Garden Route and Addo (2025)

Garden Route and Addo (2025)

61 Views

Garden Route and Addo (2025)

7 Days Starting and ending in Cape Town

Visiting: Cape Town, Cango Caves, Oudtshoorn, Addo Elephant National Park, Gqeberha, Private Game Reserves, Jeffreys Bay, Tsitsikamma National Park, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Hermanus, Stellenbosch

Tour operator:

Contiki

Tour code:

AAGRMP20

Age range:

18-35

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians

Tour operated in:
English
Trip Styles:

Safari Tours

Activities:

4WD, Wine Tasting

This tour is no longer available

Tour Overview

Ready for one of the world’s most epic road trips – where you flicker from wildlife to city life to beach life? You’ll gawp at the Cango Caves, sample the nightlife of Cape Town, and even encounter the Big 5 at some of Africa’s finest national parks. The Garden Route has everything, and you’ll experience it all on this unforgettable 7-day adventure, with a squad of fellow 18-35s.

Highlights

  • 6 Breakfast (B)

  • St. Lucia: You could drive the entire route in a day – but where’s the fun in that? Seeing the sights and taking part in the myriad of activities could take up to 2 weeks (depending on how long you want to sizzle on those glorious beaches.) Our Garden Route & Addo trip is 8 days long, and includes all of the route’s main attractions, like Addo Elephant Park, Cango Caves and Stellenbosch.

  • Tsitsikamma National Park: It’s common to start in Mossel Bay in the west and finish at Storms River in the east – but there’s no reason you couldn’t do this in reverse or start in the middle (like the rebel you are.)Our Garden Route & Addo trip starts off in Cape Town. From there, we’ll board the Contiki coach and drive east to the Addo Elephant Park via Oudtshoorn. We then head south to Gqeberha before making our way back west to Hermanus via Knysna. Check the itinerary above for more info.

  • Tsitsikamma National Park: This depends on your country of origin. In some cases, your visa is free and you can collect it when you arrive in South Africa. In others, if you’re travelling from New Zealand for example, you’ll need to arrange your visa ahead of time. Click here to find out visa requirements based on your home country.

  • Tsitsikamma National Park: It’ll change slightly depending on what time of year you’re visiting, but some essentials will include:Your cameraComfortable shoes/clothes for walkingYour swimming costume Sun cream, a hat, sunglassesInsect repellent A portable phone chargerRead our full guide to visiting Africa.

  • Tsitsikamma National Park: The Garden Route summer occurs between November and March, with the best beach weather coming in February/March. July to December is Whale Season, so this is the best time to visit if you’re keen to admire the Garden Route’s awesome marine life. June - September usually sees the coolest weather, so these months are ideal for hiking and other outdoor activities.

  • Tsitsikamma National Park: We visit two wildlife reserves, so you’ll have a decent chance of catching the elusive Big 5 – plus giraffes, warthogs and other famed species. You’ll also have a great chance of seeing elephants in Addo, plus the myriad marine life on our marine safari – including whales and dolphins.

  • Cango Caves: Tour Africa's largest limestone caves system. At over 20 million years old, it makes our nan look like a spring chicken.

  • Addo Elephant National Park: See these gentle giants in their natural habitat as you cruise through this scenic conservation park.

  • Knysna: If you’re looking for dramatic scenery, a trek through Tsitsikamma National Park will give you plenty of ops to fill up your memories and Insta feed.

Show all

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Cape Town To Oudtshoorn Via Cango Caves

Location: Cape Town, Cango Caves, Oudtshoorn

Accommodation: Riempie Estate (or similar)

Hello Africa… and hello Cape Town. Ready to get going? It’s off to the Karoo desert via the famous ‘Route 62’.

An included guided tour of Africa's LARGEST show cave system. The Cango Caves are replete with cavernous halls, limestone formations, cave paintings and artefacts (which indicate they were in use throughout the Middle Ages)! How's that for a pitstop?

Welcome to the ‘Ostrich Capital of the World’. After passing vineyards and mountain passes along the way, we’ll check into Oudtshoorn, say hey to the ostriches and then enjoy a delicious bush dinner (overlooking a watering hole - IRL).

Day 2: Oudtshoorn To Gqeberha Via Addo Elephant National Park

Location: Oudtshoorn, Addo Elephant National Park, Gqeberha

Accommodation: Town Lodge Port Elizabeth (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Marvelous meerkats… today we’ll get up close and personal with some of Africa’s most famous wildlife, both large and small. Starting out with a Meerkat Safari at sunrise, we’ll watch these precious creatures wake up, stretch and embark on their day’s activity. And if that’s not special enough, just wait till you get to today’s stop-off…

That’s right, it’s elephant time. After lunch, we’ll set out in search of Africa's largest land mammal here at the Addo National Park, home to over 600 of these tusk-tastic creatures. (Keep your eyes peeled for lions, buffalo, and antelope too though!)

We'll retreat here for the night but fear not, more safari adventures await in the morning. Stuck for something to do this evening? Let us introduce you to the karaoke bar just around the corner. (Cue your fave Lion King jams.)

Day 3: Gqeberha And Private Game Reserves

Location: Gqeberha, Private Game Reserves, Gqeberha

Accommodation: Lodge, Town Lodge Port Elizabeth (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Ready for the second chance at wildlife spotting? We thought so. Today is all about wildlife, both on land and in the ocean. We’ll start with a morning tour of the SANCCOB Penguin Rehabilitation Center, who give sick and injured penguins the care they deserve and help them to return to the wild.



Later this morning, we’ll set out on the first of today’s two private game drives. (IKR?) The Eastern Cape’s game reserves are some of South Africa’s best spots for seeing the Big 5, home to valleys, plains, rivers and much more. We’ll head in for an included lunch, then back out again for the day’s second game drive. Yes, yes that is four game drives in 36 hours. Lucky you, right?



Tonight we’ll head back to the city where a free evening awaits. Karaoke round two? We won’t stop ya.

Day 4: Gqeberha To Knysna Via Jeffreys Bay And Tsitsikamma National Park

Location: Gqeberha, Jeffreys Bay, Tsitsikamma National Park, Knysna

Accommodation: Knysna Quays (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Beach time. Desert? Tick. Caves? Tick. Safari? Tick. Now it’s time to make our way along the famous Garden Route to our next destination, Knysna – with a few sensational stop-offs on the way.

Known as one of the best surf spots in the world, it’d be wrong not to start our day with some chill time on J-Bay… which is exactly what we’ll do.

Welcome to our next pitstop, known for the infinitely Instagramable Storms River Bridge – which we’ll take a picturesque hike to so you can get all the legendary snaps you need. After that, you’ll have the chance to up the adrenaline, with a spot of kayaking up the mouth of Storms River.

And then we pull into the beautiful coastal town of Knysna, ready to explore all the sights and activities the Garden Route is known for. (We've got two nights here too!)

Day 5: Knysna And Plettenberg Bay

Location: Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Knysna

Accommodation: Knysna Quays (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Rise and shine, team. Today starts with an included breakfast, overlooking the Knysna lagoon, and then we’re off again once more.

It’s ocean time… Join our optional marine safari and set out in search of whales, dolphins, seals and more spectacular sea life. Afterwards, we’ll spend the rest of the day relaxing on Plettenberg's main beach, catching those rays and helping ourselves to some splendid seafood.

This evening, we’ll embark on a Township visit here in Knysna, where you’ll meet the locals and have the chance to make a positive impact for the children who live here. Afterwards, we'll tuck into a group dinner on the Knysna lagoon, followed by a night on the town.

Day 6: Knysna To Cape Town Via Hermanus

Location: Knysna, Hermanus, Cape Town

Accommodation: Waterfront Breakwater Lodge (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Make sure you call dibs on a window seat. As we drive back to Cape Town, you’ll watch the magnificence of the Garden Route unfold as we pass coastal towns, forests, gorges and some jaw-dropping ocean views.

Marine mania… We’ll have lunch and some free time here in the coastal town of Hermanus, which is one of the world’s best areas for spotting whales – between July and November at least – so have your binoculars at the ready. Before hitting the road once more, we’ll spend some time learning all about shark conservation too.

And here we are, back in the city where it all began. Tonight’s agenda? A group dinner at the V&A Waterfront – followed by a night out, of course!

Day 7: Cape Town And Stellenbosch

Location: Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Cape Town

Meals Included: Breakfast

It might be our last day together but fear not, there’s still plenty planned… and most of it revolves around food.

After some free time to explore (and shop till you drop) we’ll set out to discover Stellenbosh’s awesome wine farms, sampling the very finest of the Cape’s fine wines. With spectacular views, and a traditional South African braai for lunch, this really is one tasty excursion indeed. 

And, after a brief drive back to Cape Town for an airport/hotel drop-off, that's a wrap! It’s been wild – we’re gutted to leave, we’re thrilled from what we’ve experienced, and we can’t wait to do it all again!

Check out our Q&As

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    In 1961, a guy called John Anderson founded Contiki in New Zealand. Whilst later bought by The Travel Corporation, the tour company had already been using the name ‘Contiki’ since its inception.

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    Contiki trips are designed & operated exclusively for those aged 18-35 years. Your travelling companions will be like-minded adventurers within that age range. The age range is adhered to strictly.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® is our commitment to protect people, wildlife and the incredible planet we all share. Powered by The TreadRight Foundation, a non-profit organisation and Contiki’s guiding hand when it comes to making travel matter.

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    All documentation will be sent via email around 21 days prior to your trip departure. You can also access information on your trip by signing up to My Contiki via the top right icon of the homepage.

Reviews of this Operator

Trusted Customer  

Northern Choice plus Kaikoura

16-Jan-2023

The trip ran so smoothly and was well organised! The extra add ons were amazing and all the services were spot on. Food places were reasonable. I'm definitely booking my next contiki trip again soon!

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Sophie  

Exceptional customer service

14-Jan-2023

Contiki were exceptional in providing customer service. They provided me with lots of information and were quick in responding to all my questions. I found that they were super helpful.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Trusted Customer  

First time traveling with Contiki. Highly recommend! You’ll have a blast

17-Jan-2023

First time traveling internationally since Covid and glad I spent the trip with Contiki. The travel, lodging, meals, activities everything was planned effortlessly. Going to Greece in may with contiki. Highly recommend

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Trusted Customer  

Amazing trip. Made great friends and memories. Can’t wait for my next trip

15-Jan-2023

I had 24 people on my contiki and I think it was the perfect number, we all got to know each other well and got along great. Our tour guide was fun and knowledgeable, the hotels were nice and in great locations.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Tanner Stokes  

My amazing trip to Africa

13-Jan-2023

Sherif was an excellent tour guide. He was extremely knowledgeable about every single small detail at each site that we visited. In addition to his great service, he has a glowing spirit that made me feel like I had family with me the entire trip. Anything that I was concerned about, he always had an answer and was there to help. I truly enjoyed my experience and will purchase a tour with him in the future

Feefo Trusted Reviews

Book with Confidence

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Contiki allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform contiki, 60 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Contiki requires a minimum deposit of 60 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of contiki charges.

    Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 25% of booking price.

    At 21 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.

    At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

Similar Tours