Garden Route and Addo Elephant National Park: 5-Day Safari
The Heads, Garden Route
See the best of South Africa's Western Cape on a 5-day tour from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. Look for wildlife at Addo Elephant National Park and benefit from included adventure tours, such as hikes, wine tasting and canoeing in Wilderness National Park.
Garden Route National Parks and Wildlife Safari
This 5-day guided tour through South Africa’s Western Cape suits active travellers seeking wildlife, coastal scenery, and adventure from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth.
Highlights
- Spot the 'Big 5' at Addo Elephant National Park
- Canoe along the Touw River in Wilderness National Park
- Explore Tsitsikamma National Park’s diverse landscapes
- Drive iconic scenic routes including Route 62 and the Garden Route
- Experience outdoor activities like hiking, canoeing, and optional bungee jumping
Itinerary
Day 1: Cape Town – Hermanus – Cape Agulhas (Dinner)
Depart Cape Town early Monday. Visit Betties Bay for endangered African penguins and spend time in Hermanus, known for whale sightings (July–November). In the afternoon, travel to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa, where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. Overnight in Cape Agulhas/Struisbaai.
- Included: Penguin viewing at Betties Bay
- Optional: Shark cage diving or whale-watching boat trip (seasonal)
Day 2: Cape Agulhas – Oudtshoorn (Breakfast, Dinner)
Travel Route 62 to Oudtshoorn, the 'Ostrich Capital of the World'. Stop for a local wine tasting and lunch. Stay at a working game farm and tour an ostrich farm at sunset with views of the Outeniqua and Swartberg mountains.
- Included: Wine tasting and ostrich farm tour
Day 3: Oudtshoorn – Knysna – Sedgefield (Breakfast, Dinner)
Travel via Outeniqua Mountain Pass to Wilderness National Park. Canoe for 40 minutes up the Touw River through indigenous forest, then hike 2 km along a boardwalk to a waterfall and rock pools. Explore Sedgefield’s beaches and scenery in the late afternoon.
- Included: Canoeing and hiking in Wilderness National Park
Day 4: Sedgefield – Tsitsikamma – Addo (Breakfast, Dinner)
Stop at Knysna Heads viewpoint, then stop at Bloukrans Bridge to view the world’s highest bungee jump (216 meters). Spend midday in Tsitsikamma National Park exploring hiking trails, suspension bridges, and coastline. Travel to Addo Elephant National Park for overnight stay.
- Included: Tsitsikamma National Park entrance
- Optional: 216-meter bungee jump at Bloukrans Bridge
Day 5: Addo Elephant National Park – Port Elizabeth (Breakfast)
Enjoy a 2-3 hour game viewing drive in Addo Elephant National Park with chances to see elephants, Cape buffalo, lions, black rhinos, and more. Afterward, transfer to Port Elizabeth for drop-off between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM.
- Included: Addo Elephant National Park entrance and guided vehicle drive
- Optional: 2-hour open vehicle game drive with a field guide
Includes
- Professional guide
- Pickup in Cape Town and surrounding areas; drop-off in Port Elizabeth
- Air-conditioned vehicle transportation
- 4 nights accommodation (backpacker or guesthouse options)
- Dinners and breakfasts, except on Day 5
- Local wine tasting
- Klein Karoo ostrich farm tour
- Canoeing and hiking in Wilderness National Park
- Game viewing safari in Addo Elephant National Park
- Hiking in Tsitsikamma National Park
- Community support contribution for local charitable projects
Excludes
- Bungee jump (216 meters)
- Tandem skydive (10,000 feet)
- Whale and dolphin watching (seasonal)
- Shark cage diving
- 2-hour early morning open vehicle game drive at Addo Elephant National Park
- Meals on Day 5
- Lunches
Important Information
- Pickup is from locations in Cape Town
- The tour operates in a malaria-free area
- Group size ranges from 4 to 12 people
- Travel insurance is strongly recommended
- No guests under 14 years old allowed; private tours available on request
- Departures every Monday, year-round
- This is an active tour requiring comfortable walking, luggage handling, and frequent vehicle boarding
- Group includes backpackers and guesthouse clients; age limit is 65 years with reasonable fitness
- Shark cage diving clients have early pickups on Day 1 and miss part of the itinerary
- Itinerary order may vary
Booking Details
Cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Bring comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, and season-appropriate clothing. The best time to visit for whale watching is July to November.
