Our Garden route vacations & tours
Extending for 1,000km from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, the Garden Route encompass many of the best things to do in South Africa in one neat package. The Mediterranean climate, abundance of accommodation, safe beaches, lagoons and wildlife make for easily accessible adventures, while short detours can take you off on safari, to monkey sanctuaries, and to see whales and dolphins in the glorious bays of the Indian Ocean.
Our Garden Route vacations benefit nature and communities, as well as giving you the trip of a lifetime. Try low-impact activities like horse riding and hiking. Discover private reserves and help support their conservation projects – whether they are protecting the Cape Mountain Zebra or local flora. Our trips donate to charity partners that train up rangers from the local community, and patronise restaurants run by members of historically disadvantaged communities, where produce is seasonal and sourced. That’s one neat 1,000km-package indeed.
Our Garden Route vacations benefit nature and communities, as well as giving you the trip of a lifetime. Try low-impact activities like horse riding and hiking. Discover private reserves and help support their conservation projects – whether they are protecting the Cape Mountain Zebra or local flora. Our trips donate to charity partners that train up rangers from the local community, and patronise restaurants run by members of historically disadvantaged communities, where produce is seasonal and sourced. That’s one neat 1,000km-package indeed.
Our top Garden Route vacations
South Africa vacation
From
£3120 to £4165
13 days
ex flights
Explore Cape Town, Winelands & the Garden Route
Tailor made
The Garden Route and beyond, South Africa
From
€1570 to €1820
12 days
ex flights
Leisurely, family-friendly, self-drive South African vacation
Tailor made
South Africa Garden Route luxury vacation
From
US $7455 to US $8235
11 days
ex flights
One of the finest coastal routes in the world
Small group2026: 13 Sep, 11 Oct, 2027: 24 Jan, 21 Feb, 7 Mar
Garden Route tour and safari in South Africa
From
US $3705 to US $4320
10 days
ex flights
Incredible wildlife, national parks & plenty of wineries
Small group2026: 18 Oct, 25 Oct, 15 Nov, 22 Nov, 13 Dec, 2027: 10 Jan, 7 Feb
South Africa Garden Route vacation, small group
From
£1079 to £1159
10 days
ex flights
Explore the diverse Cape region of South Africa
Small group2026: 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 Oct, 23 Oct, 30 Oct, 6 Nov, 13 Nov, 20 Nov, 27 Nov, 4 Dec, 11 Dec, 18 Dec, 25 Dec, 2027: 1 Jan, 8 Jan, 15 Jan, 22 Jan, 29 Jan, 5 Feb, 12 Feb, 19 Feb, 26 Feb, 5 Mar, 12 Mar, 19 Mar, 26 Mar, 2 Apr, 9 Apr, 16 Apr, 23 Apr, 30 Apr, 7 May, 14 May, 21 May, 28 May, 4 Jun, 11 Jun, 18 Jun, 25 Jun, 2 Jul, 9 Jul, 16 Jul, 23 Jul
Garden Route self drive vacation, South Africa
From
£2050 to £4300
14 days
ex flights
Off the beaten track exploring hidden gems in South Africa
Tailor made
South Africa family adventure vacation
From
£2300 to £4700
14 days
ex flights
Activity vacation for teens along the Garden Route
Tailor made
Garden Route tour, South Africa
From
£929 to £999
8 days
ex flights
9 day tour which takes you along the famous Garden Route
Small group2026: 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 Oct, 23 Oct, 30 Oct, 6 Nov, 13 Nov, 20 Nov, 27 Nov, 4 Dec, 11 Dec, 18 Dec, 25 Dec, 2027: 1 Jan, 8 Jan, 15 Jan, 22 Jan, 29 Jan, 5 Feb, 12 Feb, 19 Feb, 26 Feb, 5 Mar, 12 Mar, 19 Mar, 26 Mar, 2 Apr, 9 Apr, 16 Apr, 23 Apr, 30 Apr, 7 May, 14 May, 21 May, 28 May, 4 Jun, 11 Jun, 18 Jun, 25 Jun, 2 Jul, 9 Jul, 16 Jul, 23 Jul
South Africa luxury vacation, Garden Route & safari
From
£7295
18 days
ex flights
South Africa Super luxury Cape town, Garden Route and Safari
Tailor made
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Garden Route vacation highlights
Choose a self drive vacation or a small group tour along the Garden Route, but however you travel along this 1,000km sublime coast, stretching between Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to Storms River in the Eastern, you will have some incredible experiences – from the grand old southern right whales off the coast of Hermanus which you can see from land between July and November, to the Big Five and, in particular the elephants of Addo Elephant National Park. Swap coast for mountains easily, taking in the coastal resorts of Mossel Bay, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, and then heading into the more elevated Winelands or Table Mountain itself, from where you can take in the Cape in all its glory.
1.
Addo Elephant National Park
2. Hermanus
3. Klein Karoo
4. Knysa and Plettenberg bay
5. Tsitsikamma National Park
6. Winelands
2. Hermanus
3. Klein Karoo
4. Knysa and Plettenberg bay
5. Tsitsikamma National Park
6. Winelands
Addo Elephant National Park
1. Addo Elephant National Park
The word elephant, and there are around 600 of them here, is slightly deceptive with this national park, which stretches all the way to the coast and is also an important protected area for birdlife, penguins, seals and other marine life, not least whales. Given that this park is home to both the largest land mammals and sea mammals, as well as rhino, buffalo and zebra, Addo is not somewhere to dash through.
Hermanus
2. Hermanus
Most of the year this is a quaint fishing village and then, between June/July and Nov/Dec, it all goes a bit wild. About marine wildlife, that is. Because this is whale watching capital during these months, particularly for southern right whales. You can also kayak among the greats at this time. For the rest of the year there are wine routes, horse riding and surfing. And a great local produce market every Saturday.
Klein Karoo
3. Klein Karoo
This is one of the wild, arid regions along the Garden Route, with many different ecosystems favoured by a range of wildlife, including mountain zebra in Mountain Zebra National Park, where you can go on a walking safari, and lions on the region’s dusty plains and dramatic ravines. In contrast, the bats of the Cango Caves are quite a sight.
Knysa and Plettenberg bay
4. Knysa and Plettenberg bay
This part of the garden route has everything going on – from glowing sandstone cliffs in Plettenberg Bay, or Plett as it’s known locally, to the sultry, calmer waters of Knysna Lagoon, where five rivers meet. Pump it out on Plett’s surf, abseil down cliffs or hike through Featherbed Nature Reserve, accessible by boat. This is also the place to discover Xhosa culture, touring Qolweni Township.
Tsitsikamma National Park
5. Tsitsikamma National Park
This beautiful name, given by the indigenous Khoisan people, means ‘clear water’ because, as well as being a coastal park, it has various rivers, Storms and Groot being the most celebrated. Hike on the trails along gorges with obligatory waterfalls, take a canopy tour, camp out, go horse riding, visit Monkeyland Primate Rescue Centre or go on an ocean safari. It’s all very surf and turf here.
Winelands
6. Winelands
The grand cru region of the Garden Route, not only in terms of the fine wineries you can visit, but also the landscapes that nurture the grapes. Wineries here date back to the 1700s, with world class Sauvignons and Shiraz emanating from sandstone peaks and sweeping, green valleys. Although traditionally white Afrikaner led, there are now a growing number of black-owned vineyards around Stellenbosch.
Our Garden Route vacations reviews
4.9
40Garden Route vacations reviews
James Turner09 Jun 2026
Cape Town was wonderful, and all but one of the five accommodations were superb. Simon did a fantastic job in understanding our needs.read more
Christina Tran29 Mar 2026
Safari animals, boulder beach penguins and beaches. Food was amazing the entire trip.read more
David Tarver23 Feb 2026
It was a superb vacation. Thank you to the tour operator, who planned and executed a fabulous trip.read more
Jon Humphreys18 Feb 2026
Excellent. Well planned by the tour operator and ticked all of our boxes.read more
