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Cape Town · Western Cape · South Africa
5 Day Best of South Africa's Garden Route & Addo Adventure
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From $864.69 per person
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Project Expedition
The Experience
What your day looks like
A firm favorite among visitors and locals alike, South Africa’s famed Garden Route offers a generous dose of the great outdoors, where nature and adventure combine in one perfect playground. Country roads perfectly frame both the rolling farmlands and endless flora and fauna. The landscape dramatically changes – from wine farms to untamed wilderness, Tsitsikamma forest to mountain ranges – as the kilometers pass. You'll cover some ground on this adventure. There’s optional bungy jumping and ziplining for the thrill-seekers and canoeing in Wilderness National Park or a quick swim in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean for the nature-lovers. Add in hiking in Tsitsikamma National Park, the sounds of silence in Cango limestone caves and prime game viewing at Addo Elephant National Park, home to the densest population of wild elephants on the planet. Plus, you’ll come nose-to-beak with the planet’s largest birds in the feather capital of the world - Oudtshoorn, and walk with the biggest land mammals on the planet in the Klein Karoo. And, if the mood takes you, you can learn to surf on some of the world's top-rated waves or put your goofy foot forward with a spot of sandboarding in Jeffreys Bay. Expect surprises on the palate from the ubiquitous seafood on the coastal belt and Klein Karoo specialties like lamb and ostrich that are best finished off with some of South Africa’s best Cape Ruby ports or Port-style wines at a Calitzdorp winery. It's only fitting that you'll then cruise down the picturesque Route 62 – think Route 66 with more wine and bigger hospitality – for a spot of wine tasting before heading back to Cape Town’s European cosmopolitan vibe.
At a Glance
The experience, in brief
- Spot animals and wild elephant from the tour bus at Addo Elephant NP
- Head out on a 4x4 safari to look out for the Big Five at Botlierskop Reserve
- Jump from one of the world’s highest bridge bungee spots
- Soak in the views of Knysna and its surrounds from atop the sandstone heads
- Zipline through dramatic scenery and over waterfalls in the Tsitsikamma forest
- Hike through the luscious Tsitsikamma forest over suspension bridges
- Visit the world’s ostrich capital; Oudtshoorn.
- Hang ten on the world famous Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay
Your Itinerary
Your day, step by step
Day 1
Cape Town
Start with an early morning pick-up from your accommodation in Cape Town. Usually between 6 - 8am, subject to your address location.
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Cape Town
Canoeing. In the anticipation of the journey to come, it’s easy to daydream and miss the ever-changing scenery on your first day’s drive from Cape Town. You’ll wind your way through mountain passes where lazy baboons line the roadside; through fertile micro-climates with rows and rows of grapevines and rolling farmlands. A morning stop at Riviersonderend allows those with change in their pockets to indulge in the South African penchant for home-baked pastry like the creamy and delicious milk tart (Melktert) that the country claims from its Dutch origins. The abundance of aloe lining the roadside heralds your arrival in Albertinia and provides plenty of Instagram opportunities with bigger-than-big succulents. By stark contrast the oasis-like towns of Wilderness and George are surrounded by lush national parks and an afternoon canoe paddle provides the perfect setting to bird watch and enjoy the clean wild air. For those that savour a great night’s sleep, tonight’s end destination – the coastal town of Sedgefield – promises just that. The tranquil village boasts the title of Africa’s slowest town. Here, life in the slow lane is the way of life. Check out the rustic beach restaurant and feel the white sand between your toes as you sip on cocktails, or venture into town for a more intimate dinner.
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Cape Town
Eco Tour.
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Cape Town
Overnight accommodation included according to your selected stay package. (Backpackers Dorm shared or own room) PiliPili Backpackers or (3-star Comfort) Graywood Lodge or (4-star Luxury) Protea Hotel Knysna Quays - Subject to availability.
Day 2
Cape Town
Bungee Jumping at Bloukrans Bridge Bungy. Pristine wild and adventure go hand in hand on this adrenaline-packed day. From a morning spent admiring the views from the imposing Knysna Heads to ocean and river views atop Bloukrans Bridge, the world’s highest commercial bridge bungy jump, or ziplining over a gushing river gorge in the Tsitsikamma forest. The bungy bridge itself is fairly unassuming as you drive over it, but it’s pretty apparent from the squeals and screams that this isn’t your average photo stop. Here, seemingly normal people hurtle face first down the 216m drop only to spring back up on their elastic cord like a yo-yo. So if you're feeling daring, why not face your fears and have a go? 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 area provides the requisite photo opportunity.
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Cape Town
Sightseeing at Tsitsikamma National Park. As you head to the coastal belt, paradise-like towns such as Plettenberg Bay show why it and the Tsitsikamma National Park are favourites with holidaying locals. The short but steep walk to Tsitsikamma’s suspension bridge is worth it for the views alone and you’ll likely get a thrill as fellow explorers test its swing factor.
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Cape Town
Sightseeing at Garden Route. The large white caps (or seahorses as the locals call the wave crests) of Jeffreys Bay mark your departure from the official Garden Route and your arrival into South Africa’s quintessential ‘Surf City’. Hang ten with the locals, hire a board and hit the beach, sandboard on the dunes, shop and slip into a relaxed frame of mind.
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Cape Town
Overnight accommodation included according to your selected stay package: (Backpackers Dorm shared or own room) Island Vibe Backpackers or (3-star Comfort) Sea Whisper or (4-star Luxury) On The Beach Guesthouse - Subject to availability.
Day 3
Cape Town
Sightseeing at Addo Elephant National Park. A pre-dawn wake-up call might seem hard to take at first, but trust me, it’s worth getting an early start for your Addo game drive to see even more wildlife as the bush awakes. Your guide will use their experience to pinpoint the whereabouts of the park’s big game animals while deftly navigating the maze of dusty dirt roads in search of the Big Five. You can choose an included ±3 hour game drive in your tour bus, or hop on an optional guided 4x4 safari with a local game ranger.
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Cape Town
Local Flavor. The early morning start means free time in the afternoon and J’Bay’s surf village – with its discount outlets – is perfect for shopaholics. But, if you’ve always fancied learning to surf, then this town or the sand slopes beyond it are the places to put your goofy foot forward and go for it.
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Cape Town
Overnight accommodation included according to your selected stay package: (Backpackers dorm or own room) Island Vibe Backpackers or (3-star comfort) Sea Whisper or (4-star Luxury) On The Beach Guesthouse. Subject to availability. The tour may overnight in Addo region on occasion, you'll be informed.
Day 4
Cape Town
Sightseeing at Cango Caves. South Africa delivers on its contrasts with landscape and lifestyle as you leave the Indian Ocean shoreline behind and wind your way through the Langkloof Mountains to the arid lands of the Klein Karoo. Here, the ostrich reigns supreme. Bird-filled paddocks line the highway with colourful feather stalls and show farms around every corner as you head into Oudtshoorn. The palatial sandstone homesteads stand tall, harking back to an era when ostrich feathers were worth more than gold. Now it's time to delve deep underground into 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 into the formation and dripstone evolution. Or, by contrast, the Adventure Tour allows would-be contortionists to squeeze, twist and wiggle their way through limestone chimneys on a rather more adventurous underground route.
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Cape Town
Subject to availability, return to the wild for an optional 4x4 game drive with a knowledgeable game ranger at Buffelsdrift Private Game Reserve for a possible sighting of resident rhino and giraffe.
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Cape Town
Overnight accommodation included according to your selected stay package: (Backpackers dorm shared or own room) Uthundo Backpackers, (3-star Comfort) Yamkela Guesthouse or (4-star Luxury) Buffelsdrift Lodge. Subject to availability.
Day 5
Cape Town
Sightseeing. After your morning adventure, it’s time to head back to Cape Town along the famous Route 62, modelled after America’s Route 66, but with a distinctly local flavour. Route 62 is more than just burgers and beers, farm stalls or small country towns, the highway is also the longest wine route in the Western Cape. Oenophiles will be in their element with a wine pit stop to sample Port-style wines en route to Cape Town.
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Cape Town
End with a late afternoon to early evening drop-off at your Cape Town accommodation. Usually between 5 - 9pm, subject to traffic and your address location.
Before You Go
What to know before booking
Included
Led by a local English-speaking professional tour guide Pickup/drop-off from selected areas of Cape Town Included items and activities as per itinerary: Botlierskop 4x4 Safari Addo Game Drive in Tour Vehicle Knysna Heads Viewpoint Tsitsikamma National Park Walk Route 62 Wine Pairing Travel along the Route 62 Visit J'bay Taste South African Treats in the Karoo Cango Caves Exploring
Not Included
Local and international flights are excluded You are responsible for your own personal travel insurance Optional activities can be paid and booked during your journey: Bungy at Bloukrans Bridge Tsitsikamma Waterfall Zipline Surfboard & Wetsuit Hire
What to Bring
You can purchase meals + drinks on tour
Meeting & Pickup
There is no central meeting point for this tour. A transfer service will collect you from your Cape Town accommodation (within 5km radius of the city centre)
Planning Notes
Minimum age: 12 Hotel pickup offered: Yes Confirmation: Manual By Business
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