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Garden RouteNational parks

Our most recommended Garden Route National parks

Plettenberg Bay: Swim with Seals

1. Plettenberg Bay: Swim with Seals

Go swimming with seals in Plettenberg Bay, a fun and playful experience for all involved. Meet at the local office to take care of the paperwork and pick up all your equipment. Your group will depart by boat from Central Beach aboard the Robberg Express for an exciting beach launch. Head towards Robberg Nature Reserve and Marine Protected Area, home to approximately 8000 Cape fur seals.   Accompanied by a qualified divemaster, hop into the water and enjoy 30 minutes of amazing animal interaction among bundles of playful, inquisitive fur seals. Have the ultimate wild animal encounter in their natural environment and without altering their natural behaviours.

From Cape Town: 2-Day Safari at Garden Route Game Lodge

2. From Cape Town: 2-Day Safari at Garden Route Game Lodge

Get the chance to see lions, elephants, rhinos, hippos, giraffes, and more on a 2-day safari tour from Cape Town. Enjoy 2 game drives and an overnight stay with included dinner and breakfast. On the first day, depart Cape Town and drive along the scenic coastal road to Cape Agulhas via Hermanus, the whale watching capital of the world. Make a stop at the southernmost tip of Africa to admire the beautiful lighthouse. Continue on to Garden Route Game Lodge. Here, embark on a sunset safari in an open-air vehicle. Observe a variety of native animals, including elephants, lions, rhinos, giraffes, hippos, and more. After the safari, settle in for a three-course dinner. Spend the night in one of the beautiful 4-star wooden chalets and admire the clear skies over the lodge. In the morning, head out for another game drive to see some of the animals you might have missed the evening before. After your drive, tuck into breakfast. Make your way back to Cape Town in the evening.

Garden Route National Park: Tsitsikamma Zipline Canopy Tour

3. Garden Route National Park: Tsitsikamma Zipline Canopy Tour

This unique eco-wilderness adventure takes place in the magnificent Tsitsikamma indigenous rainforest. Most of the platforms are located in giant Outeniqua Yellowwood trees. The scenery and bird life are spectacular and professional guides provide interesting facts about the forest ecology throughout the tour. The concept of guiding people through the upper canopy of a rainforest originated in Costa Rica, where adventurous biologists devised new methods for accessing the forest canopy in order to conduct research on the undiscovered canopy ecosystem. The idea soon developed into a breathtaking form of eco-tourism which allowed people to enter and experience a previously inaccessible natural environment. The tour begins with a detailed safety briefing followed by a kitting-up session where full body harnesses, pulleys, and climbing equipment are issued and checked. A short drive into the Tsitsikamma forest and it is time to monkey around. From the start on the launch platform, a new world unfolds as one gently glides on a steel cable to the first tree platform. All groups are escorted through the forest canopy by a lead guide and a follow guide to ensure your safety as you slide from tree to tree. The platforms are built high up in the giant Outeniqua Yellowwoods and provide an unbelievable view of this enchanting new world, any fear of heights is soon lost as you gather in your new surroundings.

Knysna: Sunset Lagoon Cruise

4. Knysna: Sunset Lagoon Cruise

End a hot summer's day on the Garden Route with a relaxing cruise around Knysna Lagoon. Bring family or friends along on this scenic adventure among the beautiful Outeniqua Mountains. Admire privileged views of the sunset and come across a variety of wildlife. Set sail in Knysna and navigate around the quiet lagoon for the unique chance to experience the ocean in an intimate way. Become mesmerized by the exquisite views of the lagoon, framed by the beautiful town with the mountains as a backdrop. Discover breathtaking bays and vistas as the sun sets, from the magnificent Knysna estuary to the famous Heads and back. Choose the option with food included to enjoy delicious snacks, drinks, and oysters during your experience.

From Cape Town: 3-Day Garden Route Highlights Tour & Safari

5. From Cape Town: 3-Day Garden Route Highlights Tour & Safari

Day 1: Oudtshoorn Morning pickup (6am - 7am) from your accommodation in Cape Town or Stellenbosch. Travel about 400 km. Set off along the famous Route 62, where you'll capture the beauty of high mountains, twisting passes, vast Karoo plains, vineyards and orchards. Pop in at one of the many farm stalls along the way, stocked with locally crafted delights before arriving in Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world. Delve deep underground to the magical Cango Caves’ limestone chambers, alive with drip formation stalactites and stalagmites and remnants of Khoikhoi paintings. Opt for the easy-going guided Heritage Tour or by contrast, the Adventure Tour allows you to wiggle your way through limestone on a daring underground route. You’ll spend the evening in Oudtshoorn at leisure. As per package selected; overnight at Uthando Backpackers (Dorm or Saver-) or Buffelsdrift Lodge Horizon View Tents (Comfort package). Day 2: Wilderness As the dawn breaks in the dusty Klein Karoo, opt for a close encounter with Mother Nature and join elephant guides on an (optional with extra cost) Elephant Observation in Nature. Gentle giants (Jabari, Malaika and Bulelo) made Buffelsdrift their home after being relocated from Kruger when their parents were poached. Follow and take photos of these 3 rescued African elephants as they roam freely in this natural bush veld habitat. Then, take to the water for a leisurely afternoon paddle along the reed-lined banks in Wilderness National Park region. It’s not until you stop paddling and let the gentle current guide you, that the abundance of bird life becomes apparent.  Today you'll drive about 450 km. The adventure continues as you reach Bloukrans Bridge, the world’s highest commercial bridge bungy jump. Opt in to hurtle face-first down the 134 (216 m) drop if you dare (optional with extra cost) or those who'd prefer to keep their feet on solid ground can visit the nearby forest area. Spend the evening soaking in the slow town way of life in Sedgefield or Wilderness, subject to your accommodation location. Feel the white sand between your toes as you sip on cocktails and enjoy dinner. As per selected package; choose to stay at PiliPili Beach Backpackers (Dorm or Saver-) or PiliPili ensuite rooms (Comfort package). Day 3: Garden Route (Travel about 400 km excluding safari drive) Start the day in the heart of the African bush. Spot some of Africa’s wild animals from the back of an open 4x4 vehicle in the malaria-free Botlierskop Private Game Reserve. Search for giraffe, white rhino, kudu, lion, elephant, zebra, and wildebeest, just to name a few. The game drive is led by an experienced game ranger, sharing his knowledge of the local wildlife, birdlife, and insects. End the day with a journey through the landscape of rolling farmlands as you say farewell to the Garden Route on your way back to Cape Town by evening (between 8pm - 10pm).

From Cape Town: 5-Day Best of Garden Route and Addo Safari

6. From Cape Town: 5-Day Best of Garden Route and Addo Safari

Day 1: Route 62 Start with a morning pickup (6am to 7am) from your accommodation in Cape Town and Stellenbosch. Travel about 450km along Route 62, the longest wine route in the world, with a wine-tasting stop (non-alcoholic tasting available too) before reaching Oudtshoorn by afternoon. For a close encounter with Mother Nature, opt in to join elephant guides on an Elephant Observation in Nature (at extra cost) and observe 3 lovable rescued elephants in their natural Cango Valley bush veld habitat. Overnight at Uthando Backpackers (Dorm or Saver package) or 88 van Rheede Guesthouse (Comfort package) or Buffelsdrift Lodge (Deluxe package). Day 2: Oudtshoorn Visit a working ostrich farm and see the largest flightless birds in the world. Next, head to the mountains to go deep underground in the illuminated wonder world of the Cango Caves, exploring vast halls filled with ancient stalactites before traveling onward for about 400km to reach the Addo town region. Overnight at Avaco Cabins (Dorm or Saver -) or Gerald's Gift (Comfort-) or Addo Wildlife lodge (Deluxe package). Day 3: Addo, Jeffreys Bay An early morning start allows the best option to spot wildlife as the bush awakes in Addo Elephant National Park, the 3rd largest national park in South Africa. Join the park's optional 4x4 game drive or simply take the included 2-hour safari bus drive. Along with. your guide, search for some of the big five, which includes elephants, buffalos, lions, leopards, and rhinos. Travel about 200km to J'bay and spend time with free time at the beach; choosing between surfing, beach horseback riding, or sand boarding (all optional at extra cost). Overnight at Island Vibe (Dorm or Saver -) or Sea Whisper (Comfort -) or On The Beach Lodge (Deluxe package). Day 4: Tsitsikamma, Sedgefield After breakfast, drive 250km to go experience an optional highest Bungy jump bridge in the world, optional Waterfall Zipline over waterfalls in Tsitsikamma forest (both at extra cost) or choose to have free time and arrive early to spend more time in Tsitsikamma National Park. After all had some time to explore the park, drive onward with a photo stop at Knysna's lagoon en route to Sedgefield. Overnight at Pili Pili Backpackers (Dorm or Saver-) Fairy Knowe (Comfort-) or Dolphin Dunes (Deluxe package). Day 5: Wilderness Take to the water for a leisurely kayak session to a hidden waterfall along the calm rivers of the wilderness region. As part of a 400km journey back to Cape Town, spot wildlife on a 4x4 Botlierskop game drive (at extra cost) or relax at Mossel Bay's Diaz Beach after walking to the Cape St Blaize lighthouse. Your adventure ends with evening drop-offs in Cape Town or Stellenbosch (between 8pm to 10pm).

Garden Route and Addo Elephant National Park: 6-Day Safari

7. Garden Route and Addo Elephant National Park: 6-Day Safari

Explore Hermanus, Oudtshoorn, Sedgefield, Knysna, Tsitsikamma, Addo, and Mossel Bay on an adventurous 6-day trip from Cape Town with accommodation, transportation, and most meals included. Discover wildlife and indigenous forests, taste local wine, canoe, hike, and visit the beaches of Mossel Bay. Day 1: Cape Town - Hermanus - Cape Agulhas Start your trip by departing from Cape Town to Hermanus. Follow the scenic coastal road to Betty's Bay to see a colony of endangered African penguins. Spend the afternoon in the seaside resort town of Hermanus, famous for being the home to hundreds of southern right whales from July to November. Later, drive on to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa and the place where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet. Day 2: Cape Agulhas - Oudtshoorn Travel to Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo, known as the Ostrich Capital of the World, via Route 62, South Africa’s longest wine route. Enjoy lunch and a wine tasting at a local winery before checking into your accommodation, a working game farm in the Little Karoo. As the sun goes down, join a tour of the ostrich farm. Take in the views of the Outeniqua and Swartberg mountain ranges in the background before calling it a night. Day 3: Oudtshoorn - Sedgefield After breakfast, head to Outeniqua Mountain Pass and explore the Wilderness National Park by canoe. Paddle up the Touw River through the indigenous forest with an abundance of bird life. After about 40 minutes, leave the canoes for a 2 km hike along a boardwalk to a waterfall with rock pools. In the late afternoon, spend time exploring Sedgefield with its expansive views and beaches. Day 4: Sedgefield - Knysna - Tsitsikamma - Addo Head to the famous town of Knysna via the lavish Lake District of the Garden Route. Visit the Knysna Heads Viewpoint for sweeping views over the Knysna River and the Indian Ocean. Next, stop at Bloukrans Bridge to view the world’s highest bungee jump bridge. Midday will be spent in Tsitsikamma National Park, with its unique combination of indigenous forest and Indian Ocean coastline. The park has a wide choice of activities including hiking, crossing a suspension bridge, and swimming. In the afternoon, leave the Garden Route for the Big Five country, Addo. Day 5: Addo - Wilderness - Sedgefield Spend the morning exploring Addo Elephant National Park. Get up to 2-3 hours to roam the 28,000-hectare national reserve, home to approximately 600 elephants and other animals including buffalo, lions, rhinos, warthogs, and more. After a morning on safari, drive back to the Garden Route where you'll stay overnight in the Wilderness or Sedgefield area. Day 6: Wilderness - Sedgefield - Mossel Bay - Cape Town After breakfast, stop in Mossel Bay to spend some time on the beach. Hike the Cape St. Blaize trail along the seaside cliffs and visit the famous Diaz Museum complex, which commemorates the first known European exploration around the tip of Africa. The more adventurous can try a 10,000-foot tandem skydive or sandboarding on the longest dune in South Africa. Later, arrive back at Cape Town in the early evening for drop-off.

Robberg Nature Reserve Hiking Trails

8. Robberg Nature Reserve Hiking Trails

Enjoy a day immersed in beautiful nature with a hiking trail trip along the Robberg, one of the most popular and well known trails in the area. Travel this circular route along the Robberg Peninsula with a comfort level that is appropriate to your fitness level - easy or moderate.  With your professional guide who is an expert on the local area, you will set-off on your journey along the Peninsula, taking in the beautiful scenery along the way. Be amused by the sight of bathing and resting Cape Fur Seals as they lay on the rocks. This is a fantastic site to witness even more animals, such as the Grey Buck, Duiker and Bushbuck. On some occasions, even Cape Clawless Otters and mongooses can be seen. Robberg is also an ideal vantage point to spot marine life such as Killer Whales, dolphins, whales and Orcas. There are also numerous bird species like Cape Robins, Cape White-Eyes, Red-Winged Starlings, and Orange-Breasted Sunbirds to name but a few.  Stop for a moment and admire the majestic Tsitsikamma Mountains. This is the ideal location to stop for a bite to eat and watch the large numbers of Swift Terns and Kelp Gulls. Your guide will provide you with knowledge on the natural fauna and flora whilst on route to explore a cave.

Garden Route Safari and Great White Shark Diving

9. Garden Route Safari and Great White Shark Diving

Get the change to see Lions, Elephants, Rhino's, Hippo's Giraffes and more on a 2-day safari tour from Cape Town. Enjoy 2 game drives and an overnight stay with included dinner and breakfast. On the first day, depart Cape Town and drive along the scenic coastal road to Cape Agulhas via Hermanus, the whale watching capital of the world. Make a stop at the southernmost tip of Africa where the Atlantic and Indies oceans meet. Continue on to Garden Route Game Lodge. Here, embark on a sunset safari in an open-air vehicle. Observe variety of native animals, including Elephants, Lions, Hippo's Giraffes, Rhino's and more. After the safari, settle in for a three-course dinner. Spend the night in one of the beautiful 4-star wooden chalets and admire the clear skies over the lodge. In the morning, head out for another game drive to see some of the animals you might have missed the evening before. After your drive, tuck into breakfast. After breakfast we will make our way to Mossel Bay witch is about 30 minutes away to meet face to face with the Great White Sharks. After that we will make our way back to Cape Town.

Tsitsikamma Guided Hikes

10. Tsitsikamma Guided Hikes

Wander through the ancient Tsitsikamma forest as you travel back in time to when the forest was home to hunter gatherers and learn more about their daily existence beneath the canopy. As you hike beneath the treetops, discover how the forest lives and breathes to the sounds of birds like the Knysna Loerie and Green Hoophoes—you will be amazed. Hike the Tsitsikamma's indigenous forest and discover the secrets of the spectacular forest: choose your own adventure with a variety of routes to choose from. As you enter the forest you will encounter Hard Pear trees, Giant Yellow Woods and other interesting forest flora for an experience you'll never forget. The routes start at the Stormsriver Adventure Centre. The hikes are relatively easy and an average of 3 km/h can indicate the time needed to complete the various routes.

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What people are saying about Garden Route

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 145 reviews

Wonderful experience!! Everything on this trip went smoothly and our guide Christopher was the Highlight of our trip. He picked us up on time, made many stops for us to use the bathroom or walk around for a bit and gave us a lot of information of cape town and south africa. He could answer every little question we had, showed as amazing food spots were we could try traditional foods and drinks and made the long car ride super comfortable. The safari in generally was a super nice experience although the weather was super cloudy, windy and sometimes rainy. Luckily, they didn't cancelled the 2 safari tours. They gave us big rain jackets, that kept us warm doing the game drive. We saw every single animal and were super happy. The rooms were super cozy and the food was amazing! One thing I would change is the time between arrival and the first safari. Unfortunately, there is little time left to spent time at the pool/spa. However, since there was bad weather anyway, we didn't mind.

This trip was so cool! Our guide Dylan was the best; from the moment of pick-up till the very last drop-off his positive energy was contagious. He also has lots of nice stories and details to share. We stopped at various viewing points, scenic locations and had plenty of stops for toilet breaks and shop for light refreshments. The Game Lodge was luxurious, a great location with amazing food and very friendly staff. The game drives are also really cool, good chance to see many indigenous animals from upclose. Don’t forget to bring some binoculars. Would definitely recommend this trip and hope to meet Dylan again!

Tour excellently arranged, guests get a good insight of important highlights along the Garden Route within a few days. I am fully satisfied with the accommodations and meals.

Best activity from our two weeks stay at the Garden Route Region. I got seasick during the snorkeling, but even then it was the best and most amazing activity we did here.

Great fun, well run and very professional. A must do!