Cape Town - Route 62 - Oudtshoorn

Ashton Winery - Begin your adventure with an early morning pickup from your accommodation in Cape Town CBD or Stellenbosch, typically between 6 to 8 am, depending on traffic and your location. You will receive your exact pickup time the day before.

Please Note > This itinerary is a guideline and may be adjusted to run in reverse or a different order based on seasonal or operational factors.

(Travel route: approximately 450 km / 6 hours driving)

Embark on this remarkable road trip, experiencing the diverse landscapes on your first day’s drive from Cape Town to the Southern Cape. Navigate through mountain passes and prepare for Route 62, inspired by America’s famous Route 66, but with a unique local twist, known as the longest wine route in the world. Route 62 offers more than just a scenic drive – it highlights local culture, cuisine, vibrant personalities, and exceptional wines. Enjoy a brief Wine Tasting stop to sample local products midway to your overnight destination.

Buffelsdrift Game Lodge - Activities - Conclude the day by traveling through rugged plains and towering cliffs to reach Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world, located in the semi-desert Klein Karoo. Nature enthusiasts can join rangers for an optional Elephant Observation at the Buffelsdrift private game reserve. Observe three rescued elephants, Jabari, Malaika, and Bulelo, as they roam freely near a natural waterhole. These gentle giants were orphaned when their parents were poached in northern South Africa. To keep the family together, they were relocated to Buffelsdrift, bringing their lively personalities with them. Feel free to take photos from a distance and ask the rangers any questions you may have.

Oudtshoorn - Spend a leisurely evening in the countryside town of Oudtshoorn. Your guide can assist in booking a restaurant or you can join the backpacker’s group to savor local delicacies, such as ostrich “sosaties” (kebabs) and “pot brood” (bread cooked over open flames) at an optional ‘braai’ barbecue experience for an additional cost. Enjoy a relaxing evening at your accommodation by a crackling fire or under the vast, twinkling starry sky.

Oudtshoorn - Addo

Cango Ostrich Show Farm - (Travel route today: approximately 400 km / 5 hours driving)
Awake in Oudtshoorn, where ostriches are prominent. If you haven’t noticed from the bird-filled paddocks and farms along the highway or the colorful feather stalls on the way to the town center, you will from the numerous show farm signs and the grand sandstone homesteads reminiscent of a time when ostrich feathers were more valuable than gold. The Cango Ostrich Show Farm offers insight into the farming industry, allowing you to observe the world’s largest bird up close and test the strength of their shells.

The Cango Caves - Journey to the mountains to explore the magical Cango Caves’ limestone chambers, alive with stalactites, stalagmites, and remnants of Khoikhoi paintings. Opt for the easy-going Heritage Tour to experience the cave’s acoustics and gain insights from your guide about the formation and evolution of dripstone. Alternatively, the Adventure Tour (if available) invites adventurous souls to squeeze, twist, and wiggle through limestone chimneys on a more challenging underground route.

Addo Elephant National Park - Jeffreys Bay

Addo Elephant National Park - (Travel route today: approximately 300 km / 4 hours driving)

Start early for a chance to encounter some of Africa’s Big Five at Addo Elephant National Park. Your guide will use local expertise to locate the park’s big game animals while skillfully navigating the dusty roads in search of the Big Five.

Enjoy a 2-hour game drive included in the tour bus. The original elephant section of the park was established to provide a sanctuary for the few wild elephants that survived government-sponsored culling in the early 20th century. The lush vegetation offers protection and a rich food source, supporting what is now the most densely populated area of wild elephants globally. This well-balanced ecosystem is home to over 550 elephants, lions, buffalo, black rhino, spotted hyena, leopard, various antelope, zebra, and other species.

Jeffreys Bay - The early start allows for free time in the afternoon, and J’Bay’s surf shop village, with its discount outlets, is ideal for shopping enthusiasts. If you’ve always wanted to learn to surf (optional activity at your own expense), this town or the nearby sand slopes are perfect for trying surfing or horseback riding on the beach (optional activity at your own expense) or simply relaxing on the beach. Surfboards and wetsuits are available for rent at an additional fee.

Conclude the day with dinner at the backpackers’ accommodation or enjoy a night out at a local seafood restaurant, listening to the waves gently lap against the shore.

Tsitsikamma - Knysna - Wilderness

Bloukrans Bridge - After breakfast, head to the coastal forest region of the Garden Route.

(Travel route today: approximately 300 km / 4 hours driving)

Lush green landscapes and adventure await on this thrilling day… from ziplining over rushing river gorges, enjoying breathtaking ocean and river views atop Bloukrans Bridge, to exploring dense forests along suspension bridges and footpaths in Tsitsikamma National Park - today is all about the “garden” of the Garden Route!

Calling all adrenaline seekers: prepare for the highest Bungy Bridge Jump in the world… 216m! If you’re feeling adventurous, why not face your fears and give it a try?

Tsitsikamma National Park - For a more relaxed thrill, try the optional Waterfall Ziplining through dramatic scenery and over waterfalls in the nearby Tsitsikamma forest. You’ll complete about five individual slides, zip over three waterfalls, and slide down one impressive gorge.

Garden Route (Tsitsikamma, Knysna, Wilderness) National Park - This region is an outdoor playground, and for those who prefer to keep their feet on solid ground, a visit to the lush forests of Tsitsikamma National Park is sure to satisfy your forest cravings. From birdwatching to game spotting and waterfall chasing, your Tsitsikamma to-do list will be packed with activities. A short but steep walk to Tsitsikamma’s suspension bridge is worth it for the views alone, but the abundant reptile and bird wildlife, secret waterfall, and sandy beach will amaze and delight you along the forest footpaths.

Knysna Heads - As you travel along the coastal belt, the paradise-like coastal towns showcase why this region is a favorite among holidaymakers and locals alike. Stop for a must-have photo opportunity at Knysna Heads, a pair of rocky sandstone cliffs on the edge of the lagoon, to take in the stunning lagoon views surrounded by ancient forests.

Botlierskop or Mossel Bay - N2

Wilderness - (Travel route today: approximately 500 km / 6 hours driving)
Another exciting morning awaits with a journey through oasis-like coastal towns along the ocean-lined route embraced by forested national parks.

Botlierskop Private Game Reserve - Travel along the N2 national road as you return to the Cape, stopping near a seaside village called Mossel Bay. Opt for another optional Botlierskop 4x4 Safari drive (if you haven’t seen many animals in Addo National Park, this offers another opportunity to spot most of the Big 5 animals on safari) at this nearby private game reserve.

After checking off the region’s must-do bucket list items and exploring the best spots of the Garden Route, return to the Cape and conclude with an evening drop-off at your Cape Town or Stellenbosch accommodation between 8 pm and 10 pm, depending on traffic and your drop-off location.

• Ostrich Farm Visit + Cango Caves Exploring tickets
• Route 62 Wine Tasting
• Accommodation & bedding
• 4x4 safari drive in Private Game Reserve in open-roof truck
• A portion of your trip fee is donated to help fund 2Cchange non-profit local charity projects
• Knysna Heads visit
• Game drive tour of Addo Elephant National Park in tour van
• Tsitsikamma National Park entry ticket
• Breakfast
• Pickup & drop-off from Cape Town (10km radius) and Stellenbosch centre
• Guided transfers with English-speaking tour guide

• Some meals and drinks if not mentioned inclusions. Time is available to buy and enjoy meals on tour.
• Optional extra activities (as per itinerary)

Discover the highlights of South Africa’s legendary Garden Route – including Addo Elephant National Park, Jeffreys Bay, Knysna Heads, Wilderness and Oudtshoorn – on a 5-day tour from Cape Town. You’ll explore this coastal paradise with an experienced guide: hike in old-growth forests, see endangered animals in wildlife reserves, and relax on white-sand beaches. A combination of guided tours and optional activities allows you to tailor this trip to your taste for adventure. Try extra activities (own expense) such as bungee jumping, a 4x4 game drive, and ziplining.

• The exact itinerary is subject to change and may, on occasions, run in reverse order
• Minimum age is 8 years. Children between 8 and 17 must be accompanied by an adult and book in private rooms
• Children under 18 years of age are not allowed to book in Dorm room packages
• Game drive or bush safari drives are shared with other people on especially adopted open-roof converted vehicle or truck.
• Daily drive time: about 4 to 6 hours. Total distance about 2000 km route. This packed, fast-paced itinerary is filled with many of the best highlights of the region and ideal for the young-at-heart traveller that want to explore this vast region with limited time.
• Some meals and drinks are not included on most tours; giving the ideal opportunity to experience typical South African meals (or your own preference) at local restaurants, shops or eating spots. Do check your tour’s specific included and excluded section to verify the included meals for your tour package. You’ll have free time scheduled daily to buy and enjoy meals. – Breakfast is mostly enjoyed at the accommodation’s breakfast room/restaurant in the morning. Bed & Breakfast multi-day packages include breakfast for each overnight stay. – Lunch will be en-route with limited time & limited options to choose from. – Dinner-time during multi-day tours is scheduled in free-time after each day’s tour schedule. You can dine out at leisure; or book meals with your guide at the overnight accommodation that day. Your guide can recommend the best local restaurants, or most backpackers even have communal kitchens to prepare your own food - should you wish to buy the ingredients after the tour to prepare your own meals.
• According to availability at time of booking, accommodation will be in the mentioned hotel or in one of a similar standard and star rating in a similar area. Sedgefield accommodation will occasionally be sold out and then your accommodation will be in nearby town of Wilderness or Knysna
• Personal comprehensive travel insurance is excluded and recommended.
• The tour operator already pre-booked space at all optional activities for the group and you can simply decide on the first day of the tour if you’ll partake. Optional activities can only be paid on the tour directly to the supplier. Bungy jump optional activity waiting time can vary from 1 to 2 hours and is subject to group size and how busy it is during the time visited. Optional activities are subject to weather conditions and cannot be guaranteed
• It is recommended that you bring: comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, sun hat, jacket for cooler evenings, beach towel and swimming costume
• Accommodation stay packages will overnight in different properties, each listed in the itinerary. Backpackers are usually far away from guesthouses / lodges.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.