Wild Coast & Garden Route to Cape Town Tour

An action-packed budget lodge safari along the scenic coast of South Africa, starting in Durban on the east coast and ending in Cape Town in the Western Cape.

First we explore the remote Wild Coast area with its unspoiled sandy beaches, visiting the pretty seaside town of Cintsa and enjoying the laid-back atmosphere of the rustic Eastern Cape Province. After relaxing and participating in some optional activities, such as surfing and horse-riding, we leave Cintsa and head for Addo Elephant Park, where we embark an exciting game drive in search of the abundant elephants and other wildlife found in the park.

Next stop is the Tsitsikamma National Park where there is the option of taking a walk in the indigenous forest along the dramatic coastline, before making our way to the popular town of Knysna. Continuing along the Garden Route we travel to Hermanus, famous for its seasonal whale watching. Lastly it's to the Cape Wine Route for some wine tasting and on to our final stop, the beautiful city of Cape Town.

An amazing one-week long trip through some of South Africa's most picturesque landscapes from the rugged East coast to the austere West coast!

Tour Highlights:

• Discover Durban, the remote Wild Coast and beaches of Cintsa
• See herds of elephants and other wildlife in Addo Elephant Park
• Tsitsikamma National Park forest and coastline walk
• Visit charming Garden Route towns of Knysna and Hermanus
• Wine-tasting in the Cape Winelands en route to Cape Town

DAY 1: Durban to Wild Coast & Cinsta (Breakfast x  & Dinner x 2)

Departing from Durban we travel into the remote Wild Coast area, a sparsely populated region of wild and rugged beauty. Formerly called the Transkei, the Wild Coast area is home mainly to Xhosa people making it a culturally rich region. Many of the Xhosa we will encounter in this part of South Africa still practice tribal traditions and remain deeply rooted in old Xhosa customs and beliefs.

For the next two nights we will stay in the beautiful seaside village of Cintsa, located at the great Kai River mouth. This is a great stop for enjoying the beautiful beaches, laid-back atmosphere and unspoiled coastline of the rustic Eastern Cape. We spend a full day at Cintsa where a variety of optional activities are available; including horse-riding outings, canoeing trips, day trips to local game reserves and surfing.

Twin Share Rooms/ Shared Facilities

DAY 3: Addo Elephant Reserve (Breakfast & Dinner)

After relaxing in Cintsa we travel west to Addo Elephant National Park, making our way towards the famous ‘Garden Route’ area of South Africa. As this reserve’s name implies, Addo Elephant Park is home to a large population of elephants, with more than 450 elephants recorded. Having expanded considerably over recent years, Addo Park is also sanctuary to around 280 Cape Buffalo, lion, leopard, black rhino and a variety of antelope species. The unique flightless dung beetle is found almost exclusively in the Addo region, which covers 5 of the major vegetation biomes found in South Africa. We embark on a game drive in Addo, where wildlife sightings are generally very good, due to well-located waterholes and the flat landscape.

Twin Share Rooms/ Shared Facilities

DAY 4 – 5: Tsitsikamma National Park & Knysna (Breakfast x 2 & Dinner x 2)

After visiting Addo we continue along the coast to the Tsitsikamma National Park where indigenous hardwood trees stretch from the mountains to the dramatic cliffs of the wild coastline. In Tsitsikamma you have the option of hiking on scenic mountain trails along the rugged coastline overlooking the Indian Ocean. This wilderness area is ideal for hiking and you may even spot some wildlife in the lush forests or ocean, so keep an eye open for small antelopes, dolphins and otters among others.

The next day we make our way fromTsitsikamma into the Western Province travelling along the Garden Route to the pretty town of Knysna. This attractive seaside town, famous for its Oyster Festival, has plenty of plenty of activities and attractions to offer visitors, or you could choose to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Twin Share Rooms/ Shared Facilities

DAY 6: Knysna to Hermanus (Breakfast & Dinner)

Today we drive further along the Garden Route to the quaint town of Hermanus, best known for its excellent whale sightings. In whale-watching season whales and dolphins can even be spotted from look out points on the shore. We spend some leisure time in this laid-back town next to the ocean, a great overnight stop even when its not whale-watching season.

Twin Share Rooms/ Shared Facilities

DAY 7: Cape Winelands & Cape Town (Breakfast)

Today we complete our journey from the east to the west coast of South Africa, heading into the Western Cape’s famous wine region, the Cape Winelands. We visit a local wine farm in this beautiful region and get the chance to do an optional wine tasting. After sampling and even buying some of South Africa’s finest wines we set off on the last leg of our trip, travelling to Cape Town. Our adventure along the coast of South Africa comes to an end in Cape Town, one of the most picturesque cities in the world.

Tour Accommodation:

On this tour accommodation is mostly in shared rooms with twin beds in chalets, bungalows or cabins, or in guesthouses with shared facilities. Many of the places that we stay at are located in picturesque settings with a swimming pool, restaurant and bar. Some of the accommodation is a little more basic but still comfortable, clean and secure.

Tour Transport:

Transport on this tour will be in a comfortable mini-bus or microbus. Maximum group size: 14 passengers.

Participation on this Tour:

This is an active participation tour; which means everybody helps out with the daily chores. The chores are usually shared on a roster basis and include tasks like shopping and cooking. 

The active participation on this tour provides good opportunities to meet local people and get to know your fellow travellers. Your contribution helps to make sure that your trip is successful and enjoyable for everyone. Sharing the responsibilities means that nobody has to work too hard! On past tours most people have found that the more they get involved, the more they enjoy themselves. With a sense of adventure and a flexible attitude you will be sure to have a wonderful trip.

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