Best of the Garden Route - Premium Adventure

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11 Days Excluding Flights From

0 Days from

£ 5299

Culture

Activity Level

Easy

Comfort Level

Premium

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group

Activity :

Culture

Group Size :

4 - 16

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

ACG

Carbon Footprint :

77.8kg CO2e per person per day

From vibrant Cape Town to the wild African bush: this is South Africa’s greatest road trip in full bloom

Experience the greatest adventures on the Garden Route, handpicked by our local experts to showcase the very best of South Africa. Begin in buzzy Cape Town, ascending Table Mountain by cable car, before touring the Winelands, exploring the 20m-year-old Cango Caves, and searching for ocean giants on a wildlife-watching boat trip. It ends in the African bush, where expert rangers help you spot those iconic safari animals. To elevate your experience, you’ll stay in Premium accommodation throughout – the perfect sanctuary after a day of adventure.

Highlights

Experience the very best of the Garden Route, staying in Premium hotels each night
Tour the highlights of Cape Town, including a cable car ride up Table Mountain
Sip your way through the renowned Winelands
Go underground to explore the ancient Cango Caves
Search for ocean giants on a marine safari adventure
Spot iconic safari animals with three game drives in Kariega Private Game Reserve

Key Information

Accommodation: 10 Premium nights (hotels)
Travel by private minibus
Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16

Countries visited: South Africa

What's Included

All breakfasts, five lunches and six dinners
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Arrival transfer for any flight, group departure transfer available

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Visas or vaccinations

Sustainability and Impact

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.

TRIP

ACG - Best of the Garden Route – Premium Adventure

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Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

For flights call us on 0203 733 5948 or enquire when booking online

Regional flights available

Competitive flight prices

Specialist Flight Support

ATOL protected

Itinerary

Cape Town Kariega Private Game Reserve

Begin your adventure in 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 dinner at the hotel restaurant.

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

Accommodation: The Winchester Boutique Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a sea-view suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included: Dinner

Best of the Garden Route – Premium Adventure

Experience the best of Cape Town today. It starts with a driving tour around the city, visiting plenty of landmarks, including the Castle of Good Hope, Grand Parade and St George’s Cathedral.

We then head to 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.

The afternoon is free for you to explore further, including an optional excursion to Robben Island, which you can book before the trip begins.

Accommodation: The Winchester Boutique Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a sea-view suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included: Breakfast

Discover the highlights of the Cape Peninsula, jumping into the vehicle to enjoy the Chapmans Peak drive, among the most spectacular coastal routes in the world, on our way to the Cape of Good Hope, where we take the funicular to the Cape Point lighthouse.

Next, we visit the protected African penguin rookery at Boulders Beach, before lunch at Seaforth Restaurant in Simon’s Town, where we can tuck into seafood while gazing over the waters of False Bay.

After, we head to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden on the slopes of Table Mountain. Here, we wander the trails, seeing some of the 7,000-plus southern African plant species that form a gorgeous natural display. As the sun begins to set, we head to the on-site MOYO restaurant for drinks and glorious views over the garden.

Accommodation: The Winchester Boutique Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a sea-view suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

After a leisurely morning at the hotel, we dive deep into traditional Cape Malay cuisine, known for its fruity, mild and full-bodied flavours. And there’s no better place to do this than the Bo-Kaap district of Cape Town, an area characterised by steep cobblestone streets and brightly painted houses.

We learn the history of the Cape Malay people from our tour leader as we stroll to a home, before we learn the secrets of Cape Malay cooking from our host, attempting to fold samosas, while also sampling delicious dishes.

After, we head to our hotel in South Africa’s renowned wine region, ready for our explorations tomorrow.

Accommodation: Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa (or similar)
Upgrade to a one-bedroom villa today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Join your tour leader for a delightful day exploring the Winelands. Our first stop is Stellenbosch, where we join our leader on an orientation tour, before ducking into a wine estate for an expertly guided tasting.

After, we head to Franschhoek, said to be the gourmet capital of South Africa, to enjoy another tour, before a food and wine pairing at MIKO restaurant with views of the Franschhoek Valley and vineyards.

Finally, we visit another wine estate, exploring the cellars and enjoying another tasting experience.

Accommodation: Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa (or similar)
Upgrade to a one-bedroom villa today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

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 ago, this extensive complex of caverns is home to magnificent stalactites and stalagmites, which we learn all about from a local guide.

We then complete our journey, arriving at our hotel in Oudtshoorn, a town at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains.

Accommodation: Surval Boutique Olive Estate (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Today’s journey takes us to 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.

Then continue to Plettenberg Bay, but not before stopping for lunch at a lagoon-side restaurant in Knysna. This pretty coastal town is known as the oyster capital of South Africa, so you may wish to take advantage and enjoy an optional oyster-tasting session.

Accommodation: Hog Hollow Country Lodge (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

After a morning at leisure, we hop onto a boat for a sea safari. To give us the best chance of spotting mighty ocean animals, the skipper determines the best route. Depending on the time of year, we may visit Humpback Highway, where migrating humpback whales travel on their way to breeding or feeding grounds.

With the help of the experienced skipper, we may also spot southern right whales, bottlenose dolphins and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins.

Accommodation: Hog Hollow Country Lodge (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Leave early this morning and transfer (3hr 45min) to our lodge in Kariega Private Game Reserve, where we enjoy lunch.

In the evening, we head into the private reserve for a game drive in open safari vehicles. Joined by an experienced ranger, we explore the African bush, with the chance to spot lions, elephants and more. Cap the day with a sundowner in the bush!

Accommodation: Kariega Main Lodge (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Rising early for tea, coffee and a snack, we leave for an early morning game drive or river cruise with the chance to spot more safari animals.

After returning to the lodge for a late breakfast, you can either enjoy a bush walk, spa treatment (additional cost), have a swim or relax after your early start.

Post-lunch, we depart for an evening game drive and sundowners, a chance to see animals you may not have spotted yesterday or this morning.

Return to the lodge for a farewell dinner, in which we can relive some of the adventures we’ve had together.

Accommodation: Kariega Main Lodge (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The adventure ends at Kariega Private Game Reserve. If you’d like more time to explore the African bush, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay. Alternatively begin your journey home and join the group transfer to Port Elizabeth (a journey of around 1hr 40mins).

Meals included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Is this trip for you?

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 and Cape Point Nature Reserve. 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 5hr 30min with numerous 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.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as not suitable for full wheelchair users, but it may be suitable for other persons of reduced mobility. Please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Joining Instructions

Key information

Start hotel: The Winchester Boutique Hotel, 221 Beach Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town, 8005
Phone: +27 (0)21 427 5900
Recommended arrival time: There is a welcome briefing around 6pm
Airport: Cape Town (CPT)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is around 25 minutes’ drive from Cape Town Airport. We provide free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for everyone. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

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 from the end hotel to Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport, in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), 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. The journey from the end hotel to the airport takes around 1hr 40mins.

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

Location start: Cape Town
Location end: Kariega Private Game Reserve

Vaccinations and Health

South Africa

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, rabies and tuberculosis. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Malaria prophylaxis is essential if travelling in the greater Kruger area; seek advice from your doctor or travel clinic about which tablets to take. The rest of South Africa, including the Garden Route, has a low risk of malaria.

Dengue fever, a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes, is also a known risk in places visited. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so we recommend taking the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Visa

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 & Drink

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 on this trip – please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so our local team can be well prepared.

The provided water is safe, clean drinking water, normally from boreholes. It is not bottled water, however. If you would rather have bottled water then this will be at your expense, though we would encourage you to make use of the safe drinking water provided as this helps diminish plastic consumption.

Weather

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.

TRIP

ACG - Best of the Garden Route – Premium Adventure

Departure Date

Number Of Passengers*

Message*

To enquire about an existing booking click here

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

Keep me up to date with news and offers from Exodus by email.

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Find out more about how we use your data

Request a Brochure

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Premium hotels and lodges

Enjoy the best of the Garden Route, staying in everything from historic Cape Dutch properties to a remote lodge deep within the African bush. The variety and quality of properties featured will undoubtedly be a highlight of your adventure!

Upgrade your room on Days 1-5 of the itinerary – speak to your sales representative for more details.

Cape Town: The Winchester Boutique Hotel (nights 1-3)