The Garden Route

Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer included. Welcome meeting in the evening.

If you arrive a few days earlier in Cape Town enjoy this vibrant city with optional activities such as a visit to the Castle of Good Hope, the Aquarium at the V & A Waterfront, Table Mountain and Robben Island. The more adventurous should go for cage diving and have a close encounter with great white sharks.

Cape Town's name originated from the term Cape of Good Hope when Bartholomew Diaz and other seafarers looked forward to the sight of Table Mountain, like an inn that promised hospitality and prosperity. The city is steeped in a rich history and is a cultural melting pot with its diverse and vibrant character being derived from Khoxisan and other African tribes from the north, and Indonesian, French, Dutch, British and German settlers. Cape Town is the third most populous city in South Africa, with over 3 million inhabitants, and is the provincial capital of the Western Cape. It is also the legislative capital of South Africa, where the National Parliament and many government offices are located.
For shopping, dining and entertainment the V&A Waterfront is a hotspot for foreigners and locals alike. Still a working harbor, the Waterfront is an example of creative architecture and restoration and has become South Africa's most visited tourist attraction. The Waterfront offers over 250 shops from designer boutiques to craft stalls, a host of restaurants and coffee shops.
If you still have time, visit Red-Hill pre-school, one of our Planeterra project. Planeterra - the G Adventures Foundation is our non-profit organization that was developed to give back to the people and places we visit on our tours. Planeterra supports local community projects, non-profit organizations and international charities that focus on the areas of health, education, community development, environmental conservation and employment skills training.

Approximate distance: 150km
Estimate Travel Time: 2 hrs

Enjoy shore-based whale-watching during Jun-Oct, go on an optional boat cruise, or a hike or just linger in this picturesque coastal town.

Our next stop is the picturesque coastal town Hermanus, world famous for its whales. Hermanus, also described as the Riviera of the South, offers the best shore-based whale watching in the world. Nature lovers from all over the world visit Hermanus to view these magnificent creatures from the cliffs.
Look out for whales on the cliff paths or on an optional boat cruise, swim in the Indian Ocean, go canoeing, diving, surfing or those who need the adrenalin rush there are the thrills of hang gliding and powerboat racing.

Approximate distance: 500 km
Estimated travel time: 5-6 hrs

We take a scenic drive to travel via the wine route 62 into the area known as Klein Karoo (“Little Karoo”), where we make the quiet town of Oudtshoorn our base. Tonight you will enjoy a traditional south african meal.
Visit an Ostrich farm upon arrival and visit the Cango Caves the next morning before we continue traveling to Plettenberg.

Oudtshoorn is notably the ostrich capital of the world. Here ostriches are found in great numbers and the region produces the world’s best feathers, leather products and meat. Amidst the 400 ostrich farms surrounding the town, three have distinguished themselves worthy enough to be named show farms.

The Cango Caves are sculptured by nature through the ages, and is filled with mysterious and breathtaking limestone formations in a wide variety of natural colours. They lie in the Swartberg Mountain Range in a limestone belt measuring 1.5km in width and almost 16km in length. This part of the continent was once below the ocean. As the continent rose, the Little Karoo found itself above the water level. The caves started to form some 20 million years ago, when the water level dropped to such an extent that the ground water could start to seep into the limestone. As the water seeped into the ground it absorbed carbon dioxide from the decaying plant and animal matter in the soil and this made it fairly acidic. As it seeped into the limestone, cavities were created that filled with water. Rivers also formed on the surface and cut deeply enough into the limestone to allow them to reach the level of the water pockets. This caused the water to flow out about 4 million years ago. The cave was then, for the first time, exposed to air and the speleothems (cave formations) began to form. The portion of the caves that are accessible to the public extends for 1.2km, with a further 4.1km being kept closed for conservation.

Approximate Distance: 250 km
Estimate Travel Time: 2 1/2 Hours

Enjoy this popular and scenic stretch of the south-eastern coast of South Africa on our way to Plettenberg Bay, our next stop. The Garden Route stretches from the Tsisikamma National Park to Mossel Bay. Just linger in this picturesque coastal town of Plettenberg Bay, go on an optional boat cruise or hike, or simply hang out and relax on the beach. For the more adventurous, optional activities include abseiling, sea kayaking, mountain biking, bungee jumping, you will definitely find something to keep the adrenaline pumping.
Originally christened “Bahaia Formosa” (Beautiful bay) by early Portuguese explorers, the beautiful sweeping golden beaches characterize Plettenberg Bay, set on a rocky peninsula, with intriguing lagoons and towering forests nearby.
Day 5 we will visit the Tsizikamma National Park where you have the opportunity to go on self guided hikes.

Plettenberg Bay to Port Elizabeth 237km’s (3-4 hours drive)
Take in more beauty of the world famous Garden Route. Tour ends upon arrival in Port Elizabeth around lunch time (approx 14:00). We will either drop you off at the airport or at your post hotel you have booked through us.