GARDEN ROUTE AND ADDO
Overview
Ready for one of the world’s most epic road trips – where you flicker from wildlife to city life to beach life? You’ll gawp at the Cango Caves, sample the nightlife of Cape Town, and even encounter the Big 5 at some of Africa’s finest national parks. The Garden Route has everything, and you’ll experience it all on this unforgettable 7-day adventure, with a squad of fellow 18-35s.
Included/Excluded
- Your accommodation, essential trip transport, and a good handful of meals are included in the cost (on most trips we offer breakfast every day, plus a hand-picked selection of authentic and tasty meals)
- A number of meal times are left open for you to explore a region and its foodie offerings in greater detail, so budgeting for your taste in non-catered meals is important.
- Travel insurance and visas
- Flights to and from your starting and ending points
- We offer Free Time Add-Ons, which are additional experiences
- Meals not mentioned
Day 1Cape Town to Oudtshoorn via Cango Caves
Cape Town
Hello Africa… and hello Cape Town. Ready to get going? It’s off to the Karoo desert via the famous ‘Route 62’. Today’s scenic drive goes through mountain passes, vineyards and epic desert scenery along the way.
Cango Caves
An included guided tour of Africa’s LARGEST show cave system. The Cango Caves are replete with cavernous halls, limestone formations, cave paintings and artefacts (which indicate they were in use throughout the Middle Ages)! How’s that for a pitstop?
Oudtshoorn
Welcome to the Klein Karoo! This evening we’ll check into Oudtshoorn with our first adventure on offer. You can choose to take a scenic bike ride or drive down the UNESCO Swartberg Mountain Pass. And finish off with a Karoo braai dinner on a local farm with produce straight from the farm around you.
Day 2Oudtshoorn to Gqeberha via Addo Elephant National Park
Oudtshoorn
Good morning! Let’s continue heading East towards one of South Africa’s most loved National Parks: Addo Elephant. (Anyone guess which animal this place is famous for?)
Addo Elephant National Park
That’s right, it’s elephant time. After lunch, we’ll set out in our comfy (and tall!) coach in search of Africa’s largest land mammal here at the Addo National Park, home to over 600 of these tusk-tastic creatures. (Keep your eyes peeled for lions, buffalo, and antelope too though!)
Gqeberha
We’ll retreat here for the night but fear not, more safari adventures await in the morning. Stuck for something to do this evening? Let us introduce you to the karaoke bar just around the corner. (Cue your fave Lion King jams.)
Day 3Gqeberha and Private Game Reserves
Gqeberha
Today is all about wildlife, both on land and in the ocean. We’ll start with a morning tour of the SANCCOB Penguin Rehabilitation Centre, who give sick and injured penguins the care they deserve and help them to return to the wild.
Private Game Reserves
Later this morning, we’ll set out on the first of today’s two private game drives. The Eastern Cape’s game reserves are some of South Africa’s best spots for seeing the Big 5, home to valleys, plains, rivers and much more. So today, we have two optional game drives in two different Private Game Reserves. (IKR?) Yes, yes that is three game drives in 36 hours giving you the best chance of spotting the Big 5. Lucky you, right?
Gqeberha
Tonight we’ll head back to the city where a free evening awaits. Karaoke round two? We won’t stop ya.
Day 4Gqeberha to Knysna via Jeffreys Bay and Tsitsikamma National Park
Gqeberha
Beach time. Desert? Tick. Caves? Tick. Safari? Tick. Now it’s time to make our way along the famous Garden Route to our next destination, Knysna – with a few sensational stop-offs on the way.
Jeffreys Bay
Known as one of the best surf spots in the world, it’d be wrong not to start our day with some chill time on J-Bay… which is exactly what we’ll do.
Tsitsikamma National Park
Welcome to our next pitstop, known for the infinitely Instagramable Storms River Bridge – which we’ll take a picturesque hike to so you can get all the legendary snaps you need. After that, you’ll have the chance to up the adrenaline, with a spot of kayaking up the mouth of Storms River.
Knysna
And then we pull into the beautiful coastal town of Knysna, ready to explore all the sights and activities the Garden Route is known for. (We’ve got two nights here too!)
Day 5Knysna and Plettenberg Bay
Knysna
Rise and shine, team. Today starts with an included breakfast, overlooking the Knysna lagoon, and then we’re off again once more.
Plettenberg Bay
It’s ocean time… Join our optional marine safari and set out in search of whales, dolphins, seals and more spectacular sea life. Afterwards, we’ll spend the rest of the day relaxing on Plettenberg’s main beach, catching those rays and helping ourselves to some splendid seafood.
Knysna
This evening, we’ll embark on a Township visit here in Knysna, where you’ll meet the locals and have the chance to make a positive impact for the children who live here. Afterwards, you’ll have the chance to cruise the Knysna lagoon & see the sunset onboard. Then, we’ll tuck into a group dinner by the water before finishing off with a night on the town.
Day 6Knysna to Cape Town via Hermanus
Knysna
Make sure you call dibs on a window seat. As we drive back to Cape Town, you’ll watch the magnificence of the Garden Route unfold as we pass coastal towns, forests, gorges and some jaw-dropping ocean views.
Hermanus
Marine mania… We’ll have lunch and a little free time here in the coastal town of Hermanus, which is one of the world’s best areas for spotting whales – between July and November at least – so have your binoculars at the ready.
Cape Town
And here we are, back in the city where it all began. Tonight, you can opt for a MasterChef-style cooking class and enjoy the food, music and drinks.
Day 7Cape Town and Stellenbosch
Cape Town
It might be our last day together but fear not, there’s still plenty planned about the Cape Winelands. And most of it revolves around food. But before that, you have the chance to hit the skies on an epic helicopter ride over the seas and peaks.
Stellenbosch
Cape Town
And, after a brief drive back to Cape Town for an airport/hotel drop-off, that’s a wrap! You’ll have the option to jump on our Cape Town Explorer trip starting this evening (that’s 4 more days in the Mother City!). It’s been wild – we’re thrilled from what we’ve experienced, and we can’t wait to do it all again!
