5 or 6 Day Garden Route & Addo Elephant Park
This 5-day Garden Route Safari is an exciting way to explore the Garden Route, Little Karoo, the Whale Route, the Addo Elephant National Park and Route 62, the world's longest wine route! An active tour with a good mix of culture, adventure and wildlife. Departs on Mondays from Cape Town, ends in Port Elizabeth. (A 6-day option starts and ends in Cape Town. May go in reverse itinerary order as a private tour option, availability permitting).
Highlights
- Departs from Cape Town every Monday
- Hermanus - Whale Watching Capital
- Endangered African penguin colony
- Cape Agulhas - Southern-most tip of Africa
- Oudtshoorn - Ostrich Capital
- Famous Cango Caves
- Lake District
- Knysna - Scenic Jewel of the Garden Route
- Tsitsikamma Indigenous Forests
- World's Highest Bungee Jump
- Addo Elephant National Park
- 6-Day Option starts & ends in Cape Town
Day 1: Cape Town – Hermanus – Cape Agulhas
Departing early from Cape Town/Stellenbosch, you'll head for Hermanus. If you're doing shark-cage diving, you'll be collected by the dive operators separately and join up with the rest of the group later in the day.
Following the scenic coastal road, you'll get a chance to see the African penguin colony at Betty's Bay. The afternoon will be spent at the Whale-Watching Capital of the World, Hermanus, renowned for its hundreds of sightings of Southern Right Whales during the season (July to November). Browse the many shops, restaurants and markets.
In the afternoon, you'll head on to Cape Agulhas, the official most southern tip of Africa, where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. Overnight in Cape Agulhas/Struisbaai.
Day 2: Cape Agulhas – Oudtshoorn
You'll visit Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo, known as the Ostrich Capital of the World, via the scenic and spectacular Route 62, South Africa's longest wine route.
You'll be able to experience the beauty of the Cango Caves on a guided adventure tour, after which you'll enjoy a tasting of some of the local wine.
Overnight in Oudtshoorn.

The Cango Caves near Oudtshoorn
Day 3: Oudtshoorn – Knysna – Sedgefield
After breakfast, you'll head over the majestic Outeniqua Mountains to Wilderness National Park. Here, you can explore Touws River by canoe and the surrounding indigenous forest, rich with birdlife, followed by an easy two-kilometre boardwalk hike to a lovely waterfall with rock pools.
Then you'll continue on to beautiful Knysna via the scenic Lake District of the Garden Route. Abuzz with markets, curios and interesting shops, restaurants and The Quays, you can enjoy some shopping here and then lunch.
Afterwards, you'll go up to the Knysna Heads viewpoint for some breathtaking views over the Knysna Lagoon and the Indian Ocean. You'll end the day in Sedgefield where you can explore its lovely beaches and estuaries.
Overnight Sedgefield.
Day 4: Sedgefield- Tsitsikamma - Addo
Following breakfast, you'll head towards Tsitsikamma National Park. En route, you'll get to stop at the world's highest bungee jump at Bloukrans Bridge (216 metres). Simply watch or face your fears and join in the fun.
You'll spend the afternoon in the national park with its unique indigenous forests that hug these beautiful stretches of coastline. Activities include short and longer hikes, crossing a suspension bridge and swimming.

Tsitsikamma National Park, Garden Route
Later on, you'll leave to head towards Addo National Park, home to the Big 5 and other unique African wildlife.
Overnight in the Addo area.
Day 5: Addo – Port Elizabeth
You'll spend the morning exploring Addo Elephant National Park, searching for its famous elephants, Cape buffalo, lion, black rhino, eland, warthog, zebra, kudu, hartebeest and many other fascinating animals.
After a full morning of game viewing in the comfort of a closed vehicle, you'll head for Port Elizabeth where the tour ends between 13h00 and 14h00.
Alternative 6-Day Option - Starts & ends in Cape Town
If you'd prefer an extra day, you'd return to spend a night in Wilderness or Mossel Bay with their fabulous beaches following your morning's game viewing in Addo.
On the final day, you'll enjoy breakfast before exploring Mossel Bay's sweeping golden beaches and Mediterranean climate.

One of the Garden Route's beautiful beaches
You'll be able to hike the Cape St. Blaize trail along the cliffs overlooking the Indian Ocean and visit the historical Diaz Museum complex which records the earliest European exploration around the tip of Africa. If you're feeling adventurous, try the optional 10,000 foot tandem skydive or sandboarding the longest dune in South Africa.
You'll be returned to your accommodation in Cape Town/Stellenbosch in the early evening.
NB: The 6-Day Option also runs in reverse order.
Please note: This is an active tour, with early morning starts and action-packed days that require a reasonable level of fitness. Ages are generally between 18 - 65 and group size is usually between 4 and 12 people.
It's a great choice for single travellers, couples and small groups of friends who want to see the highlights of the Garden Route as part of a small group guided tour.
Rates
Period | Price per person (pp) |
---|---|
January 1, 2021 - July 31, 2022 5-Day Rate for Backpacker Twin or Double En-Suite Accommodation |
$509
£417
€473
R9,450
|
August 1, 2022 - July 31, 2023 5-Day Rate for Backpacker Twin or Double En-Suite Accommodation |
$550
£450
€511
R10,200
|
January 1, 2021 - July 31, 2022 5-Day Rate for Guest House Twin or Double Accommodation |
$631
£516
€586
R11,700
|
August 1, 2022 - July 31, 2023 5-Day Rate for Guest House Twin or Double Accommodation |
$690
£564
€641
R12,800
|
January 1, 2021 - July 31, 2022 6-Day Rate for Backpacker Twin or Double En-Suite Accommodation |
$560
£459
€521
R10,400
|
August 1, 2022 - July 31, 2023 6-Day Rate for Backpacker Twin or Double En-Suite Accommodation |
$598
£490
€556
R11,100
|
January 1, 2021 - July 31, 2022 6-Day Rate for Guest House Twin or Double Accommodation |
$722
£591
€671
R13,400
|
August 1, 2022 - July 31, 2023 6-Day Rate for Guest House Twin or Double Accommodation |
$776
£635
€721
R14,400
|
Price is per person sharing. Single supplement is between 10% and 20% extra, depending on accommodation option.
All rates on our website are provided to give a price estimate only and should not be seen as a firm quote. Likewise, our currency converter will give you a rough idea of the price in another currency, but should not be seen as a firm quote. It is only intended as a guideline, based on the daily interbank exchange rate. Please contact us to receive an accurate, free quote with no obligation.
Includes
- Services of a qualified tour guide
- Pick up and drop off
- All transport in air-conditioned vehicles
- 4 nights' accommodation (guest house or backpacker option - you choose)
- Daily breakfasts and dinners (except Day 5)
- Local wine and craft beer tasting
- Cango Caves adventure tour
- Canoeing and hiking in Wilderness National Park
- Game viewing safari in Addo Elephant National Park (closed vehicle)
- Hiking in Tsitsikamma National Park
- Entrance to the African penguin colony at Bettys Bay
- Visit to Cape Agulhas, the southern-most tip of Africa
Excludes
- All meals not specified
- All drinks
- All optional activities such as shark cage diving, whale watching boat trip (July - November only ), 216-metre Bloukrans bungee jump, the zipline adventure and an additional two-hour open safari vehicle game drive with professional Addo field guide
Scheduled Tour Departures
This trip departs from Cape Town and ends at Port Elizabeth on the following dates. If you know which dates suit you, go ahead and make a selection below. If none of these dates suit you, please do contact us to request a custom departure at an additional cost on the date of your choice, subject to availability.
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