Garden Route Tours for Solo Travelers
Ever looked at a map of South Africa’s southern coast? Along the Garden Route, Montagu sits among hills and hot springs, while the Cango Caves stretch beneath the ground near Oudtshoorn. Tsitsikamma National Park meets the ocean with forest and rocky shore, and nearby private reserves keep quieter wildlife areas inland. It’s a true dream come true.
10 best Garden Route solo travel packages
Compiled by
SteffGarden Route travel expert at TourRadar
- Garden Route Splendour
- 4 Day Garden Route Adventure
- Garden Route Uncovered
- South Africa Cape Town 5-Days Attraction Tours: Whale Watching & Cape Peninsula & Wine Tasting & Aquila safari & Paraglading Tour
- 7 day Garden Route, Cape Point and Winelands Package
- Addo - Garden Route - Cape Town Chauffeur Drive Tour: 6 Days
- Cape Town - Garden Route - Addo Chauffeur Drive Tour: 6 Days
- Explore The Garden Route- Chauffeur Drive Tour: 4 Days
- Garden Route, Safari & Winelands
- Winelands & Garden Route for Wine Lovers - Chauffeur Drive Tour 5 Days
Garden Route Splendour
“Tour was awesome. He was very knowledgeable and accommodating.”
Melenee, traveled in January
The Garden Route beckons solo wanderers with magical sunset cruises on Knysna Lagoon, fascinating Cango Caves visits, and wine tastings in Klein Karoo. Private rooms await at La Plume Guest House and Rex Hotel.
Duration 6 days Destinations Cape Town, Grabouw, L'Agulhas, Swellendam, Barrydale, Oudtshoorn, George, Wilderness, Knysna, Brenton-on-SeaSee all destinations Age Range Ages 8+ Group Size Max Group Size 18 Group Type GroupPersonalized Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Cullinan Guided Journeys From
- US$1,490
4 Day Garden Route Adventure
“We did some great activities and saw fabulous areas along the Garden Route!”
Elva, traveled in February
Duration 4 days Destinations Cape Town, Oudtshoorn, Plettenberg Bay, Knysna, Stormsrivier, Wilderness National Park, Sedgefield, Albertinia, Hermanus, Betty's Bay Age Range Ages 6+ Group Size Max Group Size 10 Group Type Group Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Bokbus Garden Route Adventure Tours & Safaris From
- US$716
Garden Route Uncovered
“The tour ran very efficiently and smoothly. The hotels were all very comfortable and in excellent locations.”
Catherine, traveled in November
Intimate groups of 2-12 people share sunset cruises on Knysna Lagoon and whale watching in Hermanus. Cango Caves tours and visits to Barrydale's rural school create meaningful connections.
Duration 5 days Destinations Port Elizabeth, Tsitsikamma National Park, Knysna, Oudtshoorn, Hermanus, Cape Town Age Range Ages 8+ Group Size Max Group Size 10 Group Type GroupPersonalized Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Cullinan Guided Journeys From
- US$1,395
South Africa Cape Town 5-Days Attraction Tours: Whale Watching & Cape Peninsula & Wine Tasting & Aquila safari & Paraglading Tour
“Whale watching was magical, and the Cape Peninsula drive with paragliding made every day exciting.”
Robert, traveled in October
Shared safaris at Aquila Private Game Reserve and wine tastings in Constantia Valley unite travelers. Whale watching in Hermanus and paragliding over Cape Town perfect for adventurers aged 33+.
Duration 5 days Destinations Hermanus, Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Aquila Private Game Reserve Age Range Ages 14+ Operated in English, German, Italian, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Chinese, Dutch, Russian Group Size Max Group Size 15 Group Type PrivatePersonalized Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Matadi Africa and Travel Tours From
- US$1,800
7 day Garden Route, Cape Point and Winelands Package
“All the landmarks and activities met expectations. My favourite part was seeing all the animals at Botlierskop Game Reserve.”
Samuel, traveled in January
Duration 7 days Destinations Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Oudtshoorn, Addo Elephant National Park, Jeffreys Bay, Tsitsikamma National Park, Knysna, Sedgefield, Wilderness, Mossel BaySee all destinations Age Range Ages 10+ Group Size Max Group Size 13 Group Type GroupPersonalized Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Hotspots2c - Africa Select Journeys From
- US$1,250
Addo - Garden Route - Cape Town Chauffeur Drive Tour: 6 Days
“Well-organized. Accommodating to wishes of participants.”
John, traveled in September
Duration 6 days Destinations Port Elizabeth, Addo Elephant National Park, Garden Route, Plettenberg Bay, Knysna, Brenton-on-Sea, Oudtshoorn, Stellenbosch, Cape Town Age Range All Ages Welcome Group Size Max Group Size 7 Group Type GroupPersonalized Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Explore South Africa From
- US$1,190
Intimate groups of 2-8 companions visit Knysna Heads, Nature's Valley forests, and Plettenberg Bay. Average age 48 travelers enjoy single rooms in 4-star lodges and social gatherings at local wineries.
Duration 6 days Destinations Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Oudtshoorn, Knysna, Addo Elephant National Park, Port Elizabeth Age Range All Ages Welcome Group Size Max Group Size 6 Group Type GroupPersonalized Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Explore South Africa From
- US$1,190
Explore The Garden Route- Chauffeur Drive Tour: 4 Days
“The places where we stayed were beautiful and comfortable. We had choices for food, and we even tried eating ostrich.”
Marta, traveled in February
Knysna Heads and Cango Caves welcome independent spirits. Average age 29 travelers share moments at Tenikwa Wildlife Center and Nature's Valley forest walks.
Duration 4 days Destinations George, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Tsitsikamma National Park, Oudtshoorn, Mossel Bay Age Range All Ages Welcome Group Size Max Group Size 15 Group Type GroupPersonalized Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Explore South Africa From
- US$655
Garden Route, Safari & Winelands
“Great experience. We gave a detailed review to the operator.”
Lauren, traveled in June
Vibrant community forms on this Garden Route adventure, with Victoria Bay walks and Plettenberg Bay discoveries. Rex Hotel offers private rooms, while Tsitsikamma National Park provides shared natural wonders.
Duration 6 days Destinations Cape Town, Montagu, Barrydale, Oudtshoorn, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Albertinia, Swellendam, Hermanus, Stellenbosch Age Range Ages 8+ Group Size Max Group Size 10 Group Type GroupPersonalized Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Cullinan Guided Journeys From
- US$1,650
Winelands & Garden Route for Wine Lovers - Chauffeur Drive Tour 5 Days
“Enjoyable trip. Great personal service.”
David, traveled in January
Whale watching in Plettenberg Bay and Nature's Valley forest walks bring solo travelers together. Wine tastings and scenic drives shared with 2-8 like-minded companions.
Duration 5 days Destinations Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Calitzdorp, Oudtshoorn, Witfontein Nature Reserve, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Tsitsikamma National Park, George Age Range All Ages Welcome Group Size Max Group Size 7 Group Type GroupPersonalized Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Explore South Africa From
- US$938
Explore our featured Garden Route tours
TourRadar earns higher commission on featured adventures here.
What people love about touring Garden Route solo
- 4 Day Garden Route Adventure
The experience was perfect! Thank you so much!
This was an awesome trip and great opportunity! My trip to South Africa was my first time going anywhere internationally. There’s so much to see and so much to do. 5 days wasn’t nearly enough, but I had a great time. I had very nice drivers and tour guides. Everything that I was able to experience from the tour of the winery to the tour of the safari to the shark diving was spectacular! But the best part was the natural attractions of the Cape Peninsula tour and Table Mountain! Matadi Tour Company had everything meticulously planned and I would definitely consider going through them to plan another tour for my next visit to the motherland!
South Africa Cape Town 5-Days Attraction Tours: Whale Watching & Cape Peninsula & Wine Tasting & Aquila safari & Paraglading Tour
- 7 day Garden Route, Cape Point and Winelands Package
Isaac was the best, always going out of his way to accommodate everyone in everyway. Had a great time with him and the tour was fab, hope I get Isaac again on another tour, definitely recommend
What our customers ask about Garden Route Tours for Solo Travelers
What percentage of travelers on Garden Route tours are solo travelers?
Tour data shows 30-45% of Garden Route visitors travel solo. The Garden Route Splendour tour attracts 45% solo travelers while the Garden Route & Safari tour sees 40% individual bookings. As one TourRadar traveler noted: "There was a good mix of couples and singles in our group which made for great dynamics and nobody ever felt left out."
What's the best time of year for solo travelers to visit the Garden Route?
September through November and March through May offer the best conditions for solo travel with mild weather and a good mix of visitors without peak season crowds. These shoulder months draw higher numbers of solo travelers with September and October seeing 58% solo bookings. Spring brings wildflowers to Tsitsikamma making it an especially good time to visit.
How much free time is typically available for solo exploration on Garden Route tours?
Most tours provide 2-3 hours of independent exploration daily especially in stops like Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. Hotels like the Rex in Knysna and Windsor in Hermanus offer central locations perfect for exploring. According to one traveler: "The schedule had perfect balance - enough group time to bond but also free time to explore on my own or with new friends from the tour."
What single supplement cost for Garden Route tours?
Single room supplements range from USD 150-300 based on accommodation type and season. Properties like La Plume Guest House in Oudtshoorn and Rex Hotel in Knysna have single rooms available. To avoid extra costs some tours offer room sharing as one traveler notes: "The accommodation arrangements were great and I was matched with a compatible roommate which helped save on costs."
What activities along the Garden Route are best suited for solo travelers?
Social activities abound from Stellenbosch wine tastings to Knysna Lagoon cruises and guided safaris at Addo Elephant Park. The Cango Caves tours and visits to Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary naturally bring groups together. A past visitor shared: "The group activities were perfectly organized to help everyone mingle naturally especially during the Knysna sunset cruise where we all bonded over drinks and dolphin watching."
How safe is it to travel solo on a Garden Route guided tour?
Guided tours provide a secure way to explore with experienced guides and organized group activities. Properties like City Lodge Hotel at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town and Rex Hotel in Knysna offer safe locations with round-the-clock staff. As one traveler said: "I felt completely safe throughout the tour - our guide was incredibly attentive and the group dynamic provided an extra sense of security."