10-Day Garden Route Tour Packages
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Insider tips: Recommended 10-day Garden Route tour itineraries
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10 Day South Africa Garden Route Itinerary, incl. Port Elizabeth and Cape Town
The Garden Route's 10-day trail winds through Storms River suspension bridge, Knysna Lagoon cruises, and Cango Caves tours. The route connects 13 destinations from Plettenberg Bay's beaches to Oudtshoorn's ostrich farms.
- Days 1-2
Tsitsikamma National Park
Start in Port Elizabeth and drive 2.5 hours to Tsitsikamma. Take an easy hike to Storms River Mouth on Day 1 to see dramatic cliffs meeting the Indian Ocean. Get there before 9 AM to avoid crowds. On Day 2 try the Canopy Tour through ancient forests. Wear shoes with good grip since morning dew makes platforms slippery. Walk the 77-meter suspension bridge for great photos but skip the busy midday period.
- Days 3-4
Plettenberg Bay & Knysna
Stay in Knysna to explore both towns easily. Visit Plett's beaches early morning to spot dolphins. If you're interested in whale watching (June-November) go in the afternoon when the water is calmer. One traveler shared: "The sunset cruise on Knysna Lagoon was magical—dress warmly as it gets chilly on water, even in summer." Start your day at the Elephant Sanctuary when the animals are most active.
- Day 5
Oudtshoorn
Drive 2.5 hours through Outeniqua Pass to the ostrich capital. Start with Cango Caves where it stays 18°C all year. Visit ostrich farms between 3-5 PM after the worst heat. The Klein Karoo sun is strong so bring sun protection.
- Day 6
Gondwana Game Reserve
Near Mossel Bay you'll find the best wildlife viewing during morning and late afternoon drives. Wear neutral colors to avoid spooking animals and bring warm clothes for chilly morning drives. Winter months (May-September) offer the best chances to see the Big Five.
- Days 7-8
Hermanus/Stellenbosch
Pick between whale watching in Hermanus (July-November) or wine tasting in Stellenbosch. Walk the 2-hour cliff path in Hermanus with binoculars for whale spotting. In Stellenbosch start wine tastings in the morning. A visitor noted: "The morning tastings were less crowded and staff had more time to share their knowledge."
- Days 9-10
Cape Town
Take the Table Mountain cable car at opening (8:30 AM) to avoid lines and afternoon cloud cover. Book online tickets in advance. Start the Cape Peninsula tour early to reach Cape Point before 11 AM when tour buses arrive. Visit Boulders Beach penguin colony before 9 AM to see active penguins without crowds. Spend your final time exploring V&A Waterfront's markets and restaurants.
10 Days in South Africa, incl. Cape Town and Garden Route
This carefully curated Garden Route itinerary spans 10 days: 3 nights in Cape Town, overnight in Oudtshoorn near Cango Caves, 2 nights in Knysna's estuary area, and 3 nights safari at Hlosi Game Lodge in Amakhala Reserve.
- Days 1-3
Cape Town
Land at Cape Town International Airport and get settled in the Mother City. Book your Table Mountain cable car tickets online to skip the lines. Early morning visits work best - the winds are calmer and you'll avoid the crowds. Spend day 2 exploring the historic Company Gardens and Slave Lodge on a guided tour. Head to the V&A Waterfront around 4 PM when tourist numbers drop and the evening vibe picks up. If you want to visit Robben Island, book 2-3 days ahead since tours fill up quickly. Start day 3 with a Peninsula tour. Get an early start to avoid traffic on Chapman's Peak Drive and see the penguins at Boulders Beach during their active morning hours. Plan about 1.5 hours to drive to Cape Point from the city and pack some warm clothes - the peninsula gets cooler than Cape Town.
- Day 4
Klein Karoo
Take Route 62 east, South Africa's longest wine route (4 hours). Visit the Cango Caves later in the day - most people prefer the less strenuous Heritage Tour over the Adventure Tour. If you're interested in ostrich farms in Oudtshoorn, schedule morning visits when the birds have more energy.
- Days 5-6
Garden Route
Drive 2 hours to Knysna through beautiful coastal landscape. The town makes a great base for Garden Route exploration. Take a boat trip to the Knysna Heads at sunset (book for 5:30 PM in summer). The next day, visit Tsitsikamma National Park - bring good walking shoes for the suspension bridge trail since ocean spray can make it slippery.
- Days 7-9
Amakhala Game Reserve
Drive 3 hours to Amakhala for safari adventures. Game drives start around 5:30 AM in summer. One visitor shared: "The early morning chill quickly disappears as the sun rises, and seeing a pride of lions in the golden morning light was unforgettable."
- Day 10
Port Elizabeth
After your last morning game drive, it's 45 minutes to Port Elizabeth Airport. Get there early - the airport gets busy in peak morning hours and you'll need time to return your rental car.
10 Day South Africa Itinerary, incl. Cape Town and Kruger National Park
South Africa's coastal beauty shines over ten days along the Garden Route, featuring Cape Point Nature Reserve, Franschhoek Valley wine tasting, and Boulders Beach penguin colony. The route showcases Twelve Apostles coastal views and Fish Hoek village charm.
- Days 1-2
Cape Town:
Begin your South African adventure in Cape Town. Check into your hotel and take the first afternoon to rest and adjust. Book accommodation in the V&A Waterfront area for convenient access to dining and shops. Your second day includes a city tour. Visit Table Mountain's cable car before 9AM to avoid crowds and potential afternoon closures due to strong winds. Plan your schedule with some flexibility since the cableway closes in windy conditions.
- Days 3-4
Cape Peninsula & Wine Country:
Set aside a full day for your Peninsula tour to Cape Point with a stop at Boulders Beach to see the penguins. Pack a windbreaker since the Cape gets very windy even in good weather. Plan the Franschhoek Wine Tram for Day 4 in the afternoon. This timing allows for a relaxed morning and better wine tasting. A recent visitor shared: "The Purple Line wine tram route was perfect - fewer crowds than the popular Red Line and some fantastic small-batch wineries."
- Days 5-7
Kruger Area (Karongwe Private Reserve):
Take a 2-hour flight to Hoedspruit followed by an hour transfer to Karongwe for your safari. Pack light clothes in neutral colors. Most lodges offer laundry service. Game drives start around 5:30AM to see wildlife at their most active. Between drives you can relax at the lodge and spot animals from your deck. Wildlife viewing peaks from September through November during dry season.
- Days 8-9
Johannesburg:
Fly to Johannesburg (1 hour from Hoedspruit). Take the Freedom Walk tour in Soweto wearing comfortable walking shoes. Be careful with valuables at busy markets and negotiate prices down to about half the initial ask. Set aside 2-3 hours for the Apartheid Museum.
- Day 10
Departure:
Book an afternoon flight if possible to avoid morning traffic in Johannesburg. Get to O.R. Tambo International Airport at least 3 hours before international flights.
Garden Route 10 Day Tour Packages You'll Love
Garden Route to Cape Town: Coast, Wildlife & Wine in 10 Days
Garden Route & Safari Self Drive - 10 days
Journey to South Africa
Customized Private Garden Route Adventure of South Africa, Daily Departure
10 day Cape & Garden Route Combo - optional accommodation
South Africa : Wildlife, Garden Route & Mother City Cape Town
The Big 5 in South Africa
The Garden Route 10 Days
Garden Route & Cape Explorer: 10 Days of Beauty & Adventure
Wonders of the Western Cape
What people love about 10-day Garden Route tours
- 10 day Cape & Garden Route Combo - optional accommodation
Our trip started out with the hotspots transfer to our lodging. Thank goodness he was at the airport! We got in very late and I was sooo glad someone was there to get us. Our trip on the Garden Route was amazing! Isaac was very informative and funny, showing us the amazing sights along the way. We stayed in the backpacker accommodations, which were safe, clean and all had meal options. I'm glad of that because most were not in an area where you could walk to other meal options. The meals were all good and low priced. Our family always had an ensuite bathroom which was a plus. The activities were a good mix of things to do in Africa. We went canoeing, zip lining, on a game drive, walking with elephants and feeding them, meeting ostriches, and just enjoying the coast. Our group was 9 people and we all got along very well together even though we were from different countries. The early morning game drive into Addo was worth the super-early morning wakeup because of all the elephants we saw. There are days where we seemed to drive a lot, but Isaac always stopped for bathroom and coffee breaks along the way. Back in Cape Town we enjoyed the Red Bus tour and Table Mountain. The Cape Peninsula tour was amazing - for the views and the wildlife. Again, Isaac led this trip. It was a glorious day. I would definitely recommend Hotspots as the trips were fantastic and they were very accommodating to my request to change hostels in Capetown and getting us to and from the airport.
- The Big 5 in South Africa
Just returned after the " the big 5 in South Africa" tour. Well organized and good itinerary. The support was excellent when needed .Thanks to Penny, Rose, Amanda for the excellent arrangements, professional support and daily updates which helped us to enjoy the tour. The guide and driver Abdella was very professional and made the 1000 km drive comfortable and safe.The vehicle provided was comfortable. The hotels were good, clean and comfortable . Suggest the second night stay at Knysna can be changed to Oudtshoorn or George to avoid 2hour drive. Definitely recommand this tour. Antony Thoppil
- Garden Route & Cape Explorer: 10 Days of Beauty & Adventure
10/10 Scoring for starters. Though we never had a face to face with the agents, their professionalism, bookings and reservations were amazing. The tour guides were experienced and knowledgeable of the places of interest, some not even listed in the itinerary. We are definitely using them again.