Garden Route & Addo Group Adventure + 2 night Safari - 7 days
Overview
- Group Tour + Safari
- Departs Every Monday
- Starts In Cape Town & Ends In Gqeberha
Welcome to your
Garden Route & Addo Group Adventure + 2 night Safari - 7 days
One way, Cape Town to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
Join us for the road trip of a lifetime! Earthstompers Adventures has been operating
Garden Route & Addo tours since 2006. Our group adventure tour is a safe and affordable way to explore the Western Cape, Little Karoo, Whale Route, Addo Elephant National Park, and Route 62. Best of all, this trip ends off with a two-night safari in the malaria-free Eastern Cape. This tour starts in Cape Town every Monday, and ends in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) every Sunday.
Tour includes:
- Services of a professional tour guide
- Cape Town pick up / Gqeberha drop off
- Air-conditioned transport
- 4 nights’ Garden Route accommodation (backpacker or guest house options)
- Dinners and breakfasts (except day 5)
- Entrance to the African penguin colony at Bettys Bay
- Visit to the Southernmost tip of Africa, Cape Agulhas
- Local wine tasting
- Klein Karoo ostrich farm tour
- Canoeing and hiking in Wilderness National Park
- Game viewing safari in Addo Elephant National Park
- Hiking in Tsitsikamma National Park
- Two-night all-inclusive safari at a private game reserve in the Eastern Cape
- Return transfers to/from the game reserve for safari
Itinerary
Cape Town – Hermanus – Cape Agulhas
We depart from Cape Town early on Monday 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. In the afternoon we will drive on to Cape Agulhas, the most southern tip of Africa, where we visit a viewpoint known as the “real” place where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet.
*Shark cage diving clients will be picked up very early in the morning by the diving operator and will miss the first half of Day 1 which includes the visit to the African Penguin Colony and Hermanus.
Day 1 highlights
Included meals:
Dinner
Included activities:
Visit to the African penguin colony at Betties Bay
Optional activities:
Shark cage diving: R 4055*
Whale watching boat trip (in season, July – November): R 1440
Cycle (or e-bike) to the Southern Tip of Africa: R 300 or R 500
Approximate driving time:
Overnight:
Cape Agulhas – Oudtshoorn
We travel to Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo, known as the Ostrich Capital of the World, via the spectacular Route 62, which is South Africa’s longest wine route. We will have a lovely lunch and wine tasting at a local winery, before checking into our accommodation, which is on a working game farm in the Little Karoo. As the sun goes down, we can enjoy a tour of the ostrich farm, taking in the views of the Outeniqua and Swartberg Mountain ranges in the background.
Day 2 highlights
Included meals:
Breakfast and dinner
Included activities:
Local wine tasting
Klein Karoo ostrich farm tour
Approximate driving time:
+/- 330km, +/- 4 hours
Overnight:
Oudtshoorn: Chandelier Game Lodge
Both backpackers and guesthouse clients stay in the same location – a working game & ostrich farm. This is a unique location, which isn’t really a backpacker or a guesthouse but we feel is a special experience.
Backpackers stay in the log cabins, whilst guest house clients stay in the glamping tents.
Oudtshoorn – Wilderness – Sedgefield
After breakfast we head over the marvelous Outeniqua Mountain pass where we will explore Wilderness National Park with some canoes. Enjoy a paddle up the Touw River through indigenous forest, enjoying the abundance of bird life. After about 40 minutes, the canoes will be left for a 2 km hike along a boardwalk, which will take us to a lovely waterfall and rock pools. Late afternoon you can spend exploring Sedgefield, with its expansive views and beaches.
Day 3 highlights
Included meals:
Breakfast and dinner
Included activities:
Canoeing and hiking in Wilderness National Park
Approximate driving time:
95 km; 1.5 hours
Overnight:
Sedgefield - Knysna - Tsitsikamma - Addo area
Today, we will head to the famous town of Knysna via the Lake District of the Garden Route. We will visit the Knysna Heads viewpoint, for some magnificent views over the Knysna River estuary and the Indian Ocean. After Knysna, we will stop at Bloukrans Bridge to view the world’s highest bungee jump bridge (216 meters). There is plenty of time for the adventure seekers among you to test their courage. Midday will be spent in Tsitsikamma National 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. In the afternoon, we will leave the Garden Route for Big 5 country, Addo.
Day 4 highlights
Included meals:
Breakfast & dinner
Included activities:
Entrance to Tsitsikamma National Park
Optional activities:
216 M Bloukrans bungee jump: R 1690
Approximate driving time:
350 km; 5 hours
Overnight:
Addo area: Avoca River Cabins
Both backpackers and guesthouse clients stay in the same location – a working citrus farm. This is a unique location, which isn’t really a backpacker or guesthouse but we feel is a special experience.
Addo – Safari
We will spend the morning exploring Addo Elephant National Park. We will spend up to 2-3 hours exploring the 28,000-hectare National reserve with approximately 600 elephant and some Cape buffalo, lion, black rhino, warthog, zebra, eland, kudu, hartebeest and many more animals. After an exciting morning of game viewing, we will arrange a transfer from the end of the Garden Route tour to your safari lodge. You will be in time to enjoy the afternoon game drive on a private game reserve.
Day 5 highlights
Included meals:
Dinner
Included activities:
Entrance and 2-3-hour drive with tour vehicle through Addo Elephant National Park
Transfer to Eastern Cape private game reserve
Afternoon game drive on private game reserve
Optional activities:
Early morning 2-hour open vehicle game drive in Addo Elephant National Park with field guide: R 510
Approximate driving time:
+/- 120 km +/- 1.5 hours (plus Addo game driving time)
+/- 100 km +/- 1.25 hours: transfer time from Addo to Private Game Reserve
Overnight:
Safari
It’s safari time! Wake up bright and early for the morning game drive, where we venture out to see the wild life on the Eastern Cape. Upon return from the morning drive, you will have some leisure time to enjoy your lodge before lunch. In the afternoon, you will embark on a sundown game drive, complete with drinks and snacks in the veld.
Day 5 highlights
Included meals:
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Included activities:
Morning & afternoon game drives on private game reserve
Approximate driving time:
n/a – on reserve
Overnight:
Safari and departure from Gqeberha
After your morning game drive and breakfast, you will be transferred to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) airport, where your tour will end. Kindly let us know what time you would like to be dropped off in Port Elizabeth after your safari and we’ll make arrangements accordingly. If you are catching a flight, we recommend that you book it for 15:00 or later, so that you have time to participate in the morning game drive before departing for the airport.
Day 5 highlights
Included meals:
Breakfast
Included activities:
Morning game drive
Transfer from private game reserve to Gqeberha
Approximate driving time:
Tour Map
Pricing
| TOUR PRICE per person | High season: 12 Jan to 3 May 2026 | Low season: 4 May to 2 August 2026 | High season: 3 August 2026 to 13 Dec 2026 | Peak season: 14 Dec 2026 to 10 Jan 2027 |
| Backpacker twin/double en-suite + 4-star safari | R 34490 | R 31890 | R 35190 | R 37130 |
| Backpacker single en-suite + 4-star safari | R 47780 | R 43880 | R 49480 | R 61860 |
| Guest House twin/double + 4-star superior safari | R 42390 | R 37990 | R 44390 | n/a |
| Guest House single + 4-star superior safari | R 59680 | R 53080 | R 63180 | n/a |
- Prices quoted are in South African Rand (R).
- Tour is suitable for adults between the ages of 18-65.
- Teens between the ages of 14-18 may join the tour if accompanied by an adult. Please see our private tours for children aged 13 and under.
- Adults older than 65 may be approved to join the group tour on a case-by-case basis with a signed statement of their ability to participate in the active, fast-paced, adventurous nature of the tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
The group portion of this tour will conclude on Friday afternoon at approximately 12:30, after the game drive in Addo Elephant National Park. You say goodbye to your Earthstompers tour guide and the rest of the group, and we arrange a transfer to take you from Addo to your safari lodge.
Depending on which lodge is chosen, the transfer time as between 45 minutes to 2 hours one way.
We offer the options of Kariega Main Lodge for a 4-star level safari, and Kariega Ukhozi Lodge for a 4-star superior safari. There are many more private game reserves in the area, such as Lalibela, Amakhala, Shamwari, and Kwandwe; please feel free to chat to your Earthstompers consultant about what might be the best fit for your travel style and budget, and we will be happy to customize the safari portion of the tour for you.
The Garden Route portion of this tour is a small group tour, with group sizes ranging from 4-12 people per vehicle. The safari portion of this tour is at a private game reserve, with 2 – 9 guests per open-air safari vehicle.
Ages can range from 18 to 65. We can accept guests as young as 14 on group tours, as long as they are traveling with a parent or legal guardian; and as old as 65, as long as they are fit and healthy enough to enjoy the tour. The average age on tour is 33.
All Earthstompers group tours are conducted in English. If you would like a tour conducted in a different language, please reach out to us about private tour options with specialist language guides.
This is an active tour. It is best suited towards those who like to be on the move, and can comfortably walk, carry luggage, get in and out of the vehicle frequently, etc.
This tour covers a significant distance, allowing you to experience more than 1000kms of the South African coastline! Driving times are generally between 3-5 hours per day, with stops for meals, attractions, restroom breaks, and coffees at the best local spots. While on safari, you will experience morning and afternoon game drives daily, each lasting approximately 2-3 hours, depending on the sightings and animals encountered. Please review the day-by-day itinerary for specific driving times each day.
For the Garden Route portion, the vehicles that we will be touring in are fully air-conditioned and can comfortably seat 14 adults including driver/guide. The seats in our 14-seater vans are comparable in size to an airplane seat. All vehicles have valid operating licenses to convey paying customers. For the safari portion at the private game reserve, open-air game viewing vehicles will be used, each seating up to 9 guests.
The overall itinerary is the same for each group tour; should you wish to customize your tour, or travel at a slower pace, we recommend looking at one of our private tour options, which offer complete flexibility.
Backpackers have more of a social vibe, and are better for younger clients looking for a bit of atmosphere. They usually have a bar or bonfire area. Although backpackers offer a budget price, the standard of backpackers in South Africa is generally very high. Guest houses are a more private, quieter, luxurious experience. About 80% of our guests choose to stay in the backpackers and 20% in the guest houses.
Backpackers and guest house clients travel together in the same tour vehicle. On Day 2 & 4 of tour, both backpackers and guest house clients overnight in the same location – a working game farm near Oudtshoorn (Day 2) and a working citrus farm near Addo (Day 4). Backpackers have more basic rooms on the farms, whereas guest house clients have more luxurious rooms. Although we frequently utilize the same accommodation every week, we cannot guarantee that we will stay at a specific location each week, due to availability and group size.
The accommodation will provide all bedding and towels; please pack your own toiletries. A beach towel or a “quick-dry” towel is recommended, for on-the-go swims in the sea!
For the safari portion, all meals are included; and typically include both traditional South African meals, as well as international cuisine. Meal offerings vary by lodge, and will sometimes be a set menu, a buffet, or a-la-carte options. Do be sure to communicate any special dietary requests in advance, as the lodges are in remote areas that may need advance notice to accommodate special requests.
If you are staying outside of our above pickup range, we ask that you meet up with the tour bus on Monday morning as follows:
- Pickup at Bootlegger Coffee Company, 185 Bree St, Cape Town City Centre (closest meeting point for Bloubergstrand or Milnerton)
- Pickup at Vida e Café, 41 Main Rd, Rondebosch (closest meeting point for Hout Bay, Muizenberg or Constantia)
- Pickup at Woolworths Waterstone Village, Corner of R 44 &, Main Road, Somerset West (closest meeting point for Stellenbosch)
Pick up time is generally between 6:00 – 7:30 am in Cape Town and around 8:00 am in Somerset West. We will confirm the specific time and address of your pickup, as well as your guide’s details the weekend before your tour departs. Please allow 15 minutes grace before or after your designated pickup time, as Monday morning Cape Town traffic can be unpredictable!
We will arrange a transfer from the end of the Garden Route tour to your chosen safari lodge, in time for the afternoon game drive. When the safari at the private game reserve is complete, we will arrange a transfer to pick you up at your lodge and take you to Gqeberha. Timings of these transfers can be customized to your travel plans; please chat to your Earthstompers consultant to make arrangements.
Please wear clothes that you are comfortable in. This tour includes several hikes and walks, so comfortable shoes are essential. No special hiking boots are needed. A small backpack would be useful on the hike. A rain jacket is a good idea, as well as a sweater or jacket for the cool evenings by the sea. Bring a hat; the African sun can be intense! On safari, the open-air game viewer can be quite chilly in the early morning and at dusk, so please pack warm layers that you can add as needed.
We have space for each passenger to have one suitcase and one “carry-on”-sized piece of luggage – a laptop bag, backpack, or similar. Suitcase size is limited to the dimension of 67 cm (26 in) by 45 cm (18 in), and carry on is limited to the dimension of 48 cm (19 in) by 32 cm (13 in). There are generally not porters or staff available to assist with luggage – your luggage should be of a size and weight you can comfortably manage yourself. Hard or soft suitcases are fine. If you have more or bigger luggage than this, please contact us in advance to make alternative arrangements, as our luggage trailers are specifically designed to fit one suitcase per person, not exceeding above dimensions.
This tour and safari takes place in a malaria-free area, so no anti-malaria precautions are necessary. You are however advised to bring insect repellent during summer.
Yes, our group tours are ideal for solo travelers. You will have the opportunity to meet people from around the world, and your guide/driver will be with the group throughout the tour to facilitate a safe journey.
Tipping is entirely at your discretion and is not expected, though gratuities are a lovely way to say thank you, and are always appreciated. For the garden route portion of the tour, tips usually range between R75-R250 per guest per day for the tour guide; tips for safari staff range from R200-R400 per guest per day for the game ranger, and R200-R400 per guest per day for the lodge staff.
Read more about tipping here.