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Garden Route Tours

Our most recommended Garden Route Tours

Garden Route National Park: Tsitsikamma Zipline Canopy Tour

1. 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.

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.

Hermanus: Boat Based Whale Watching Experience

3. Hermanus: Boat Based Whale Watching Experience

Board your vessel for the day and receive a safety briefing before starting your whale watching adventure. In good weather conditions travellers will be allowed on the top-deck before departure for great unobstructed views, otherwise they will be allowed on top only after the whales have been found. Travel out onto the ocean taking in great views as you go.  Once the whales have been spotted, the vessel is allowed to move closer to the whales where it stops and the engines disengage is to prevent the whales from being injured by the propellers. Experience for yourself the astonishment of being so close to these majestic creatures.  As the whales are curious creatures, they might move up to the vessel for some 'people watching'. See a variety of other marine wildife such as dolphins and seals as you coast along the water. As you travel through the day and spot these beautiful creatures learn more about them from your crew, before they take you back to land after a once in a lifetime experience. 

Plettenberg Bay: Swim with Seals

4. 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: South African Wildlife Safari 2-Day Tour

5. From Cape Town: South African Wildlife Safari 2-Day Tour

Day 1: Botlierskop, Oudtshoorn (Travel about 450km excluding safari drives) Leave Cape Town or Stellenbosch early in the morning and trade the silhouette of Table Mountain for the lush green scenery of the start of the Garden Route region. The first game reserve visited is about 6 hours driving away (subject to weather or traffic), but the route is scenic with a few photos and rest stops along the way. The 3500ha Botlierskop private game reserve is located in a malaria-free area and home to an abundance of wildlife including four of the Big Five, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, well over 26 different species of animals, and more than 200 bird species. Spot some of Africa’s wild animals from the back of an open-top 4x4 vehicle and particularly keep your eyes open for lion, elephant, buffalo, and rhino sightings. Leopards are nocturnal hunters, evasive and not contained by fences so it's unlikely to see them during these game drives.  After this approx. 2-hour game drive it's time for an up-close and personal encounter with nature on a short tranquil bush walking safari. Hop off the safari vehicle, following your game ranger as you look for wildlife through the coastal Renosterveldt and Cape Fynbos.  A short 1-hour drive to the next stop to end your day in Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world. Either head to town to enjoy a restaurant meal or taste local delights, such as an ostrich kebab during an optional 'braai' (similar to BBQ) dinner under the Klein Karoo's twinkling starry skies. Overnight in Oudtshoorn-subject to your stay package selected*: (Saver) Uthando Backpackers, (3* Comfort) Yamkela or 88 Baron van Reede guesthouse or (4* Deluxe) Buffelsdrift lodge. Day 2: Oudtshoorn, Buffelsdrift, Route 62 (B) (Travel about 420km excluding safari drives) After breakfast, jump straight into the thick of the Klein Karoo bush this morning as you set out on an open-topped 2-hour 4x4 bush drive to seek out more of Africa’s smaller wildlife at Buffelsdrift Private Game Reserve. Your expert guide and ranger will help spot wildlife and share some of nature’s secrets while teaching you about the region’s fauna and flora. This bush drive focuses more on looking closer to see details of nature as the reserve is not home to many big game. Join elephant guides on an optional Elephant Observation Nature Walk to follow three rescued elephants in their natural habitat (at extra expense). Learn about these gentle giants, under the watchful eye of the elephant guides. As you observe these lovable creatures you can take memorable photos and ask the guides elephant-related questions. End-off the day with a drive along Route 62, the longest wine route in the world! Capture the beauty of high mountains, twisting passes, and rugged Karoo plains during this about 5 to 6 hour journey ( subject to including extra rest stops) before arriving in Cape Town or Stellenbosch by later evening (about 8 to 9pm).

Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve: 2-Hour Game Drive

6. Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve: 2-Hour Game Drive

Arrive at the Safari Center at the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve and embark on a magical 2-hour safari game drive through the reserve. Travel with a knowledgeable game ranger who will enthrall you with interesting facts about the wildlife and reserve. During the safari, try to spot 4 of Africa's 'Big 5', and other wildlife including elephants, buffalo, rhinos and leopards, different species of antelopes, birds, and more. At the end of the tour, return to the Safari Center where your tour will end.

Little Brak River: Botlierskop Guided Game Drive

7. Little Brak River: Botlierskop Guided Game Drive

Take a 3-hour guided game drive at Botlierskop Private Game Reserve, and experience close encounters with rhinos, lions, giraffes, buffaloes and more. Situated in spectacular mountains near Mossel Bay, the reserve boasts a great diversity of habitats and 26 different species of wildlife.  The 4,200 hectare reserve is a paradise for bird watchers, with more than 200 species to be seen. In an open game viewing vehicle, your guide will take you to the best locations to spot lions, zebras, elephants, and other animals. After the game drive, spend some time enjoying the facilities, including a restaurant and an open-air swimming pool.

Oudtshoorn: 2-Hour Open Game Drive with Refreshments

8. Oudtshoorn: 2-Hour Open Game Drive with Refreshments

Make the most of your trip to Oudtshoorn with a visit to Buffelsdrift Game Lodge, located just 6 km outside of the city. With an experienced game ranger, enjoy a 2-hour bush safari around the private reserve to learn about and admire native African animals in their natural habitat. On the drive, see an array of African vegetation, flora, and fauna, and learn about the ecosystem of the reserve. The highlight of the ride is the chance to admire hippos, giraffes, elands, zebras, buffalo, springboks, and many more, up close. Your dedicated guide will ensure you see as many animals as possible, and tell you everything you need to know about these amazing creatures. Midway through the drive, enjoy a refreshment stop at one of the reserve's scenic lookout points. As you relax, admire incredible 360 degree views of the area as well as the breathtaking Swartberg Mountains.

Plettenberg Bay: Canyoning Trip

9. Plettenberg Bay: Canyoning Trip

Check in at the base camp to pick up your wetsuits, harnesses, life jackets and helmets. Once the group is ready, leave base camp for a short drive to the start of your canyon adventure. First, start your ropes course with a gentle 25-meter abseil into the canyon. Then, kick off with your first jump into the river followed by a short swim. Next, if you choose, try your hand at some cliff jumping. For this part of the activity, the highest jump is around of about 7 meters, and lowest 1 meter above the water level, so there are many options if your nerves are getting the better of you. Continue swimming and hiking down the river to The Rush, a waterfall abseil, and seasonally a controlled zip-line over the waterfall. Carry on swimming and hiking down the river until your next adventure, a 55-meter zip-line over a waterfall and into the river below. On completion of the trip, you will be collected from the pick-up point and transported back to the base camp for a nice hot shower, and to collect your pictures of the canyon trip.

Plettenberg Bay: Whale Watching Boat Cruise

10. Plettenberg Bay: Whale Watching Boat Cruise

Start your 2-hour adventure with an adrenaline beach launch into the sea on a 400 horsepower speedboat. The purpose-built cat style boat has been designed to conquer the ocean without compromising on safety or comfort. Knowledgeable guides and skippers will treat you to close encounters with some of the whales that visit the shores during the months of June to November. You could be graced with sightings of the Southern Right Whale in the Bay or Humpback Whales travelling along the coastline. You may experience the joy of seeing them breach or even view a mother and calf as they enjoy the safety the bay offers. Take a closer look at a vast seal colony and the many pelagic and coastal birds. Other possible sightings include sharks, big fish, penguins, and octopus in their natural habitat.

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What people are saying about Garden Route

Overall rating

3.9 / 5

based on 20 reviews

Our guide Issac treated us like family and by the end of the trip we certainly all felt like family. Half of the group were solo travelers and I would recommend this since they don't charge you double. I highly recommend upgrading to 4*, the accommodations were over the top and the best I have ever stayed at. From glamping to luxury BnB with glass everything and infinity pool. I have never felt so pampered. One of the backpackers reported one strange mosquito filled accommodation when they ran out of space. I had so much space as a solo traveller that they could have all stayed at my place! There are still rolling blackouts and most places have backup lighting, but I would recommend bringing lots of powerbanks to keep your phone charged. I did create a daily YouTube vlog. Search on "Day 3 Africa - Guided 5 day Garden Route tour" to find it. It is really inexpensive to eat in South Africa. A great meal will only run you about $16 in USD and were taken to great restaurants for dinners.

This trip was just amazing. Super well organised, nice accommodations, fun activities and Last but not least we had with Gareth the best guide on this trip. The driving can get intense but Gareth made sure we get a lot of breaks and nice things to do during the day. We really loved all the places where we stayed.

This tour was a beautiful experience. Our guide Isaac was a warm, knowledgeable, and truly exceptional person who immediately created a fun, open dynamic. The safaris were breathtaking and the accommodation was lovely. Highly recommend!

It was a great trip. The guide was very organized and informative. We saw so many animals…no luck with a cheetah but got the rest!!! For such a short trip, we experienced a lot. Highly recommend

It was an amazing experience from start to finish. Our driver Gareth was fantastic. Very knowledgeable and good fun.