Guided Tour Garden Route Splendour Explore the wonders of the Garden Route travelling through Cape Town, Oudtshoorn, Knysna and Tsitsikamma.
The Garden Route begins a few hours outside of Cape Town and is one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline.
It is a wildly popular route, that consists of a series of towns that each offer diverse and unique experiences, some
favorited and others, off-the-beaten track.
The Garden Route Splendour package is a collection of all the experiences that make this region celebrated. You
will follow the path from Cape Town, through the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn, also home to the
Cango Caves, and then enjoy the splendour of Knysna and the Tsitsikamma. A world of natural wonder beckons.
Highlights
- Visit a farmstall packed with locally produced products from the Overberg region
- Visit Cape Agulhas (the southernmost tip of Africa)
- Travel via the scenic Tradouw Pass
- Guided tour of the Cango Caves and a guided tractor tour of a working ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn
- This 6-day Garden Route Splendour modular tour is a combination of the 4-day Magnificent Garden Route Tour with 2 additional days, hence guests travelling on the 4-day Magnificent Garden Route Tour could depart this tour on Day 4 in Knysna.
Itinerary
This morning you will be met by your local tour guide and depart for the scenic Garden Route. Travel along Sir Lowry’s Pass, with
its magnificent views, to Grabouw and Elgin, a lush landscape surrounded by majestic mountains. Stop en route at a farmstall
packed with locally produced products from the area. Our journey continues to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa,
where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. The area has largely been untouched and unexplored with its rugged coastline being
the graveyard for many a ship. The historic Cape Agulhas Lighthouse is considered the icon that signifies the tip of Africa. After
this thrilling experience, we continue via historic Swellendam and the Tradouw Pass to Barrydale and the famous Route 62.
Sample top quality port style wines in Calitzdorp, before continuing to Oudtshoorn, the ‘ostrich feather capital’ and centre of
the world’s Ostrich farming industry. Overnight in Oudtshoorn. Enjoy dinner at an Ostrich Farm, dining on local specialities such
as Ostrich Steak. [Dinner]
Distance travelled today: 550 kms.
After a leisurely breakfast take a tour of the spectacular limestone caverns of the Cango Caves, one of the world’s great natural
wonders, sculpted by nature through the ages. Join a fun filled interactive guided tractor tour at a working Ostrich Farm, followed
by a wine tasting, sampling top quality wines of the region. Overnight in Oudtshoorn. [Breakfast]
Distance travelled today: 90 kms
After breakfast, travel over the Outeniqua Pass to George, the sixth oldest town in South Africa, with many historical landmarks
like the Slave Tree and King Edward VII Library building; said to be the best example of Edwardian architecture in the town. The
tour travels via Wilderness, an attractive holiday resort, to Knysna, known as the oyster box of South Africa, nestling on the
banks of a beautiful lagoon in the heart of the Garden Route. Enjoy a delicious lunch en route of traditional cuisine and local
treats. The remainder of the day is at leisure until you join an afternoon sunset cruise on the Knysna Lagoon.
Overnight in Knysna. [Breakfast & Lunch]
Distance travelled today: 170 kms
Today you’ll have the opportunity to further explore the natural beauty of the Garden Route. Visit Monkeyland Primate
Sanctuary, where you will be able to see a variety of primates, roaming free in the forest. This award-winning sanctuary is well
known for its efforts to rehabilitate and free previously caged primates. A portion of the trip price of this TRAVEL WITH A
PURPOSE Activity, goes towards ensuring that these already endangered species can survive and reproduce for a future
reintroduction into the wild. The tour continues to the famous Eastern Head, where you will enjoy spectacular views of the
Knysna Heads (weather permitting). Afterwards you’ll travel to Brenton on Sea, a breath-taking holiday location and a nature
lover’s paradise with its unspoilt beaches and peaceful surroundings. The remainder of the afternoon will be at leisure. Overnight
in Knysna. [Breakfast]
Distance travelled today: 110 kms
Travel to Plettenberg Bay, considered the jewel of the Garden Route, for a visit to the Birds of Eden sanctuary, the
biggest single free flight aviary in the world. The sanctuary was developed to create a safe environment in which to
release a large collection of free-flight African birds. A portion of the trip price of this TRAVEL WITH A PURPOSE Activity
goes towards protecting genetically pure species of various Taxa in a semi-wild state and to hold the seeds of these Taxa for
future reintroduction into the wild. Our journey continues to Bloukrans Bridge, currently offering the highest
commercially operated Bungy Jump in the world. Visit the Tsitsikamma National Park and Storms River Mouth
(weather permitting). The Tsitsikamma National Park incorporates 80 km of rocky coastline with spectacular sea and
landscapes, a remote mountainous region with secluded valleys covered in mountain Fynbos and temperate high
forests with deep river gorges leading down to the sea. Overnight in the Tsitsikamma area. [Breakfast]
Distance travelled today: 100 kms
Head eastwards along the Tsitsikamma Forest to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), affectionately known as the “friendly city”.
Enjoy a city orientation tour of Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), where the tour ends on arrival.
Guests may disembark, on request, at Chief Dawid Stuurman Airport. [Breakfast]
Distance travelled today: 185 kms
Key Information
What Is included:
- 7 Meals: 5 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner including gratuities
- 5 Nights’ accommodation including porterage
- Transportation including toll fees in air-conditioned vehicles
- Services of a professional English-speaking tour guide
- Entrance fees as specified in the itinerary
- Bottled water in eco-friendly packaging
What Is Not Included:
- Travel Insurance
- single accommodation (Available on request)
Essential Info
This trip is graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page.
There are a few long drives (the longest being six to seven hours on the first and last days) but the reward is a trip that offers an amazing variety of walking through diverse scenery, plus exciting wildlife viewing, in a comparatively short time.
This is primarily a walking trip, although there is still time to enjoy an organised safari to Kruger National Park. This trip has been rated Activity Level 3 (Moderate). Good health and reasonable fitness are important, and you should take regular exercise before travelling. Moderate trips are either fairly easy medium-duration walks or harder, shorter walks. There is some walking at higher altitudes, with occasional longer or tougher days. Underfoot conditions are generally fair. On Day 7, expect hot conditions with limited shade. On Day 10, there is a small river crossing which we wade across, only when conditions are safe. The highest altitude reached is 9,515ft (2,900m), and walking days are normally four to eight hours long.
There are some ladders to climb while walking in the Drakensberg. The ladders are in two sections: a longer one (approximately 100ft/30m) and a shorter one (about 50ft/15m). Neither ladder is completely vertical, and both are metal ladders with wide, square-edged footholds and sturdy handholds. While they are not particularly physically challenging, some may find them mentally challenging. However, the breathtaking views from the escarpment make the effort worthwhile. Our expert guides are highly experienced in assisting clients on the ladders and are always ready to help.
The best time for game viewing is generally from July to September, as visibility improves when trees lose their leaves and animals gather around water sources. During this period, however, the landscape is drier than earlier in the season. April to June offer the most picturesque scenery, while migratory birds are typically present between October and April.
Legal note: All participants joining this tour will be asked to sign an indemnity form at the start of the trip. This indemnity form is a requirement of the South African Tourism Service Association, of which our local partner is a member. As a client of Outgoing Travels, your rights under the relevant Package Travel Regulations remain fully protected, and Outgoing Travels remains responsible for the actions of our subcontractors.
Following a review of all our trips, we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However, if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.
Joining Instructions
Travelling flight inclusive: 17 days
The group flight is an overnight flight departing the day before Day 1 of the itinerary.
Flights
We typically use scheduled services of major airlines such as British Airways (depending on availability). Since flight schedules may change, we recommend contacting our sales team or your travel agent to confirm up-to-date timings. Final timings will be confirmed approximately two weeks before departure.
Travelling land only: 15 days starting and ending in Johannesburg Airport
Your trip normally starts at Johannesburg International Airport on the morning of Day 1 of the itinerary, at the group arrival time. Information on how to reach the start point will be included in the Final Joining Instructions, sent approximately two weeks before departure. Land only travellers can also be collected at a nearby hotel approximately 45 minutes prior to the group flight arrival and transferred to Johannesburg International Airport.
Please ensure your return flight is not scheduled before the group flights, as the journey back to Johannesburg Airport on the final day is quite long.
Full joining instructions, including emergency contact numbers, will be provided in your Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure or need them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Johannesburg
Location end: Johannesburg
Vaccinations and Health
South Africa
There are no compulsory vaccinations. Recommended vaccinations include hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, rabies, and tuberculosis. A yellow fever certificate is required if arriving from, or transiting through, a country where yellow fever is present. Please consult your doctor or a travel clinic for advice.
Malaria prophylaxis is necessary for the Greater Kruger area; consult your doctor or clinic for the appropriate medication. The rest of South Africa, including the Garden Route, has a low malaria risk.
Dengue fever, spread by daytime biting mosquitoes, is also present. No vaccine exists, so standard mosquito bite precautions are recommended.
Eswatini (Swaziland)
There are no compulsory vaccinations. Recommended vaccinations include hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, rabies, and tuberculosis. A yellow fever certificate is required if arriving from a yellow fever risk country. There is a malaria risk in Eswatini, so seek medical advice.
Visa
South Africa
UK, US, and most EU passport holders typically do not need a visa for South Africa. Visa rules can change, and it is your responsibility to ensure you have any necessary visas. We recommend checking with the relevant embassy or consulate for your destinations, including any countries transited en route.
Helpful links:
Australia: smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/south-africa
Canada: travel.gc.ca/destinations/south-africa
United Kingdom: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa/entry-requirements
USA: travel.state.gov
Please note: anyone requiring a visa for South Africa must have at least two consecutive blank pages in their passport.
Minors under 18 must carry an unabridged birth certificate listing both parents. If traveling with one parent, additional documents are required, such as an affidavit from the absent parent, a court order, or a death certificate.
Eswatini (Swaziland)
UK, US, and most EU passport holders do not require a visa for Eswatini. Visa regulations may change; you are responsible for confirming the latest entry requirements.
Helpful links:
Australia: smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/eswatini
Canada: travel.gc.ca/destinations/eswatini
United Kingdom: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/eswatini/entry-requirements
USA: travel.state.gov
Food & Drink
All breakfasts, 11 lunches, and seven dinners included.
Meals
Breakfast: cereal, toast, tea, coffee, occasional hot breakfast.
Lunch: cheese, cold meats, salads, bread or rolls.
Dinner: potjies (stews), braais (barbecue), stir-fries, pasta; usually cooked on open fires.
Please inform your sales representative of any dietary requirements at least two weeks in advance if not already noted on your booking form.
Tour leaders handle all shopping, planning, and cooking for the group, using fresh ingredients where possible. Two cool boxes are provided for fresh food and one for cold drinks. Included drinks: fruit squash at breakfast; tea/coffee at breakfast and dinner. All other beverages are at your own expense.
Additional meal costs:
Dinners not included: 350-500 ZAR (US$20‐US$30) per person
Lunches not included: 150-250 ZAR (US$8‐US$13)
A variety of à la carte and buffet options are available at lodges, with vegetarian and vegan options. Snacks like biltong, droëwors, nuts, and other items are widely available during pitstops.
On mornings with game drives or walks, tea/coffee and rusks are served early, followed by a full brunch after returning to camp. Afternoon snacks and evening meals are served afterward.
Water
Safe, clean drinking water (usually from boreholes) is provided. Bottled water is available at your own cost, though we encourage using the safe drinking water provided to reduce plastic waste.
Weather
Although most of South Africa lies south of the Tropic of Capricorn, altitude moderates the temperature. Average midday temperatures range around 22C (72F) on the coast and 24C (75F) inland. This trip covers various climate zones.
Inland areas are typically dry from April to October (though storms may occur), while the Drakensberg Mountains receive more rain during this period. August nights can be very cold, especially in the Drakensberg, sometimes dropping below freezing, though days are often warm and sunny. From November to February, higher temperatures and occasional rainfall occur, refreshing the landscape and clearing the skies for spectacular nights.
