5 Day Garden Route Private Tour | Earthstompers Adventures

5 Day Garden Route Private Tour (one way – Cape Town to Gqeberha)

This tour explores the beautiful coastline between Cape Town and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). It travels one-way, allowing you to maximize time enjoying beautiful scenery and minimize driving time. It takes in the highlights of the Whale Coast and the Garden Route, with many options for adventure, nature, and hiking activities along the way.

Garden Route Private Tour includes:

Services of a professional tour guide/driver
Private transport, as described in itinerary
4 nights’ accommodation
Daily breakfast
Visit to the African Penguin colony at Betties Bay
Many options for adventure, nature, and hiking activities in Mossel Bay, Wilderness, Knysna, and Plettenberg Bay
Hiking in Tsitsikamma National Park

Itinerary for 5 Day Garden Route Private tour:

Day 1: Cape Town – Hermanus

We depart from Cape Town in the morning for Hermanus. We follow the scenic coastal road, stopping at Betties Bay to view a colony of endangered African penguins. You can spend the afternoon in the seaside resort town of Hermanus, famous for hundreds of Southern Right Whales during the whale season (July to November) and many shops, restaurants and markets.

Day 1 highlights

Included meals:	None
Included activities: Optional activities:	Visit to the African Penguin colony at Betties Bay Add more wildlife: Whale watching boat trip (in season, July – November; must be pre-booked) Add more adventure: Cape Canopy Tour, ziplining in the Hottentots-Holland Nature Reserve
Approximate driving time:	+/- 2 hours, +/- 140 km
Overnight:	Hermanus 5 Star: The Marine Hotel Hermanus 4 star: 1 Marine Drive Boutique Hotel Hermanus Economy: Windsor Hotel

Day 2: Hermanus - Wilderness

After driving through the small towns of the Overberg, we reach the lush forests and beautiful beaches of the Garden Route. Spend the afternoon enjoying the Mossel Bay or Wilderness beaches, or explore Wilderness National Park by canoe. Alternatively, we can take a turn to visit the Southernmost Tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas (adds 1.25 hours’ drive & 100 km).

Day 2 highlights

Included meals:	Breakfast
Included activities: Optional activities:	None Add more nature: Canoeing and hiking in Wilderness National Park Add more geography: Visit the Southernmost Tip of Africa, Cape Agulhas
Approximate driving time:	+/- 4 hours, +/- 365 km OR +/- 5.25 hours, +/- 460 km with Agulhas
Overnight:	Wilderness 5 Star: Views Boutique Hotel Wilderness 4 Star: Mes Amis Guest House Wilderness Economy: Fairy Knowe Hotel, Riverside Rooms

Day 3: Wilderness - Knysna

Today we travel to a seaside town at the heart of the Garden Route – Knysna. This stretch of coast is known for its lovely scenery, including indigenous forest, a large warm-water estuary known as the Knysna Lagoon, and the Outeniqua Mountains.

Day 3 highlights

Included meals:

Breakfast

Included activities:

Optional activities:

Approximate driving time:

None

Add more wildlife: Whale Watching boat trip (in season, Jul – Nov)

Add more nature: Featherbed Eco Experience or Paddle Cruiser

Add more Instagram moments: Sunset Catamaran Cruise

+/- 45 minutes, 50 km

Overnight:

Knysna 5 Star: Head Over Hills Boutique Hotel

Knysna 4 Star: Lofts Boutique Hotel

Sedgefield Economy: Afrovibe Beach Lodge

Day 4: Knysna - Plettenberg Bay - Knysna

After a few days on the road exploring, enjoy a morning at leisure. Your guide and tour vehicle are available for outings in the area. We suggest exploring the beautiful coastal town of Plettenberg Bay. You can relax on one of their beautiful beaches, enjoy lunch at one of their great restaurants, enjoy wine tasting at one of the wineries or get active and enjoy a hike on the spectacular Robberg Nature Reserve.

Day 4 highlights

Included meals:	Breakfast
Included activities:	None
Optional activities: Approximate driving time:	Add more nature: Robberg Nature Reserve Add more nature: Keurbooms River Ferry Add more adventure: Kloofing with Africanyon Add more foodie: Luka Vineyards Add more local craft: Mungo Mill +/- 1 hour, 65 km
Overnight:	Knysna 5 Star: Head Over Hills Boutique Hotel Knysna 4 Star: Lofts Boutique Hotel Sedgefield Economy: Afrovibe Beach Lodge

Day 5: Knysna – Tsitsikamma – Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)

On our final touring day, we take in the beauty of Tsitsikamma National Park. The morning will be spent in the park, with its unique combination of indigenous forest and beautiful Indian Ocean coastline. The park has a wide choice of activities for all, including hiking, crossing a suspension bridge and swimming. Finally, we will end with a drop off at Port Elizabeth or George airports (or extend your trip with an Eastern Cape safari – please enquire).

Day 5 highlights

Included meals:	Breakfast
Included activities:	Entrance to Tsitsikamma National Park
Optional activities: Approximate driving time:	Add more adrenaline: Bloukrans Bungee Jump Add a safari: Your tour ends on the doorstep of Addo Elephant National Park and the Eastern Cape safari lodges. Please enquire about extending your tour to include a few nights of safari. +/- 3 hours, 275 km
Overnight:	n/a – or extend with an Eastern Cape Safari

Pricing for private 5 Day Garden Route tours (August 2023 – August 2024):

Number of people (Cost per person)		1	2	3	4	5	6	single supplement
Tour including 5-star accommodation	HIGH SEASON	R66500	R44800	R37600	R34700	R32400	R30850	R19500
Tour including 5-star accommodation	LOW SEASON	R61350	R39650	R32400	R29550	R27200	R25700	R11250
Tour including 4-star accommodation	HIGH SEASON	R56950	R34300	R26750	R23750	R21300	R19700	R8450
Tour including 4-star accommodation	LOW SEASON	R55050	R32400	R24850	R21850	R19450	R17800	R6850
Tour including economy accommodation	NO SEASONAL DIFFERENCE	R52150	R28550	R20700	R17550	R15050	R13350	R2250
Rates are indicative; final price varies by specific travel dates and room category availability. Please enquire for a fixed quote – our private tour consultants will be happy to advise on options to meet your group size, available dates & budget. High season: September – April, *excluding* peak season of 15 December – 15 January; Low season: May – August. Single supplements: for odd numbers of guests (1/3/5), one person will pay a single supplement for a single room.

Pricing for private 5 Day Garden Route tours (September 2024 – August 2025):

Number of people (Cost per person)		1	2	3	4	5	6	single supplement
Tour including 5-star accommodation	HIGH SEASON	R73150	R49300	R41350	R38150	R35600	R33900	R21450
Tour including 5-star accommodation	LOW SEASON	R67500	R43600	R35650	R32500	R29950	R28250	R12350
Tour including 4-star accommodation	HIGH SEASON	R62650	R37750	R29400	R26100	R23450	R21700	R9300
Tour including 4-star accommodation	LOW SEASON	R60550	R35650	R27350	R24050	R21350	R19600	R7550
Tour including economy accommodation	NO SEASONAL DIFFERENCE	R57350	R31400	R22750	R19300	R16550	R14700	R2450

Please read our private Garden Route tours terms and conditions.

Add a few days’ safari in the malaria-free Eastern Cape