Travel from Cape Town to the Garden Route at your own pace on this affordable self-drive South Africa Tour.
This well-designed, private self-drive tour package enables you to experience the scenic Garden Route of South Africa safely on your own. Stay at carefully selected guesthouses and hotels providing high-quality accommodation in prime locations. Explore the cultural and natural highlights of the Garden Route, based on reliable recommendations from our travel experts.
This Self Drive South Africa Tour includes all accommodation, breakfasts, and rental car hire. Relax and simply enjoy the journey, knowing that our team is ready to give you support and advice on the road.
__large.jpg "Tsitsikamma, Garden Route holiday by Ben Haeringer")
This affordable South Africa Tour from Cape Town to the Garden Route begins in Cape Town. Upon arrival at the Cape Town International Airport, make your way to the Avis Car Hire depot at the airport to collect your rental car.
From the airport, you'll drive east through the fringes of the Cape Winelands and onto Route 62, South Africa's longest wine route. This takes you into the inland area of the scenic Garden Route, one of South Africa's top travel destinations. The first overnight stop on your self-drive tour is the small town of Oudtshoorn in the stark but beautiful Klein Karoo. The Klein Karoo, also called the Little Karoo, is a sparsely-populated semi-arid region of the Western Cape.
Oudtshoorn happens to have the highest population of ostriches in the world. These are housed on several ostrich farms where you can learn about the life cycle, history, and use of these birds; touch and ride them and even eat an ostrich egg omelet. Alternatively, you can visit the Cango Caves, which feature amazing limestone stalagmites and stalactites, and other formations in their subterranean depths.
Please Note: We recommend arriving in Cape Town a few days prior to the start of this self-drive tour. Cape Town, known as the Mother City of South Africa, is a picturesque city packed with exciting attractions, activities, and sights. For help planning a short stay in Cape Town before your self-drive tour to the Garden Route, contact us.
Spend some time in Oudtshoorn, after breakfast on day two of this self-drive tour of South Africa. Explore the historic town, enjoying the warm hospitality and hearty cuisine the Karoo is known for. Visit Cango Caves or a local ostrich farm or dare to dive with crocodiles at Cango Wildlife Ranch.
On day three, you take a scenic drive along the southern coast of South Africa's Garden Route to Knysna. After checking in at your hotel in Knysna head out and explore the beautiful Garden Route. Visit Monkeyland for a monkey safari in the forest to see all kinds of exotic creatures, from Asian gibbons to Madagascan lemurs. The Birds of Eden, home to some 220 bird species, is also worth a visit to view all kinds of free-flight birds. Take a canopy walk in the indigenous forests, visit a mysterious old ruin, and walk behind a flowing waterfall.
Stroll through the quaint seaside town of Knysna with its charming gift shops and art galleries. Visit the Knysna Heads viewpoint to take in the sweeping coastal views. Or embark on outdoor activities and watersports, from dolphin and whale watching boat cruises and kayaking on the lagoon to hiking in the forests.
On day four of this self-drive South Africa Tour, you journey further east along the picturesque Garden Route. Travel via Plettenberg Bay and pause at the beautiful blue flag beach along the way. Then drive on to the Tsitsikamma Forest at Storms River.
Drink in the stunning natural scenery of the Tsitsikamma Forest region, where you can enjoy forest walks, explore the rugged coastline and embark on water-based adventures. For the more adventurous you can get your adrenalin pumping at Bloukrans River, hosting the world’s highest bungee jump.
Today our Cape Town to Garden Route Tour takes us into the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Make your way further east to Port Elizabeth enjoying optional activities and beautiful scenery en route.
One of South Africa’s largest cities, Port Elizabeth or PE, is widely regarded as its most welcoming – hence its title as ‘The Friendly City.’ Located inside the sweeping Nelson Mandela Bay, PE is home to a selection of attractions and optional activities, as well as several great beaches. Spend the last afternoon of your self-drive South Africa holiday at the beach or explore the charms of PE.
Enjoy your final breakfast at the seaside hotel in PE, officially called Gqeberha. Then make your way to the Port Elizabeth Airport, to drop off your rental car at the Avis Car Hire office in time for your departure flight. Say goodbye to the scenic Garden Route and catch your onward flight, wrapping up your scenic self-drive South Africa Tour.
Please take note of the following South Africa travel stipulations and requirements:
Your South Africa self-drive holiday includes vehicle rental of a VW Polo Vivo or similar (Avis Car Hire Group B). This includes Premium Insurance, which covers theft and collision damage waiver, personal accident insurance, unlimited mileage, location surcharge, third party liability insurance, general public liability insurance, tourism levy, VAT and claims admin fee, tire, rim and hubcap damage, windscreen damage/repair, sandblasting damage and water and undercarriage damage.
However, this insurance excludes fuel, refundable rental deposit, rental contract fee, one-way drop-off charges, delivery and collection fees, traffic fine administration fee, additional driver, child safety seats, GPS navigation, additional spare tire rental, and deposit.
This affordable South Africa Tour stays at mid-range or standard guesthouse and hotel accommodation. These establishments have been selected for their high-quality accommodation and prime locations. Accommodation will be at a variety of lodges and guesthouses, featuring en suite bathroom facilities. The lodges are located in scenic and interesting locations. Most properties are equipped with swimming pools and/or bar areas and restaurants.
Breakfasts at the guesthouses are included in the price of this self-drive tour and will be available in the restaurants or dining areas of the accommodation establishments. If you have any special dietary requirements, please notify us ahead of time.
It is your responsibility to ensure you have applied for and received, in good order, any visas you may require to legally enter South Africa before your departure date.
Kindly note that travel and cancellation insurance is a mandatory requirement for all of our guests and obtaining this insurance is your sole responsibility. You must ensure that you arrange insurance with protection for the entirety of your trip covering personal injury, damage, and loss of personal items, such as but not limited to cameras and other electronic items and accessories, loss or theft of luggage, medical costs, repatriation costs, etcetera. For more information see our Travel Insurance guide or talk to one of our travel experts for assistance with obtaining suitable travel insurance.
This tour does take children.
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