What's the best time to start a Garden Route tour from Cape Town?

October to April offers the most reliable weather for Garden Route tours departing from Cape Town. During these months visitors enjoy dry conditions and comfortable temperatures between 20-25°C (68-77°F). Knysna and Plettenberg Bay shine during this period with clear skies and calm waters. For whale enthusiasts the season runs from July to November in Hermanus making it an excellent addition to spring tours. As one TourRadar traveler noted: "The days were very beautiful the weather was perfect for all activities from hiking in Tsitsikamma to wine tasting in Stellenbosch."

What are the typical first-day activities when starting in Cape Town?

First day itineraries focus on Cape Town's essential sights. Tours typically explore the vibrant Bo-Kaap neighborhood take in the historic Company Gardens and ride the cable car up Table Mountain. Many groups gather for a welcome dinner featuring a traditional South African braai (barbecue) at places like Ashanti Lodge Gardens or Radisson Blu Hotel Cape Town. A TourRadar traveler mentioned: "Taariq was an excellent guide in Cape Town starting us off with a comprehensive city tour and making everyone feel welcome from day one."

What are the best accommodation options when starting a Garden Route tour from Cape Town?

Cape Town offers lodging across all budgets and styles. City center options include the Protea Hotel Victoria Junction while backpackers often stay at Never@Home near the V&A Waterfront or the Cresta Grande Cape Town. The route features distinctive stays like Buffelsdrift's luxury safari tents in Oudtshoorn and oceanfront rooms at Beacon Island Resort Plettenberg Bay. As noted by a TourRadar traveler: "All the accommodation was fabulous - we just loved it all. You could join others for dinner or do your own thing - there was never any pressure."

What wildlife experiences are available when starting from Cape Town?

The wildlife viewing begins right in Cape Town with African penguins at Boulders Beach and seals at Duiker Island. Seasonal whale watching runs in Hermanus from July through November. As you travel east encounters with Africa's Big Five await at private reserves and Addo Elephant Park. According to a TourRadar traveler: "From Cape Town's penguins to the elephants in Addo we saw incredible wildlife throughout the journey. The game drives were particularly spectacular."

How long is the drive from Cape Town to the first Garden Route stop?

The journey to the Garden Route's western gateway covers about 450 kilometers taking 5-6 hours via the scenic Route 62 to Oudtshoorn. Tours break up the drive with stops at wineries local restaurants and viewpoints. A TourRadar traveler shared: "The drives never felt too long we had great entertainment: music guide sharing local stories and interesting history."

What's the typical length of Cape Town Garden Route tours starting in Cape Town?

Most tours run between 4-12 days with 10 days being the sweet spot for experiencing the route's highlights. Itineraries start with Cape Town's attractions like Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula before following the coast east through Hermanus Oudtshoorn and Knysna. As one TourRadar traveler noted: "We had the most amazing time on our tour. We were on holiday for 2 weeks and these days were definitely the highlight of our holiday. The animals activities places we visited were the best."

Garden Route Tours from Cape Town

An adventure starting in Cape Town is a great way to see Garden Route. We have 109 tours that range from 3 days up to 21 days. The most popular time for tours from Cape Town is October, which has the most tour departures.

10 best Garden Route tours from Cape Town

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Our most booked and loved tours
Best Seller
Explorer
7 day Garden Route, Cape Point and Winelands Combo
4.6 (36 traveler reviews)
"It was a very Diverse itinerary, the hotels and restaurants are of high quality and we tried lots of new food."
Joshua, traveled in June
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Cape Town, Wilderness National Park, Sedgefield, Knysna,Tsitsikamma National Park,Jeffreys Bay,Addo Elephant National Park,Oudtshoorn,Stellenbosch+5 more
Age Range
Ages 10+
Country Region
Garden Route
Operated in
English
Operator
Hotspots2c
From
US$1,210per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
Luxury Garden Route Journey from Cape Town
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"All of the accommodation and experiences that he booked were excellent & thoroughly enjoyable."
Matthew, traveled in February
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Cape Town, Stellenbosch, George, Wilderness National Park,Plettenberg Bay,Port Elizabeth,Addo Elephant National Park,Jeffreys Bay,Oudtshoorn+5 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
Garden Route
Operated in
English
Operator
Amatungulu Tour
From
US$2,390per person
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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Explorer
11 Days Cape Town, Garden Route & Kruger Explorer
4.6 (16 traveler reviews)
"Loved the over all experience. Cape extreme tours are best and tour radar who promotes them are also great."
Shashikala, traveled in August
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Cape Town, Simon's Town, Sedgefield, Knysna,Tsitsikamma National Park,Oudtshoorn,Johannesburg,Kruger National Park+4 more
Age Range
Ages 10+
Country Region
Garden Route
Operated in
English
Operator
Cape Xtreme
From
US$2,470per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Handpicked adventures loved by our team
TourRadar Curated
Wildlife
3 day Garden Route + Safari Highlights Tour from Cape Town
4.6 (83 traveler reviews)
"Great Adventure Tour ... much fun. Lot of driving thru the Scenery..."
Stefan, traveled in October
Duration
3 days
Destinations
Cape Town, Oudtshoorn, Wilderness National Park,Sedgefield+1 more
Age Range
Ages 10+
Country Region
Garden Route
Operated in
English
Operator
Hotspots2c
From
US$403per person
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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In-depth Cultural
Cape Town - Garden Route - Addo Chauffeur Drive Tour: 6 Days
4.0 (1 traveler review)
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Oudtshoorn, Knysna,Addo Elephant National Park,Port Elizabeth+2 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
Garden Route
Operated in
English
Operator
Explore South Africa
From
US$1,190per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Food & Culinary
Winelands & Garden Route for Wine Lovers - Chauffeur Drive Tour 5 Days
5.0 (2 traveler reviews)
"The tour only scratches the surface of the Winelands and Garden Route, and you could do it many times and see different things each time."
Peter, traveled in November
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Calitzdorp, Oudtshoorn,Witfontein Nature Reserve,Knysna,Plettenberg Bay,Tsitsikamma National Park,George+5 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
Garden Route
Operated in
English
Operator
Explore South Africa
From
US$938per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Cape Town to the Garden Route - Chauffeur Drive Tour: 4 Days
4.0 (1 traveler review)
"We saw an interesting variety of terrain and Mankind's use of that terrain."
Brenda, traveled in January
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Cape Town, Oudtshoorn, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, George
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
Garden Route
Operated in
English
Operator
Explore South Africa
From
US$870per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Winelands & Garden Route Health & Wellness: Spa Treatments - Nutritious Cuisine - Fine Wine (5 Days)
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"Amazing tour with amazing tour guides, 100% recommend, great experience and knowledge."
Yosur, traveled in December
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Montagu, Oudtshoorn, Knysna,George+1 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
Garden Route
Operated in
English
Operator
Explore South Africa
From
US$1,098per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
10 Days Cape Town, Garden Route & Addo Expedition
4.6 (20 traveler reviews)
"Had a fantastic time, met amazing people and our guide sylvester was so knowledgable and good fun!"
Kerryann, traveled in June
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Cape Town, Hermanus, L'Agulhas, Wilderness National Park,Sedgefield,Tsitsikamma National Park,Jeffreys Bay,Addo Elephant National Park,Knysna,Oudtshoorn+6 more
Age Range
Ages 10+
Country Region
Garden Route
Operated in
English
Operator
Cape Xtreme
From
US$1,650per person
Price based on Shared Room
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$South Africa\'s Garden Route Tour$
$South Africa\'s Garden Route - 11 destinations$
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Explorer
South Africa's Garden Route
4.4 (34 traveler reviews)
"The food and drink was especially great both being to a high standard and inexpensive."
jacquelinesmith, traveled in January
Duration
12 days
Destinations
Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Betty's Bay, Hermanus, L'Agulhas,Oudtshoorn,Knysna,Plettenberg Bay,Tsitsikamma National Park,Addo Elephant National Park,Port Elizabeth+6 more
Age Range
Ages 16+
Country Region
Garden Route
Operated in
English
Operator
Explore!
From
US$2,760per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Our most booked and loved tours
Best Seller
Explorer
Garden Route & Addo Group Adventure - 6 Days
4.8 (126 traveler reviews) award winner
"The food we ate during the tour was all delicious, and the self-driving safari experience in the Addo Elephant National Park was awesome."
Lana, traveled in August
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Cape Town, Gordons Bay, Betty's Bay, Hermanus, L'Agulhas,Barrydale,Calitzdorp,Oudtshoorn,Wilderness National Park,Sedgefield,Knysna,Tsitsikamma National Park,Addo Elephant National Park,Mossel Bay+9 more
Age Range
Ages 18+
Country Region
Garden Route
Operated in
English
Operator
Earthstompers Adventures
From
US$814per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
5 day Best of South Africa Highlights: Garden Route with Addo National Park
4.7 (179 traveler reviews) award winner
"Action packed and lots of activities to keep everyone happy. All hotels that we stayed in were of high standard."
Kishan, traveled in August
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Cape Town, Wilderness National Park, Sedgefield, Knysna,Tsitsikamma National Park,Jeffreys Bay,Addo Elephant National Park,Oudtshoorn+4 more
Age Range
Ages 10+
Regions
Garden RouteAddo Elephant Park+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Hotspots2c
From
US$776per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
4 Day Garden Route Adventure
5.0 (15 traveler reviews)
"So much packed in, in just a few days, but without feeling rushed. The whole experience also felt great value for money."
Sophie, traveled in May
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Cape Town, Oudtshoorn, Plettenberg Bay, Knysna,Stormsrivier,Wilderness National Park,Sedgefield,Albertinia,Hermanus,Betty's Bay+6 more
Age Range
Ages 6+
Country Region
Garden Route
Operated in
English
Operator
Bokbus Garden Route Adventure Tours & Safaris
From
US$754per person
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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Explorer
5 Day Garden Route Adventure Including Addo
4.3 (6 traveler reviews)
"Such a wonderful experience. Long hours but so much to see so it was worth it."
Trisha, traveled in June
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Cape Town, Oudtshoorn, Plettenberg Bay, Knysna,Stormsrivier,Wilderness National Park,Jeffreys Bay,Addo Elephant National Park,Albertinia,Hermanus,Betty's Bay+7 more
Age Range
Ages 6+
Country Region
Garden Route
Operated in
English
Operator
Bokbus Garden Route Adventure Tours & Safaris
From
US$755per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
5-Day Group Garden Route & Addo Adventure Tour (one-way)
5.0 (41 traveler reviews)
"We felt like we got a first-hand education of life in South Africa. Everything went as planned, and there was quite a bit of flexibility on the extra activities."
Ray, traveled in July
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Cape Town, Betty's Bay, Hermanus, L'Agulhas, Barrydale,Oudtshoorn,Wilderness National Park,Sedgefield,Knysna,Tsitsikamma National Park,Addo Elephant National Park,Port Elizabeth+7 more
Age Range
Ages 18+
Country Region
Garden Route
Operated in
English
Operator
Earthstompers Adventures
From
US$758per person
Price based on Shared Room
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