Embark on a thrilling 5-day adventure in South Africa’s Garden Route and Addo Safari. Explore stunning landscapes, spot endangered animals, and enjoy a range of exciting activities.
Cape Town - Route 62 - Oudtshoorn
Ashton Winery - Early morning pick up from your accommodation in Cape Town CBD or Stellenbosch (usually between 6 to 8am, subject to traffic and your drop-off address.) You can receive your pickup time a day before.
(Travel route today: about 450 km / 6 hours driving)
Start this epic road trip journeying along the ever-changing scenery on your first day’s drive from Cape Town to the Southern Cape. Wind your way through mountain passes and get ready for the Route 62, modelled after famous America’s Route 66, but with a distinctly local flavour and known as the longest wine route in the world. The Route 62 is more than just a leisurely drive – showcasing local culture, food, larger-than-life local characters and world-class wines. Wine lovers will be in their element with a Wine Tasting pit stop to sample some of the local produce about midway to your overnight stop.
Buffelsdrift Game Lodge - Activities - Complete the day with a journey through the landscape of rugged plains and towering cliffs to reach Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world, situated in the semi-desert Klein Karoo. Those seeking a close encounter with Mother Nature can join rangers on an optional Elephant Observation in nature at the Buffelsdrift private game reserve. See these three rescued elephants; Jabari, Malaika and Bulelo, as they roam freely in their natural environment near a natural waterhole. These gentle giants were orphaned when their parents were poached in the north of South Africa. In efforts to keep the family together, they were transferred to Buffelsdrift, bringing their boisterous personalities with them. You are free to take pictures from a distance and can ask the rangers as many questions as you wish.
Oudtshoorn - You’ll spend the evening here at leisure in this countryside town of Oudtshoorn. Your guide can help you book a restaurant or join the backpacker’s group to taste local delights, such as ostrich “sosaties” (kebabs) and “pot brood” (bread cooked on open flames) at this optional ‘braai’ barbecue experience at extra cost. Enjoy a peaceful evening relaxing at your accommodation around a crackling fire or under the vast twinkling starry night sky.
Oudtshoorn - Addo
Cango Ostrich Show Farm - (Travel route today: about 400 km / 5 hours driving)
Wake up in Oudsthoorn, where the ostrich reigns supreme. If you haven’t picked it up from the bird-filled paddocks and farms lining the highway or the colourful feather stalls on the way to town centre, you will from the many show farm signs and the palatial sandstone homesteads that hark back to an era when ostrich feathers were worth more than gold. The Cango Ostrich Show Farm gives you a glimpse into the farming industry, allowing you to observe the world’s biggest bird beak-to-beak and test the toughness of the shells.
The Cango Caves - Head to the mountains to delve deep underground to the magical Cango Caves’ limestone chambers, alive with drip formation stalactites and stalagmites and remnants of Khoikhoi paintings. Opt for the easy-going Heritage Tour to test the cave’s acoustics and gain insights your guide provides into the formation and dripstone evolution. By contrast, the Adventure Tour (if available) allows would-be contortionists to squeeze, twist and wiggle their way through limestone chimneys on a rather more adventurous underground route.
Addo Elephant National Park - Jeffreys Bay
Addo Elephant National Park - (Travel route today: about 300 km / 4 hours driving)
Rise early for the chance to encounter some of Africa’s Big Five at Addo Elephant National Park. Your guide will use local knowledge to pinpoint the whereabouts of the park’s big game animals while deftly navigating the maze of dusty roads in search of some of the Big Five animals.
You’ll experience an included 2 hour game drive in the tour bus. The original elephant section of the park was dedicated to providing a safe haven for the few wild elephants that survived government-sponsored culling in the early 20th century. The lush vegetation provides protection and a rich food source, supporting what is now the most densely populated area of wild elephants on the planet. This finely tuned ecosystem is a sanctuary to over 550 elephants, lions, buffalo, black rhino, spotted hyena, leopard, a variety of antelope and zebra and other species.
Jeffreys Bay - The early morning start means free time in the afternoon and J’Bay’s surf shop village – with its discount outlets – is perfect for shopaholics. But, if you’ve always fancied learning to surf (optional activity at own expense), then this town or the sand slopes beyond it are the places to try surfing or horseback ride on the beach (optional activity at own expense) or just chill out on the beach. You can rent surfboards and wetsuits for an additional fee.
End the day with dinner at the backpackers accommodation or a night out to a local seafood delicacy restaurant, listening to the sounds of the waves lap against the shore.
Tsitsikamma - Knysna - Wilderness
Bloukrans Bridge - After breakfast head to the coastal forest region of the Garden Route.
(Travel route today: about 300 km / 4 hours driving)
Lush green landscapes and adventure go hand in hand on this adrenaline-packed day… from ziplining over gushing river gorges, breathtakingly-beautiful ocean and river views atop Bloukrans Bridge and exploring dense forests along suspension bridges and footpaths in Tsitsikamma National Park - today is all about the “garden” of the Garden Route!
Calling all adrenalin junkies: get ready for the highest Bungy Bridge Jump in the world… 216m! So if you’re feeling daring, why not face your fears and have a go?
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 a playground for the outdoors, and for those who’d prefer to keep their feet on solid ground a visit to the lush forests of the Tsitsikamma National Park is sure to provide your essential forest fix. From birding to game spotting and waterfall chasing; your Tsitsikamma to-do list will be absolutely jam-packed. 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 is waiting to amaze and delight you along the forest footpaths.
Knysna Heads - As you head along the coastal belt, the paradise-like coastal towns show off and display why this region is a favourite with holiday goers and locals alike. Stop for the obligatory photo op at Knysna Heads, a pair of rocky sandstone cliffs on the edge of the lagoon, to drink in the exquisitely scenic lagoon views surrounded by ancient forests.
Botlierskop or Mossel Bay - N2
Wilderness - (Travel route today: about 500 km / 6 hours driving)
Another exciting morning awaits with a trip passing oasis-like coastal towns along the ocean-lined route hugged by forested national parks.
Botlierskop Private Game Reserve - Venture along the N2 national road as you return to the Cape and stop near a seaside village called Mossel Bay. Choose to do another optional Botlierskop 4x4 Safari drive (if you’ve not seen many animals in the Addo National Park, this gives yet another option to spot most of the Big 5 animals on safari) at this nearby private game reserve.
After ticking off the region’s must-do bucket list items and exploring the best spots of the Garden Route, journey back to the Cape and end with an evening drop-off at your Cape Town or Stellenbosch accommodation at about 8pm to 10pm subject to traffic and your drop-off address.
- Ostrich Farm Visit + Cango Caves Exploring tickets
- Route 62 Wine Tasting
- Accommodation & bedding
- 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.
