Garden Route and Addo
From CAD $1,511
Guarantee
Group Tour
Easy
Rating
(10 reviews)
Experience Overview
Ready for one of the world’s most epic road trips – where you flicker from wildlife to city life to beach life? You’ll gawp at the Cango Caves, sample the nightlife of Cape Town, and even encounter the Big 5 at some of Africa’s finest national parks. The Garden Route has everything, and you’ll experience it all on this unforgettable 7-day adventure, with a squad of fellow 18-35s.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 6 Breakfast (B)
FAQs
- Marrakesh: What does a modular trip mean? A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
- Cape Town: Why is the Garden Route so popular? The Garden Route encompasses everything you want to experience and see on a trip to South Africa. It has the ‘Mother City’ of Cape Town, plenty of beaches to catch a surf or tan, wine farms to indulge in, adventurous activities on both land and sea as well as Big 5 Game Reserves to get your wildlife fix.
- Tsitsikamma National Park: Where does the Garden Route start and end? It’s common to start in Mossel Bay in the west and finish at Storms River in the east – but there’s no reason you couldn’t do this in reverse or start in the middle (like the rebel you are). Our Garden Route & Addo trip starts off in Cape Town. From there, we’ll board the Contiki coach and drive east to the Addo Elephant Park via Oudtshoorn. We then head south to Gqeberha before making our way back west to Hermanus via Knysna. Check the itinerary above for more info.
- Tsitsikamma National Park: What should I pack for a Garden Route road trip? It’ll change slightly depending on what time of year you’re visiting, but some essentials will include: Your camera Comfortable shoes & clothes for walking (including a beanie, gloves and warm jacket for open-top safari drives in the winter) Your swimming costume & towel Sun cream, a hat, sunglasses Insect repellent A portable phone charger Binoculars (crucial for game drives to see animals in the distance) Day bag for daily activities Torch/Headlight Reusable water bottle Read our full guide to visiting Africa here.
- Tsitsikamma National Park: What is the best time of year to travel the Garden Route? The Garden Route summer occurs between October to April, with the best beach weather coming in December to February. July to December is Whale Season, so this is the best time to visit if you’re keen to admire the Garden Route’s awesome marine life. May - September usually sees the coolest weather, so these months are ideal for hiking, outdoor activities, and safaris.
- Tsitsikamma National Park: What are my chances of seeing wildlife on this trip? Excellent. We visit wildlife reserves, so you’ll have a decent chance of catching the elusive Big 5 – plus giraffes, warthogs and other famed species. You’ll also have a great chance of seeing elephants in Addo, plus the myriad marine life on our marine activities – including whales, dolphins, penguins and more.
- Cape Town: What transport is used on this trip? You’ll be journeying around in your very own Contiki coach or minibus, equipped with AC (for a much-needed cool down from the tropical heat.) You’ll have the company of your Trip Manager, who’ll give you all the juicy info you need about the incredible spots you see en-route. And of course, we’ll keep it groovy on the coach with some music.
- Cape Town: What kind of accommodation do we stay in? This Garden Route & Addo trip is studded with incredible stays. This includes centrally-located beachside resorts and waterfront hotels, with scrumptious buffet breakfasts to kickstart your day. You’ll also have access to all amenities like restaurants, bars, and pools.
Included Experience
- Cango Caves: Tour Africa's largest limestone caves system. At over 20 million years old, it makes our nan look like a spring chicken.
- Addo Elephant National Park: See these gentle giants in their natural habitat as you cruise in our Contiki coach through this scenic National park. Also be on the lookout for giraffes, antelopes, buffaloes, warthogs and all of Africa's incredible wildlife.
- Gqeberha: The good folks at the SANCCOB Penguin Rehabilitation Centre work around the clock to rescue injured seabirds and help them make their way back into the wild. On this visit, we’ll see first hand how they work – and meet plenty of adorable penguins too.
- Jeffreys Bay: Known for its waves, its calamari and its natural beauty, there’s no beach quite like Jeffreys Bay Beach. Don’t forget your sunscreen!
- Knysna: If you’re looking for dramatic scenery, a trek through Tsitsikamma National Park will give you plenty of ops to fill up your memories and Insta feed.
- Knysna: Stretch out on the golden sands and enjoy some sea air at one of South Africa’s best beaches.
- Stellenbosch: Get to know the photogenic wine town of Stellenbosch. Rich in vineyards, but even richer in history.
Trip Details
Product Code: 17307
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+, Luxury
Tour Operator:
Contiki (CA)
Supplier Code: 556.2088A
Starts: Cape Town, South Africa
Finishes: Cape Town, South Africa
Duration: 7 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $1,511 ($216 /day)
Itinerary
Hello Africa… and hello Cape Town. Ready to get going? It’s off to the Karoo desert via the famous ‘Route 62’. Today's scenic drive goes through mountain passes, vineyards and epic desert scenery along the way.An included guided tour of Africa's LARGEST show cave system. The Cango Caves are replete with cavernous halls, limestone formations, cave paintings and artefacts (which indicate they were in use throughout the Middle Ages)! How's that for a pitstop?Welcome to the Klein Karoo! We'll check into Oudtshoorn with our first adventure on offer. How good does a scenic bike ride (or drive down) the UNESCO Swartberg Mountain Pass, plus a Karoo braai dinner on a local farm sound? (So good!). And this evening, you can opt to do just that.
Accommodation: Riempie Estate (or similar)
Good morning! Let's continue heading East towards one of South Africa's most loved National Parks: Addo Elephant. (Anyone guess which animal this place is famous for?) That’s right, it’s elephant time. After lunch, we’ll set out in our comfy (and tall!) coach in search of Africa's largest land mammal here at the Addo National Park, home to over 600 of these tusk-tastic creatures. (Keep your eyes peeled for lions, buffalo, and antelope too though!) We'll retreat here for the night but fear not, more safari adventures await in the morning. Stuck for something to do this evening? Let us introduce you to the karaoke bar just around the corner. (Cue your fave Lion King jams.)
Accommodation: Town Lodge Port Elizabeth (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Today is all about wildlife, both on land and in the ocean. We’ll start with a morning tour of the SANCCOB Penguin Rehabilitation Centre, who give sick and injured penguins the care they deserve and help them to return to the wild. Later this morning, we’ll set out on the first of today’s two private game drives (both optional but highly recommended!). The Eastern Cape’s game reserves are some of South Africa’s best spots for seeing the Big 5, home to valleys, plains, rivers and much more. Yup. That's three game drives in 36 hours, giving you the best chance of spotting the Big 5. Lucky you, right? Tonight we’ll head back to the city where a free evening awaits. Karaoke round two? We won’t stop ya.
Accommodation: Town Lodge Port Elizabeth (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Beach time. Desert? Tick. Caves? Tick. Safari? Tick. Now it’s time to make our way along the famous Garden Route to our next destination, Knysna – with a few sensational stop-offs on the way. Known as one of the best surf spots in the world, it’d be wrong not to start our day with some chill time on J-Bay… which is exactly what we’ll do. And of course, there's an optional surfing lesson for the wave-dodgers among us. Welcome to our next pitstop, known for the infinitely Instagramable Storms River Bridge – which we’ll take a picturesque hike to so you can get all the legendary snaps you need. Wanna up the adrenaline? You can choose to go kayaking up the mouth of Storms River. And then we pull into the beautiful coastal town of Knysna, ready to explore all the sights and activities the Garden Route is known for. (We've got two nights here too!)
Accommodation: Knysna Quays (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Rise and shine, team. Today starts with an included breakfast, overlooking the Knysna lagoon, and then we’re off again once more. It’s ocean time! You can choose to join our marine safari and set out in search of whales, dolphins, seals and more spectacular sea life. Afterwards, we’ll spend the rest of the day relaxing on Plettenberg's main beach, catching those rays and helping ourselves to some splendid seafood. This evening, we’ll embark on an optional Township visit here in Knysna, where you’ll meet the locals and have the chance to make a positive impact for the children who live here. Afterwards, you'll have the option to cruise the Knysna lagoon & see the sunset onboard. And finally, we'll tuck into a group dinner by the water before finishing off with a night on the town (again, optional but unmissable!).
Accommodation: Knysna Quays (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Make sure you call dibs on a window seat. As we drive back to Cape Town, you’ll watch the magnificence of the Garden Route unfold as we pass coastal towns, forests, gorges and some jaw-dropping ocean views. Marine mania… We’ll have lunch and a little free time here in the coastal town of Hermanus, which is one of the world’s best areas for spotting whales – between July and November at least – so have your binoculars at the ready. And here we are, back in the city where it all began. Tonight, you can opt for a MasterChef-style cooking class and enjoy the food, music and drinks.
Accommodation: Waterfront Breakwater Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
It might be our last day together but fear not, there’s still plenty planned about the Cape Winelands. And most of it revolves around food. But before that, you have the chance to hit the skies on an optional helicopter ride over the seas and peaks. After some free time to explore (and shop till you drop) we’ll set out to discover Stellenbosh’s awesome wine farms with an optional experience to sample the very finest of the Cape’s fine wines. With spectacular views, and a traditional South African braai for lunch, this really is one tasty excursion indeed. And, after a brief drive back to Cape Town for an airport/hotel drop-off, that's a wrap! You'll have the option to jump on our Cape Town Explorer trip starting this evening (that's 4 more days in the Mother City!). It’s been wild – we’re thrilled from what we’ve experienced, and we can’t wait to do it all again!
Meals: Breakfast
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Contiki (CA)
Contiki is a New Zealand-based tour company that caters to 18 to 35-year-olds, offering over 350 different tours in over 75 countries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.[1] It is a subsidiary of The Travel Corporation. Its tours historically had a reputation for partying;[2][3] however, it also operates wellness trips culturally immersive experiences that focus less on alcohol, which are more popular with Generation Z.[4] The company owns lodging facilities in Europe, including the Chateau De Cruix, a 16th century castle in the Beaujolais wine region, and the Gasthof Schoneck in the Austrian Tyrol. The name "Contiki" comes from the portmanteau 'Con' from the word 'Continent' and 'Tiki'; from the Māori referring to the first man, often symbolised as a pendant known as hei-tiki. It can also be attributed to the New Zealand slang 'Tiki-tour' describing taking a longer route to a destination in order to explore.[5]
In Business Since 1931
Reviews
Anonymous - Traveled, November 2024
Very fast paced but we get a lot of activities is that make it worth it. Our tour manager *Personal details removed by Feefo* was the best. He's very knowledgeable, keeps us on track, and made the bus rides so much fun. We had a few activities cancel due to weather but *Personal details removed by Feefo* always made sure there was more to do to make up for it.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/27/2024
Annabelle Perras - Traveled, January 2025
I love the *Personal information removed by Feefo* and *Personal information removed by Feefo* the guides! I also really appreciated the Safari, the kayaking, the surf and the cooking class.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/13/2025
Sara Arbabzadehbroujeni - Traveled, January 2025
Absolutely great. A little packed and rushed but now that its done I have done experiences worth of one month in one week. Great mix of everything (nature, restaurants, relaxation)
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/12/2025
Helena - Traveled, March 2025
Jam packed trip with all the best stops - we really got through a lot in one week it was great! Lots of safari's, wine, amazing food, a few beaches and lots of other animals along the route. Be prepared for a few long coach drives but it's all worth it and you can use it to catch up on sleep (or drink)
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/18/2025
Livia Hamilton - Traveled, October 2024
Contiki was amazing! It was my first contiki experience and our trip leader Sim made it so wonderful! I met amazing people and saw such a beautiful country. Our driver *Personal information removed by Feefo* was so kind. I cant wait to travel again! All of our hotels and excursions were insane and so clean and fun.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/29/2024
Su - Traveled, February 2025
Being in SA felt like I was back in Asia but with more wild animals. The trip felt short and long at the same time. Definitely wasn't expecting to see 4 of the Big 5 in one day. Also being able to see wild animals so close by was insane especially in an open vehicle. It definitely made me conscious about the existence of animals, nature and human impact on it.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/25/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, January 2025
Honestly it was the most incredible experience.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/28/2025
Ntombikayise Kotelo - Traveled, January 2025
It was the best seven days of my life. The Trip Manager and Driver were amazing, accommodating, and welcoming. We got to know each other within two days, and it felt like we had known each other for years. The long coach drives were worth it, and we saw a lot of hidden gems. The booking experience was easy, and I did not miss any critical information.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/31/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, January 2025
Great way to safety view Africa and still get an authentic experience. I went to South Africa as a solo female traveler and ended up leaving with so many friends. Our tour guide Sim was phenomenal and wouldn't hesitate to do a trip with him again. I did all the add ons and it end up being around $800 additional if you'd like to plan for that. Always easy and great to be able to switch dates as needed.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/31/2025
Tony Tropea - Traveled, November 2024
The Garden route tour was a great trip with contiki, our tour guide *Personal information removed by Feefo* was very informative with there knowledge of the areas we travelled through. The accommodation was good as well as was the camping experiences, we spotted a whole heap of animals a lot more then expected. 4/5 animals in the Big 5 were spotted on my first time. Definitely be back to spot the last and i highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to explore Africa. I also felt very comfortable 10/10. The Southern Africa Safari tour was a great trip with contiki, our tour guide *Personal information removed by Feefo" and "Personal information removed by Feefo* were very informative with there knowledge of the areas we travelled through. The accommodation was good as well as was the camping experiences, we spotted a whole heap of animals a lot more then expected. 4/5 animals in the Big 5 were spotted on my first time. Definitely be back to spot the last and i highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to explore Africa. I also felt very comfortable 10/10.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/10/2024
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