This is the most popular route, and ideal for first time travelers to South Africa to get a taste of what this big country all has to offer.
You get to experience South Africa’s Mother City, Cape Town, one of the favourite holiday cities in the world, the stunning natural beauty of the Garden Route coastal stretch which connects the Western Cape with the wild Eastern Cape as well as a malaria free safari where you can spot the Big 5 in their natural habitat.
We customize this trip for you, with either luxurious, value-for-money or even self-catering accommodation, suggest seasonal activities and a suitable rental car.
Cape Town has a reputation of being a free-spirited, colourful and cosmopolitan city, a true melting pot of cultures. It is an exciting place that offers a multitude of sights, attractions and activities.
The Western Cape Winelands produce more of South Africa’s wines than anywhere else. Offering more than 200 wine producing farms and estates, the region has been added to the Unesco World Heritage site tentative list for its natural and historical splendour. However, the Winelands don’t just offer great wines: Visit the culinary capital of South Africa, Franschhoek, museums, craft markets, famous Cape Dutch architecture and even Spa’s and wellness centres.
Whale watching
This coastal town is being regarded as the best land based whale watching spot in the world. The 1,5 hour drive from Cape Town takes you through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country and breathtaking coastal roads. One of the highlights is the annual Hermanus Whale Festival which always takes place in September. Whale season is from beginning of July until the end of November. The Southern Right Whales can easily be spotted from the cliff paths that run along the length of the town as the whales prefer the shallow waters of the bay to breed and mate. If you are lucky you can also spot Humpback Whales and dolphins. If you like to get really close to the whales are dare to cage dive with the Great White Sharks (in the neighbouring town Gansbaai) you can book specialized boat trips through us.
The Crags/Plettenberg Bay
This famous coastal stretch lies between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. The Garden Route is lush and green and has a lot to offer. A short drive inland lies Oudtshoorn which can be reached over a pass.
Oudtshoorn is the hub of the ostrich industry, here you can visit ostrich show farms (even ride ostriches) as well as the well-known Cango Caves which are more than 65 million years old.
These spectacular stalagmites and stalactites are part of Africa’s biggest natural wonders. The heart of the Garden Route, Knysna, is located at a lagoon and the ideal base to explore the area.
The beach destination Plettenberg Bay and the lush Tsitsikamma forest, offering exciting nature activities, are only a short drive away. There is no bad time to visit this area as it has a moderate climate throughout the year.
Garden Route map
On this Garden Route map you can see how this coastal route connects the Western Cape with the Eastern Cape.
The perfect end and true highlight of this tour is a malaria free safari in the wild Eastern Cape, an easy drive away from Port Elizabeth, the end of the Garden Route. The private game reserves in this area rank amongst the best in Africa, most of them with the Big 5.
Suggested safari accommodation in the malaria free Eastern Cape
Would you like to hear about our fantastic value for money special offers and new destinations and accommodation hot spots in Southern Africa which we have found and inspected for you?
Then sign up for our newsletter now and you will be the first to know.
Suggested Routes 
Clear 12 oC