12 Day Garden Route, Cape Town & Eastern Cape Safari

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Safari itinerary · Cape Town

12 Day Garden Route, Cape Town & Eastern Cape Safari

This 12-day tour is an exploration of what makes South Africa a top tourist destination. Your journey begins in Cape Town, renowned for its rich culture and picturesque landscapes. Climbing into your rental car, you travel along the famous Garden Route and arrive in the “ostrich capital of the world”. Here you’ll have the opportunity to explore the dramatic Cango Caves, the Cango Wildlife Ranch, and the various ostrich farms in Oudtshoorn. Heading towards the coastline, your next stop is a town that encompasses indigenous forests, pristine beaches, sandstone cliffs and an idyllic lagoon. Knysna offers a rush of adventure activities, exciting festivals and world-class golf courses. Then, marvel in an unforgettable safari experience with Shamwari Game Reserve showcasing its passion for wildlife conservation and phenomenal BIG 5 game viewing.

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From R 107 960 per person

Duration12 days
Your stayKensington Place + Rosenhof Country House + 2 more
From, per personR 107 960
TransfersIncluded

The journey

About this itinerary.

This 12-day tour is an exploration of what makes South Africa a top tourist destination. Your journey begins in Cape Town, renowned for its rich culture and picturesque landscapes. Climbing into your rental car, you travel along the famous Garden Route and arrive in the “ostrich capital of the world”. Here you’ll have the opportunity to explore the dramatic Cango Caves, the Cango Wildlife Ranch, and the various ostrich farms in Oudtshoorn. Heading towards the coastline, your next stop is a town that encompasses indigenous forests, pristine beaches, sandstone cliffs and an idyllic lagoon. Knysna offers a rush of adventure activities, exciting festivals and world-class golf courses. Then, marvel in an unforgettable safari experience with Shamwari Game Reserve showcasing its passion for wildlife conservation and phenomenal BIG 5 game viewing.

Where you'll travel: Cape Town Garden Route Oudtshoorn

Days 01–04

Cape Town

Today, you arrive at Cape Town's International Airport, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Included during your stay are two full-day private tours of Cape Town's most popular attractions. The Cape Peninsula tour is a scenic adventure featuring magnificent beaches, breathtaking views, and picturesque coastal villages. The view from Cape Point and the encounter with African penguins at Boulders Beach are unforgettable experiences.

The Winelands tour explores the top wine country regions of Cape Town: Franschhoek, Paarl, and Stellenbosch. These regions encompass superb mountain ranges, picturesque vineyards, and Cape Dutch homesteads. You will have the opportunity to walk around the century-old vineyards and sample award-winning wines.

Cape Town offers a wide range of activities, so please consult with one of our experts for more information.

Accommodation: Kensington Place

Cape Town

Day 05

Oudtshoorn

After a sumptuous breakfast and the arrival of your rental car, your scenic journey along the Garden Route begins as you travel to the town of Oudtshoorn.

There are a number of ostrich farms in this region, as well as the opportunity to encounter meerkats up-close. We highly recommend visiting the Cango Wildlife Ranch and the dramatic Cango Caves during your time in Oudtshoorn.

Accommodation: Rosenhof Country House

Oudtshoorn

Days 06–08

Kanonkop House

This morning, you continue on your journey along the Garden Route as you head towards the coastal town of Knysna.

Situated between the town of George and the Tsitsikamma Forest, Knysna is perfectly positioned to explore the top attractions of all three areas.

During the next three days, you can choose to cruise on the Knysna Lagoon, visit an elephant sanctuary, play a round of golf, or visit the Tsitsikamma Forest for a range of adventure activities. You have the freedom to decide where you wish to go and what you wish to experience.

Accommodation: Kanonkop House

Kanonkop House

Days 09–11

Shamwari Bayethe

Today, you bid farewell to the Garden Route and travel towards Port Elizabeth, where you will then head inland to the private malaria-free Shamwari Game Reserve.

During your stay at Shamwari, you will venture out into the African bush in an open safari vehicle led by a professional guide. Morning and evening game drives afford you up-close encounters with wild animals, including the famous BIG Five.

You will also have the opportunity to explore the bush on foot, learning about the smaller wondrous creatures and the different plants of the reserve. Shamwari is actively involved in several conservation projects, and guests have the opportunity to visit these on the reserve. There are not many reserves that offer this opportunity to their guests.

Accommodation: Shamwari Bayethe Lodge

Shamwari Bayethe

Day 12

Depart Shamwari

After one final morning game drive and a hearty breakfast, you gather your belongings and travel by car to Port Elizabeth Airport. After returning your car rental, you will connect with your onward travel arrangements.

Depart Shamwari

The complete package

Everything included.

Stay

Kensington Place

  • 4 Nights in 4-star in Cape Town
  • Breakfast only

Rosenhof Country House

  • Breakfast only

Shamwari Bayethe Lodge

  • 3 Nights in 5-star in Shamwari Game Reserve
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Kensington Place: Two full-day private tours of Cape Town's most popular attractions Rosenhof Country House: 1 Night in 5-star in Oudtshoorn
  • Kanonkop House: 3 Nights in 5-star in Knysna Kanonkop House: Breakfast only

Experiences

Shamwari Bayethe Lodge

  • Two game drives and walking safaris
  • Car rental

The same as booking direct

Rates and dates.

Per person sharing for the complete package. Final pricing depends on dates, room category and party size.

Valid until 30 Apr 2027

Show prices in

Peak / migration

1 Sept 2026 – 30 Sept 2026

R 107 960

per person

International flights excluded

Shoulder

1 Oct 2026 – 31 Oct 2026

R 117 790

per person

International flights excluded

Shoulder

1 Nov 2026 – 30 Nov 2026

R 122 220

per person

International flights excluded

Festive

1 Dec 2026 – 16 Dec 2026

R 119 300

per person

International flights excluded

Festive

17 Dec 2026 – 20 Jan 2027

R 122 220

per person

International flights excluded

Low season

21 Jan 2027 – 30 Apr 2027

R 119 300

per person

International flights excluded

The rate is for the complete package, per person sharing. A single supplement may apply for solo travellers. We offer a price match guarantee, just ask your specialist.

Your specialist for this itinerary

Candis Sequera

Candis Sequera

Safari Specialist - Southern Africa

Knows 12 Day Garden Route, Cape Town & Eastern Cape Safari backwards. Your direct contact from first enquiry to the day you come home.

Nerine Du PlessisDenise Heemro

With Nerine and Denise across the team.

"Jolene was simply extraordinary. She put together what became an absolutely incredible African trip for us in the space of barely three weeks, and from the outset her responsiveness, knowledge and genuine enthusiasm were exceptional. Nothing was ever too much trouble, responses were almost immediate, and she very quickly understood exactly what we were looking for, our expectations and the way we like to travel. More than simply being an expert at what she does, Jolene genuinely cared about making the trip special for us, and that came through in every aspect of her planning. What particularly impressed us was the flexibility with which she brought everything together. We already had some of our own arrangements in place, including international flights and staying with friends in Cape Town, but Jolene seamlessly incorporated those into the overall itinerary and still organised all the surrounding logistics and transfers. The safari component she designed was outstanding, taking us through Kruger, Victoria Falls, Chobe and the Okavango Delta, before finishing in Cape Town and the Stellenbosch wine region. Every part flowed beautifully and the lodges, experiences and logistics were exceptional. Just as importantly, Jolene stayed in contact throughout the trip at all the key moments, which made travelling so much easier. She would check us in for our internal flights and send through the boarding passes, confirm transfers the day before each pick-up, and make sure everything was in place before we ever had to think about it. That attention to detail, and the fact that she was always one step ahead, removed so much of the usual travel stress and allowed us simply to enjoy the trip. It was genuinely the trip of a lifetime, put together in an extraordinarily short timeframe, and Jolene deserves enormous credit for making it all happen. We could not recommend her highly enough."
August 2026 · Australia · with Jolene Welsh · Verified on Trustpilot ↗

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From your first enquiry to the day you come home, one named safari specialist looks after every detail. A safari specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours.

Included. Complimentary travel insurance, with cancellation cover of up to $5,000 per person, on bookings paid by 25th September 2026. Details

Example: 14–21 Nov 2027 · 2 adults · departing NYC · Big Five focus.

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Included

Complimentary travel insurance. Cancellation cover of up to $5,000 per person, on bookings paid by 25th September 2026.

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