10-Day Garden Route Tour Packages

Insider tips: Recommended 10-day Garden Route tour itineraries

Compiled by

MelissaGarden Route travel expert at TourRadar

• 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.

  

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  • 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.

    

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• 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.

  

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  • 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.

    

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• 10 day Cape & Garden Route Combo - optional accommodation

  The 5-day Garden Route spectacle unfolds at Oudtshoorn's Cango Caves, Addo Elephant Park safaris, Tsitsikamma National Park walks, and Knysna Heads. Route 62 wineries and Jeffreys Bay's beaches complete the journey.

  

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  • Cape Town South Africa

    7 mi

  • Hout Bay South Africa

    11 mi

  • Simon's Town South Africa

    17 mi

  • Cape Town South Africa

    25 mi

  • Stellenbosch South Africa

    25 mi

  • Cape Town South Africa

    2 mi

  • Table Mountain South Africa

    2 mi
  • Show 4 more

  • Cape Town South Africa

    251 mi

  • Sedgefield South Africa

    14 mi

  • Knysna South Africa

    48 mi

  • Tsitsikamma National Park South Africa

    58 mi

  • Jeffreys Bay South Africa

    63 mi

  • Addo Elephant National Park South Africa

    63 mi

  • Jeffreys Bay South Africa

    159 mi

  • Oudtshoorn South Africa

    218 mi

  • Cape Town South Africa

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