9 days · South Africa
Cape Town & the Garden Route
From AED 6,775per person, twin share
Nine days of sunny South Africa, from Cape Town and its winelands to the scenic Garden Route.
- Duration
- 9 Days / 8 Nights
- Route
- Starts and ends in Cape Town
- Country
- South Africa
- Activity level
- Moderate (3 of 5)
- A fast-paced coach tour with frequent hotel changes through the Cape Winelands and Garden Route, guided walking tours, a walk through the Cango Caves and over the Storms River bridge
- Accommodation
- 8 nights in 3- and 4-star hotels across Cape Town, the Cape Winelands and the Garden Route
- Meals
- 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinners
- Group
- Small group, up to 15
- Guide
- English-speaking tour leader throughout
- Transport
- Air-conditioned coach
- Best time to go
- Runs most of the year, with no departures in February. The Cape and Garden Route are warmest and driest from November to March, cooler and wetter from June to August
Tour overview
This tour of sunny South Africa starts in Cape Town and its Winelands, then follows the southern coast through Hermanus and Mossel Bay. It takes in African wildlife, Knysna, and the trails of Tsitsikamma, before the Karoo’s arid beauty, with some adrenaline activities along the way.
Highlights
- A driving and walking tour around Cape Town
- A traditional braai and African drumming
- Stellenbosch, a picturesque university town
- Tasting local wine in the Cape Winelands
- Hermanus, a seaside town
- Swellendam, South Africa’s third-oldest town
- A game drive at Botlierskop
- Knysna, a seaside town
Show all 13 highlightsShow fewer highlights
- Storms River Mouth, in the Tsitsikamma National Park
- A Klein Karoo ostrich farm
- The Cango Caves
- A winery in Robertson
- Cheese and wine tasting in Paarl
See the journey come to life
Route and hotels
Where the tour goes and where you sleep, night by night.
Cape Town
2 nights · Days 1–2
StayEasy Cape Town City Bowl
Cape Winelands
Day 3 · on the way
Stellenbosch
Day 3 · on the way
Hermanus
1 night · Day 3
Windsor Hotel Hermanus
Swellendam
Day 4 · on the way
Mossel Bay
1 night · Day 4
Garden Route Hotel
Garden Route
Day 5 · on the way
Knysna
Day 5 · on the way
Show all 13 stopsShow fewer stops
Tsitsikamma
2 nights · Days 5–6
Tsitsikamma Village Inn
Cango Caves Experience
Day 7 · on the way
Oudtshoorn
1 night · Day 7
Protea by Marriott Hotel Oudtshoorn Riempie Estate
Cape Winelands
Day 8 · on the way
Cape Town
1 night · Day 8
StayEasy Cape Town City Bowl
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Start of tour in Cape Town
Dinner included
After meeting your tour leader and the group at the hotel, you set out on a Cape Town city tour, taking in Signal Hill, District 6 and the Castle of Good Hope, then a walk through the Company’s Gardens. This evening, a traditional braai, or BBQ, in the winelands comes with African drum music.
Included
- Walking and driving tour of Cape Town, taking in District Six, St George’s Cathedral and the Company’s Garden
- Traditional braai (barbecue) with a Drumstruck African drumming performance at a local vineyard
- Overnight
- Cape Town
- Hotel
- StayEasy Cape Town City Bowl
Day 2
Cape Town: Free Day
Breakfast includedYou can spend today exploring Cape Town, or join an optional excursion to the Cape Peninsula and Cape Point. It takes you to the Cape Point Nature Reserve and the Cape Point Lighthouse, at the point furthest south-west in Africa, where the landscape is covered in Cape Fynbos. It also stops at Kalk Bay and the Boulders Beach Penguin Colony.
Included
- Free time in Cape Town
Optional extras
- Cape Peninsula Day Trip · AED 565 per person
- Overnight
- Cape Town
- Hotel
- StayEasy Cape Town City Bowl
Day 3
Cape Winelands – Stellenbosch – Hermanus Region
Breakfast and lunch included
Today’s drive takes you to the Cape Winelands and Stellenbosch, a university town full of history. A local wine estate hosts a tasting led by a wine specialist, followed by lunch among the vines. The day ends in the coastal town of Hermanus.
Included
- Visit Stellenbosch: Cape Dutch architecture, tree-lined streets and free time to explore
- Wine tasting and lunch at a winery in the Cape Winelands
- Free time in Hermanus, known for whale watching in season
- Travel
- Cape Town → Cape Winelands → Hermanus by coach
- Overnight
- Hermanus
- Hotel
- Windsor Hotel Hermanus
Day 4
Hermanus Region – Swellendam – Mossel Bay
Breakfast and dinner included
Free time in Hermanus this morning comes before the drive to the Garden Route. You can choose to look for dolphins, seals, penguins, sharks and whales on the optional Marine Eco Big 5 Trip, or opt for a seafood and craft beer pairing on the optional Spirit of Hermanus excursion. From there, the tour continues through Swellendam to Mossel Bay, where dinner is included.
Included
- Guided walking tour of Swellendam, South Africa’s third-oldest town, with free time for lunch
Optional extras
- Marine Eco Big 5 Trip · AED 550 per person
- Spirit of Hermanus · AED 110 per person
- Travel
- Hermanus → Swellendam → Mossel Bay by coach
- Overnight
- Mossel Bay
- Hotel
- Garden Route Hotel
Day 5
Garden Route: Game Reserve – Knysna – Tsitsikamma
Breakfast and dinner included
Botlierskop Private Game Reserve offers a South African wildlife experience, with rhinos, giraffes, elephants and lions to spot on a real safari drive. Lunch is in the Knysna harbour, known for its oysters. Afterwards, you can choose between two optional excursions: Monkeyland, where the monkeys roam loose, or Birds of Eden, a free-flight aviary described as the largest in the world.
Included
- Game drive at Botlierskop Private Game Reserve: giraffe, zebra, lion, rhino, hippo and birdlife
- Free time at the Knysna waterfront, known for its oysters
Optional extras
- Monkeyland · AED 100 per person
- Birds of Eden · AED 100 per person
- Travel
- Garden Route → Knysna → Tsitsikamma by coach
- Overnight
- Tsitsikamma
- Hotel
- Tsitsikamma Village Inn
Day 6
Tsitsikamma National Park & Storms River – Eastern Cape
Breakfast included
The Garden Route National Park is a place for adventure, with the Tsitsikamma forest covering rivers, gorges and mountains. You can add an optional zipline tour through the trees or an optional trail drive, then head to the Storms River Mouth in the Tsitsikamma National Park for a seaside walk and a crossing of the suspension bridge.
Included
- Walk the Storms River trail and cross the suspension bridge in Tsitsikamma National Park
Optional extras
- Tree Canopy Zip-Lining · AED 205 per person
- Woodcutters Trail Drive · AED 150 per person
- Kayak & Lilo Adventure · AED 210 per person
- Overnight
- Tsitsikamma
- Hotel
- Tsitsikamma Village Inn
Day 7
Route 62 – Oudtshoorn Ostrich Farm – Cango Caves Experience
Breakfast, lunch and dinner includedA semi-desert landscape opens up today as the drive follows Route 62 through Langkloof, set against the Kouga and Tsitsikamma mountains. In Oudtshoorn, you visit a working ostrich farm, then sit down for a three-course lunch. Afterwards comes a visit to the Cango Caves, caverns of dripstone that formed more than 20 million years ago. The evening brings a buffet dinner.
Included
- Guided tractor tour of a working ostrich farm in the Klein Karoo, with a traditional lunch
- Visit the Cango Caves: limestone formations more than 20 million years old
Optional extras
- Oudtshoorn Stargazing · AED 175 per person
- Travel
- Tsitsikamma → Route 62 → Oudtshoorn by coach
- Overnight
- Oudtshoorn
- Hotel
- Protea by Marriott Hotel Oudtshoorn Riempie Estate
Day 8
Oudtshoorn – Route 62 – Cape Winelands – Cape Town
Breakfast and lunch included
After breakfast, the drive continues down Route 62, with a stop at a roadside stall before an included lunch in Robertson. From there, Paarl offers a wine and cheese tasting at a local vineyard, before the tour heads back to Cape Town for your last night in the city.
Included
- Winery visit and lunch in Robertson, in the Cape Winelands
- Cheese and wine tasting in Paarl
- Free evening in Cape Town
- Travel
- Oudtshoorn → Route 62 → Cape Winelands → Cape Town by coach
- Overnight
- Cape Town
- Hotel
- StayEasy Cape Town City Bowl
Day 9
End of tour in Cape Town
Breakfast includedThis is the last day of the tour through Cape Town and the Garden Route. At the hotel, the group sits down for one last breakfast together before the tour comes to an end and everyone says their goodbyes.
Dates & prices
Prices per person, sharing a double or twin room. A single room costs the supplement shown.
15 dates
Sun 8 Nov – Mon 16 Nov 2026
Sold out
Sun 17 Jan – Mon 25 Jan 2027
Available
AED 6,775
Single room +AED 3,100
Sun 28 Mar – Mon 5 Apr 2027
Available
AED 6,775
Single room +AED 3,100
Sun 11 Apr – Mon 19 Apr 2027
Available
AED 6,775
Single room +AED 3,100
Sun 25 Apr – Mon 3 May 2027
Available
AED 6,775
Single room +AED 3,100
Sun 9 May – Mon 17 May 2027
Available
AED 6,775
Single room +AED 3,100
Sun 6 Jun – Mon 14 Jun 2027
Available
AED 6,775
Single room +AED 3,100
Sun 4 Jul – Mon 12 Jul 2027
Available
AED 6,775
Single room +AED 3,100
Sun 1 Aug – Mon 9 Aug 2027
Available
AED 6,775
Single room +AED 3,100
Sun 29 Aug – Mon 6 Sept 2027
Available
AED 6,775
Single room +AED 3,100
Show all 15 datesShow fewer dates
Sun 12 Sept – Mon 20 Sept 2027
Available
AED 6,775
Single room +AED 3,100
Sun 26 Sept – Mon 4 Oct 2027
Few seats left
AED 6,775
Single room +AED 3,100
Sun 10 Oct – Mon 18 Oct 2027
Available
AED 6,775
Single room +AED 3,100
Sun 7 Nov – Mon 15 Nov 2027
Available
AED 6,775
Single room +AED 3,100
Sun 5 Dec – Mon 13 Dec 2027
Available
AED 6,775
Single room +AED 3,100
What’s included
Included
- 8 nights in mostly 3-star and 4-star hotels, in twin rooms with a private bathroom
- A room to yourself for a single supplement, subject to availability
- 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinners, with a vegetarian option at every meal on request
- A modern coach with air conditioning, reclining seats and a toilet
- Guided from start to finish
Not included
- Flights to the start of the tour and home from the end: we can book them from Dubai
- Travel insurance: take out a policy that suits your trip
Optional extras
Excursions and upgrades you can add to the tour. Prices are per person.
Cape Peninsula Day Trip
Day 2AED 565per personA scenic drive along the Cape Peninsula to Cape Point, with time to see the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach and lunch by the water in Kalk Bay. R2550, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 2 in the itineraryMarine Eco Big 5 Trip
Day 4AED 550per personA boat trip off Hermanus with a marine biologist on board, looking for whales, sharks, seals, penguins and dolphins along this stretch of coast. R2500, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 4 in the itinerarySpirit of Hermanus
Day 4AED 110per personA seafood and craft beer pairing at a waterfront restaurant in Hermanus, with vegetarian and non-alcoholic options available. R495, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 4 in the itineraryMonkeyland
Day 5AED 100per personA free-roaming primate sanctuary near Plettenberg Bay, where you can see more than 500 rescued primates living in the forest. R450, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 5 in the itineraryBirds of Eden
Day 5AED 100per personA large free-flight aviary near Plettenberg Bay, home to more than 200 species of birds across a stretch of forest. R450, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 5 in the itineraryTree Canopy Zip-Lining
Day 6AED 205per personA zipline course through the Tsitsikamma forest canopy, with a trained team managing the harness and platforms throughout. R925, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 6 in the itineraryWoodcutters Trail Drive
Day 6AED 150per personA drive along the old Storms River Pass through indigenous forest, with tea at a picnic site by the river and background on the area’s history. R675, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 6 in the itineraryKayak & Lilo Adventure
Day 6AED 210per personA two to three hour kayak trip into the Storms River Gorge, past deep pools and caves. No experience is needed, and wetsuits are available to hire. R940, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 6 in the itineraryOudtshoorn Stargazing
Day 7AED 175per personAn evening stargazing session in the Klein Karoo with a local guide, away from city lights, with notes on how the San people read the night sky. R790, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 7 in the itinerary
To add an extra, mention it in your booking notes, and we confirm it with your seats before you pay. Some are booked with your tour leader on the day instead: their description says so.
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Good to know
Practical details to read before you travel.
Passport & visas
South Africa asks most non-exempt nationalities for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), applied for online and tied to the passport you travel on. It only works if you land at OR Tambo (Johannesburg), Cape Town or Lanseria airport, which matches how this tour starts and ends.
Rules differ by passport, so our visa team checks what you need and handles the ETA application when you book.
Flights and timings
Flights aren’t included: arrange your own to and from Cape Town.
Day 1 starts at the StayEasy Cape Town City Bowl, where you meet your tour leader from 2pm; full contact details reach you by email about a week before you travel. The tour ends back at the same hotel in Cape Town after breakfast on day 9.
Our team can book your flights from Dubai to match.
Meals and dietary needs
Breakfast is included every day, lunch on three days (including the winery and ostrich-farm lunches), and dinner on four evenings, among them the first night’s braai and the stop in Mossel Bay.
Tell us about any dietary needs, halal included, when you book, and we pass them on before the tour.
Money
South Africa’s currency is the rand (ZAR). Cards are widely accepted in cities and hotels; it’s worth carrying some cash for smaller stops along the route, such as the ostrich farm or the Cango Caves.
Optional extras booked on tour are paid to your tour leader in cash or by card, in the currency shown.
Weather and packing
Departures run most of the year except February. The Cape and Garden Route are warm and mostly dry from November to March, and cooler with more rain from June to August.
Pack layers, a light rain jacket, comfortable walking shoes and sun protection; the coastal towns can be breezy, so something to block the wind is useful too.
Plan your trip
Our Dubai team arranges what goes around the tour, so it is booked in one place.
Visas
Check the visa for each country on the route. Our visa team in Dubai applies for UAE residents once the tour is booked.
Flights
Flights are not included. We can book them with the tour: Dubai to Cape Town and back. Tick “Flights” when you book and we quote them with your confirmation.
Pay in instalments
Split the cost with Tabby or Tamara, or over 3 to 12 months on a UAE bank credit card for bookings from AED 1,000.
Book this tour
Book in a minute. Your seats are held as soon as you book; you name the other travellers and pay once we have confirmed them.
Questions before you book? Our support team is on WhatsApp +971 4 589 0001.
Questions about this tour
What will my days look like?
Days are full. Most start with breakfast, then the main sights with a local guide or your tour leader. Afternoons often leave free time to wander, stop for a coffee or join an optional extra. Expect a fair amount of walking: some days mean two or three hours on your feet, so bring comfortable shoes.
Who will I be travelling with?
Travellers from all over the world, of different ages and backgrounds, who share a wish to see more. This tour runs as a small group of up to 15, and most people know each other’s names within a few days.
What are the hotels like?
Mostly 3 and 4 star, all clean, comfortable and well located, with private en-suite bathrooms. They are chosen so you sleep well and are ready for the next day. The destinations come first, but the hotels are never an afterthought.
How active is this tour?
You carry your own luggage, sometimes up hotel stairs. Some walking tours run for up to three hours, and a few sites have plenty of steps. The itinerary and the activity level at the top of this page show whether the pace suits you.
How do optional extras work?
Optional extras run in the tour’s free time, and your tour leader tells you what is on offer as the tour goes. The ones on this tour are booked with your tour leader on the day, and the Optional extras section shows each one with its price.
Will I have time to explore on my own?
Yes. The itinerary builds in free time to wander at your own pace, and your tour leader can point you to the places that suit you, so you are never left to work it all out alone.
What support do I have while I’m on tour?
Your tour leader travels with you from start to finish. They know the places most visitors miss, can suggest a restaurant before you ask, and deal with whatever crops up on the way. Transport and hotels are all arranged for you.
There is also an emergency number staffed 24 hours a day, and our team in Dubai is there to help.
How do I book Cape Town & the Garden Route?
Press Book now, choose a date, your travellers and rooms, and give your name, email and mobile. We hold your seats and email your booking reference straight away; you then add each traveller as their passport shows on your booking page. Our Dubai team confirms the seats with the tour operator, then emails you a secure payment link. Nothing is charged when you book.
When do I pay?
Once the tour operator confirms your seats. We email you a secure payment link for the total in AED, and your booking is complete when it is paid. To pay in instalments, say so in your booking notes.
Is the price per person?
Yes. Prices are per person sharing a double or twin room. Travelling alone? A single room costs the supplement shown next to each date.
Are flights included?
Only when the tour lists them under what is included. We can book flights from the UAE to the start city and home from the end city with your tour.
Do I need a visa?
That depends on your passport and the countries on the route. Our visa team arranges Schengen and other visas for UAE residents, and can apply for yours once the tour is booked.
Payment plans
Take the trip now. Pay for it in pieces.
Every booking qualifies, from holidays and tours to visas. Spread it over 3 to 12 months at 0% on a credit card plan, or with Tabby or Tamara; some banks add a one-time processing fee.
- Credit card plans from AED 1,000
- Tabby and Tamara, no minimum
- Terms from 3 to 12 months
Find your bank’s plan
Credit cards, from AED 1,000
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