Our Garden route holidays & tours
Extending for 1,000km from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, the Garden Route encompass many of the best things to do in South Africa in one neat package. The Mediterranean climate, abundance of accommodation, safe beaches, lagoons and wildlife make for easily accessible adventures, while short detours can take you off on safari, to monkey sanctuaries, and to see whales and dolphins in the glorious bays of the Indian Ocean.
Our Garden Route holidays benefit nature and communities, as well as giving you the trip of a lifetime. Try low-impact activities like horse riding and hiking. Discover private reserves and help support their conservation projects – whether they are protecting the Cape Mountain Zebra or local flora. Our trips donate to charity partners that train up rangers from the local community, and patronise restaurants run by members of historically disadvantaged communities, where produce is seasonal and sourced. That’s one neat 1,000km-package indeed.
Our Garden Route holidays benefit nature and communities, as well as giving you the trip of a lifetime. Try low-impact activities like horse riding and hiking. Discover private reserves and help support their conservation projects – whether they are protecting the Cape Mountain Zebra or local flora. Our trips donate to charity partners that train up rangers from the local community, and patronise restaurants run by members of historically disadvantaged communities, where produce is seasonal and sourced. That’s one neat 1,000km-package indeed.
Our top Garden Route holidays
Self drive South Africa holiday
From
£3595
15 days
inc UK flights
Explore Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route
Tailor made
The Garden Route and beyond, South Africa
From
£2350
12 days
ex flights
Leisurely, family-friendly, self-drive South African holiday
Tailor made
South Africa Garden Route luxury holiday
From
£5039 to £5799
11 days
ex flights
One of the finest coastal routes in the world
Small group2026: 15 Feb, 19 Apr, 17 May, 13 Sep, 11 Oct, 6 Dec, 2027: 24 Jan, 21 Feb, 7 Mar, 4 Apr, 18 Apr, 19 Sep, 3 Oct, 10 Oct, 7 Nov, 28 Nov
Garden Route tour, South Africa
From
£799 to £1259
8 days
ex flights
9-Day tour which takes you along the famous ‘Garden Route’
Small group2026: 9 Jan, 16 Jan, 23 Jan, 30 Jan, 6 Feb, 13 Feb, 20 Feb, 27 Feb, 6 Mar, 13 Mar, 20 Mar, 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 10 Apr, 17 Apr, 24 Apr, 1 May, 8 May, 15 May, 22 May, 29 May, 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 19 Jun, 26 Jun, 3 Jul, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, 28 Aug, 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 Oct, 23 Oct, 30 Oct, 6 Nov, 13 Nov, 20 Nov, 27 Nov, 4 Dec, 11 Dec, 18 Dec, 25 Dec, 2027: 1 Jan, 8 Jan, 15 Jan, 22 Jan ...
Cape Town and the Garden Route tour
From
£1715 to £2375
12 days
ex flights
Travel along the dramatic coastline at the bottom of South Africa
Small group2026: 8 Feb, 15 Feb, 8 Mar, 15 Mar, 26 Jul, 23 Aug, 6 Sep, 20 Sep, 4 Oct, 11 Oct, 25 Oct, 1 Nov, 8 Nov, 15 Nov, 29 Nov, 20 Dec, 2027: 2 Jan, 16 Jan, 23 Jan, 6 Feb, 20 Feb, 27 Feb, 6 Mar, 13 Mar, 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 17 Apr, 21 Aug, 4 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 30 Oct, 6 Nov, 13 Nov, 27 Nov, 4 Dec, 18 Dec
South Africa holiday, Cape escape
From
£1695 to £2195
12 days
ex flights
South Africa's highlights: Beaches, winelands and wildlife.
Small group2025: 20 Dec, 2026: 17 Jan, 7 Feb, 21 Feb, 28 Feb, 14 Mar, 21 Mar, 28 Mar, 16 May, 13 Jun, 4 Jul, 25 Jul, 8 Aug, 22 Aug, 5 Sep, 12 Sep, 3 Oct, 10 Oct, 17 Oct, 31 Oct, 7 Nov, 21 Nov, 28 Nov, 26 Dec
Garden Route tour and safari in South Africa
From
£2319 to £3149
10 days
ex flights
Cape Town, Cape Peninsula, Franschhoek & Tsitsikamma NP
Small group2026: 11 Jan, 8 Feb, 22 Mar, 12 Apr, 30 Aug, 27 Sep, 18 Oct, 25 Oct, 15 Nov, 22 Nov, 6 Dec, 13 Dec, 2027: 10 Jan, 17 Jan, 31 Jan, 7 Feb, 14 Feb, 28 Feb, 21 Mar, 11 Apr, 25 Apr, 29 Aug, 5 Sep, 12 Sep, 26 Sep, 17 Oct, 24 Oct, 14 Nov, 21 Nov, 5 Dec, 12 Dec
South Africa luxury holiday, Garden Route & safari
From
£7295
18 days
ex flights
South Africa Super luxury Cape town, Garden Route and Safari
Tailor made
South Africa Garden Route holiday, small group
From
£929 to £1529
10 days
ex flights
Explore the diverse Cape region of South Africa
Small group2026: 9 Jan, 16 Jan, 23 Jan, 30 Jan, 6 Feb, 13 Feb, 20 Feb, 27 Feb, 6 Mar, 13 Mar, 20 Mar, 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 10 Apr, 17 Apr, 24 Apr, 1 May, 8 May, 15 May, 22 May, 29 May, 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 19 Jun, 26 Jun, 3 Jul, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, 28 Aug, 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 Oct, 23 Oct, 30 Oct, 6 Nov, 13 Nov, 20 Nov, 27 Nov, 4 Dec, 11 Dec, 18 Dec, 25 Dec, 2027: 1 Jan, 8 Jan, 15 Jan, 22 Jan ...
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Garden Route holiday highlights
Choose a self drive holiday or a small group tour along the Garden Route, but however you travel along this 1,000km sublime coast, stretching between Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to Storms River in the Eastern, you will have some incredible experiences – from the grand old southern right whales off the coast of Hermanus which you can see from land between July and November, to the Big Five and, in particular the elephants of Addo Elephant National Park. Swap coast for mountains easily, taking in the coastal resorts of Mossel Bay, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, and then heading into the more elevated Winelands or Table Mountain itself, from where you can take in the Cape in all its glory.
1.
Addo Elephant National Park
2. Hermanus
3. Klein Karoo
4. Knysa and Plettenberg bay
5. Tsitsikamma National Park
6. Winelands
2. Hermanus
3. Klein Karoo
4. Knysa and Plettenberg bay
5. Tsitsikamma National Park
6. Winelands
Addo Elephant National Park
1. Addo Elephant National Park
The word elephant, and there are around 600 of them here, is slightly deceptive with this national park, which stretches all the way to the coast and is also an important protected area for birdlife, penguins, seals and other marine life, not least whales. Given that this park is home to both the largest land mammals and sea mammals, as well as rhino, buffalo and zebra, Addo is not somewhere to dash through.
Hermanus
2. Hermanus
Most of the year this is a quaint fishing village and then, between June/July and Nov/Dec, it all goes a bit wild. About marine wildlife, that is. Because this is whale watching capital during these months, particularly for southern right whales. You can also kayak among the greats at this time. For the rest of the year there are wine routes, horse riding and surfing. And a great local produce market every Saturday.
Klein Karoo
3. Klein Karoo
This is one of the wild, arid regions along the Garden Route, with many different ecosystems favoured by a range of wildlife, including mountain zebra in Mountain Zebra National Park, where you can go on a walking safari, and lions on the region’s dusty plains and dramatic ravines. In contrast, the bats of the Cango Caves are quite a sight.
Knysa and Plettenberg bay
4. Knysa and Plettenberg bay
This part of the garden route has everything going on – from glowing sandstone cliffs in Plettenberg Bay, or Plett as it’s known locally, to the sultry, calmer waters of Knysna Lagoon, where five rivers meet. Pump it out on Plett’s surf, abseil down cliffs or hike through Featherbed Nature Reserve, accessible by boat. This is also the place to discover Xhosa culture, touring Qolweni Township.
Tsitsikamma National Park
5. Tsitsikamma National Park
This beautiful name, given by the indigenous Khoisan people, means ‘clear water’ because, as well as being a coastal park, it has various rivers, Storms and Groot being the most celebrated. Hike on the trails along gorges with obligatory waterfalls, take a canopy tour, camp out, go horse riding, visit Monkeyland Primate Rescue Centre or go on an ocean safari. It’s all very surf and turf here.
Winelands
6. Winelands
The grand cru region of the Garden Route, not only in terms of the fine wineries you can visit, but also the landscapes that nurture the grapes. Wineries here date back to the 1700s, with world class Sauvignons and Shiraz emanating from sandstone peaks and sweeping, green valleys. Although traditionally white Afrikaner led, there are now a growing number of black-owned vineyards around Stellenbosch.
Our Garden Route holidays reviews
4.9
33Garden Route holidays reviews
Stephanie Dolben28 Jul 2025
Fantastic!...The safari and stay at Woodbury Tented Lodge in the Amakhala Game Reserve. It was an incredible experience to have as a familyread more
Cerys Clarke26 Mar 2025
Safari with MASSIVE rhinos so close. Excellent mixture of cities, scenery, wine, food and excitement - 5 stars.read more
Patty Taylor19 Mar 2025
Wonderful - once in a lifetime. Each component was incredible and different - it sometimes felt like several holidays in one. From the city breaks (Capetown and Durban) to the wine country to the Safari to the remote warm Indian Ocean beach, each had its own special memory to offer. The logistics were impeccable (really rate Ilios) and each hotel was perfect. Most unique component was Tonga Beach.read more
