Cape Town & the Garden Route

Overview

Experience icons of South Africa: safari animals, dramatic coastal roads, electric cities and unforgettable landscapes

Discover the Garden Route − ‘the greatest road trip in South Africa’ – on a journey from Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) to Cape Town. This highlight-packed trip is designed for those who want iconic South African experiences: a safari in Addo Elephant National Park; a cellar tour in Stellenbosch; a visit to the penguins of Simon’s Town; and free time in Cape Town, the most absorbing city in South Africa. For an extra-special experience, join the trip between June and November for a chance to spot migratory southern right whales as you stand on the shore.

Highlights

Discover the spectacular Garden Route, the greatest road trip in Africa
See iconic African wildlife, including elephants, lions, penguins and whales (in season)
Explore diverse nature from the forests of Tsitsikamma to the drylands of the Little Karoo
Experience culture from quaint communities to cosmopolitan Cape Town and nearby wineries
Walk through the ancient limestone Cango Caves

Included

All accommodation: 11 Classic nights (hotels and guesthouses)
All breakfasts and three dinners
Immersive itinerary with all transport and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Arrival and departure transfers

Not included

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations.

Itinerary

Show All

Day 1: Adventure starts in Port Elizabeth
Our adventure begins in Port Elizabeth, colloquially known as PE, but officially Gqeberha, a Xhosa name for the river that runs through the city. If you arrive in good time you may want to spend the day exploring. Options include several beaches within walking distance, including Humewood Beach, plus city and township tours (payable locally). Around 6pm, say howzit to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big South African welcome by arranging a group dinner. Want to explore Port Elizabeth further? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.
Day 2: Game drives in Addo Elephant National Park
This morning, we head to Addo Elephant National Park, home to some 550 elephants (up from just 16 when the park was formed) plus black rhinos, leopards, lions, buffalos, hyenas, zebras, various antelopes and dung beetles. We enjoy a four-hour game drive in our own vehicle, hoping to spot iconic African wildlife, and have the option of a second (at extra cost). You also have the option to add a second game drive in a private reserve (extra cost).
Day 3: To Storms River, start of the Garden Route • Hike through forest and along suspension bridges in Tsitsikamma
Head west to the official start of the Garden Route at Storms River in Tsitsikamma National Park. Stretching along the coast, the park, which comprises rocky coastlines, fairytale forests, waterfalls and rivers, gets its name from a local Khoekhoe language meaning ‘place of abundant water’. We can take a 1.2mi (2km) hike in the forest and along suspension bridges, which should take around an hour – other optional walks are also available. The area is a great place for bird enthusiasts with a variety of sea, forest and fynbos (scrubland) species present. Other resident animals include vervet monkeys, chacma baboons and clawless otters.
Day 4: Free day to relax, walk or explore Tsitsikamma
We spend the day at Tsitsikamma, where several adventures await. Options include kayaking on the Storms River, zip-lining through the forest or swimming in the ocean. There are also several self-guided walks available, the easiest of which is the suspension walk. The most challenging is hiking a section of the Otter Trail – where you can take a well-marked, four-hour trek with some small ladders and boulder hopping. This is the only walk that has rocky shoreline sections to it, plus it goes through the forest and passes the Strandloper Cave and ends at a waterfall dropping into the ocean – this trek is only recommended for fit walkers with a good sense of balance.
Day 5: Visit the sandstone cliffs of Knysna Heads • To our guesthouse just outside of Oudtshoorn (De Rust)
We start our day with a visit to Knysna Heads, two tall sandstone cliffs that form a channel through which the turbulent Indian Ocean enters the calmer Knysna Lagoon. We have a bit more time to relax in town before leaving for Oudtshoorn after lunch. As we head inland and over a pass, the landscape changes drastically and we enter the Little Karoo, a much dryer, hotter region. Oudtshoorn itself became renowned for its trade in ostrich feathers and is still the ostrich capital of the world. Our guesthouse is out of town in De Rust, a tranquil, rural Karoo village.
Day 6: Explore the 20m-year-old Cango Caves • Visit the magnificent Meiringspoort Waterfall
We spend today discovering Oudtshoorn and the surrounding highlights. We start by visiting the Cango Caves, an extensive complex of caverns with stalactites and stalagmites. A local guide takes us on an hour’s journey through the limestone caves, which are millions of years old. We then enjoy lunch at Buffelsdrift, where we overlook a waterhole occasionally visited by elephants, giraffes and springboks. In the afternoon, we visit the beautiful Meiringspoort Waterfall and take a 1,640ft (500m) walk, which takes about 10 minutes each way. The order in which we do these activities may be reversed.
Day 7: To the whale-watching town of Hermanus via Mossel Bay
Returning towards the coast, we stop at Mossel Bay and the Dias Museum Complex, which reveals the influence of early Portuguese sailors on South Africa. It’s also home to the Post Office Tree (a 500-year-old milkwood, where seafarers once left letters to be taken home by Portuguese sailors). We then continue to Hermanus, the whale capital of the world. It’s been a long travelling day, so we stretch our legs with a walk along the cliff path. Upgrade to a sea-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details
Day 8: Free day with whale watching (in season)
Today is a free day to relax and enjoy Hermanus. From June to November, southern right whales are easily spotted from shore as they frolic in Walker Bay. A whale crier sounds his kelp horn when he spots whales off the coast. Those who want can also do a boat-based whale-watching trip. There are also several other activities available from hikes to river cruises and lagoon kayaking, which are available year-round. You could also visit the Whale Museum to learn about the most famous visitors to these shores, or walk the 7mi (11km) cliff path, where you could see indigenous plants, tortoises and mongoose. Upgrade to a sea-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details
Day 9: To Stellenbosch • Sommelier-led wine tour • To Cape Town
Our next destination is the much-celebrated wine region of South Africa. The industry here, which dates to the 17th century and was heavily influenced by French Huguenots, produces some of the best wines in the world. We have free time to explore the oak-lined streets of Stellenbosch on foot and eat at one of the many restaurants in town. In the afternoon, we enjoy a cellar tour with a sommelier at one of the nearby vineyards. Of course, we also taste a selection of their wines before continuing our journey to Cape Town, the Mother City.
Day 10 - 11: Two days exploring Cape Town, Table Mountain, the Cape Peninsula and Simon's Town penguins
We spend the next two days in and around Cape Town, the most exciting city in South Africa. Our activities in Cape Town will, to some extent, be dictated by the weather as visits to the top of Table Mountain, which has its own micro-climate, are determined by cloud cover and wind. Because of this often-temperamental weather, it is best not to prebook the cable car but to buy tickets on the spot (not included). Those staying in Cape Town post-tour may opt to visit Table Mountain later if the weather looks as though it may improve. There is also the option of visiting Robben Island on one of the days; however, we recommend you prebook Robben Island with us before the trip (but pay the tour leader locally). On one of the days, we head down the Cape Peninsula. We follow the Atlantic Seaboard past the areas of Camps Bay, Llandudno and Hout Bay to the Cape Point via Chapman’s Peak drive, if it is open. The highlight is our visit to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, home to elands, bonteboks, baboons and ostriches. Rugged cliffs, unspoiled beaches, shipwrecks and beautiful flora are the main features of the reserve. We walk through the reserve for approximately two hours. We first head to the new lighthouse for the panoramic views, before following the pathway to the old lighthouse, which offers spectacular cliff views. Once we leave the park, we stop at Simon’s Town (a former Royal Navy base) and visit the resident penguin colony at Boulders Beach.
Day 12: Adventure ends in Cape Town
On our final day, we have the option of doing a township tour, strolling along the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront or exploring various other parts of Cape Town. Alternatively, if you’d like to stay longer, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.

Important Information

The trip destination

Food

On this trip there may be the opportunity to try local meats such as ostrich, kudu or eland. Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on this trip – please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so our local team can be well prepared. Drinking water: While the tap water in South Africa is generally considered safe to drink, we recommend avoiding drinking directly from the taps during your stay. Standards and sensitivities can vary, and we want to make sure you stay well throughout your trip. For your comfort and peace of mind, we recommend using filtered or bottled water instead. The water we provide on our vehicles are either from water outlet shops or they've been treated with water purification tablets.

Weather

Summer is from October to April and the average daytime temperature is 25C-30C (77F-86F). The average night-time temperature is 10C-20C (50F-68F). Winter is from May to September and average temperatures are colder. In general, however, the Cape Town climate is quite mild. Summer is typically dry and warm, but the southeasterly wind can blow up to 43mph (70kph) at least a few times a month. This helps to cool things but can be a little unpleasant if one is walking in exposed areas. Most of the rainfall is in winter but it is frontal rain off the Atlantic. Therefore, it can rain solidly for two days, and in between there will be warm, sunny days. It is fairly common to experience tabletop clouds on the higher mountains. Our programme is flexible enough to accommodate any major changes in weather, and still make it enjoyable.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is graded Activity Level 1 (Easy). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

Walks: This is primarily a vehicle-based adventure, although we can take walks in Tsitsikamma National Park, Meiringspoort Waterfall, Hermanus and Cape Point Nature Reserve. These are generally along good paths and boardwalks and take about one to two hours.

Drive times: These can vary but the maximum amount of driving in one day is approximately 5hr 30min with numerous stops throughout. On most days, we are on the road for less than three hours (not including stops or game drives).

Legal note: All group members joining this tour are asked to sign an indemnity form at the start of the trip. It’s a requirement of the South African Tourism Service Association, of which our local supplier is a member. As a client of Exodus Travels Ltd, your rights under the Package Travel Regulations (1992) are unaffected, and Exodus remains liable for the actions of our sub-contractors.

Prices / Dates

By accepting our offer in writing, you/you confirm that our terms and conditions have both been read and understood and that cancellation fees may apply if the trip is cancelled.

Please enter the number of travelers:

Adult

Children

BOOK THIS TRIP

AVAILABLE DATES	PRICE (1 ADULT)	PRICE (1 CHILDREN)	Single room supplement	TRAVEL STATUS
Sun, 06 Sep 2026 / Thu, 17 Sep 2026	NOK 27 085 NOK 23 120	On request	NOK 7 190	On request
Sun, 01 Nov 2026 / Thu, 12 Nov 2026	NOK 27 085	On request	NOK 7 190	On request
Sun, 15 Nov 2026 / Thu, 26 Nov 2026	NOK 27 085 NOK 24 465	On request	NOK 7 190	On request
Sun, 20 Dec 2026 / Thu, 31 Dec 2026	NOK 27 085	On request	NOK 7 190	On request
Sat, 02 Jan 2027 / Wed, 13 Jan 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 16 Jan 2027 / Wed, 27 Jan 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 23 Jan 2027 / Wed, 03 Feb 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 06 Feb 2027 / Wed, 17 Feb 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 20 Feb 2027 / Wed, 03 Mar 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 27 Feb 2027 / Wed, 10 Mar 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 06 Mar 2027 / Wed, 17 Mar 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 13 Mar 2027 / Wed, 24 Mar 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 27 Mar 2027 / Wed, 07 Apr 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 03 Apr 2027 / Wed, 14 Apr 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 17 Apr 2027 / Wed, 28 Apr 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 21 Aug 2027 / Wed, 01 Sep 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 04 Sep 2027 / Wed, 15 Sep 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 18 Sep 2027 / Wed, 29 Sep 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 25 Sep 2027 / Wed, 06 Oct 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 02 Oct 2027 / Wed, 13 Oct 2027	NOK 30 175	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 09 Oct 2027 / Wed, 20 Oct 2027	NOK 30 175	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 30 Oct 2027 / Wed, 10 Nov 2027	NOK 30 175	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 06 Nov 2027 / Wed, 17 Nov 2027	NOK 30 175	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 13 Nov 2027 / Wed, 24 Nov 2027	NOK 30 175	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 27 Nov 2027 / Wed, 08 Dec 2027	NOK 30 175	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 04 Dec 2027 / Wed, 15 Dec 2027	NOK 30 175	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 18 Dec 2027 / Wed, 29 Dec 2027	NOK 30 175	On request	NOK 7 595	On request

AVAILABLE DATES	PRICE (1 ADULT)	PRICE (1 CHILDREN)	SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT	TRAVEL STATUS
Sun, 06 Sep 2026 / Thu, 17 Sep 2026	NOK 27 085 NOK 23 120	On request	NOK 7 190	On request
Sun, 01 Nov 2026 / Thu, 12 Nov 2026	NOK 27 085	On request	NOK 7 190	On request
Sun, 15 Nov 2026 / Thu, 26 Nov 2026	NOK 27 085 NOK 24 465	On request	NOK 7 190	On request
Sun, 20 Dec 2026 / Thu, 31 Dec 2026	NOK 27 085	On request	NOK 7 190	On request
Sat, 02 Jan 2027 / Wed, 13 Jan 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 16 Jan 2027 / Wed, 27 Jan 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 23 Jan 2027 / Wed, 03 Feb 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 06 Feb 2027 / Wed, 17 Feb 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 20 Feb 2027 / Wed, 03 Mar 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 27 Feb 2027 / Wed, 10 Mar 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 06 Mar 2027 / Wed, 17 Mar 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 13 Mar 2027 / Wed, 24 Mar 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 27 Mar 2027 / Wed, 07 Apr 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 03 Apr 2027 / Wed, 14 Apr 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 17 Apr 2027 / Wed, 28 Apr 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 21 Aug 2027 / Wed, 01 Sep 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 04 Sep 2027 / Wed, 15 Sep 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 18 Sep 2027 / Wed, 29 Sep 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 25 Sep 2027 / Wed, 06 Oct 2027	NOK 29 100	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 02 Oct 2027 / Wed, 13 Oct 2027	NOK 30 175	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 09 Oct 2027 / Wed, 20 Oct 2027	NOK 30 175	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 30 Oct 2027 / Wed, 10 Nov 2027	NOK 30 175	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 06 Nov 2027 / Wed, 17 Nov 2027	NOK 30 175	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 13 Nov 2027 / Wed, 24 Nov 2027	NOK 30 175	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 27 Nov 2027 / Wed, 08 Dec 2027	NOK 30 175	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 04 Dec 2027 / Wed, 15 Dec 2027	NOK 30 175	On request	NOK 7 595	On request
Sat, 18 Dec 2027 / Wed, 29 Dec 2027	NOK 30 175	On request	NOK 7 595	On request

We will get back to you with an offer on the requested trip / package within 48 hours. All offers are non-binding and are usually valid for 7 days. Please note that reserved services can be canceled within these 7 days and that price may change until a final order is received.

SEND REQUEST

Cape Town & the Garden Route

Overview

Itinerary

Photos

Important Information

Prices / Dates