8 Day Garden Route Small Group Tour
Tour Overview
Prices from: £1495 / $1895 per person sharing and £1795/$2295 per solo room
Experience the very best of South Africa on this unforgettable Garden Route Small Group Tour from the Eastern Cape to the iconic Mother City. Your adventure begins in Port Elizabeth, blending cultural discovery with natural beauty as you walk the inspiring Route 67, celebrating the legacy of Nelson Mandela. From here, travel into the wild heart of Addo Elephant National Park, where open-vehicle game drives bring you face-to-face with elephants and other wildlife, and the dramatic Zuurberg Mountains set the scene for guided walks steeped in history and breathtaking landscapes.
The journey continues along the world-famous Garden Route, a stretch of coastline renowned for its forests, rivers and ocean vistas. Explore the lush Tsitsikamma National Park with gentle hikes and suspension bridges, or add a thrill with an optional bungee jump at Bloukrans Bridge. Crossing the outstanding Outeniqua Mountains into the Little Karoo, discover Oudtshoorn’s unique charm with an ostrich farm visit and the awe-inspiring Cango Caves, where ancient rock formations tell a story millions of years in the making.
Your tour concludes in vibrant Cape Town, framed by mountains, beaches and vineyards. Enjoy wine tasting in the Robertson region, soak up coastal scenery along the Cape Peninsula, and meet the famous penguins at Boulders Beach. With free time to explore Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, or a selection of optional activities, this tour perfectly balances guided highlights with relaxed exploration, an African Star Tours Garden Route Small Group journey designed to leave you with lasting memories of South Africa’s diverse landscapes, cultures and wildlife.
Tour Highlights
- Guided walking tour celebrating Nelson Mandela’s 67 years of service
- Addo Elephant National Park
- Guided walk in the Zuurberg Mountains
- Storms River in the Tsitsikamma Forest
- Cango Caves and Ostrich Farm Visit
- Wine tasting in the Robertson Valley
- Full-day Cape Peninsula tour including Chapman’s Peak and Cape of Good Hope
- Boulders Beach to see the African penguin
- Free time in Cape Town
Day Overview
Day 1: Port Elizabeth
Arrive in Port Elizabeth and enjoy a warm welcome with a transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure, allowing you to relax after your journey or explore the coastal charm of this friendly seaside city.
Day 2: Port Elizabeth – Addo / Zuurberg Mountains
Discover South Africa’s history and culture on a guided walking tour of Route 67, a collection of striking public artworks honouring Nelson Mandela’s legacy. In the afternoon, travel towards Addo National Park via the historic Zuurberg Mountain Pass, ending the day with a guided walk in the Zuurberg Mountains, surrounded by dramatic scenery and rich stories of early explorers.
Days 3 & 4: Addo Elephant National Park – Tsitsikamma
Set out on an early morning open-vehicle game drive in Addo Elephant National Park, renowned for its large elephant herds. Afterwards, journey along the spectacular Garden Route to Tsitsikamma, where lush forests meet rugged coastline. Enjoy gentle hikes, a guided walk to the Storms River suspension bridge, and optional adventure activities such as the famous Bloukrans bungee jump.
Day 5: Tsitsikamma – Oudtshoorn
Travel inland over the Outeniqua Mountains into the Little Karoo. In Oudtshoorn, visit an ostrich farm to learn about these remarkable birds, followed by an exploration of the awe-inspiring Cango Caves, home to ancient limestone formations.
Days 6 & 7: Oudtshoorn – Cape Town
Continue to Cape Town, stopping en route in Robertson for a wine cellar tour and tasting. On arrival in the Mother City, enjoy free time to relax on the beaches or explore the vibrant V&A Waterfront. The following day features a full Cape Peninsula tour, showcasing the Atlantic Seaboard, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Cape Point, and the charming coastal town of Simon’s Town with its famous penguin colony at Boulders Beach (entrance fee excluded).
Day 8: Cape Town
Spend your final day at leisure. Weather permitting, take the cable car up Table Mountain (own expense) for panoramic views over the city and coastline before your transfer to the airport, bringing an unforgettable South African journey to a close.
Key Facts
Starts: Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), South Africa
Ends: Cape Town, South Africa
Meals: 7 Breakfasts,
Travel Style: Mid-Range Comfort
Tour Type: Small Group Tour
Transport: Road transfers by mini-van
Group Size: Min 4 and Max 14
Includes
1 Night Kelway Hotel
1 Night Zuurbery Mountain Village
2 Nights Tsitsikamma Village Inn
1 Night Mooiplaas Guest House
2 Nights Pullman Cape Town
All internal transfers
Excludes
- International Flights to Port Elizabeth and From Cape Town
- Pre and post tour accommodation
- Optional activities
- Entrance Fees (Boulders Beach/Seal Island)
- Lunch and Dinner
- All Drinks
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses such as telephone calls, curios etc.
- Travel insurance (Essential)
Dates
21st March 2026
28th May 2026
9th July 2026
21st August 2026
12th September 2026
31st October 2026
28th November 2026
26th December 2026
