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 ( about 6 hours driving) 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 Stay at Uthando Backpackers (Backpack package) or 88 van Rheede Guesthouse (3 star Comfort package) or Hlangana lodge or similar (4 star Luxury package). Ask to upgrade to Buffelsdrift at extra fee. Day 2: Oudtshoorn Travel time today is about 250km/3 hours. 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 Stay at Avaco Cabins (Backpack package) or Happy Lands (Comfort package) or Addo Wildlife lodge or similar (Luxury package). Day 3: Addo, Jeffreys Bay Travel route about 300km/3 hours. Rise early for the best chance to spot wildlife as the bush awakes in Addo Elephant National Park, the 3rd largest national park in South Africa. Join your own group after breakfast for the included 2-hour van game drive with your guide to search for some of the big five animals; if lucky you'll spot elephants, buffalos, lion & more. Travel about 200km to J'bay to either spend free time at the beach or choosing between optional surfing or beach horseback riding (extra cost). Overnight at Island Vibe (Backpacker package) or Sea Whisper (3 star Comfort package) or On The Beach Lodge or similar (Luxury package). Day 4: Tsitsikamma, Sedgefield Travel route about 300km/3 hours. After breakfast, drive inland to 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 (Backpacker package), or The Rex (Comfort package), or Protea Hotel Knysna or similar (Luxury package). Day 5: Garden Route Safari Travel route about 400km/6 hours. Take the road back along the coastline until a 2-3 hour safari activity stop in the heart of the native bushveld. Search for most of the Big 5 and other wild animals from an open 4x4 vehicle in the Botlierskop Reserve. Journey back to Cape Town with evening drop-offs in Cape Town or Stellenbosch (between 8pm to 10pm).