This 9-day Garden Route Self Drive holiday allows you to see the Karoo & Addo Elephant National Park.
Meander down the spectacular Garden Route, and take in the wide open spaces of the Karoo, as well as the amazing wildlife of Addo Elephant National Park. Take your time and marvel at the sights and sounds of the fabulous Garden Route’s coastal roads. While on the route, visit a township and experience authentic culture on this 9-day self-drive tour.
Day 1 – CAPE TOWN to OUDTSHOORN via ROUTE 62 (±420km | ±5hrs)
On arrival at Cape Town International airport, you will be met by our friendly team who will handover all your documentation and will walk you to your hired car. They will give you a map and show you the best route.
Head off along Route 62 for your Garden Route Meander.
Lunch is at leisure, although we do recommend a Witblits tasting at Grundheim (optional – own account)
In the late afternoon, arrive at your hotel.
Dinner is at leisure and for your own account.
Queens Hotel or similar – breakfast (4-star)
Day 2 – FULL DAY in OUDTSHOORN
Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel, before you set off exploring.
While in Oudtshoorn we recommend that you visit the Cango Caves, as well as experience a real Ostrich farm. Perhaps stop and enjoy lunch on the farm. Both of these activities are optional, for your own account, and can be pre-booked.
After lunch, we recommend you visit the CP Nel Museum, which houses exhibits depicting the role of the ostrich trade in the town’s history and a story of life in the 20th century.
Dinner is at leisure and for your own account.
Queens Hotel or similar – breakfast (4-star)
Day 3 – OUDTSHOORN to GRAAFF-REINET (±320km | ±3hrs)
A visit to Oudtshoorn is not complete without an early morning excursion to see the wild meerkats. These fascinating little creatures have taken the world by storm! This is an optional tour and is for your own account.
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.
Head for Graaff-Reinet, stopping by the Valley of Desolation – a geological phenomenon that is situated in the Camdeboo National Park.
An optional 4 x 4 tour of this natural landmark can be pre-booked.
Dinner is at leisure and for your own account.
Drostdy Hotel or similar – breakfast (5-star)
Day 4 – GRAAFF-REINET to ADDO (±238km | ±2hrs 10min)
After breakfast at the hotel, make your way to Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa’s third largest national park and one of its oldest. If it is elephants you want to discover, then this is the place. With conservation in mind, Addo expanded to become the only national park in the world to be able to offer Africa’s ‘Big 7’ – elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, leopard, southern right whale and great white shark.
Lunch and dinner are for your own account
Zuurberg Mountain Village or similar – dinner and breakfast (4-star)
Day 5 – ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast at the hotel, make your way to Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa’s third largest national park and one of its oldest. If it is elephants you want to discover, then this is the place. With conservation in mind, Addo expanded to become the only national park in the world to be able to offer Africa’s ‘Big 7’ – elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, leopard, southern right whale and great white shark. Spend the day exploring this fantastic National Park.
Lunch and dinner are for your own account.
Zuurberg Mountain Village or similar – dinner and breakfast (4-star)
Day 6 – ADDO to KNYSNA via TSITSIKAMMA FOREST (±360km | ±4hrs 15min)
After breakfast at the hotel, head for Knysna.
Stop en route at the Tsitsikamma Forest and enjoy a Storms River Bridge walk. This is optional and for your own account. Feeling brave, why not Bungee jump from this suspension bridge over the gorge!
Lunch in Tsitsikamma Forest (optional – own account)
Relax and unwind at dinner, either at a restaurant next to Knysna Estuary, in town or at the hotel.
The Rex Hotel or similar – breakfast (4-star)
Day 7 – FULL DAY AT LEISURE (to Plettenberg Bay ±30min)
Breakfast at the hotel, before departing on a Qolweni Township guided tour. Learn thought-provoking facts about Xhosa history and its Tribal culture, as well as meet the local children at their crèche. Finally, enjoy their beautiful voices in song as they send you off in style. This is an optional tour.
Continue on and visit one of the largest active wildlife rehabilitation centres in the Western Cape, attending to a diverse variety of animals and accepting both terrestrial and marine species.
Enjoy lunch at leisure
In the late afternoon, why not explore the Featherbed Nature Reserve. This tour is optional and for your own account.
Dinner at leisure.
The Rex Hotel or similar – breakfast (4-star)
Day 8 – KNYSNA to HERMANUS via CAPE AGULHAS (±540km | ±6hrs)
Enjoy a hearty breakfast to set you up for the day.
Continue on to Cape Aghulas via Swellendam, the third oldest town in South Africa. It has over 50 provincial heritage sites, most of them are buildings of Cape Dutch architecture. It’s a perfect halfway stop to enjoy lunch.
Visit Cape Agulhas Lighthouse Museum. Optional and for your own account.
Dinner at leisure in town
Arabella Spa & Hotel or similar – breakfast (5-star)
Day 9 – HERMANUS to CAPE TOWN via FRANSCHHOEK (±160km | ±2hrs 15min)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.
Spend the day exploring the beautiful Cape Winelands. Why not stop and enjoy lunch in the gastronomic town of Franschhoek.
Lunch at leisure
Afterwards, take the scenic drive through Villiersdorp, Franschhoek back to Cape Town
Drop-off hired vehicle at the airport
Enjoy the best of South Africa on this Garden Route Self Drive holiday
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