6-Day Garden Route & Addo Safari from Cape Town
Cape Agulhas, canoe paddles, wine tastings, a suspension bridge and 600 elephants in six days
A 6-day guided tour from Cape Town along South Africa's Garden Route to Addo Elephant National Park, traveling by minivan with a professional guide and staying in backpacker or guesthouse accommodation. The itinerary moves through five distinct regions: Cape Agulhas at the continent's southern tip, Wilderness National Park (where you paddle a canoe up the Touw River and hike to a waterfall), the Klein Karoo wine country, Tsitsikamma National Park with its suspension bridge and forest trails, and Addo's 28,000-hectare reserve. Pickup from your Cape Town address and drop-off are included, along with the safari, all park entries, and a local guide who travels the whole route.
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Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Cape Town to Southernmost Tip of Africa
- Drive through Agulhas National Park
- Stop at Betties Bay to see penguins
- Visit Southernmost Tip of Africa
- Drive past lighthouse near Cape Agulhas
- Optional: Boat trip to see whales (Jul-Nov)
- Optional: Shark cage diving transfer
Day 2: Cape Agulhas to Oudtshoorn
- Taste award-winning local wines
- Enjoy traditional South African braai dinner
Day 3: Oudtshoorn to Wilderness National Park
- Canoe on Touw River in Wilderness Park
- Hike 2km to waterfall and rock pools
- Return by hiking and canoeing
Day 4: Knysna to Addo via Tsitsikamma
- Stop at Bloukrans Bridge for views
- Optional: Bungee jump at Bloukrans Bridge
- Hike and explore Tsitsikamma National Park
- Cross suspension bridge and swim
- Dinner at Avoca River Cabins
Day 5: Addo Elephant National Park Safari
- Safari in Addo Elephant National Park
- Optional: Sunrise safari with park ranger
Day 6: Return to Cape Town via Mossel Bay
- Optional: Hike Cape St. Blaize trail
- Optional: Visit Diaz Museum complex
- See lighthouse overlooking Mossel Bay
- Optional: Relax on Mossel Bay beaches
- Optional: Tandem sky-dive
What’s included
- Pickup and drop-off from your Cape Town address.
- five nights accommodation in backpacker or guesthouse rooms.
- the included safari at Addo Elephant National Park.
- canoeing and hiking in Wilderness National Park.
- entry to Tsitsikamma National Park.
- visits to Cape Agulhas, the Stony Point Penguin Colony and a Klein Karoo ostrich farm.
- local wine tasting.
- a professional English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned minivan.
- and a community support contribution to local charitable projects.
Times
- Monday 06:00
Before you book
Operated by Earthstompers Adventures
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The experience
The tour starts with a drive to Cape Agulhas, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. You'll stop at Bettys Bay to see the Stony Point Penguin Colony (endangered African penguins on the rocky shore), then reach the southernmost tip itself. The route follows the scenic coastal road through Agulhas National Park, and there's an optional boat trip in Hermanus (July to November) to watch Southern Right Whales during their migration season.
By day three you're paddling a canoe up the Touw River through indigenous forest in Wilderness National Park, watching for birdlife, then hiking 2 kilometers along a boardwalk to a waterfall and rock pools before paddling back. The same day you'll taste award-winning local wines in the Klein Karoo region around Barrydale and Oudtshoorn. Day four brings you to Tsitsikamma National Park, where you can cross a suspension bridge, swim and hike through forest meeting the Indian Ocean coast. Bloukrans Bridge (the world's highest bungee jump at 216 meters) stands nearby if you want to test that particular edge.
The safari happens on day five at Addo Elephant National Park. You'll spend two to three hours in the tour vehicle exploring the 28,000-hectare reserve, where roughly 600 elephants live alongside Cape buffalo, lion, black rhino, warthog, zebra, kudu and hartebeest. An optional sunrise safari with a park ranger in an open vehicle is available if you want an earlier start. The final day returns you to Cape Town with optional stops at Mossel Bay's beaches, the lighthouse, or the Diaz Museum, or you can hike the Cape St. Blaize trail along the cliffs overlooking the ocean.
Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're comfortable spending six days moving between locations, walking regularly, and getting in and out of a minivan frequently. The fixed itinerary and shared minivan keep costs down and the pace steady, so you're not building the route yourself. The guide handles the timing, the stops and the logistics. Groups stay under twelve travelers, which means the vehicle is small enough to reach spots larger buses can't access.
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Top questions
What's the canoe activity like in Wilderness National Park?
You paddle a canoe up the Touw River for about 45 minutes through indigenous forest, then leave the canoe and hike 2 kilometers along a boardwalk to a waterfall and rock pools. The return journey retraces the same route: a 2-kilometer hike back to the canoes, then a 45-minute paddle downstream.
How many elephants will I see at Addo?
Addo Elephant National Park holds approximately 600 elephants across its 28,000 hectares. The included safari in the tour vehicle typically lasts two to three hours and shares the reserve with Cape buffalo, lion, black rhino, warthog, zebra, kudu and hartebeest.
What accommodation do I get on this tour?
Five nights are included in backpacker or guesthouse accommodation depending on which option you choose at checkout: twin/double en suite, single en suite, or dorm rooms. One night is spent at Avoca River Cabins, a special experience included for all guests.
Is the safari at Addo included, or do I pay extra?
The safari at Addo Elephant National Park is included in the tour price. You explore the reserve in the tour vehicle for up to two to three hours. An optional sunrise safari with an open safari vehicle and park ranger is available at additional cost.
Can I do the shark cage diving or whale watching instead of the standard itinerary?
Both are optional activities. Whale watching by boat in Hermanus runs July to November over lunchtime and requires a separate fee. Shark cage diving involves a one-way transfer with the shark company. You'll miss the penguin colony visit that half-day if you choose it.
What's included in the tour price?
Pickup and drop-off from your Cape Town address; five nights accommodation; the Addo safari; canoeing and hiking in Wilderness National Park; entry to Tsitsikamma National Park; visits to Cape Agulhas and the Stony Point Penguin Colony; a Klein Karoo ostrich farm tour; local wine tasting; all park entrance fees; and a professional guide in an air-conditioned minivan throughout.
6-Day Garden Route & Addo Safari from Cape Town
6d · EN
from US$ 920 per person
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