10-day Cape Town And Garden Route Guided Small Group Tour Combo

Itinerary

Day 1: Cape Town (unguided)

Pass By: Cape Town International Airport, Matroosfontein, Cape Town, 7490, South Africa
10 unforgettable days. 1 easy click: Uncover the best of South Africa. Discover the must-sees in and around Cape Town, the Cape Winelands, Cape Point and the country’s famous Garden Route on an intimate, small-group tour with the flexibility to add optional activities to take your African adventure to the next level.

This combo tour package consists of more than one tour as well as unguided days in Cape Town. The itinerary can run in reverse or a different order and guides or transport will change during the trip.

Start with a pick-up from Cape Town International Airport. You can also inform us if you will arrive earlier than this 10day tour to arrange a pre-tour airport pickup at the date you fly in.

There’s nothing quite like that pre-vacation high. A combination of relief that you’ve escaped your every day and nervous excitement for the new things to come.

Pass By: Camp's Bay Beach, Victoria Road Parking: what3words ///nibs.mazelike.swaying, Camps Bay 8005 South Africa
Today is a free (unguided) day for you to acclimatise, to cast off any weariness from your journey and to get your bearings in South Africa’s Mother City. It’s a town known for its vibrant foodie culture, so bon vivant will be in their element along Long and Bree Streets in the CBD. And, in South Africa, no sundowner is complete without a colourful sunset. Camps Bay, an easy Uber ride from the centre of town, is one of the best spots to soak up the view as is one of the many bars such as the elegant Leopard Bar at The Twelve Apostles Hotel.

Pass By: Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Rhodes Drive, Newlands 7735 South Africa
Of course, if you’re keen to start adventuring straight away, a wide variety of activities can be pre-arranged. Imagine an optional heli-flip or paragliding outing over Cape Town; a scenic hike up Table Mountain or a hop-on-hop-off City Sightseeing bus adventure. There's so much to see and do, from horse riding to shark cage diving, so if you have any spontaneous requests, just ask.

Please note that your arrival time in Cape Town today will determine the activities that can be done. During the booking process, you can inform us what you have in mind for the day (we will suggest activities too) to ensure that it is booked in advance. As this day is at your leisure, all transport except for the airport transport service will be for your own expense.

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at 4-star Protea Hotel Victoria Junction or 3-star Protea Hotel Sea Point or Never@Home Backpackers or similar

Day 2: Cape Peninsula (join a guided tour)

Stop At: Hout Bay, Cape Town Central 7872 South Africa
Start with a pick-up from your Cape Town accommodation. Hout Bay, an unassuming fishing village on the northern side of Chapman’s Peak, is the first stop of the day and offers the chance to visit the seal colony of Duiker Island (optional with extra cost), just a short cruise from shore. For those without their sea legs, rather explore the local harbour market and snap Instagram-worthy pics of colourful fishing boats.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Chapman's Peak Drive, Hout Bay Road Between Noordhoek and Hout Bay, 7872 South Africa
As you leave Hout Bay behind, you’ll take on a staggering 114 mind-blowingly beautiful bends – stretching over nine jaw-dropping kilometres. Chapman’s Peak Road, or Chappies to the locals, is touted as one of the world’s most scenic drives – and with good reason. Rugged mountains face-off with the Atlantic and the roadway, an incredible feat of engineering, cuts a swathe right through and provides unparalleled views of the Atlantic below.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point Rd, Table Mountain National Park 8001 South Africa
Chappies sets the scene for the afternoon’s adventuring as you push onwards to the Cape of Good Hope, the most south-westerly point of Africa. Here, water and wilderness collide and create a picturesque jagged shoreline adorned with greenish fringes of fynbos. This is a place to pay tribute to ancient seafarers of old like Bartolomeu Dias (who discovered the Cape of Good Hope back in 1488) and pioneers, like Vasco da Gama, who journeyed through these treacherous waters en route from Portugal to India.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Cape Point Nature Reserve, Cape Town Central South Africa
Indigenous fauna lines narrow winding pathways en route to the Cape’s whitewashed lighthouse, with views well worth the climb. Local wildlife – ostriches, baboons, and various antelope species, including bontebok – keep the journey interesting and add plenty of postcard moments for the shutterbugs. On the hillside, an optional funicular eases the journey for those that want to reach the top of the lighthouse.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Boulders Beach Penguin Colony, Simon's Town 7995 South Africa
As the day lengthens, travel to Simon’s Town, perched on the shores of False Bay and the home of the South African navy. Just a few minutes to the south lies Boulders Beach, a comely stretch of sand littered with granite. This hotspot is home to a large colony of African penguins who strut their stuff in their black and white feathered finery to the delight of the crowds that gather to watch. Boardwalks separate man from bird and provide the perfect vantage point to see these cute creatures.
Duration: 1 hour

Pass By: Muizenberg Beach, Beach Rd, Cape Town Central 7950 South Africa
The journey back to Cape Town sees you travel through the coastal towns of Fish Hoek and Kalk Bay with a stop at Muizenberg Beach. The Victorian-style bathing chalets on the sand – with their bright pops of colour – are sure to capture your attention as you cheer on the wave riders at Surfer's Corner. You'll reach Cape Town by late afternoon

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Meal Included
Accommodation included: Overnight at 4-star Protea Hotel Victoria Junction or 3-star Protea Hotel Sea Point or Never@Home Backpackers or similar

Day 3: Cape Winelands (join a guided tour)

Pass By: STELLENBOSCH WINE ROUTES, 47 Church St, Stellenbosch Central, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa
Start with a pick-up from your Cape Town accommodation. Cape Town is blessed with good looks, natural charms and a quirky food and wine culture. No place more so than the Cape Winelands – a mere fifty kilometres from the Mother City – which boasts a high concentration of vintners and wine farms in its highly-fertile basin.

Be swept away by the tastes and sights of the Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek wine region. Sample local wines paired with local cheeses, biltong (cured meat) and artisanal curated chocolate.

Stop At: Fairview Wine and Cheese, Suid Agter Paarl Road, Suider Paarl, Paarl 7624 South Africa
Our wine experts custom-designed this tour to give you a real taste of the Cape winelands region. Sample local produce, learn about flavour profiles and vintages and savour time sitting back and sampling some of South Africa’s finest with lines upon lines of vineyard views.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Babylonstoren, R45 Road between Paarl and Franscchoek between Paarl and Franschhoek, Paarl 7670 South Africa
Babylonstoren, cradled by the Simonsberg mountains, is your introduction to the Winelands for the day. The property is rustic and a beautiful example of a garden-to-table wine farm with organic gardens. By sharp contrast, the glass walls of the tasting room are thoroughly modern and afford great views of the surrounding vines as you quaff some of their finest blends.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Franschhoek, Franschhoek, Western Cape
When the wine is flowing, it’s easy to work up a big appetite, so it’s off down country laneways lined with leafy vineyards to the foothills of the Franschhoek Valley for a well-earned lunch stop. Whether it’s a wine farm restaurant or a sunny roadside cafe in Franschhoek's old town, we’ll go with the flow and your guide is happy to work with you to find the perfect fit.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: La Bri Estate, Excelsior Road, Franschhoek 7690 South Africa
Make sure you leave space to savour the next tasty delight at La Bri Wine Estate. Here, the business of wine is a serious affair but the staff are warm and inviting. The breath-taking vineyard views are enough to woo any wine lover, and the characteristic spicy flavours of local biltong pair perfectly with the estate's award-winning wines.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Hidden Valley Wines, T4 Route off Annandale Road R44, Stellenbosch 7600 South Africa
As the afternoon approaches, you’ll meander through farmlands dotted with olives and grapes en-route to the Helderberg Mountains, which perfectly frame the verdant landscape. Tucked away yet perfectly positioned for some seriously impressive views, a secret gem awaits you at the tasting deck of the Hidden Valley Wine Estate, some 269m above sea level.​ For the final wow of your day, you'll pair carefully curated chocolates with crisp wines while drinking in the expansive views.

On that sweet note, you'll follow the sun and turn back to Cape Town.

Duration: 45 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Meal Included
Accommodation included: Overnight at 4-star Protea Hotel Victoria Junction or 3-star Protea Hotel Sea Point or Never@Home Backpackers or similar

Day 4: Cape Town - City Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off bus and Table Mountain (unguided)

Stop At: Table Mountain National Park 8001 South Africa
Today is a free day in Cape Town with many options to choose from; why not use your included hop-on hop-off bus day pass or your Table Mountain Cableway ticket. Table Mountain tries her best to capture the lion’s share of attention in and around Africa’s Mother City – and does a pretty fine job of it too – but the beaches, Winelands and cosmopolitan chicness all stand in the firm competition.

One of the best ways to visit the top attractions and make the most out of a short stay is to hop on Cape Town’s bright-red, open-topped buses. Let the driver’s do the hard work managing traffic and parking, whilst you just soak in the views.

Choose from one of the available routes to see the city and beyond. The blue line extends its journey from the V&A Waterfront to the towering greens of Kirstenbosch, while the purple line is a merry affair that follows Cape Town’s inner-city wine route to the nearby wine enclave of Constantia. The red line service passes through Camps Bay (time your trip to catch a sunset) and to Table Mountain.

If the weather plays along, this is the perfect way to take the chance to summit one of the Seven Natural Wonders aboard Table Mountain’s aerial cableway that runs non-stop (weather permitting) during the day to the famous flat top. There are a small eatery and souvenir shop at the summit, plenty of trails and who knows, you just may be treated to an impromptu singing session as your cable car driver descends the mountain. End off your day as you please, tasting your way through the Cape Town Foodie scene.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Meal Included
Accommodation included: Overnight at 4-star Protea Hotel Victoria Junction or 3-star Protea Hotel Sea Point or Never@Home Backpackers or similar

Day 5: Cape Town - Sedgefield (join a guided tour)

Stop At: Kaaiman's River, Wilderness South Africa
You'll join up with a 5day Garden Route small group tour. Start with a pick-up from your Cape Town accommodation. Hold onto your hat! This southern coast of the Rainbow Nation combines dramatic scenery with artisan food, wildlife sightings, and adrenaline-fuelled activities, all united with a generous dose of South African hospitality. Meet the Garden Route – 300 or so kilometres of contrasts, contradictions and some of the most mind-blowingly beautiful scenery on the planet.

In this lush corner of the world, landscapes swap and change with great regularity so keep your camera at the ready as you wind your way through mountain passes and fertile cropping land towards the Atlantic Ocean.

After a morning drive with fascinating stops along the way, Wilderness National Park allows you to stretch your legs with a leisurely canoe paddle through a luscious green gorge or a hike to a hidden waterfall. Native kingfishers, African fish eagles and brightly-coloured Knysna lorries tease bird-watchers with their calls and the fresh air provides the best pick-me-up after a day on the road.
Duration: 45 minutes

Pass By: Sedgefield Lagoon Mouth, 69 Kingfisher Drive Myoli Beach, Sedgefield, Knysna 6573 South Africa
Time suddenly seems to stop moving the relaxed vibe of Sedgefield – Africa’s first ‘slow’ town – settles over you. In keeping with the pace in these parts, it’d be an outrage not to sip sundowners on the beach and watch the sun sink below the watery horizon. Check out the rustic beach restaurant and feel the white sand between your toes as you dine under starry skies, or venture into town for a more intimate dinner.

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Meal Included
Accommodation included: Overnight in Sedgefield or Knysna at 4-star Knysna Quays or 3-star Graywood Hotel or Afrovibe Backpackers or similar

Day 6: Sedgefield - Jeffrey's Bay (join a guided tour)

Stop At: Knysna Heads, Coney Glen Road, Knysna 6571 South Africa
The Garden Route can be as sedate or as adrenalin-charged as you choose and today offers up a mixed-bag of experiences. After visiting Knysna Heads, select an optional activity to either Bungy jump from Bloukrans bridge, zipline over waterfalls or explore the surrounding forest.

Your day starts with a short coastal drive from Sedgefield to Knysna and some Vitamin Me time around the Knysna Lagoon. Towering sandstone cliffs flank the mouth of the Knysna estuary and lookout points offer exquisite views.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Bloukrans Bridge, N2, Tsitsikamma National Park South Africa
This gentle morning is followed by an afternoon of activities for those who dare as you make your way to Bloukrans Bridge, the site of the world’s highest commercial bridge Bungy. Crazy as it may be; it also happens to be one of the prettiest places to plunge 216 metres down on a bungee cord. There are market stalls and plenty of vantage points for those that choose to stay on terra firma.

For those who dare, why not pump up the adrenaline again with an optional zip-line over waterfalls in the magnificent Kruis River Gorge? The 40-minute, adrenalin-charged course sees you fly across three separate lines. Each ‘flight’ is connected by short scenic pathways through the lush forest, so be sure to take in the fresh air.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Tsitsikamma National Park, N2, South Africa
But it’s not all about the bunny and those that get their kicks from nature can forgo the plunge and opt to explore the nearby Tsitsikamma forest. Tsitsikamma National Park marries lush mountain forestry with dramatic ocean views. A short, albeit steep walk to the suspension bridge, is worth it, if just for the views alone, and you’ll get a thrill as you test the bridge’s swing factor. Marine life can often be seen in the water and rock hyraxes regularly sun themselves on the rocky coastline.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Garden Route (Tsitsikamma, Knysna, Wilderness) National Park, Dumbleton Road, Knysna South Africa
As you head northeast, the white tips and large ocean swells herald your arrival into Jeffreys Bay, the pit stop for tonight. Affectionately nicknamed J’Bay by surfers and locals alike, this tiny coastal community is South Africa’s most famous surf town and one of the stops on the World Surf League circuit. As sea breezes lull you, unwind from your busy day with a walk on one of the beaches, or let the town's restaurateurs spoil you with seafood.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Meal Included
Accommodation included: Overnight in Jeffrey’s Bay at 4-star On The Beach or 3-star Mandyville Guesthouse or Island Vibe Backpackers or similar

Day 7: Jeffrey's Bay - Addo - Jeffrey’s Bay (join a guided tour)

Stop At: Parque Nacional dos Elefantes Addo, 335 Paterson Road, Addo Elephant National Park 6130 South Africa
Answering the call of the wild means an early morning start, but the chance to encounter Africa’s Big Five makes the dawn wake-up so worthwhile.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Addo Elephant National Park, Addo Elephant National Park, Greater Addo, Eastern Cape
Your Hotspots2C guide will expertly lead you on a game drive in the tour van into Addo Elephant National Park - the third-largest national park in South Africa. Addo opened back in 1931 with only 11 elephants but is now a sanctuary to more than 600 - the densest population of ‘allies’ on the planet. These days, these giant tuskers share more than 164,000 hectares of the malaria-free reserve with their fellow Big Five. Other iconic African animals – hyena, zebras, a variety of antelope species, jackals and warthogs also roam free within the grounds, so be sure to have your camera on the ready.
Duration: 2 hours

Pass By: Jeffreys Bay, Jeffreys Bay, Eastern Cape
As the safari draws to an end, the afternoon is yours to spend as you choose in Jeffreys Bay. In a town that attracts international surfers year after year, it is no surprise that many of the leisure activities revolve in and around the water.

Try your skills on one of the beginner breaks or learn to surf at one of the many surf schools in town or even enjoy optional horseback riding on the beach. Sun-seekers can relax on the beach or with a paddleboard and those that prefer not to get wet can take a spin on a sandboard down sandy dunes. The JB Surf Museum in the centre of town tracks the evolution of the surfboard and there are plenty of factory-outlet surf shops in town.

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Meal Included
Accommodation included: Overnight in Jeffrey’s Bay at 4-star On the Beach or 3-star Mandyville Guesthouse or Island Vibe Backpackers or similar

Day 8: Jeffrey’s Bay - Oudtshoorn (join a guided tour)

Pass By: Oudtshoorn, 6625, South Africa
The Garden Route by its very name evokes visions of lush, green sub-tropical landscapes, but today you’ll witness first-hand another of South Africa’s crazy contrasts as you head towards the semi-arid Klein Karoo region. Away from the coastline, temperatures climb and the vegetation thins, but the mountain passes, with their bright bursts of wildflowers and scrubby brush, are equally as spectacular.

Stop At: Cango Ostrich Show Farm, 1954 R328 1954 R328, Oudtshoorn 6620 South Africa
Yup, you’re en route to Oudtshoorn, the self-proclaimed ostrich capital of the world. Ostriches thrive in the desert conditions and indeed helped put this tiny town on the global map at the turn of the 20th Century when feathers were worth more than their weight in gold.

The feather trade might be done and dusted, but the town still makes a pretty penny from their birds, which are now mainly bred for meat and leather. A visit to an ostrich farm allows a stylised glimpse into the world of ostrich farming and the chance to come beak-to-nose with the stars of the show.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: The Cango Caves, 328 Approximately 30km (19 miles) from town on the R, Oudtshoorn 6625 South Africa
This afternoon your tour reaches new depths. Hidden beneath the arid landscape lies a special place that the Khoisan people named Cango, the wet place. Some 100 metres underground, you’ll find incredible 20-million-year-old limestone formations that dominate a series of enormous underground caverns and are illuminated to show-off their extraordinary curves and shapes.

There are two ways to explore the caves. The Heritage Tour is a gentle wander with a guide (there are plenty of steps, so be warned) who fills you in on the history and ecology of the area and tests out the acoustics with a well-timed song. The second isn’t called the Adventure Tour for anything, so be prepared to climb, wriggle and squirm your way through small openings and passageways.

After a wild day out, it’s pretty fitting to end the day with an optional braai (barbecue) where you’ll have the chance to sample gamey ostrich meat and other South African staples, but there are also plenty of fantastic eateries in town for those that wish (at own expense). And, as night falls, be sure to sit back and watch the stars in the clear night sky – it’s African big sky country after all.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Meal Included
Accommodation included: Overnight in Oudtshoorn at 4-star Buffelsdrift Lodge or 3-star Yamkela Guesthouse or Uthando Backpackers or similar

Day 9: Oudtshoorn - Cape Town (join a guided tour)

Stop At: Buffelsdrift Game Lodge - Activities, Cango Caves Road, Oudtshoorn 6620 South Africa
As dawn breaks in Oudtshoorn, South Africa’s sunniest town, join an optional stroll with rescued elephants - you are in Africa after all - along the dam wall at the Buffelsdrift Private Game Reserve. Gentle giants, Jabari, Malaika and Bulelo made this their home after their parents were poached in the north of South Africa. This experience will have you following in their massive footsteps, making memories you'll never forget.

Subject to availability, return to the wild for an optional 4x4 game drive with a knowledgeable game ranger at Buffelsdrift Private Game Reserve for a possible sighting of resident rhino and giraffe.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Boplaas, Saayman Street Next to N2 – between Mossel Bay & George, Calitzdorp 6660 South Africa
After your morning adventure, it’s time to head back to Cape Town along the famous Route 62, modelled after America’s Route 66, but with a distinctly local flavour. Route 62 is more than just burgers and beers, farm stalls or small country towns, the highway is also the longest wine route in the Western Cape. Oenophiles will be in their element with a wine pit stop to sample Port-style wines en route to Cape Town.
Duration: 45 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Meal Included
Accommodation included: Overnight in Cape Town at 4-star Protea Hotel Victoria Junction or 3-star Protea Hotel SeaPoint or Never@Home or similar

Day 10: Cape Town (unguided)

Pass By: Airport Cape Town, Airport Approach Rd, Matroosfontein, Cape Town, 7490, South Africa
You can never have too much of a good thing, so spend more fuss-free time back in the Mother City. Opt to book later night flights out of Cape Town or extend your stay to make the absolute most of this last free (unguided) day.

Victoria and Albert Waterfront is a hotspot for last-minute souvenir shopping and the launch spot for a trip to Robben Island (subject to weather and availability). Artisinal delis on Long and Bree Street; local produce in the Old Biscuit Mill in nearby Woodstock; a day-trip to Franschhoek for gourmet a feast; or an authentic African experience at Moyo restaurant in Kirstenbosch – all add to the foodie flavours of the Cape.

Pop-out for some additional wine-tasting at nearby Constantia and organise a case to be shipped home ahead of you. Pick up last-minute gifts in Green Market Square or stroll along the Sea Point Promenade. Those that dare can also squeeze in one last magnificent view with an optional skydive or head out to Gansbaai for a full-day outing to cage dive with great whites.

And, when the shopping’s done and your bags are packed, the included airport transport service will deliver you safely to your onward travel plans. As this day is at your leisure, all transport except for the airport transport service will be for your own expense.

End with a transfer to the Cape Town International Airport.

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Meal Included
No accommodation included on this day.