8-Day Garden Route and Addo | 2026
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US$1193 ￥8050 €1032 C$1665 Rs.113500
US$1326 ￥8947 €1147 C$1850 Rs.126153
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Child age: 0-12
Highlights
Ready for one of the world’s most epic road trips – where you flicker from wildlife to city life to beach life? You’ll gawp at the Cango Caves, sample the nightlife of Cape Town, and even encounter the Big 5 at some of Africa’s finest national parks. The Garden Route has everything, and you’ll experience it all on this unforgettable 7-day adventure, with a squad of fellow 18-35s.
Dates & Prices
Price in USD (per person, based on double occupancy)
Limited Offer
3% Group Discount: 1. Receive 3% off when you purchase 3+ rooms on the same tour (single order only). 2. Receive 3% off when you book 3+ multi-day tours with minimum order total of $500 at once. Not valid in conjunction with any other discounts or pricing offers.
Itinerary
Hello Africa… and hello Cape Town. Ready to get going? It’s off to the Karoo desert via the famous ‘Route 62’. Today's scenic drive goes through mountain passes, vineyards and epic desert scenery along the way.An included guided tour of Africa's LARGEST show cave system. The Cango Caves are replete with cavernous halls, limestone formations, cave paintings and artefacts (which indicate they were in use throughout the Middle Ages)! How's that for a pitstop?Welcome to the Klein Karoo! We'll check into Oudtshoorn with our first adventure on offer. How good does a scenic bike ride (or drive down) the UNESCO Swartberg Mountain Pass, plus a Karoo braai dinner on a local farm sound? (So good!). And this evening, you can opt to do just that.
Cape Town, South Africa
Cango Caves, South Africa
Oudtshoorn, South Africa
This South African city is known as the "ostrich capital of the world." It is home to the largest ostrich population in the world with a numver of specialized ostrich breeding farms.
Good morning! Let's continue heading East towards one of South Africa's most loved National Parks: Addo Elephant. (Anyone guess which animal this place is famous for?) That’s right, it’s elephant time. After lunch, we’ll set out in our comfy (and tall!) coach in search of Africa's largest land mammal here at the Addo National Park, home to over 600 of these tusk-tastic creatures. (Keep your eyes peeled for lions, buffalo, and antelope too though!) We'll retreat here for the night but fear not, more safari adventures await in the morning. Stuck for something to do this evening? Let us introduce you to the karaoke bar just around the corner. (Cue your fave Lion King jams.)
Today we’ll have a leisurely morning before heading off for two game drives on the Eastern Cape. That's three game drives in 36 hours, giving you the best chance of spotting the Big 5. Lucky you, right?The Eastern Cape’s game reserves are some of South Africa’s best spots for seeing the Big 5. Valleys, plains, rivers and much more await, so keep those eyes peeled.Tonight we’ll head back to the city where a free evening awaits. Karaoke round two? We won’t stop ya.
Private Game Reserves, South Africa
Beach time. Desert? Tick. Caves? Tick. Safari? Tick. Now it’s time to make our way along the famous Garden Route to our next destination, Knysna – with a few sensational stop-offs on the way. Known as one of the best surf spots in the world, it’d be wrong not to start our day with some chill time on J-Bay… which is exactly what we’ll do. And of course, there's an optional surfing lesson for the wave-dodgers among us. Welcome to our next pitstop, known for the infinitely Instagramable Storms River Bridge – which we’ll take a picturesque hike to so you can get all the legendary snaps you need. Wanna up the adrenaline? You can choose to go kayaking up the mouth of Storms River. And then we pull into the beautiful coastal town of Knysna, ready to explore all the sights and activities the Garden Route is known for. (We've got two nights here too!)
Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
Tsitsikamma National Park, South Africa
The name of this river comes from the Khoekhoe words for "clear" and "water." There are many trails in the area that make this a perfect hiking destination.
Knysna, South Africa
Knysna is a town on the Western Cape Province of South Africa.It is home to the Mitchell Brewery and host an annual Rastafarian culture festival as well as an oyster festival.
Rise and shine, team. Today starts with an included breakfast, overlooking the Knysna lagoon, and then we’re off again once more. It’s ocean time! You can choose to join our marine safari and set out in search of whales, dolphins, seals and more spectacular sea life. Afterwards, we’ll spend the rest of the day relaxing on Plettenberg's main beach, catching those rays and helping ourselves to some splendid seafood. This evening, we’ll embark on an optional Township visit here in Knysna, where you’ll meet the locals and have the chance to make a positive impact for the children who live here. Afterwards, you'll have the option to cruise the Knysna lagoon & see the sunset onboard. And finally, we'll tuck into a group dinner by the water before finishing off with a night on the town (again, optional but unmissable!).
Knysna, South Africa
Knysna is a town on the Western Cape Province of South Africa.It is home to the Mitchell Brewery and host an annual Rastafarian culture festival as well as an oyster festival.
Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
Knysna, South Africa
Knysna is a town on the Western Cape Province of South Africa.It is home to the Mitchell Brewery and host an annual Rastafarian culture festival as well as an oyster festival.
Make sure you call dibs on a window seat. As we drive back to Cape Town, you’ll watch the magnificence of the Garden Route unfold as we pass coastal towns, forests, gorges and some jaw-dropping ocean views.Marine mania… We’ll have lunch and a little free time here in the coastal town of Hermanus, which is one of the world’s best areas for spotting whales (between July and November at least) so have your binoculars at the ready. On our way back to Cape Town, we’ll stop off at Stony Point Nature Reserve - a protected home of African Penguins (yup, they got penguins here too!).The Reserve conserves one of the only two breeding colonies of African penguins on the mainland of Africa with boardwalks to view them go about their daily activities in their natural habitat. And here we are, back in the city where it all began. After checking in, you’ll have a free evening to enjoy the V&A Waterfront, followed by a walkabout dinner.
Knysna, South Africa
Knysna is a town on the Western Cape Province of South Africa.It is home to the Mitchell Brewery and host an annual Rastafarian culture festival as well as an oyster festival.
Hermanus, South Africa
This town on South Africa's Western Cape is famous for whale watching in the winter and spring. It has become a popular retirement destination.
Stony Point, South Africa
Cape Town, South Africa
Fine wine, all in good time. Today we’ll add a touch of class to proceedings with a trip to Stellenbosch – the Cape’s famous wine region. But before that, why not choose to hit the skies on an epic helicopter ride over the seas and peaks?After some free time to explore (and shop till you drop) we’ll set out to discover Stellenbosch’s awesome wine farms with an optional experience to sample the very finest of the Cape’s fine wines. We'll also stop at a local food market to find some lunch. Not into wine? No stress. You can still taste your way through the region with local meats, cheeses, spirits, teas and more - all proudly produced right here.Tonight in Cape Town, you can opt for a cooking class – complete with music, drinks, and the chance to sample the food you’ve cooked up too.
Cape Town, South Africa
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Cape Town, South Africa
It’s our final morning in the Mother City, and we got some exploring to do! We’ll take a cable car to the top of Table Mountain, go on a short guided city tour, and then we’ll have some time to explore the world-famous V&A Waterfront too – an ideal spot for shopping and dining. Our trip will end officially at around midday but fear not! The memories won’t fade, the friendships will last and hey, we got plenty more trips where that came from.
Cape Town, South Africa
Includes & Excludes
Price Includes
Additional Notes
- DAY 1: Trip starts in Cape Town at 07:00. Travellers to arrive into Cape Town International Airport (CPT). The kick-start meeting starts at 07:00. It is not recommended to book flights arriving on the first day of the trip. Pre night is recommended in Cape Town.
- DAY 8: Trip ends in Cape Town at 12:00. Travellers to depart from Cape Town International Airport (CPT). It is not recommended to book flights prior to 15:00 on the last day of the trip.
- TRANSFERS: Both complimentary and chargeable transfers are not offered through Contiki. Travellers should make their own way from/to the airport at their own expense.
- SOUTH AFRICA: USA passport holders traveling to South Africa do not require a visa for tourism stays up to 90 days. However, please ensure that guests passport has at least 2 blank visa pages. Guests must be in possession of a return air ticket or onward ticket.
- IMPORTANT: Please see important visa details sent with your invoice.
- ENTRY INTO SOUTH AFRICA - All travellers entering or leaving South Africa must complete an online traveller declaration at Customs Online Traveller Declaration | South African Revenue Service before they travel. The declaration must be submitted no more than 24 hours before departure and is required for Customs purposes. Website https://www.sars.gov.za/travellerdeclaration/
- VACCINATION: Yellow Fever vaccination is recommended for trips visiting East Africa. Yellow Fever certificate not required unless travellers are arriving from or transiting through a country or region listed by the WHO as infected with Yellow Fever (e.g. Kenya). Recommend travellers check with doctor for immunizations and vaccinations prior to travel.
- LUGGAGE: Luggage allowance is limited to 1 medium sized bag per traveller at maximum of 50lbs/23kg (ideally soft-sided suitcases without wheels) and 1 piece of hand luggage per traveller. Refer to trip documents for any exceptions.
Policies
All purchases are subject to re-confirmation within 2-3 business days after booking. Please do not book airline tickets until you have received the confirmation.
Complete operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, is included on your e-ticket. You must print the e-tickets and take them along on your trip; they are your proof of purchase.
Travel Documents
Each passenger must carry a valid travel document. (Valid visa for countries needed) (E.g. Green Card, Passport, Re-Entry Permit, and etc.) Tour operator is not responsible for lost or stolen personal items.
Each passenger must carry a valid travel document. (Valid visa for countries needed) (E.g. Green Card, Passport, Re-Entry Permit, and etc.) Tour operator is not responsible for lost or stolen personal items.
Cancellation penalties per person (request day and departure day are not counted)
30 days or more prior to departure - $175/person penalty.
2-29 days or more prior to departure - $280/person penalty.
Day of departure no show or late - 100% per person.
If the tour include airtickets, additional $75+airline surcharge will be charged as penalty.
Unused features are non-refundable. No shows forfeit entire payment.
Trips require a minimum number of participants to avoid cancellation. We reserve the right to cancel a scheduled trip to fully refund affected customers although tour companies will make every effort to maintain normal operations.
The refund amount will be credited directly to your TakeTours wallet as credits for future use. Or the refund can also be forwarded directly to your credit card with a 6% handling fee.
NOTE: We cannot grant any refunds more than 30 days after completion of the tour.
30 days or more prior to departure - $175/person penalty.
2-29 days or more prior to departure - $280/person penalty.
Day of departure no show or late - 100% per person.
If the tour include airtickets, additional $75+airline surcharge will be charged as penalty.
Unused features are non-refundable. No shows forfeit entire payment.
Trips require a minimum number of participants to avoid cancellation. We reserve the right to cancel a scheduled trip to fully refund affected customers although tour companies will make every effort to maintain normal operations.
The refund amount will be credited directly to your TakeTours wallet as credits for future use. Or the refund can also be forwarded directly to your credit card with a 6% handling fee.
NOTE: We cannot grant any refunds more than 30 days after completion of the tour.
Q & A
Popular FAQs
Marrakesh: A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
Cape Town: The Garden Route encompasses everything you want to experience and see on a trip to South Africa. It has the ‘Mother City’ of Cape Town, plenty of beaches to catch a surf or tan, wine farms to indulge in, adventurous activities on both land and sea as well as Big 5 Game Reserves to get your wildlife fix.
Tsitsikamma National Park: It’s common to start in Mossel Bay in the west and finish at Storms River in the east – but there’s no reason you couldn’t do this in reverse or start in the middle (like the rebel you are). Our Garden Route & Addo trip starts off in Cape Town. From there, we’ll board the Contiki coach and drive east to the Addo Elephant Park via Oudtshoorn. We then head south to Gqeberha before making our way back west to Hermanus via Knysna. Check the itinerary above for more info.
Tsitsikamma National Park: It’ll change slightly depending on what time of year you’re visiting, but some essentials will include: Your camera Comfortable shoes & clothes for walking (including a beanie, gloves and warm jacket for open-top safari drives in the winter) Your swimming costume & towel Sun cream, a hat, sunglasses Insect repellent A portable phone charger Binoculars (crucial for game drives to see animals in the distance) Day bag for daily activities Torch/Headlight Reusable water bottle Read our full guide to visiting Africa here.
Tsitsikamma National Park: The Garden Route summer occurs between October to April, with the best beach weather coming in December to February. July to December is Whale Season, so this is the best time to visit if you’re keen to admire the Garden Route’s awesome marine life. May - September usually sees the coolest weather, so these months are ideal for hiking, outdoor activities, and safaris.
Tsitsikamma National Park: Excellent. We visit wildlife reserves, so you’ll have a decent chance of catching the elusive Big 5 – plus giraffes, warthogs and other famed species. You’ll also have a great chance of seeing elephants in Addo, plus the myriad marine life on our marine activities – including whales, dolphins, penguins and more.
Cape Town: You’ll be journeying around in your very own Contiki coach or minibus, equipped with AC (for a much-needed cool down from the tropical heat.) You’ll have the company of your Trip Manager, who’ll give you all the juicy info you need about the incredible spots you see en-route. And of course, we’ll keep it groovy on the coach with some music.
Cape Town: This Garden Route & Addo trip is studded with incredible stays. This includes centrally-located beachside resorts and waterfront hotels, with scrumptious buffet breakfasts to kickstart your day. You’ll also have access to all amenities like restaurants, bars, and pools.
Cape Town: The Garden Route encompasses everything you want to experience and see on a trip to South Africa. It has the ‘Mother City’ of Cape Town, plenty of beaches to catch a surf or tan, wine farms to indulge in, adventurous activities on both land and sea as well as Big 5 Game Reserves to get your wildlife fix.
Tsitsikamma National Park: It’s common to start in Mossel Bay in the west and finish at Storms River in the east – but there’s no reason you couldn’t do this in reverse or start in the middle (like the rebel you are). Our Garden Route & Addo trip starts off in Cape Town. From there, we’ll board the Contiki coach and drive east to the Addo Elephant Park via Oudtshoorn. We then head south to Gqeberha before making our way back west to Hermanus via Knysna. Check the itinerary above for more info.
Tsitsikamma National Park: It’ll change slightly depending on what time of year you’re visiting, but some essentials will include: Your camera Comfortable shoes & clothes for walking (including a beanie, gloves and warm jacket for open-top safari drives in the winter) Your swimming costume & towel Sun cream, a hat, sunglasses Insect repellent A portable phone charger Binoculars (crucial for game drives to see animals in the distance) Day bag for daily activities Torch/Headlight Reusable water bottle Read our full guide to visiting Africa here.
Tsitsikamma National Park: The Garden Route summer occurs between October to April, with the best beach weather coming in December to February. July to December is Whale Season, so this is the best time to visit if you’re keen to admire the Garden Route’s awesome marine life. May - September usually sees the coolest weather, so these months are ideal for hiking, outdoor activities, and safaris.
Tsitsikamma National Park: Excellent. We visit wildlife reserves, so you’ll have a decent chance of catching the elusive Big 5 – plus giraffes, warthogs and other famed species. You’ll also have a great chance of seeing elephants in Addo, plus the myriad marine life on our marine activities – including whales, dolphins, penguins and more.
Cape Town: You’ll be journeying around in your very own Contiki coach or minibus, equipped with AC (for a much-needed cool down from the tropical heat.) You’ll have the company of your Trip Manager, who’ll give you all the juicy info you need about the incredible spots you see en-route. And of course, we’ll keep it groovy on the coach with some music.
Cape Town: This Garden Route & Addo trip is studded with incredible stays. This includes centrally-located beachside resorts and waterfront hotels, with scrumptious buffet breakfasts to kickstart your day. You’ll also have access to all amenities like restaurants, bars, and pools.
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