South Africa

Garden Route Self Drive Adventure

Duration8 days

LocationGarden Route, South Africa

Group4 persons

Rating

Drive one of the world's great coastal roads at your own pace. This 8-day self-drive takes you from Cape Town through Hermanus, Mossel Bay, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay to Addo Elephant National Park, with hand-picked stays and a route plan for each day.

Whale watching at Hermanus in season, lagoon views at Knysna
Beach stops, forests and viewpoints along the Garden Route
Game drives at Addo Elephant National Park
Pre-booked accommodation and a day-by-day driving guide

Best for independent couples and friends who enjoy the freedom of the open road. Ask Day Safaris Adventures about the car hire and start dates.

What's included

24/7 emergency support line
Accommodation in lodges/tented camps as per itinerary
Airport pick-up and drop-off
Bottled drinking water during game drives
Game drives in a 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
Government taxes and service charges
Meals as stated in the daily itinerary
Park, conservancy and entry fees
Pre-booked guesthouses and lodges
Printed route notes and maps
Professional English-speaking driver-guide
Rental car for the whole trip with unlimited mileage

Not included

Anything not listed under "What's Included"
Car rental excess/damage deposit
Fuel and road tolls
International flights to and from your home country
Meals not listed in the itinerary
Optional activities (e.g. hot air balloon safari)
Personal expenses (laundry, souvenirs, phone calls)
Tips and gratuities for guides and staff
Travel, medical and cancellation insurance
Visa fees and entry permits (unless stated)

8-day itinerary

A day-by-day breakdown of your adventure.

Day1

Cape Town to Hermanus - Whale Watching Capital

Pick up your rental 4x4 vehicle in Cape Town. Drive to Hermanus (2 hours) - the best land-based whale watching in the world (June-Nov). Check-in at guest house. Afternoon Cliff Path walk to see Southern Right whales breaching. Evening seafood dinner at the harbour.

Guest house in HermanusFull Board

Car
Rental
Pickup,
Scenic
Coastal
Drive,

Day2

Hermanus to Mossel Bay - Coastal Beauty

9:00 AM depart Hermanus. Drive through the Overberg region. Visit Stony Point Nature Reserve to see African penguins. Stop in Stanford for craft beer tasting. Continue to Mossel Bay (3 hours total drive). Visit the Bartolomeu Dias Museum complex (first European landing site).

Beach hotel in Mossel BayFull Board

Penguin
Viewing,
Craft
Beer
Tasting,
Historic

Day3

Mossel Bay to Knysna - Oyster Town

Drive to Knysna (1.5 hours). Stop at the Post Office Tree (ancient mail tree). Visit Knysna Heads viewpoints. Afternoon Knysna Lagoon boat cruise to see the famous Knysna Heads entrance. Visit Thesen Island for craft shops and galleries. Oyster tasting at the waterfront.

Lagoon-side hotel in KnysnaFull Board

Knysna
Heads
Photography,
Lagoon
Boat
Cruise,

Day4

Knysna - Free Day / Optional Activities

Free day to explore Knysna. Options include: 1) Featherbed Nature Reserve (boat trip & hike), 2) Knysna Elephant Park (walk with rescued elephants), 3) Simola Golf Course, 4) Brenton-on-Sea beach. Evening sunset drive along the lagoon.

Lagoon-side hotel in KnysnaFull Board

Choice
Of
Activities:
Elephant
Experience,
Hiking,

Day5

Knysna to Plettenberg Bay via Tsitsikamma

Drive to Tsitsikamma National Park (1 hour). Walk the suspension bridge over Storms River Mouth. Optional activities: Treetop canopy tour, bungee jumping from Bloukrans Bridge (216m - highest in Africa). Continue to Plettenberg Bay (30 minutes). Visit Robberg Nature Reserve hike.

Beach resort in Plettenberg BayFull Board

Suspension
Bridge
Walk,
Canopy
Tour
(optional),

Day6

Plettenberg Bay to Addo Elephant Park

Morning free for beach or Robberg hike. Drive to Addo Elephant National Park (2.5 hours). Check-in at lodge. Afternoon game drive in Addo to see the Big Seven - elephants, lions, buffalo, rhinos, leopards, and marine mammals (Great White Sharks and Southern Right Whales).

Addo safari lodgeFull Board

Beach
Morning,
Afternoon
Game
Drive
In

Day7

Addo Elephant Park - Full Day Safari

Full day game drive in Addo. Early morning drive to see predators. Explore the northern section for lions and hyenas. Picnic lunch at Jack's Picnic Site. Afternoon drive to the southern section for buffalo and antelope. Return to lodge at sunset.

Addo safari lodgeFull Board

Full
Day
Game
Drive,
Predator
Tracking,

Day8

Addo to Port Elizabeth - Return & Departure

Early morning game drive (optional). Breakfast and checkout. Drive to Port Elizabeth (1 hour). Stop at Cape Recife Lighthouse. Drop off rental car at Port Elizabeth Airport (PLZ). Connect to your flight to Johannesburg or Cape Town for departure.

No accommodationFull Board