Cape Town to Port Elizabeth: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Self-Paced Route
Plan Your Own Garden Route: One-Way Bus with Stops Whenever You Want
You board in Cape Town and decide your own route to Port Elizabeth, stopping in towns like Hermanus, Knysna, Oudtshoorn and Plettenberg Bay for as long as you want — there's no time limit on your ticket. The bus runs daily, accommodation pickup is included, and you can change your itinerary up to 12 hours before departure. A trailer lets you bring bikes or surfboards along, and the driver handles the navigation while you handle the pace.
1d–365d
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Cape Town and nearby towns
- Visit Cape Town city attractions
- Explore Stellenbosch wine routes
- Discover Hermanus whale watching
- Tour historic Swellendam town
- Pass through Mossel Bay coastal town
- Visit Oudtshoorn and Cango Caves
- Explore Knysna lagoon and cliffs
- Pass through Plettenberg Bay coastline
- Visit Jeffrey’s Bay surfing town
- Arrive at Port Elizabeth city sights
The Experience
"When do you want to get off?" the driver asked as we pulled out of Cape Town, and that's when it hit me — there was no itinerary waiting, no schedule telling me where to be at what time. The hop-on hop-off bus from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth runs daily, and the whole thing works because you decide which stops matter. You could spend two hours in Stellenbosch tasting wine, or skip it entirely and head straight to Hermanus for whale watching if the season's right. The ticket has no expiration, so if you want to stay in Knysna for three days, you just update your hop log and catch the next bus when you're ready.
The route itself threads through some of South Africa's best towns. Hermanus sits on the coast and gets called the whale watching capital of the world — season runs June through December, and even outside that window the town's got charm and cheap activities scattered around. Oudtshoorn is inland, famous for the Cango Caves and ostrich farms if you're into that kind of thing. Knysna sits between forests and a lagoon with two sandstone cliffs framing the mouth, and there's a lookout on the eastern head with views that actually justify the stop. Plettenberg Bay feels like someone cut a piece of the Cape Peninsula loose and floated it down the coast — upmarket restaurants, wildlife, a small island to explore. Jeffrey's Bay is the laid-back surfer town, and if you've got a board, there's a trailer attached to the bus so you can bring it along. The driver is experienced and friendly, which matters when you're the one calling the shots on timing.
Accommodation pickup and drop-off is included at selected establishments, so you don't have to figure out how to get to the bus stop yourself. You need to be ready 15 minutes before your pickup time, and the key thing is keeping your itinerary updated in the hop log — you can change your route up to 12 hours before departure, which gives you room to adjust if weather shifts or you hear about something worth seeing. Infants can ride in a pram or stroller, and small children just sit on an adult's lap. The bus itself is shared, so you're traveling with other people heading the same direction, but that's also how you end up hearing about the best stops from someone who just came from there.
This works best if you've got flexibility built into your trip and you're genuinely interested in the towns themselves, not just checking them off. The Garden Route is long enough that rushing through it feels wasteful, and the hop-on hop-off format is what lets you actually spend time in the places that catch your attention instead of being locked into someone else's schedule.
What’s included
- One-way shared bus transfer from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth.
- accommodation pickup and drop-off at selected establishments.
- trailer for bikes, surfboards and similar equipment.
- unlimited itinerary changes up to 12 hours before departure.
- experienced and friendly driver.
- daily departures.
Operated by Baz Bus
Is this one for you?Best for travelers with flexible schedules who want to explore the Garden Route at their own pace without being locked into a fixed itinerary — the no-time-limit ticket is what makes lingering in towns actually possible instead of rushing through them.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
Can I really stop for as many days as I want?
Yes. The ticket has no time limit, so you can stay in any town as long as you want and catch the next available bus when you're ready to continue. You just need to keep your hop log updated.
What if I want to skip a town?
You can change your route anytime up to 12 hours before departure. Just update your itinerary in the hop log and the driver will adjust the stops.
Is accommodation included?
No, accommodation is not included. Pickup and drop-off from selected hotels and guesthouses is included, but you book and pay for your own lodging.
When is whale season in Hermanus?
Whale season typically runs from June through early December. Outside those months, Hermanus still has activities and scenery worth visiting.
Can I bring a surfboard or bike?
Yes. The bus has a trailer attached, so you can bring surfboards, bikes and similar equipment along.
How many people travel on the bus?
It's a shared bus service, so you'll travel with other passengers heading the same direction. Group size varies by departure.
What happens if I miss my pickup?
You need to be ready 15 minutes before your scheduled pickup time. If you miss it, you'll need to rebook or catch a later departure.
Do children need their own seat?
Infants can ride in a pram or stroller, or sit on an adult's lap. Older children typically need their own seat; check with the operator for specific age guidelines.
Cape Town to Port Elizabeth: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Self-Paced Route
1d–365d · at your hotel
from US$ 199 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.8888 reviews
