Garden Route and Addo 35 to 45

Duration

8 days

Tour Type

Group Tour

Accommodations

Deluxe

Physical Rating

Easy

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

One of the world’s best road trips? Yes please. Join us for a ride where you flicker from wildlife to city life to beach life (and back again). You’ll gawp at the Cango Caves, sample the nightlife of Cape Town & Stellenbosch, and even encounter the Big 5 at some of Africa’s finest national parks.

Highlights

Dining Summary

7 Breakfast (B)

FAQs

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.

Included Experience

Cango Caves: Tour Africa's largest limestone caves system. At over 20 million years old, it makes our nan look like a spring chicken.
Addo Elephant National Park: See these gentle giants in their natural habitat as you cruise in our Contiki coach through this scenic National park. Also be on the lookout for giraffes, antelopes, buffaloes, warthogs and all of Africa's incredible wildlife.
Jeffreys Bay: Known for its waves, its calamari and its natural beauty, there’s no beach quite like Jeffreys Bay Beach. Don’t forget your sunscreen!
Knysna: If you’re looking for dramatic scenery, a trek through Tsitsikamma National Park will give you plenty of ops to fill up your memories and Insta feed.
Knysna: Stretch out on the golden sands and enjoy some sea air at one of South Africa’s best beaches.
Hermanus: Sensational scenery plus your favourite seabird, is this the detour of your dreams or is this the detour of your dreams?
Stellenbosch: Get to know the photogenic wine town of Stellenbosch. Rich in vineyards, but even richer in history.
Cape Town: Bo-Kaap. The City Centre. V&A Waterfront. This tour takes in all the historical sites & attractions of the Mother City.
Cape Town: Stroll around the scenic harbour and enjoy some Insta-worthy views, at South Africa's most-visited attraction.

Trip Details

Duration

8 days

Transportation

Private

Guide Language

English

Starts

Cape Town, South Africa

Finishes

Cape Town, South Africa

Accommodations

Deluxe

Travel Style

35 - 45 Year Olds Only, Budget

Physical Rating

Easy

Itinerary

Day 1: Cape Town to Oudtshoorn via Cango Caves

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.

Accommodation: Riempie Estate (or similar)

Day 2: Oudtshoorn to Gqeberha via Addo Elephant National Park

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.)

Accommodation: Town Lodge Port Elizabeth (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Gqeberha and Private Game Reserves

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.

Accommodation: Town Lodge Port Elizabeth (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Gqeberha to Knysna via Jeffreys Bay and Tsitsikamma National Park

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!)

Accommodation: Knysna Quays (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Knysna and Plettenberg Bay

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!).

Accommodation: Knysna Quays (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Knysna to Cape Town via Hermanus

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.

Accommodation: Waterfront Breakwater Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Cape Town and Stellenbosch

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.

Accommodation: Waterfront Breakwater Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Cape Town

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.

Meals: Breakfast

Exclusions

Flights to and from origin and destinations
Airport transfers (unless otherwise stated)
Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
Recommended gratuities/tipping
Optional activities/tours
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.

Important Information

Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We will do our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling.

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.

Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.

AUD $2,015

(Tour only)

Per Person Twin

Duration: 8 days

Trip Type: Group Tour

Activity Level: Easy

Check Availability Brochure

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 26 Oct 2026

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Tour Operator

Contiki Tours, founded in 1962, is a global travel company specializing in group tours exclusively for 18–35-year-olds, offering over 300 trips across more than 50 countries. Known for its strong social focus, Contiki blends adventure, cultural immersion, and nightlife with the convenience of fully organized itineraries. The brand is part of The Travel Corporation and differentiates itself through unique “Special Stays,” curated experiences, and a community-driven atmosphere that attracts solo travelers and young groups alike. With sustainability initiatives under its “Contiki Cares” program, the company also emphasizes responsible travel, making it a leading choice for younger travelers seeking connection, discovery, and memorable experiences.

In Business Since 1962

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