Garden Route
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) to Cape Town
Forests, mountains & beaches
This enriching eight-day journey showcases the diverse landscapes, wildlife, and culture of South Africa’s southern corridor. Starting Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), your adventure begins with a warm coastal welcome before travelling inland to the scenic Zuurberg Mountains and the wildlife-rich Addo Elephant National Park. From here, continue through the lush Tsitsikamma Forest and along the iconic Garden Route, where dramatic coastlines, indigenous forest, and adrenaline-pumping activities await.
Venture into the semi-arid Little Karoo to explore ancient limestone caves and learn about ostrich farming in Oudtshoorn, before winding your way through the wine lands of Robertson to finish in cosmopolitan Cape Town. Here, the Cape Peninsula beckons – a region of soaring cliffs, charming villages, and white-sand beaches home to penguins and panoramic views.
This itinerary offers a beautifully balanced mix of nature, culture and adventure. The scenery is breathtaking and the food and wine top notch! This is the ideal journey for those looking to experience South Africa’s coastal splendour, without blowing their budget.
You will love
- Small group set departure
- Coastal hikes through ancient forests
- Elephants in Addo National Park
- Iconic Garden Route scenery
- Laidback pace but never a dull moment
- Diversity, diversity, diversity
Let us design your perfect itinerary.
8 UNFORGETTABLE DAYS
DAY 1 | GQEBERHA (PORT ELIZABETH)
On arrival in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), you will be met and transferred to your hotel. You have the remainder of the day at leisure.
DAY 2 | ADDO
Today you will explore Route 67 on a walking tour, which consists of a series of public art works celebrating the 67 years of public service of the freedom icon, Nelson Mandela, fondly known locally as Tata Madiba – ‘father’ in the isiXhosa dialect. Before setting off you will be briefed by your guide. In the early afternoon, you will be transferred to Addo National Park, where you will later join the rest of the group. A predeparture meeting will take place this evening.
You will then continue through the historical Zuurberg Mountain Pass. Guided by experts, traverse rugged terrain as the late afternoon sun illuminates ancient rocks. Listen to tales of explorers and settlers amidst sweeping vistas and vibrant wildflowers. In the late afternoon, enjoy a guided walk across the Zuurberg mountain.
DAY 3 | ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK
Embark on a morning open vehicle game drive in Addo Elephant National Park. Then continue to a region of startling beauty along South Africa’s southern coastline, known as the Garden Route. You will spend two nights in the Storms River Village, at the heart of the Tsitsikamma Forest. Take a leisurely hike along one of the short trails and experience a guided walk to the suspension bridge at Storms River Mouth. There is also an option to plunge off the world’s highest bungee jump at the Bloukrans River (optional and at your own expense).
DAY 4 | CAPE SAINT FRANCIS to TSITSIKAMMA
The following morning, set out on an insightful Calamari tour and tasting experience at Port St Francis. This exclusive opportunity invites you to savour South Africa’s finest local calamari—often dubbed “white gold”—while learning about the region’s thriving seafood industry. Discover the journey from ocean to plate and develop a deeper appreciation for the delicate flavours that have made this local delicacy so renowned.
DAY 5 | TSITSIKAMMA to OUDTSHOORN
Continue your journey, travelling over the Outeniqua Mountains into the Little Karoo arriving in the town of Oudtshoorn. You will embark on an ostrich farm tour followed to learn about these fascinating birds, before continuing to the famous Cango Caves, with their impressive ancient stalagmites and stalactites.
DAY 6 | CAPE TOWN
Continue to Cape Town and en route, you will visit the town of Robertson, where you can visit a local winery and enjoy a cellar tour and wine tasting. Once in Cape Town, the afternoon is at leisure, enjoy sundowners at one of the fabulous beaches or indulge in some last-minute shopping at the V&A Waterfront.
DAY 7 | CAPE TOWN
The next day you will explore the many attractions the ‘Mother City’ has to offer, on a Cape Peninsula tour. Travelling along the Atlantic Seaboard via Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay, stop at Maiden Cove look-out point before continuing to Hout Bay. Here you have the option to take a boat trip to Seal Island (seasonal and not included in the cost).
Carry on over Chapman’s Peak, one of the world’s most breath-taking coastal drives, to Cape Point and the Good Hope Nature Reserve. In the afternoon you will travel on to Simon’s Town, a village with charming Victorian architecture, a naval base and a large penguin colony at the beautiful Boulders Beach*.
*Kindly note the reserve entrance fee at Boulders Beach carries an additional cost.
DAY 8 | CAPE TOWN | DEPARTURE
Spend the final day at leisure. Weather dependent, there is the chance to take the cable car up Table Mountain (own expense) and enjoy one last view of the Cape of Good Hope before your transfer to the airport.
We highly recommend extending your time in Cape Town to take in the city bowl, colorful Bo Kaap area, Robben Island, the Cape Winelands and so much more. Please enquire.
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
2025 - USD 1,710 per person twin share 2026 - USD 1,899 per person twin share
Start: Gqeberha, South Africa
|
Finish: Cape Town, South Africa
Small group lodge-based safari
Group size: min. 4 / max. 14
Operates on a set departure basis.
Departure Dates – 2026*
-
May 29th – June 6th
-
July 10th – July 17th
- August 14th – August 21st
- September 13th – September 20th
- November 1st – December 8th
- November 29th – December 5th
- December 27th – January 2nd 2027
* PLEASE NOTE: All dates are subject to availability & departure may not be guaranteed pending booking numbers. Please contact us for current availability on all itineraries.
Inclusions
- Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary or of similar standard
- All transport in fully kitted vehicle
- Game drives & activities as mentioned
- Meals as per itinerary
- Experienced local guide
- Airport transfers on day of arrival & departure of tour
Exclusions
- Flights
- Pre & post tour accommodation
- Optional activities
- All drinks
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses such as telephone calls, curios etc.
- Travel insurance
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Judith & Roger Williams
Would do it all again and not change a moment. Best holiday ever!
The McGowan Tribe
It certainly was the best trip we have EVER had. The experiences were mind blowing. We want everyone we know to experience Africa - the animals, the people - magical.
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The Classic Safari Company is the best I have dealt with. Extremely knowledgeable & professional, friendly, patient & understanding of first timers to Africa.
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Classic Safari Company were brilliant - 10/10
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If you want the most sensational experience in Africa let Julia and the staff at Classic Safari Co plan it for you! Their knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm for their job means your every wish will be fulfilled.
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Their experience and knowledge of Africa is evident and we couldn't have been happier with the total package. This has given us a taste for Africa - now we are ready for more.
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Classic Safari Company has done it again! A unique experience that ticked all the boxes - wildlife, culture and dining experience. A dream come true!
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The trip of a lifetime, couldn't have dreamt of a better adventure if I tried.
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You can't improve on perfection. I had my best birthday and holiday with my family celebrating my 80th birthday in Africa. Everything that Julia organised was perfect and the whole trip was a highlight!
Buckingham Family
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Very knowledgeable and patient. Our trip was all that we hoped for. Wonderful!
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Thank you for making our trip to Africa so spectacular. The attention to detail really made it special. It really was the trip of a lifetime.
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An amazing experience - the best family holiday we have ever had. We were extremely impressed by the meticulous attention to our itinerary. I can't speak highly enough of all the elements of this exciting journey!
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Melanie McMillan & Iain Jones
The trip exceeded my expectations and was the best family holiday I have ever had. Our children simply loved it and now I know more about African wildlife than they do about our own farm animals.
Rowntree family
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Julia you did a fantastic job - everything was first class. Well organised, efficient and stress free. We all agreed it was the best holiday we've ever had. Cant wait to travel with CSC again.
Milford family
We wanted the opportunity to see as many wildlife parks as possible and the Classic Safari Company provided an action-packed itinerary that included six, with 11 tiger sightings and nine leopard. This was overlaid with an introduction to Jaisalmer, Jaipur and the 'real' India. Pench and Panna were the hidden gems of a really great trip, very well organised, seamless and enjoyable. As a solo traveller I felt incredibly safe at all times. I want to go back!
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Exellent and wonderful, reaching way above expectations.
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Thank you for putting together the ancestral adventure of a lifetime. I cannot speak highly enough of the trip.
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