Garden Route & Addo Adventure

Depart early in the morning from Cape Town/Stellenbosch together with your guide for Hermanus. We follow the scenic coastal road, stopping at Betty’s Bay to view a colony of endangered African penguins. You can spend the afternoon in the seaside resort town of Hermanus, famous for hundreds of Southern Right Whales during the whale season (July to November) and many shops, restaurants and markets. In the afternoon we will drive on to Cape Agulhas, the most southern tip of Africa, where we visit a viewpoint known as the “real” place where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet.

Overnight at Cape Agulhas Guest House on a bed & breakfast basis

We travel to Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo, known as the Ostrich Capital of the World, via the scenic and spectacular Route 62, which is South Africa’s longest wine route. You will be able to experience the subterranean beauty of the Cango Caves on a guided adventure tour, followed by a sampling of local wine & craft beer.

Route 62 might market itself as the longest Wine Route in the world, but that’s definitely not all there is to it. Lush greenery and fertile valleys form a stark contrast against the semi-desert of the Klein Karoo while towering mountains and their rivers and streams provide an awe-inspiring backdrop throughout. Some of the renowned attractions visitors will spot as they follow the route are the winelands of the Breede River Valley, the majestic Swartberg mountains, the Cango Caves and ostrich farms of Oudtshoorn, and the fruit orchards of the Langkloof Valley.

Overnight at Protea Hotel by Marriot Oudtshoorn Riempie Estate on a bed & breakfast basis

After breakfast we head over the spectacular Outeniqua Mountain pass where we will explore Wilderness National Park with some canoes. Enjoy an easy paddle up the Touw River through indigenous forest, enjoying the abundance of birdlife. After about 40 minutes, the canoes will be left for a 2km hike along a boardwalk which will take us to a lovely waterfall and rock pools. After the canoeing, we will head to the famous town of Knysna via the spectacular Lake District of the Garden Route. This up-market little town is filled with curios, restaurants and a waterfront, where you will be able to have lunch and do some shopping. After Knysna we will head to the Knysna Heads viewpoint for some spectacular views over Knysna River estuary and the Indian Ocean.

Overnight at Knysna Log-Inn Hotel on a bed & breakfast basis

After breakfast, we head off to the Tsitsikamma National Park. There is plenty of time for the adventure seekers among you to test their courage. It only takes a 30 minute walk to the suspension bridge for a breath-taking view into the abyss. Late afternoon we will leave the Garden Route for Big 5 country, Addo. En route we will stop at Bloukrans Bridge to view the world’s highest bungee jump bridge (216 meters).

Overnight at The Kraal Addo Country Estate on a bed & breakfast basis

We will spend the morning exploring Addo Elephant National Park during an exciting game drive. The famous 28,000 hectare National reserve is home to over 450 elephant and some Cape buffalo, lion, black rhino, warthog, zebra, eland, kudu, hartebeest and many more animals.

Your guide will take you back to Port Elizabeth for your onward arrangement

Ideally, you should spend a week exploring the ins, the outs and all the hidden places in between, but a well-rounded Garden Route tour should take between 3 and 4 day

South Africa’s Garden Route stretches along 300km or 190 miles of the Eastern Cape’s stunning coastline.

The Garden Route is stunning all year round but many consider February to April as the best time of the year to visit this spectacular natural attraction.

Addo is best known for being the only national park in the world where travellers get to see the Big 7 (Elephant, Rhino, Leopard, Buffalo, Lion, Great White Shark, and Southern Right Whale)

It is best to spend at least two to three days visiting Addo Elephant Park. This will give you more than enough time to see all sorts of wildlife.