-3 hours exploring the 28,000 hectare National reserve with approximately 600 elephant and some Cape buffalo, lion, black rhino, warthog, zebra, eland, kudu, hartebeest and many more animals. After an exciting morning of game viewing we will drive back to the heart of the Garden Route where we will overnight in Wilderness or Sedgefield.

Day 6 highlights: tour the Garden Route

After breakfast, we will stop in Mossel Bay to spend some time on the spectacular beaches, hike the Cape St. Blaize trail along the cliffs overlooking the Indian Ocean, and visit the famous Diaz Museum complex, commemorating the first known European exploration around the tip of Africa. The more adventurous can try a 10,000 foot tandem skydive or sandboarding on the longest dune in South Africa. We will arrive back to Cape Town in the early evening.

Highlights on Day 1

We depart from Cape Town early on Monday morning. Traveling to Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo, known as the Ostrich Capital of the World, via the spectacular Route 62, which is South Africa’s longest wine route. We will have a lovely lunch and wine tasting at a local winery, before checking into our accommodation, which is on a working game farm in the Little Karoo. As the sun goes down, we can enjoy a tour of the ostrich farm, taking in the views of the Outeniqua and Swartberg mountain ranges in the background.

Highlights on Day 2

After breakfast we head over the marvelous Outeniqua Mountain pass where we will explore Wilderness National Park with some canoes. Enjoy a paddle up the Touw River through indigenous forest, enjoying the abundance of bird life. After about 40 minutes, the canoes will be left for a 2 km hike along a boardwalk, which will take us to a lovely waterfall and rock pools. Late afternoon you can spend exploring Sedgefield with its expansive views and beaches.

Highlights on Day 3

Today, we will head to the famous town of Knysna via the lavish Lake District of the Garden Route. We will visit the Knysna Heads viewpoint, for some magnificent views over the Knysna River estuary and the Indian Ocean. After Knysna, we will stop at Bloukrans Bridge to view the world’s highest bungee jump bridge (216 meters). There is plenty of time for the adventure seekers among you to test their courage. Midday will be spent in Tsitsikamma National Park with its unique combination of indigenous forest and beautiful Indian Ocean coastline. The Park has a wide choice of activities for all, including hiking, crossing a suspension bridge, and swimming. In the afternoon, we will leave the Garden Route for Big 5 country, Addo.

Highlights on Day 4

Highlights on day 5.

After breakfast we will stop in Mossel Bay to spend some time on the spectacular beaches, hike the Cape St. Blaize trail along the cliffs overlooking the Indian Ocean, and visit the famous Diaz Museum complex, commemorating the first known European exploration around the tip of Africa. The more adventurous can try a 10,000 foot tandem skydive or sandboarding on the longest dune-ride in South Africa. In the afternoon we will drive on to Cape Agulhas, the most southern tip of Africa, where we visit a viewpoint known as the “real” place where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet.

Day 6: Cape Agulhas – Hermanus – Cape Town

Highlights on Day 6

We depart from Cape Agulhas after breakfast. We’ll visit the seaside resort town of Hermanus, famous for hundreds of Southern Right Whales during the whale season (July to November) and many shops, restaurants and markets. Our day will finish off on the scenic coastal road, stopping at Betties Bay to view a colony of endangered African penguins. We arrive back in Cape Town in the early evening.

See more info about our typical Garden Route and Addo tour accommodation here

6 Day Garden Route small group tour pricing

• 6 Day Garden Route Tour prices are quoted in South African Rand (R).
• 6 Day Garden Route Tours are suitable for adults over the age of 18. Teens between the ages of 14-18 may join the tour if accompanied by an adult. Please see our private tours for children aged 13 and under. 

Please read our Garden Route group tours terms and conditions  

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