5 Day Cape Garden Route - South Africa Adventure Tour
A great tour for those on a budget, looking for a short but comprehensive journey around the Western Cape with lots of variety and the chance to enjoy adrenaline activities along the way.
Enjoy an affordable, fun-filled journey around the scenic Garden Route from crocodile farms and ostrich riding to walking in thick, coastal forests and visiting the world's highest bungy! Maybe even dive with great white sharks! This tour offers a great taste of all the region offers.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Cape Town, Albertinia, Garden Route Game Lodge Day 2: Robinson Pass, Oudtshoorn Day 3: Wilderness, Bloukrans Bridge, Tsitsikamma National Park, Storms River Day 4: Plettenberg Bay, Knysna, Swellendam Day 5: Cape TownTour Highlights
- Garden Route Game Lodge
- 'Big 5' Sunset Game Drive
- Robinson Pass
- Oudtshoorn
- Cango Caves
- Cango Ostrich Farm
- Canoeing in Wilderness National Park
- Bloukrans Bridge
- Tstsikamma National Park
- Plettenberg Bay
- Knysna
- Buffeljagts Dam
- Hermanus
- Wine Tasting
- Stoney Point Penguins
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Cape Town, Garden Route Game Lodge (D)
Departing from Cape Town, we drive east, along the Atlantic coast to Albertina and the Garden Route Game Lodge, a private lodge where we enjoy a sunset game drive, hoping to spot animals such as giraffe, zebra, cheetah, impala and kudu as well as the Big 5 (elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard and lion). Birdlife here includes heron, craned stork, egret and the comical secretary bird. After our drive we take dinner at the lodge, served in an open air boma and can enjoy a dip in a hot spring jacuzzi under the stars. We drive to a local guest farm outside Albertina for tonight's accommodation.
Day 2: Robinson Pass, Oudtshoorn (B / D)
This morning we head inland and drive over the spectacular Robinson Pass on the way to Oudtshoorn. Oudtshoorn is situated in the Klein Karoo (Little Karoo), an attractive region of hills and farmland where aloes and other similar succulents pepper the landscape. This is also ostrich country; the climate here perfect for the breeding of these huge birds. Arriving in Oudsthoorn we visit the beautiful Cango Caves, view cheetahs, crocodiles and other African wildlife at the Wildlife Ranch and maybe ride ostriches on our visit to a local ostrich farm!
Day 3: Wilderness, Bloukrans Bridge, Tsitsikamma National Park, Storms River (B)
We leave Oudtshoorn this morning and head over the dramatic Outeniqua Mountains to the coast. Later this morning we arrive in Wilderness, an attractive town nestled between mountains and ocean, where we enjoy some canoeing in Wilderness National Park. As we paddle on the lagoon there's the potential to spot almost 200 species of birds here in this wild paradise.
Heading on, we drive to Bloukrans Bridge, home to the highest bungy in the world. Jump if you dare! We then walk the trail to the hanging bridge over Storms River Mouth in nearby Tsitsikamma National Park. If lucky we may glimpse one of the rare Cape clawless otters that make this shoreline their home.
We stay tonight at a backpackers lodge in Storms River Village.
Day 4: Plettenberg Bay, Knysna, Swellendam (B / D)
Between June and November it is common to see southern right whales migrating with their calves to the rich waters of the Atlantic, along the southern coast of Africa. In season, it is possible to take an optional whale and dolphin watching boat trip this morning, in the waters around beautiful Plettenberg Bay. After the boat trip, we turn back and drive west to Knysna, a pretty coastal town situated beside a huge inland lagoon where we can explore the Knysna Heads and the waterfront area known for its curio and artist's shops and oyster restaurants.
This afternoon we follow the coast towards Albertina, where we visit an aloe factory, and then continue on to Buffeljags Dam near Swellendam where we stay at a comfortable farm, near the river. Those seeking an adrenaline rush may like to try the Buffeljags Dam Foefie Slide - at 210 metres, the longest zip wire in South Africa!
Day 5: Cape Town (B)
Leaving Swellendam, we continue following the coast to Hermanus. Hermanus is a great little coastal town and a perfect point from which to see migrating whales, in season. While here we enjoy wine tasting at a local estate and there is the chance to take the optional activity of Shark Cage Diving with great white sharks off the coast. No scuba diving experience is necessary as these impressive mammals can also usually be seen from the surface or with the use of a mask and snorkel.
We leave Hermanus this afternoon to complete our final leg of the journey, stopping at Stoney Point to see penguins and then enjoying the sweeping views of False Bay and Table Mountain in the late afternoon light as we approach our destination, Cape Town.
You will be dropped off at your hotel in central Cape Town in the late afternoon when the tour officially ends.
