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Garden Route Adventure

14 Days | Take to South Africa's wild southern coast

3.8 out of 5 based on 10 reviews submitted.
Overland
From
USD $1,648
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Follow the coastal trail to Cape Town on an adventurous 14-day adventure along the Garden Route and Wild Coast of South Africa. Hit up all the region’s hotspots – elephant spotting in Addo Elephant National Park, wine tasting in the Hermanus Wine Region, hiking in the Lesotho Highlands, meeting local Xhosa communities in Cintsa, and wildlife viewing in Tsitsikamma and Bontebok national parks. Get a sprinkling of safaris thrown in with wine tasting and fig farming, creating a whole South African smorgasbord. When will you sample the local delights?

Trip overview

Map of Garden Route Adventure including Lesotho and South Africa
Start
Durban, South Africa
Finish
Cape Town, South Africa
Theme
Overland
Destinations
South Africa, Lesotho
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Basix
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 22
Trip code
UBOH
This trip generates 41.43 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Whether it’s searching for gentle giants on a game drive through Addo Elephant National Park or hiking past antelope in Bontebok National Park, there’s no shortage of wildlife spotting on this adventure.
  • Embark on a half-day guided walk in the mighty Drakensburg Range – one of many spectacular hikes along the Garden Route that you can choose to discover in your free time.
  • Rise early with your small group to watch wild meerkats wake and warm in the morning sun, before continuing south to Swellendam – South Africa’s third-oldest town.
  • Cruise the classic R320 route – stopping by a couple of wineries for local tastings – en route to South Africa's southernmost point at Cape Agulhus.
  • As you tour the Wild Coast, stop by South Africa’s Xhosa community for an afternoon spent with a local guide, learning about enduring customs and cultures in this tribal group.

Is this trip right for you?
  • This is an overland trip. That means you’ll be travelling with a group in a purpose-built vehicle, visiting remote communities, setting up your own tent, occasionally roughing it in the bush with no facilities, and getting the best possible views of the Big Five. While the trucks don’t have air conditioning, they do have sliding windows which let in the breeze and make it even easier to take spectacular snaps of the local wildlife. The drive days can be long, but it’s as much about the journey as the destination, and half the fun is the camaraderie. For more info on this style of travel, see our Africa overland page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/africa/overland
  • For your accommodation and campsites on your adventure, facilities do vary, and wi-fi is not always available. Accommodation upgrades are often available.
  • There will be many early starts either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days.
  • Some passengers on this trip will have been travelling together prior to the start of your trip. To see what more you could do, check out our Kruger, Coast & Cape adventure – search trip code UBOSC on the Intrepid website for more information.

Itinerary

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 March 2023 to 31 December 2023.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024

Map of Garden Route Adventure including Lesotho and South Africa

Inclusions

Meals

13 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 12 dinners

Transport

Overland vehicle

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (8 nights), Dormitory (3 nights), Lodge (2 nights)

Activities
  • Howick - Nelson Mandela Capture Site
  • Drakensburg - Royal Natal National Park Hike
  • Addo Elephant National Park - Overland Vehicle Game drive
  • Oudtshoorn - Cango Caves Guided Tour
  • Oudtshoorn - Meerkat Experience
  • Hermanus - R320 Route Wine Tour
Add on activities
  • Durban - Art Gallery - Free
  • Durban - Bay Cruise - ZAR240
  • Durban - Juma Masjid Mosque - Free
  • Lesotho - Bushman Painting Hike - ZAR60
  • Lesotho - Pitseng Canyon Hike - 6 hours - ZAR120
  • Lesotho - Village and Museum Walk - ZAR50
  • Cintsa - Village Tour - ZAR235
  • Cinsta - Canoe Hire - Free
  • Addo Elephant National Park - Night game drive - ZAR480
  • Tsitsikamma - Snorkelling - ZAR440
  • Tsitsikamma - Stormsriver Mouth Hike - Free
  • Tsitsikamma - Waterfall Trail - Free
  • Bontebok National Park - Hiking Trail - Free
  • Cape Town - Harbour cruise - ZAR200
  • Cape Town - Robben Island tour - ZAR550
  • Cape Town - Table Mountain Aerial Cable - ZAR380
  • Cape Town - Table Mountain Hike - ZAR1600
  • Hermanus - Grotto Beach Walk - Free
  • Cape Town - Best of the Cape Combo Tour - Full Day - ZAR2000
  • Cape Town - Cape Peninsula and SUP Tour - Full Day - ZAR2100
  • Cape Town - Robben Island Ferry & Table Mountain Tour - Full Day - ZAR1800
  • Cape Town - Winelands Tour - Full Day - ZAR1600
  • Cape Town - Winelands Tour - Half Day - ZAR1000
  • Cape Town - Cape Peninsula & Table Mountain Tour - Full Day - ZAR2000
  • Cape Town - Cape Malay Cooking Tour - Half Day - ZAR1200
  • Cape Town - Township Experience - Half Day - ZAR965
  • Cape Town - City and Waterfront Tour - Half Day - ZAR1100
  • Cape Town - Cape Peninsula & Kirstenbosch Tour - Full Day - ZAR2000
  • Cape Town - District Six & Bo-Kapp Cultural Tour - Half Day - ZAR965

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1.A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

2.This trip finishes upon arrival in Cape Town on Day 14. Please do not book any flights until after 8pm this evening.

3.The minimum age for this trip is 15 at the time of travel. Any travellers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian, or in lieu of a legal guardian, by an escort over the age of 18, appointed by their legal guardian. The legal guardian or their designee will be responsible for the traveller under the age of 18 day to day’s care. If a legal guardian elects to designate an escort in their lieu, they will be required to complete and sign a relevant document, to delegate their authority.

4.Border crossing delays in the region have been sporadic and difficult to predict. What takes an hour one day may take four hours the next. This may affect the order of activities in the itinerary. We understand this uncertainty can be frustrating, and we strongly recommend packing a bit of patience and flexibility.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

3.8 out of 5 based on 10 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Kerstin · Traveled October 2023
This trip boosts some spectacular scenery and locations visited are beautiful. The crew makes the trip even more enjoyable, thanks to Christian, Enock and Gift! - as well as the group that felt like family. The optional hikes/walks are beautiful, but beware you're crossing different climate zones and the weather in the mountains and coast is unpredictable and may change in seconds. Some hikes might not be possible due to bad weather/rain/snow. Bring enough jumpers, wind and rain jackets and maybe even extra blanket as it can get chilly, especially at night. Also be prepared for long driving days (but don't sleep all the way as you might miss out on the beauty of the country or even some wildlife).
Review submitted 15 Nov 2023

Holly · Traveled October 2023
A whirlwind trip. Be prepared for a few long days on the road but they’re all totally worth it. Truly feel we have seen the true South Africa on this trip. An excellent experience.
Review submitted 14 Nov 2023

James · Traveled July 2023
The National Parks and other locations visited on this trip were stunning. The food provided was delicious and the guide was knowledgeable. However, the trip had very long drives and the vehicle used was inappropriate, I felt crammed, had little leg room and could not see out the window. I would warn the Drakensberg leg of the trip had only a brief walk with no other activities offered or provided.
Review submitted 28 Jul 2023

Walburga · Traveled April 2023
The garden route is an amazing trip. Intrepid takes you off the beaten path and shows you incredible places.
Review submitted 13 May 2023

Jenny · Traveled March 2023
You'll experience wonderful nature and breath-taking scenery on a road trip with friends, but pack for all weathers as it can rain and be cold when camping and also be hot and humid in other places. If you love nature, wildlife, hiking, camping, and road tripping, and you don't need luxury accommodation or fine dining, then this trip is for you and you will feel safe and cared for even while travelling alone as a woman :)
Review submitted 10 Apr 2023
Garden Route Adventure
From
USD $1,648