Tour overview

This 12-day journey follows the Garden Route west from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town. A tour leader travels with the group, which numbers between four and sixteen. You stay eleven nights in guesthouses, chalets and hotels, with breakfast daily and three dinners.

You begin with game drives in Addo Elephant National Park, home to hundreds of elephants, then head to Storms River to hike forest trails and cross suspension bridges in Tsitsikamma, with a free day to explore.

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After Knysna Heads you visit the Cango Caves and Meiringspoort Waterfall near Oudtshoorn, then travel via Mossel Bay to Hermanus for a free day of whale watching in season. A sommelier-led wine tour in Stellenbosch is followed by two days exploring Table Mountain, the Cape Peninsula and the penguins of Simon's Town.

The physical rating is low. This trip suits travellers who want the Garden Route and Cape Town at a relaxed pace.

Trip highlights

  • Addo Elephant National Park (Day 2)
  • Tsitsikamma (Days 3–4)
  • Knysna Heads (Day 5)
  • The Cango Caves (Day 6)
  • Hermanus (Day 8)
  • Table Mountain and the Cape (Days 10–11)

Your route

12 stops from Gqeberha to Cape Point

12-day route: Port Elizabeth – Addo – Storms River – Knysna – Oudtshoorn – Mossel Bay – Hermanus – Stellenbosch – Cape Town
  1. Gqeberha Days 1–2
  2. Addo Elephant Park Day 2
  3. Storms River Days 3–4
  4. Knysna Heads Day 5
  5. De Rust Days 5–6
  6. Cango Caves Day 6
  7. Meiringspoort Waterfall Day 6
  8. Mossel Bay Day 7
  9. Hermanus Days 7–8
  10. Stellenbosch Day 9
  11. Cape Town Days 9–12
  12. Cape Point Day 10

Why choose this tour

The whole Garden Route plus Cape Town. Great value with a tour leader.

Best suited to

  • First-time visitors to South Africa
  • Scenery and wildlife lovers
  • Solo travellers
  • Travellers on a budget
A mother and calf in Addo Elephant National Park

Day-by-day itinerary

12 days from Port Elizabeth, South Africa to Cape Town, South Africa

  1. Day 1 · Port Elizabeth Port Elizabeth

    A welcome dinner.

    Hotel
    La Mer Guesthouse
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Day 2 · Addo Elephant National Park Addo

    Game drives.

    Hotel
    La Mer Guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Storms River, Tsitsikamma National Park Tsitsikamma

    Suspension bridges.

    Hotel
    Storms River Mouth Rest Camp
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Tsitsikamma National Park Tsitsikamma

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Storms River Mouth Rest Camp
    Meals
    Breakfast
  5. Day 5 · Knysna Heads, Oudtshoorn Oudtshoorn

    Sandstone cliffs.

    Hotel
    Housemartin Guest Lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Cango Caves, Meiringspoort Oudtshoorn

    Caves and a waterfall.

    Hotel
    Housemartin Guest Lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Mossel Bay, Hermanus Hermanus

    Whale country.

    Hotel
    Windsor Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Hermanus Hermanus

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Windsor Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  9. Day 9 · Stellenbosch, Cape Town Cape Town

    A wine tour.

    Hotel
    City Lodge V&A Waterfront
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Table Mountain, Cape Town Cape Town

    Table Mountain.

    Hotel
    City Lodge V&A Waterfront
    Meals
    Breakfast
  11. Day 11 · Cape Peninsula, Simon's Town Cape Peninsula

    Penguins.

    Hotel
    City Lodge V&A Waterfront
    Meals
    Breakfast
  12. Day 12 · Cape Town Cape Town

    The trip ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
The suspension bridge over the rocky coast at Storms River

Where you stay

  • Port Elizabeth (2 nights) La Mer Guesthouse
  • Storms River (2 nights) Storms River Mouth Rest Camp
  • Oudtshoorn (2 nights) Housemartin Guest Lodge
  • Hermanus (2 nights) Windsor Hotel
  • Cape Town (3 nights) City Lodge V&A Waterfront

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 11 nights in guesthouses, chalets and hotels
  • Meals 11 breakfasts and 3 dinners
  • All transport and arrival and departure transfers
  • Addo game drives
  • Tsitsikamma hike and Cango Caves
  • Sommelier-led wine tour
  • Tour leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals not included 10 lunches and 8 dinners
  • Optional activities
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
Limestone formations in the Cango Caves

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want a Kruger safari
  • You want luxury hotels
  • You want most meals included
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–12 · Lunch: none included · Dinner: Days 1 and 5–6
The cliffs of the Knysna Heads

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £1,677 per person, twin share, tour only. 23 upcoming departures. Single travellers from £2,105 (single supplement from £428).

Offer Reduced prices on selected dates, shown with the regular price crossed out. Book by 16 Oct.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Do I need a visa for South Africa?

No, UK citizens can visit South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days. Your passport needs two blank pages.

Will I see elephants?

Very likely in Addo Elephant National Park, home to around 550 elephants.

When can I see whales?

From June to November at Hermanus.

Are transfers included?

Yes, arrival and departure transfers.

Can I have my own room?

A single supplement is available on request.

How many people travel together?

Between four and sixteen travellers, with a tour leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary
From £1,677
See dates & prices