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Discover South Africa's Garden Route

Name: Discover South Africa's Garden Route
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

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Activity

Culture

Overview

Experience South Africa’s iconic adventure route with the people who know every twist, turn and hidden gem

The Garden Route, the greatest road trip in South Africa, deserves an adventure to match. So, join this activity-packed itinerary for a showcase of its greatest experiences, handpicked by the local experts. You’ll discover the wonders of Cape Town and the glorious Cape Peninsula, ride the wine tram to legendary wine estates, marvel at mischievous meerkats, cruise the beautiful Knysna waterfront and hike through the dramatic landscapes of Tsitsikamma National Park. It ends with an unforgettable safari through the African bush, spotting beasts big and small with the help of an expert ranger.

Key Information

Trip Code: AHO
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: South Africa
Carbon Footprint: 73.4kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All breakfasts, two lunches and three dinners
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Group arrival and departure transfers available

Highlights

Experience the very best of the Garden Route, guided by an expert tour leader
Tour the highlights of Cape Town, including a cable car ride up Table Mountain
Explore the South African winelands on the iconic wine tram
Take your adventure underground at the 20m-year-old Cango Caves
Marvel at meerkats and penguins - South Africa's lesser-known wildlife experiences
Spot lions, elephants and more on an African bush safari with a keen-eyed ranger

Itinerary

First Destination: Cape Town
Next Destination: Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)

Meals included:Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Cape Town
Next Destination: Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)

Begin your adventure in cosmopolitan Cape Town, undeniably beautiful, culturally rich and a gateway to the Garden Route.

Around 6pm, say howzit to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

Your tour leader then ensures a big South African welcome by arranging a group dinner.

Want to explore Cape Town further? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation: City Lodge Hotel V&A Waterfront/Protea Hotel Cape Town Waterfront Breakwater Lodge (or similar)
Upgrade to a room with a balcony today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Dinner

Discover the wonders of Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula today. It starts with a driving tour around the city, our tour leader showing us the key landmarks, including the Castle of Good Hope, Grand Parade and St George’s Cathedral.

We then head to the iconic Table Mountain, where we ascend to the top by cable car, weather permitting, for glorious views over Cape Town, Robben Island and the Twelve Apostles.

After, drive to the Cape Peninsula, where we visit the Cape of Good Hope, a spectacular promontory jutting into the Atlantic, and take a funicular to the lighthouse. We visit Boulders Beach to see the penguins before returning to the hotel.

Accommodation: City Lodge Hotel V&A Waterfront (or similar)
Upgrade to a room with a balcony today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast

Depart Cape Town, taking the 2hr 20min coastal road to Hermanus, stopping en route at Harold Porter Botanical Gardens and Stony Point to view the resident African penguins.

The beautiful seaside town of Hermanus offers some of the best shore-based whale watching in the world during the whale season (August to November), particularly of the southern right whale. Enjoy free time to explore and eat lunch, before returning to Cape Town.

Accommodation: City Lodge Hotel V&A Waterfront (or similar)
Upgrade to a room with a balcony today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast

We’re off to Franschhoek today (a 1hr 45min drive), labelled the wine capital of South Africa, to tour picturesque vineyards on the legendary wine tram.

This hop-on, hop-off experience provides an entertaining and leisurely way to explore the Franschhoek Valley.

The combination of tram and tram bus transports us around a loop, allowing the group to jump off at some of the oldest and most-distinguished wine estates in the world, while also discovering the history of the region and wine cultivation with two tastings.

Accommodation: PH by Marriott Stellenbosch Dorpshuis and Spa (or similar)
Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast

Bid farewell to the Winelands and transfer (five hours) to one of South Africa’s greatest natural treasures: the Cango Caves. Formed over 20m years, this extensive complex of caverns is home to magnificent stalactites and stalagmites, which we learn all about from a local guide.

After, we gather for an essential South African experience: a braai! It’s as much a social occasion as it is a barbecue, with everyone coming together to enjoy each other’s company, the beautiful scenery and a delicious meal.

Accommodation: De Opstal Country Lodge (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Wake early this morning for our 6.15am transfer to Berluda Farm. Joined by a trained ranger, we head into the farm’s Klein Karoo landscape of arid semi-dessert to observe the resident meerkats as they forage and frolic around their burrows.

Leaving the farm, we transfer (45 minutes) to Meiringspoort Waterfall, where a stream tumbles down a smooth rock face into a deep pool. Bring your swimwear, it may be possible to take a dip in the pool beneath the cascade.

After, we continue (2hr 25min) to Knysna, where we spend the next two nights.

Accommodation: aha Rex Hotel (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Enjoy a morning at leisure, with the opportunity to book optional activities, such as zip lining, quad biking or a monster scooter tour.

At midday, we leave the hotel and board the Featherbed ferry for a 30-minute cruise along the scenic waterfront. Our journey takes us to the Featherbed Nature Reserve, where we ride a 4×4 to spectacular viewpoints and learn all about the local history, flora and fauna from a specialist guide. You can also join an optional guided walk (1.2mi/2km) through coastal forest, fynbos and ancient sea caves. After, we enjoy a delicious buffet lunch under a canopy of milkwood trees.

Returning to Knysna Waterfront, take time to explore, enjoying the mix of leisure, shopping and dining activities, before heading back to the hotel for a relaxing evening.

Accommodation: aha Rex Hotel (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, we transfer (three hours) to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). Along the way, we visit Bloukrans Bridge (home to the highest commercially operated bungy jump in the world) and Tsitsikamma National Park, where we visit Storms River Mouth (weather permitting), the end point of the Garden Route.

Accommodation: The Kelway Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a larger room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast

Today, we explore Amakhala Game Reserve, riding an open Land Rover in search for iconic safari animals – either on one three-hour drive or two 1hr 30min drives either side of lunch. We’re joined by an experienced game ranger, who knows all the animals’ favourite hiding spots, with the chance to see wildebeest, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and antelopes.

After returning to the hotel to refresh, we head out together for a farewell dinner, the ideal opportunity to recount tales from the adventure.

Accommodation: The Kelway Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a larger room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The adventure ends today, and we begin our return journeys home. If you have time to linger, consider joining a morning safari in Schotia Game Reserve.

Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Call us on 1 844 260 1517

Book Your Flights With Us

Window or aisle? Premium seat with extra legroom? Adding a stopover en route? We’ll sort the flights that fit your plans. With access to thousands of routes - major airlines and regional gems alike, we’ll help you fly from your preferred airport, at times that suit you. Secure your flights and trip together and enjoy peace of mind knowing everything's organized with one team here to help if plans change.

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Accommodation

A selection of hotels

We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort. To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines.

Upgrade your room on Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 9 of this itinerary – speak to your sales representative for more details.

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Extend Your Trip

Exclusive Add-ons

Cape Town Hotels

With its iconic Table Mountain backdrop, world-class food scene and vibrant waterfront, additional nights in Cape Town can make your adventure feel even more extraordinary. Here are a few of our favourite hotels to inspire your stay:

Bay Hotel: Set along the palm-lined shores of Camps Bay, this stylish beachfront hotel offers elegant rooms with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. With multiple pools, a relaxed coastal atmosphere and easy access to cafés and restaurants, it’s perfect for unwinding after your tour.

V&A Hotel by Newmark: Located in the lively V&A Waterfront, this contemporary hotel blends historic charm with modern comfort. Spacious rooms, harbour views and direct access to shops, dining and attractions make it an ideal base for exploring Cape Town.

Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel: A luxury retreat at the foot of Table Mountain, the Mount Nelson offers lush gardens, refined rooms and classic afternoon tea on its iconic pink terraces. Its serene setting, exceptional service and rich heritage make it one of Cape Town’s most memorable places to stay.

This is just a glimpse of what’s possible. Speak to your sales representative, who can guide you through the options and arrange everything for you.

Essential Information

This trip is graded Activity Level 1 (Easy). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Walks: This is primarily a vehicle-based adventure, although we can take walks in Tsitsikamma National Park, Meiringspoort Waterfall, Hermanus and the Cape Peninsula. These are generally along good paths and boardwalks and take about one to two hours.

Drive times: These can vary but the maximum amount of driving in one day is approximately five hours with stops throughout. On most days, we are on the road for less than three hours (not including stops or game drives).

Legal note: All group members joining this tour are asked to sign an indemnity form at the start of the trip. It’s a requirement of the South African Tourism Service Association, of which our local supplier is a member. As a client of Exodus Travels Ltd, your rights under the Package Travel Regulations (1992) are unaffected, and Exodus remains liable for the actions of our sub-contractors.

Key information

Start hotel: City Lodge Hotel V&A Waterfront, 47 Alfred St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8000 (+27 21 419 9450) or Protea Hotel Cape Town Waterfront Breakwater Lodge, Portswood Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001 (+27 21 406 1911)
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing around 6pm.
Airport: Cape Town (CPT)

Getting to the start hotel

We provide one group transfer from the airport to the hotel, which you can join at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

Flying via Johannesburg
If you are travelling on flights via Johannesburg, please note that you will need to collect your baggage in Johannesburg, even if your bag has been checked all the way through to Port Elizabeth (and even if you are told you do not need to pick it up). After collecting the bag, you are required to clear customs, and you should then drop it off at the bag drop for the onward flight. This only applies to the outbound flight – you do not need to do this at the end of the trip on the return flight.

Catching your return flight

There’s one group transfer to Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (PLZ), which you can join at no extra cost. Please speak to your sales representative for the time of the transfer. If the group transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative.

South Africa

Travellers from the UK, US and most (though not all) EU states normally do not need a visa to enter South Africa. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/south-africa
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/south-africa
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/SouthAfrica.html

Please note, all travellers to South Africa who require a visa need at least two consecutive blank pages in their passport (ie a left- and right-hand page) to enable an entry visa to be issued.

Additionally, any child under 18 travelling to South Africa needs to be in possession of an unabridged birth certificate with the names of both parents. If a child under 18 is only travelling with one parent, they will also have to have an affidavit, no less than three months old, from the absent parent confirming the child can travel with the other parent; a court order granting full legal guardianship of the child; or a death certificate of the deceased parent.

Food on this trip is very similar to the kind of food you are used to at home, though there may be the opportunity to try local meats such as ostrich, kudu or eland. Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for – please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so our local team can be well prepared.

Summer is from October to April and the average daytime temperature is 25C-30C (77F-86F). The average night-time temperature is 10C-20C (50F-68F). Winter is from May to September and average temperatures are colder. In general, however, the Cape Town climate is quite mild. Summer is typically dry and warm, but the southeasterly wind can blow up to 43mph (70kph) at least a few times a month. This helps to cool things but can be a little unpleasant if one is walking in exposed areas. Most of the rainfall is in winter but it is frontal rain off the Atlantic. Therefore, it can rain solidly for two days, and in between there will be warm, sunny days. It is fairly common to experience tabletop clouds on the higher mountains. Our programme is flexible enough to accommodate any major changes in weather and still make it enjoyable.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Reviews

Add new review

Nicole Twomey

Added February 2026

The Ultimate Scenic Road Trip!

This entire trip was a fantastic experience. From seeing one of the best cities in the world, to seeing the changing vegetation, wildness and wildlife, its understandable to why this is such a sought after area to see in South Africa.

Most Inspirational Moment

The best was definitely the meerkat safari. Waking up at 5am may not be for everyone, but getting to see and visit the wonderful meerkat family after a coffee and rusk with an incredible sunrise was a bucket list experience for the books!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Malik was absolutely fantastic. He really delivered world-class service and showed how Exodus go above and beyond for their customers. He was also extremely quick thinking, thoughtful and always made sure the bus was laughing.

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Discover South Africa's Garden Route

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