South Africa · Safari destination
Garden Route
Safaris built around Garden Route.
A 300-kilometre coastal stretch from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, best explored as a self-drive through forests, lagoons, pristine beaches and ostrich farms.
Garden Route
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.
Tailor-made safaris
Safaris in Garden Route.
Most requested · 14 days · South Africa
14 Day Self Drive Luxury Garden Route
Most meals · Most activities · All transfers
- 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
From
R 130 250
per person, complete package
≈ R 260 500 for two · international flights excluded
Most requested · 4 days
4-Day Malaria-Free Botlierskop Safari
All meals · All activities · All transfers
- 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
From
R 22 100
per person, complete package
≈ R 44 200 for two · international flights excluded
Most requested · 15 days
15 Day Cape, Winelands, Whales & Garden Route Adventure
Most meals · Most activities · All transfers
- 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
From
R 105 120
per person, complete package
≈ R 210 240 for two · international flights excluded
4 days
4-Day Grootbos Forest Lodge Experience
All meals · All transfers
- 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
From
R 56 950
per person, complete package
≈ R 113 900 for two · international flights excluded
5 days
5-Day Self-drive Garden Route Experience
Most meals
- 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
Special offer available
From
R 3 820 normally R 5 100
per person, complete package
≈ R 7 650 for two · international flights excluded
10 days · South Africa
10 Day Kwandwe, Garden Route and Cape Town
Most meals · Most activities · Most transfers
- 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
From
R 113 200
per person, complete package
≈ R 226 410 for two · international flights excluded
12 days
12 Day Garden Route, Cape Town & Eastern Cape Safari
Most meals · Most activities · All transfers
- 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
From
R 102 540
per person, complete package
≈ R 205 080 for two · international flights excluded
13 days · South Africa
13-Day Cape Town, Garden Route & Amakhala Safari
Most meals · Most activities · Most transfers
- 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
From
R 59 550
per person, complete package
≈ R 119 110 for two · international flights excluded
16 days · South Africa
16 Day Self Drive Bush & Garden Route
Most meals · Most activities · Most flights & transfers
- 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
From
R 87 230
per person, complete package
≈ R 174 470 for two · international flights excluded
No safaris matching these criteria.
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Brochure
Southern Africa Guide
Southern Africa's icons, shaped into one itinerary: Greater Kruger, Victoria Falls, the Okavango Delta and Cape Town.
Where to stay
Lodges in Garden Route.
27 lodges
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PremiumBotlierskop Tented Lodge
Botlierskop Tented Lodge, a magnificent 5-star property situated near Mossel Bay in South Africa, offers a unique and luxurious safari experience where guests can view the iconic BIG 5. It provides a beautifully eco-friendly bush getaway, making it the ideal destination for those seeking to combine thrilling wildlife adventure with world-class luxury in a serene, natural setting.
From R 8 490 per person · night
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Affordable Live availabilityKariega 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.
From R 7 200 per person · night
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Premium Live availabilityKariega River Lodge
Kariega River Lodge is nestled along the banks of the Bushman's River in the private Kariega Game Reserve of the malaria-free Eastern Cape.
From R 9 000 per person · night
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Ultra Live availabilityShamwari Sindile
Sindile at Shamwari Private Game Reserve provides luxury tented accommodation within the wilderness.
From R 22 430 per person · night
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Lux Live availabilityGrootbos Forest Lodge
Grootbos Forest Lodge, is a luxurious eco-lodge renowned for its commitment to sustainability and conservation. The lodge offers a unique experience where comfort and natural beauty seamlessly blend, providing guests with an immersive retreat into one of the world's most biodiverse environments. Grootbos is celebrated for its array of nature-based activities. Guests can enjoy botanical safaris, guided nature walks through the ancient Milkwood forests, horseback riding, bird watching, and whale watching excursions in season.
From R 16 500 per person · night
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Premium Live availabilityKariega 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 R 12 800 per person · night
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Premium Live availabilityKariega Ukhozi Lodge
Ukhozi Lodge is a superior four-star graded lodge located in the 10 000 hectare malaria-free Kariega Private Game Reserve. The reserve which is only a one hour drive from Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape, teems with wildlife including the famous Big Five, ensuring an unforgettable safari experience.
From R 9 000 per person · night
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Ultra Live availabilityShamwari Eagles Crag Lodge
The award-winning and exclusive Shamwari Eagles Crag Lodge is positioned in a valley that is surrounded by the African bush. The lodge's design incorporates the use of thatch, stone and glass which blends seemingly with its surroundings.
From R 20 520 per person · night
Rates per person sharing, per night.
Garden Route
Your guide to Garden Route.
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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