5 Day Garden Route Tour

Our delightful 5 Day Garden Route Tour (which used only to be a 4 Day Tour), commences in the ‘friendly city’ of Gqeberha (formerly known as Port Elizabeth), this tour will take you on a picturesque journey through the beautiful Tsitsikamma Forest, Knysna,  Oudtshoorn, Hermanus and concludes in Cape Town. This fully guided tour departs Gqeberha (formerly known as Port Elizabeth) weekly on a Saturday and showcases some of the best features of South Africa’s magnificent Garden Route.

Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1 – Arrive at Port Elizabeth Airport, and transfer to Tsitsikamma
Day 2 – Depart Tsitsikamma for Knysna, Tsitsikamma tour and sunset cruise
Day 3 – Depart Knysna for Oudtshoorn and visit the Cango Caves
Day 4 – Depart Oudtshoorn for Hermanus along the beautiful mountain passes.
Day 5 – Depart Hermanus for Cape Town, end of the tour.

 

Day 01 - Gqeberha (formerly known as Port Elizabeth) to Tsitsikamma

After a friendly meet and greet upon your arrival at Gqeberha (formerly known as Port Elizabeth) Airport, we will set off on today’s 190km drive. Our journey will take us to the lovely Tsitsikamma Forest where you will be spending the night.  Tsitsikamma is home to some of the most incredible forests and breathtaking views of the ocean.  Accommodation – Tsitsikamma Village in or similar.

Day 02 - Knysna

After breakfast, we depart for the town of Knysna, stopping to explore the Tsitsikamma National Park and Storms River Mouth along the way.  The Tsitsikamma National Park makes up an almost 80kms of breathtaking coastline with incredible views and some spectacular forests.  Once we arrive in Knysna we will check into our overnight accommodation and then enjoy a cruise on the picturesque Knysna Lagoon. Today’s cruise also affords fabulous views of the infamous Knysna Heads, two towering sandstone cliffs which flank the ocean entrance to Knysna’s enormous tidal lagoon. After your cruise you will enjoy dinner at the Drydock Restaurant. Accommodation – The Rex Hotel or similar.

The town of Knysna, tucked between the Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean, is filled with character and charm and welcomes visitors with warm South African hospitality. The beautiful Knysna Lagoon, a large warm-water estuary fed by the Knysna River, is a focal point for holidaymakers, nature lovers and birders, water sport enthusiasts and adventurers from all over the world, especially during the annual Knysna Oyster Festival. Idyllic lagoon-side beaches provide opportunities to swim, canoe, surf, yacht, fish, jet ski and boat, or simply take a leisurely stroll on the soft sand. Knysna’s historical roots are embedded in gold mining and the timber industry, and today the town thrives on a winning combination of tourism and oysters.

Day 03 - Knysna to Oudtshoorn

Enjoy breakfast before we set off on today’s 210km/130 mi journey. One of the highlights of the day is an underground guided tour of the Cango Caves, an intricate network of sparkling stalactite and stalagmite rock formations that extend more than 2km/1.2mi into the Swartberg Mountains and one of South Africa’s most beautiful and inspiring natural wonders. Marvel at the jaw-dropping vistas of the Outeniqua Pass as we continue to Oudtshoorn, the hub of South Africa’s ostrich industry and ‘feather capital of the world’.
We will stop for lunch in Oudtshoorn where you will have the opportunity to order ostrich steak. After lunch, we join an informative and entertaining tour of an ostrich farm to learn more about the world’s largest, flightless bird. Accommodation - Hlangana Lodge or similar.

Day 04 - Oudtshoorn to Hermanus

This morning you will have the chance (option extra for your own account) to spend some time with a group of habituated meerkats, learning about their world and watching their morning routine of emerging from their burrows.  After this experience you will head back to your lodge for breakfast before hitting the road for the gorgeous seaside town of Hermanus. If you choose to travel between the months of August to November there is a high chance of whale watching right from the shore, other activities in Hermanus include museum visits, boutique shops, a stroll along the cliff path and much more. Accommodation - Auberge Burgundy Boutique Hotel or similar.

Day 5 – Hermanus to Cape Town

After breakfast, we set off to the vibrant city of Cape Town where your incredible Garden Route Tour draws to a close. Keep your camera at hand as we enjoy a day of breathtaking mountain views and coastal vistas.  This afternoon you will be transferred to the Cape Town Airport for your flight home. You can choose to stay in Cape Town and experience all the beauty this city has to offer.

Tour Costs (quoted in ZAR)

2024
Jan - April & Sep - Dec
R15,815 per person sharing
R980 single-room supplement

May - Aug
R15,540 per person sharing
R950 single-room supplement

2025
Jan – Apr
R20,655 per person sharing
R2,190 single-room supplement

May – Sep
R20,410 per person sharing
R2,180 single-room supplement

Oct – Dec
R21,270 per person sharing
R2,410 single-room supplement

*  Tours depart on a Saturday

Tour Costs Include
All road transfers as per the itinerary
Airport transfers
Transportation in an air-conditioned mini-bus or sedan (depending on number of guests)
Professional guides that escort the tour
4 nights’ accommodation with private facilities as specified in the itinerary
The following meals: 4 breakfasts / 1 lunches / 1 dinner
Hotel porterage fees

Tour Costs Exclude:
Visas if required
Meals not specified
Personal items and gratuities
Bar accounts
Travel Insurance