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.

5 Day Garden Route Tour

Itinerary at a Glance:

  • Day 01

    Gqeberha (formerly known as Port Elizabeth) to Tsitsikamma

  • Day 02

    Knysna

  • Day 03

    Knysna to Oudtshoorn

  • Day 04

    Oudtshoorn to Hermanus

  • Day 5

    Hermanus to Cape Town

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.

Views of the Tsitsikamma forests

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.

Views from the Knysna Heads
The Rex Hotel

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.

Visit an ostrich farm in the Oudsthoorn area
The Cango Caves

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.

A humpback whale off the coast of Hermanus
View of Hermanus

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)

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

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

Costs Exclude

Visas if required
Meals not specified
Personal items and gratuities
Bar accounts
Travel Insurance

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Jim Campbell
Jim Campbell
01 May 2025
We asked for a holiday of a lifetime for my wife's birthday ... and Lize Enderstein and ATG certainly delivered!!! We could not have experienced such a magnificent trip without all Lize's organisation and planning. It was an absolute dream! So much so, we're looking to visit again and will certainly be using Lize for our next adventure. Nothing was too much trouble and all the planning made everything work so very smoothly. We felt like royalty throughout our trip with all sorts of birthday surprises already booked at every location. Incredible!!! We are so very grateful for everything Lize arranged and can't thank her enough and would heartily recommend Lize and ATG. Jim and Melanie xxx
Teresa Harrison
Teresa Harrison
29 January 2025
I have been using African Travel Gateway for about 30 years and not once have they let me down. My travels have been varied, visiting different countries and cultures in Africa, but with their help, it is always a magic carpet ride. Lize has been my contact for many years, and the intineries devised have been spectacular. She really understands our requirements and goes the extra mile to ensure all is OK. This time, we visited South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. Everything was amazing. Our highlights, however, were La Fontaine in Franshoek and Camp Xakanaxa in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. We HIGHLY recommend African Travel Gateway
Debbie Isaacs
Debbie Isaacs
21 January 2025
We used African Travel again for the second time over Xmas and New Year. Once again, every little bit of our trip ran smoothly and without a hitch. Their communication was great throughout and we will, no doubt, be returning to them in the future too. Thanks Petru.
Daniel Stewart
Daniel Stewart
08 January 2025
We had the most amazing time on our self drive tour of Namibia organised through African Travel Gateway. Everything from the planning and booking process, to the arrival and welcome in Windhoek, to the app with the itinerary and directions made for a really relaxed and well organised holiday. But the most important part was getting to experience Namibia - what a spectacular country! The only negative was that we should have booked for longer!
Hilda Stanfliet
Hilda Stanfliet
27 December 2024
Amazing hotel booked by Lize of African Travel Gateway, the most attentive service leading up to holiday
Zoe Heelas
Zoe Heelas
27 November 2024
ATG were fantastic from start to finish organising our trip 3 week trip in South Africa.Communication with Debbie was excellent before and during our trip. All accommodation and trips chosen by ATG was fantastic. This is our third trip with ATG and we are already thinking about our next.
Harrison Shore
Harrison Shore
09 November 2024
We used African Travel Gateway to plan our honeymoon, and it was incredible! Putting together the itinerary was really smooth and fun - Lize sent us a few options, and was really quick to make the changes we wanted and let us know what made the most sense. The planning portal had a lot of really useful information so we knew what to expect and made the whole thing very comfortable (this was our first trip to Africa!) The itinerary we ended up with was spectacular, and very well structured. We spent most of our trip in the greater Kruger area (Kapama River Lodge then Walkers Plains Camp) and then finished in Victoria Falls (Vic Falls River Lodge) - each stop was both nicer and more wild than the last, which made for a very cool trip. Some real gems - Walkers and the camp at Victoria Falls had both been open less than a year, and were super luxurious, no way we would have found places like that on our own! And starting at Kapama, which is a bigger operation and a little more controlled (fully fenced, very close to the Hoedspruit airport) was a great way to ease into the trip. The animal viewing at all three locations was amazing - we saw the Big 5 at both camps in South Africa, plus wild dogs and a cheetah at Walkers, and not just from a distance - we were able to get up pretty close at several of the viewings. The guides were excellent at all three, same with the staff, and the other guests! Logistics were seamless - all of our transfers were easy, the lodges knew our schedule and drivers were where they needed to be exactly on time. I would absolutely recommend African Travel Gateway, and hope to work with Lize on our next safari!
Hamdan nazarudin
Hamdan nazarudin
28 September 2024
Contacted Lize to get assistance with our trip. Her help has been really great! Enquiries are replied within a short period. Even asking for last minute arrangement of extra baggage and early hotel check-in. Itinerary are also seamless at every transition of camps and location.
Archie B
Archie B
16 August 2024
Travelled across South Africa with ATG. They picked the most amazing places to stay where we felt like royalty. The planning was efficient and there was regular communication during the booking process. The knowledge of Lize was excellent and so we knew what to expect at each stage. Would we use them again? YES, of course, and we are!!! - Already planning our next trip across Namibia for next year!
yvonne omer
yvonne omer
07 August 2024
We chose African Travel Gateway because of their awesome reviews and they did not disappoint! Bianca created a fabulous itinerary combining a luxury private reserve experience, a trip to Victoria Falls, a riverboat stay viewing the animals from a different perspective, ( and BTW the best scrambled eggs we have ever tasted) and a stay at a lodge where we saw different animals and a ride on a bush plane landing in what seemed the middle of nowhere! Every connection was seamless, no stress traveling at its best.Our hosts and guides were excellent, and lovely people. The food was wonderful and of course loved the sundowner drinks and our first” Bush Bar! Would definitely go back for more adventure, thank you ATG for a lovely experience!
Jennifer Morawiecki
Jennifer Morawiecki
06 August 2024
We've just returned from an incredible two-week holiday across Botswana and Zimbabwe with African Travel Gateway. The arrangements made by Bianca were perfect, the documentation provided was extremely thorough, and every detail of our journey was meticulously planned. Communication was excellent throughout. Coming from North America, we felt it best to work with a travel agent located in Southern Africa and it was absolutely the right choice. Highly recommended!
Maria Lohan
Maria Lohan
01 August 2024
Lize helped us find accommodation in Kruger when there was practically none to be got - and t was the best place. The tours she booked were tremendous and the people she booked were great and we are very grateful and glad we had the opportunity to book with Lize. Maria & family form Belfast
Arishana Riek
Arishana Riek
03 July 2024
Tailormade itinerary with knowledgeable guides (Apartheid Museum and Cradle of Humankind).
Sivan Debeljakovic
Sivan Debeljakovic
03 July 2024
Petru, of African Travel Gateway, planned our 12-day South Africa-Zimbabwe itinerary for three of us (arriving from two continents). Her expertise, keen insights, and care in arranging the most perfect accommodation for us, prompt and efficient transfers/drivers, and booking all internal flights, meant this was the smoothest, most enjoyable holiday experience, ever! We covered a lot of ground in a short time, but the precision-timing with transfers, and Petru's choice of such knowledgeable and personable tour guides really made all the difference. Huge thanks to Natasha (Afrifriends) and Chris (Paradise)! Highlights were: The Peech Hotel in J'burg (delightful boutique hotel with a fabulous breakfast - thank you, Oliver!); Ilala Lodge in Zimbabwe; Nkorho Bush Lodge in Sabi Sand (if you want up close & personal experiences with the wildlife, this is where you need to go!); Rickety Bridge Manor House in Franschhoek (perfectly appointed and beautiful accommodation); Boschendal Winery (try the pinotage; farm shop is a must!); Woodstock Markets in Cape Town (so much to see and buy here!). We had the most exceptional holiday – we will definitely return to SA in the future, and will be utilising the expert services of Petru at ATG. Thank you again, Petru.
Sergio Santini
Sergio Santini
03 June 2024
Petru has been our reference person at African Travel Gateway: she organised our self-drive travel through South Africa during April 2024. The itinerary has been tailored according to our wishes and her suggestions. She did a great job , fully meeting our requirements and tacking care about us in real time even during the trip. We really enjoyed the safaris she proposed and we saw what has to be seen in this beautiful country for a 3 weeks visit. The TravelKey App was new for us; it is an efficient tool and has been a very positive experience, having everything filed in the HP.
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