Our delightful 4 Day Garden Route Tour, commencing in the ‘friendly city’ of Gqeberha (formerly known as Port Elizabeth), will take you on a picturesque journey through the beautiful Tsitsikamma Forest, Plettenberg Bay, Knysna and Oudtshoorn and concludes in Cape Town. This fully guided tour departs Gqeberha (formerly known as Port Elizabeth) weekly on a Sunday 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 Knysna. The Rex Hotel.
Day 2 – Explore the surroundings and activities in Knysna.
Day 3 – Depart Knysna for Oudtshoorn and visit the Cango Caves. Hlangana Lodge
Day 4 – Depart Oudtshoorn for Cape Town along the beautiful mountain passes.
Day 01 Gqeberha (formerly known as Port Elizabeth) to Knysna (Sunday)
After a friendly meet and greet upon your arrival at Gqeberha (formerly known as Port Elizabeth) Airport, we will set off between 11h00 and 12h00 on today’s 320km/200 mi drive. Our journey will take us through the lovely Tsitsikamma Forest and Plettenberg Bay before reaching the charming seaside town of Knysna where you will spend the next (2) nights at the Rex Hotel. Meal Plan: Dinner.
One of Knysna’s most elegant and sophisticated accommodation offerings, The Rex Hotel promises its guests superior service and exceptional comfort. Located on the World Famous Garden Route, The Rex Hotel is one of the most exhilarating getaways in its class. Capturing the essence of four-star luxury, the impeccably appointed Rex Hotel offers travellers a gateway to world-class restaurants, lush forests and the shores of the peaceful lagoon.
Day 02 Knysna (Monday)
After breakfast, enjoy a cruise on the picturesque Knysna Lagoon and a visit to the pristine Featherbed Nature Reserve where you may be lucky enough to spot the stunning green Knysna lourie or the tiny blue duiker antelope. 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 lunch, spend the remainder of the day at leisure taking in the sights of this lovely town. Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
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 (Tuesday)
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 and witness the comical ‘Ostrich Derby’. Hlangana Lodge will be our accommodation for the night. Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 04 Oudtshoorn to Cape Town (Wednesday)
After breakfast, we set off on a 475km/295 mi drive 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, quaint villages and coastal vistas. Meal plan: Breakfast.
Tour Costs (quoted in ZAR)
Jan - April 2023 & Sep - Dec 2023
R14,645 per person sharing
R930 single-room supplement
May - Aug 2023
R14,390 per person sharing
R930 single-room supplement
Jan - April 2024 & Sep - Dec 2024
R15,815 per person sharing
R980 single-room supplement
May - Aug 2024
R15,540 per person sharing
R950 single-room supplement
* Tours depart on a Sunday
Above Costs Include
All road transfers as per the itinerary
Airport transfers
Transportation in an air-conditioned mini-bus
Professional guides that escort the tour
3 nights’ accommodation with private facilities as specified in the itinerary
The following meals: 3 breakfasts / 2 lunches / 1 dinner
Hotel porterage fees
Above Costs Exclude:
Visas if required
Meals not specified
Personal items and gratuities
Bar accounts