Tailor-made safaris that include Garden Route.
Most requested
- 3 days
- 2 lodges
- All-inclusive
3-Day BIG 5 Safari at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve (Combine with Cape Town)
- 2 nights at Dwyka Tented Lodge in malaria-free Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
- Big Five game drives across open plains and Cape Fold Mountains
- Guided wilderness walks, ancient San rock art and Karoo stargazing
- Optional 3 nights at Romney Park in Cape Town's Green Point
- Full-day Cape Peninsula tour via Chapman's Peak and Boulders Beach penguins
- Round-trip road transfers from Cape Town included
- Luxury
Per person, complete package, from
ZAR 26,800
Most requested
- 7 days
- Mauritius, South Africa
- 2 lodges
- Fly-in
- All-inclusive
7-Day Big 5 Sanbona Safari & LUX* Mauritius Beach Escape
- 2 nights at Sanbona Dwyka Tented Camp in South Africa's largest private reserve
- Twice-daily Big Five game drives and guided wilderness walks
- Direct flight from Cape Town to Mauritius
- 5 nights at five-star LUX* Grand Gaube on a beachfront peninsula
- Private boat excursion snorkelling and swimming with sea turtles
- Round-trip transfers and flights included
- Luxury
- Bush & Beach
Per person, complete package, from
ZAR 75,600
Most requested
- 8 days
- South Africa
- 3 lodges
- All-inclusive
8-Day Cape Town Family Safari and Vic Falls Combo
- 3 nights at the Victoria & Alfred Hotel on Cape Town's V&A Waterfront
- Table Mountain cable car, Bo-Kaap and optional Robben Island visit
- 2 nights at Gondwana Family Lodge in Sanbona with twice-daily Big Five game drives
- 2 nights at The Wallow Lodge on a private concession inside Victoria Falls National Park
- Guided tour of Victoria Falls and sundowners over Batoka Gorge
- Internal flights Cape Town to Vic Falls to Johannesburg included
- Family
- Big 5
Per person, complete package, from
US$4,890
- 14 days
- South Africa
- 6 lodges
- All-inclusive
14 Day Self Drive Luxury Garden Route
- 1 night at Mantis No 5 in Gqeberha, then 2 at The Plettenberg
- 1 night at Rosenhof Country House in the Klein Karoo
- 2 nights at Tilney Manor in Sanbona with Big Five game drives and walks
- 2 nights at Grootbos Forest Lodge with flower safari and fynbos horseback ride
- Franschhoek wine country at Leeu Estate, finishing at One&Only Cape Town
- 14-day car rental with GPS for self-drive flexibility
- Family
- Walking
Per person, complete package, from
ZAR 117,000
- 4 days
- 1 lodge
- All-inclusive
4-Day Malaria-Free Botlierskop Safari
- 3 nights at Botlierskop Tented Lodge on a 4,200-hectare private reserve
- Malaria-free Big Five game drives in the Garden Route
- Swap a drive for a horseback safari or 60-minute spa treatment
- Bird hide visits and dinner served under the stars
- Round-trip 4x4 transfers from George Airport included
Per person, complete package, from
ZAR 22,200
- 16 days
- South Africa
- 6 lodges
- All-inclusive
16 Day Self Drive Bush & Garden Route
- 2 nights at Mhondoro Game Lodge in Welgevonden Game Reserve
- 2 nights at Buffelsdrift Game Lodge in luxury waterhole tents with twice-daily safaris
- 2 nights at Angala Hotel in the Franschhoek winelands
- Whale-watching base at Harbour House Hotel in Hermanus
- 3 nights at The Bay Hotel in Camps Bay for Table Mountain and Robben Island
- Self-drive rental with GPS plus internal flight from Johannesburg to Gqeberha
- Family
- Walking
Per person, complete package, from
ZAR 81,000
- 4 days
- 1 lodge
- All-inclusive
4-Day Grootbos Forest Lodge Experience
- 3 nights at Grootbos Forest Lodge in the Cape Floral Kingdom
- Botanical fynbos hike or Milkwood forest walk on arrival
- 4x4 Flower Safari through the reserve's rich biodiversity
- Horse riding, or a Klipgat Cave and Walker Bay beach excursion
- 5-course gourmet dinners showcasing local flavours
- Round-trip road transfers from Cape Town International
- Photo
- Walking
Per person, complete package, from
ZAR 43,400
Special
- 5 days
- 1 lodge
5-Day Self-drive Garden Route Experience
- 4 nights at Simbavati Fynbos on Sea Lodge in Sedgefield
- Guided nature drive at sunset and mountain biking on lodge trails
- Visit to a working protea farm and guided marine walk
- Barge cruise on the Sedgefield waterways and guided kayaking
- Full-day self-drive excursion along the Garden Route
- Daily breakfast and beach kit provided throughout
Per person, complete package, from
ZAR 3,800 ZAR 5,200
- 10 days
- South Africa
- All-inclusive
10 Day Kwandwe, Garden Route and Cape Town
- 3 nights at Kwandwe Ecca Lodge in a malaria-free Big Five reserve
- Twice-daily game drives and optional walking safari with an armed ranger
- 2 nights at The Turbine Boutique Hotel in Knysna on the Garden Route
- 1 night at Rosenhof Country House with ostrich farms and the Cango Caves
- 3 nights at Cape Grace Hotel a short walk from the V&A Waterfront
- Self-drive route from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town with rental car included
- Honeymoon
- Luxury
Per person, complete package, from
ZAR 113,200
- 12 days
- 3 lodges
12 Day Garden Route, Cape Town & Eastern Cape Safari
- 4 nights at Kensington Place in Cape Town with private Cape Peninsula and Winelands tours
- African penguins at Boulders Beach and wine tasting in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek
- 1 night at Rosenhof Country House in Oudtshoorn with Cango Caves and ostrich farms
- 3 nights at Kanonkop House in Knysna for lagoon cruises and Tsitsikamma Forest
- 3 nights at Shamwari Bayethe Lodge with Big Five game drives and walking safaris
- Self-drive along the Garden Route with car rental included throughout
Per person, complete package, from
ZAR 102,600
- 13 days
- South Africa
- 2 lodges
- All-inclusive
13-Day Cape Town, Garden Route & Amakhala Safari
- 4 nights at The Rockefeller in Cape Town with Table Mountain, Robben Island and the Cape Peninsula
- 2 nights at Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa with vineyard tastings at La Motte and Boschendal
- Garden Route drive with stops at Knysna Lagoon and Tsitsikamma National Park
- 4 nights at 5-star Amakhala Safari Lodge in a private Big Five reserve
- Twice-daily 4x4 game drives and walking safaris with expert rangers
- Self-drive throughout with car hire and all breakfasts included
- Bush & Beach
- Luxury
Per person, complete package, from
ZAR 49,200
- 15 days
- 3 lodges
- All-inclusive
15 Day Cape, Winelands, Whales & Garden Route Adventure
- 3 nights at Cape Cadogan exploring Table Mountain, Boulders Beach and Cape Point
- 2 nights at Mont Rochelle in Franschhoek for wine and farm-to-table dining
- 2 nights at The Marine in Hermanus with land and boat-based whale watching
- 3 nights at Kwena Lodge in malaria-free Gondwana with twice-daily Big Five game drives
- 3 nights at Tsala Treetop Lodge on the Garden Route in Plettenberg Bay
- 15-day self-drive car rental from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth
- Bush & Beach
Per person, complete package, from
ZAR 114,000
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Brochure
Our Signature Southern Africa Guide
A 14-page guide to the icons of Southern Africa: Kruger, Victoria Falls, the Okavango Delta, and Cape Town.
Where to stay
Lodges in Garden Route.
Three price bands, the most-requested in each. 27 lodges across this destination.
The most requested in Affordable.
Top 3
Live availability
From ZAR 7,600 pps · per night
Kwena Lodge
A mere 25 minutes from Mossel Bay in the Southern Cape and four hours from Cape Town, Kwena lodge can be found on the 11 000 hectare private Gondwana Game Reserve. This is the only fynbos reserve in the world that is malaria-free and is home to free roaming Big Five game.
From ZAR 8,400 pps · per night
Botlierskop Tented Lodge
Botlierskop Tented Lodge, situated near Mossel Bay in South Africa, offers a unique and luxurious safari experience. It provides a unique and eco-friendly safari experience, making it an ideal destination for those seeking to combine adventure with luxury in a serene and natural setting.
From ZAR 7,200 pps · per night
Kariega Main Lodge
The 4-star Kariega Main Lodge sits high on a ridge in the malaria-free Kariega Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape. This private game reserve is also a short drive from the coast, making it easy to combine with the sandy beaches and warm sea of the world-famous Garden Route.
The most requested in Premium.
Top 3
Live availability
From ZAR 10,800 pps · per night
Sanbona Dwyka Tented Lodge
Embraced by striking rock formations, Dwyka Tented Lodge epitomises an atmosphere of seclusion.
Live availability
From ZAR 9,600 pps · per night
Sanbona Tilney Manor
Only a three-hour drive from Cape Town in the private Sanbona Game Reserve is where you will find the exclusive Tilney Manor.
Live availability
From ZAR 9,800 pps · per night
Sanbona Gondwana Family Lodge
Nestled under the 350 million-year-old Warmwaterberg Mountains, in the heart of the Little Karoo which forms part of the famous Garden Route, lies the malaria-free Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. Gondwana Family Lodge is currently under renovation and will reopen mid-October 2025. Tilney Manor has been rearranged to welcome younger children, still making it possible for families to enjoy a safari experience close to Cape Town.
The most requested in Lux.
Top 3
Live availability
From ZAR 22,400 pps · per night
Shamwari Sindile
Sindile at Shamwari Private Game Reserve provides luxury tented accommodation within the wilderness.
From ZAR 12,800 pps · per night
Kariega Settlers Drift
Settlers Drift is a unique 5-star tented experience in a remote area of the pristine Kariega Game Reserve; a photographer's paradise!
From ZAR 13,600 pps · per night
Pumba Private Game Reserve & Spa
Discover the epitome of luxury at Pumba Private Game Reserve, home to the rare white lion. Immerse yourself in an authentic African safari experience, where free-roaming wildlife and the serenity of nature await. Indulge in unparalleled luxury while creating timeless memories in this extraordinary haven.
The basics
Why, when, and where.
Why
The Garden Route stretches 300 kilometers along the south-western coast of Southern Africa. Accessible from three major airports, the garden route is easily combined with the vibrant city of Cape Town and a Big Five safari experience in Port Elizabeth. Most commonly explored as a self-drive, this beautifully scenic route consists of several major attractions including ostrich farms, pristine coastlines, natural forests, wildflowers, lagoons, hiking trails, whale watching, top golf courses, and an array of adrenalin activities.
When
The Garden Route is a popular tourist destination all year round.
Peak season is regarded to be in the summer between mid-December and early January. Due to the long December school holidays, the coastlines do tend to get very busy.
February to April are the ideal summer months for travelers planning a beach vacation, however, it is important to note that unlike Cape Town, the Garden Route can experience rain at any time of the year.
The winter wet season is predominantly from June through August. This is ideal for travelers with an interest in whale watching, as the season generally runs from June to October. Hiking is great in winter as well as the famous Knysna Festival which runs for 10 days in the month of July.
Where
The Garden Route is a 300 kilometer stretch of the south-western coast of Southern Africa. Accessible from three major airports, the garden route is easily combined with the vibrant city of Cape Town, a safari in Port Elizabeth or with the commercial hub of the Garden Route known as George.
Most commonly explored as a self-drive, this beautifully scenic route consists of several major attractions.
Mossel Bay is a coastal village situated between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. This popular holiday town is surrounded by a sunbathed peninsula and the refreshing waters of the Indian Ocean. It is a busy summer destination as well as an ideal winter retreat, offering travelers an array of activities that include shark cage diving, hiking trails, abseiling, whale watching, and golfing.
Oudtshoorn is home to one of the world’s great natural wonders; the limestone Cango Caves. Oudtshoorn is also well known for its ostrich farms. Amidst the 400 ostrich farms surrounding the town, three have distinguished themselves worthy to be named " show farms". Become exposed to this exotic bird species, the largest in the world. Gaze with the awe at slithering crocodiles from all over the world. Imagine more than 400 crocodiles and alligators in their prehistoric unattractiveness.
George is the sixth oldest town in South Africa and is the Capital of the Southern Cape. The town is very centrally situated: halfway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth and is the center of the Garden Route - ideal from where to explore the areas many variants and diverse scenic wonders.
Wilderness is an all year round destination renowned for its warm hospitality and natural beauty. It is a great spot for water sports enthusiasts, who flock there regularly. There is 2500 hectare National Park with five rivers, five lakes, two estuaries and 18 kilometers of coastline. Wilderness sports many types of wildlife, in particular birds, making it the ideal location for bird-watchers. The many other types of recreation include hiking, dolphin and whale-watching, hang-gliding, paragliding, horse riding, mountain biking, scenic drives, Wilderness Lakes Art Route, day tours, ferry cruises, angling, boating and other water sports.
Sedgefield is a resort town located between Knysna and George and is the ideal location for outdoor enthusiasts and bird watchers. There are many hiking trails and bird hides established for just that pleasure. You can also marvel at the beautiful and colorful wildflowers and fynbos. To the west lies Swartvlei, forming a safe estuary for bathing. The estuary provides for good fishing for the enthusiastic angler and near Gerickes Point there are beautiful rock formations and a popular spot for spearfishing.
Knysna is renowned for its oysters and the Heads; which is the most striking geological feature along the entire southern African coastline. They flank a deep but potentially treacherous channel through which the sea pours in to flood the wide and breathtakingly pretty lagoon at the mouth of the Knysna River. Knysna has many attractions in the surrounding area including the Knysna Forest and Featherbed Nature Reserve.
Plettenberg Bay is a sporting paradise and boasts fabulous trails for hikers, mountain bikers, horse riders, and canoeists. The highlight of the area is undoubtedly the rivers, beaches and the bay with its ideal conditions for all facets of watersports, including sailing in the safe waters of the Bay, superb rock and surf fishing and scuba diving spots. Other popular attractions include the Plettenberg Elephant Park and Monkeyland.
Stormsriver / Tsitsikamma is the Khoi-San word for a place of many waters. The Tsitsikamma National Park is internationally recognized for its forests which harbor and conserve the giant Outeniqua yellowwood. Tsitsikamma is also Africa's oldest and largest marine reserve, playing a vital role in the preservation and conservation of marine fauna and flora. The region has many wonderfully scenic hiking trails including the world-renowned Otter Trail which is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Other activities include canopy tours, whale watching, and bungee jumping.
Photos from our guests
A traveller's view.
Every photo below was taken by a guest of ours on a recent trip to Garden Route. No stock imagery, no marketing shots. What they saw, on their cameras.
Imagery
Garden Route, in pictures.
Recent travellers
Word from people who have just been to Garden Route.
Quotes pulled directly from Trustpilot. Where we have specific reviews mentioning Garden Route, those come up first. Otherwise these are recent five-star notes from across the trips we have planned.
"Leigh-Ann was outstanding and very helpful in putting an itinerary together not just for a Safari but including internal flights and accommodation in Cape Town and all along the Garden Route. Would highly recommend using Safari.com for your South Africa trips especially if it is your first trip."
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