6-Day Garden Route, Addo, and Cape Town Expedition

We depart from Cape Town/Stellenbosch early on Monday morning for Hermanus. Please note that the shark-cage diving clients will be picked up very early in the morning by the diving operator and will miss the first half of day 1. We follow the scenic coastal road, stopping at Betties Bay to view a colony of endangered African penguins. You can spend the afternoon in the seaside resort town of Hermanus, famous for hundreds of Southern right whales during the whale season (July to November) and many shops, restaurants and markets. In the afternoon, we will drive to Cape Agulhas, the most southern tip of Africa, where we will visit a viewpoint known as the “real” place where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet.

Included activity: Penguins at Betties Bay.

Optional activities: Shark-cage diving (R1,900); whale-watching boat trip in season, July - November (R700).

Travel route, distance and time: Cape Town – Hermanus – Cape Agulhas: +/- 249km (3 hours).

Overnight: Cape Agulhas/Struisbaai.

Main Destination:

Cape Agulhas (Highlight)

Accommodation:

Mermaid Guest House

Mid-range guest house located at Cape Agulhas (Highlight)

Meals & Drinks:

Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)

Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

We travel to Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo, known as the "Ostrich Capital of the World" via the scenic and spectacular Route 62, which is South Africa’s longest wine route. We will have a lovely lunch and wine tasting at a local winery before experiencing the subterranean beauty of the Cango Caves on a guided adventure tour.

Included activities: Local wine tasting; Cango Caves tour.

Travel route, distance and time: Cape Agulhas – Route 62 – Oudtshoorn: +/- 330km (4 hours).

Overnight: Oudtshoorn.

Main Destination:

Oudtshoorn (Garden Route)

Accommodation:

Hlangana Lodge

Mid-range lodge located in Oudtshoorn (Garden Route)

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)

Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

After breakfast, we head over the spectacular Outeniqua Mountain Pass, where we will explore Wilderness National Park with canoes. Enjoy an easy paddle up the Touw River through the indigenous forest, enjoying the abundance of birdlife. After about 40 minutes, the canoes will be left for a 2km hike along a boardwalk, taking us to a lovely waterfall and rock pools. After the canoeing, we will head to the famous town of Knysna via the spectacular Lake District of the Garden Route. This up-market little town is filled with curios, restaurants and a waterfront, where you can have lunch and shop.

After Knysna, we will head to the Knysna Heads viewpoint for spectacular views over the Knysna River estuary and the Indian Ocean. In the late afternoon, you can explore Sedgefield with its spectacular views and beaches.

Included activities: Canoeing and hiking in Wilderness National Park.

Main Destination:

Sedgefield (Town)

Accommodation:

In Toto Retreat

Luxury guest house located in Sedgefield (Town)

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)

Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

After breakfast, we set off to Tsitsikamma National Park. En route, we will stop at Bloukrans Bridge to view the world’s highest bungee jump bridge (216m). There is plenty of time for the adventure seekers to test their courage. The afternoon will be spent in Tsitsikamma National Park with its unique combination of indigenous forests and a beautiful Indian Ocean coastline. The park has a wide choice of activities for all, including hiking, crossing a suspension bridge and swimming. In the late afternoon, we will leave the Garden Route for Big 5 country, Addo.

Included activities: Entrance to Tsitsikamma National Park.

Optional activities: 216m Bloukrans bungee jump (R890); Treetop canopy tour (R595).

Travel route, distance and time: Sedgefield – Tsitsikamma – Addo area: +/- 320km (4 hours).

Overnight: Avoca River Cabins, Addo area.

Main Destination:

Addo Elephant National Park

Accommodation:

Avoca River Cabins

Mid-range self catering accommodation located less than 1hr drive from Addo Elephant NP

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)

Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

We will spend the morning exploring Addo Elephant National Park. We will spend between 2 and 3 hours exploring the 28,000-hectare national reserve, which has approximately 600 elephants and some Cape buffalo, lion, black rhino, warthog, zebra, eland, kudu, hartebeest and many more animals. After an exciting morning of game viewing, we will drive back to the heart of the Garden Route, where we will overnight and have sundowners overlooking the spectacular Wilderness Beach.

Included activities: Entrance and a 2 to 3-hour drive with a tour vehicle through Addo Elephant National Park.

Optional activities: 2-hour open-vehicle game drive with Addo field guide (R320).

Travel route, distance and time: Addo – Port Elizabeth – Wilderness: +/- 415km (5 hours).

Overnight: Wilderness.

Main Destination:

Wilderness (Garden Route)

Accommodation:

Mes Amis Beach Guesthouse

Mid-range guest house located in Wilderness (Garden Route)

Meals & Drinks:

Meals at own expense

Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

After breakfast at the popular George Farmer's Market, we will stop in Mossel Bay. We'll spend some time on the spectacular beaches, hike the Cape St. Blaize trail along the cliffs overlooking the Indian Ocean, and visit the famous Diaz Museum complex, commemorating 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. We will arrive back in Cape Town/Stellenbosch early this evening.

Optional activities: 10,000-foot tandem skydive (R2,550, extra R450 for video); Sandboarding the longest dune in South Africa (R400).

Travel route, distance and time: Wilderness – George – Mossel Bay – Cape Town: +/- 450km (4.5 hours).

Main Destination:

Cape Town (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)

Drinking water (Other drinks not included)