The 15 Best Garden Route Tours & Day Trips

From Cape Town: 2-Day Safari at Garden Route Game Lodge - The road from Cape Town to Hermanus

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 928 reviews · 2 days · from $533Our pick

Travel in a small group of up to 12 from Cape Town with guides such as Chris, Vaughan, Benjamin, or Frank. Stop at Hermanus, Betty’s Bay, and Cape Agulhas, then spend a night at Garden Route Game Lodge with dinner and two safari drives.

“The game lodge and safari guide was such an amazing experience and we’re so knowledgeable about the animals. But most of all our transport guide Benjamin was exceptional! Made the journey so pleasurable, pointing out landmarks, answering question and taking us to see extra tourist attractions a long the way! Thanks Benjamin.”

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Garden Route Tours, Tour Reviews

Plettenberg Bay: Swim with Seals

2.Swim with Seals

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 887 reviews · 1h 30m · from $61

Take the Robberg Express from Central Beach to the Robberg Marine Protected Area, then spend up to 30 minutes swimming among Cape fur seals. Guides such as Angelo, Claude, and Liam provide gear, safety help, and animal-friendly instruction. Photos are included, but bring swimwear and a towel.

“Lovely experience swimming with the seals. The guide was very informative and explain things clearly. Highly recommended”

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Addo Elephant National Park All Inclusive Full-Day Safari

3.Addo Elephant National Park All Inclusive Full-Day Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 872 reviews · 9 hours · from $186

Join Afroventures Tours and Safaris for a nine-hour Addo safari from Port Elizabeth, Bluewater Bay, Colchester, or Addo. Guides such as Freddy, John, Sidwell, and King Elvis lead small groups in an air-conditioned 4x4 with a window seat for every passenger, plus lunch and refreshments.

“Great safari in Addo! Our guide was excellent, we saw many animals, and learned a lot about the area. Highly recommended!”

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Garden Route Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Zip Lines

Knysna Ziplines Tour

4.Knysna Ziplines Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 688 reviews · from $48Top rated

Spend about two hours crossing the Kranshoek gorge on a series of long ziplines above the forest. Guides such as Steven, Johannes, Smiley, Lucas, Eric, and Nigel are praised for calm instruction and good humor. Expect a small group, safety gear, a forest walk, and dramatic ocean views.

“Fantastic experience whisky staying in Plett. I would highly recommend. Smiley and Lucas were great and made the experience even more fun! We felt very safe all the way through and the views were insane!”

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Big Five Game Drives, Big Five Game Drives in Garden Route, Garden Route Tours, Guided, Tour Reviews

Little Brak River: Botlierskop Guided Game Drive

5.Botlierskop Guided Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 589 reviews · from $40

Meet your English-speaking guide at Botlierskop Private Game Reserve for a three-hour open-vehicle drive through 4,200 hectares near Mossel Bay. Look for rhinos, lions, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, cheetahs, and more. Guides such as Chris, Neil, Rico, and Mandela are praised for sharp animal knowledge and good humor.

“Botlierskop is a wonderful, upmarket place for a game drive. Despite not seeing any lions (there had been lots the day before, we were told!), we had a great time and saw numerous other animals and birds, from giraffe to zebra to rhinos. We were confident that our driver/ranger wanted us to see as much as possible. And boy, did he work that bone-shaker four wheel drive to the max! Lunch was great too. Highly recommened and excellent value for three hours. Thank you.”

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Plettenberg Bay: Bungee Jumping with Zipline and Sky Walk

6.Bungee Jumping with Zipline and Sky Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 506 reviews · from $97

At Bloukrans Bridge, Face Adrenalin guides you by zipline to Africa’s highest bungy platform. After a full safety briefing and harness check, you jump with pendulum technology, ride the winch back up, then walk the 216-meter SkyWalk to shore. Photos and videos cost extra.

“Amazing! Every single person was so friendly, had a wonderful time and would definitely do it again”

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Storms River: Tsitsikamma National Park Zipline Canopy Tour

7.Tsitsikamma National Park Zipline Canopy Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 481 reviews · 2h 30m · from $55

In Storms River, you’ll spend 150 minutes crossing ten tree-top platforms on ziplines up to 30 meters high. Two English or Afrikaans-speaking guides handle the safety work, explain yellowwoods, ferns, and birdlife, and help nervous first-timers enjoy the forest.

“We had a great time, our guides were so much fun and we learned so much. We were really impressed that this business is a sustainable one with social justice as a principle and the benefit of the local community at its core. Highly recommend and your guides are so safety conscious that you will feel safe even while zipping through the trees.”

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Cruises & Boat Tours, Garden Route Tours, Tour Reviews

Knysna: 75-Minute Lagoon Boat Cruise

8.75-Minute Lagoon Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 445 reviews · 1h 15m · from $31

Board the *Oyster Boat* at Heads Up Coffee & Co on Thesen Island for a 75-minute English-guided cruise across Knysna Lagoon to the Knysna Heads. Expect open-water views, local history, bird and marine life sightings, and friendly skippers such as Justin, Bryan, Jake, or Gabriel.

“Excellent pilot/ guide. Very warm and friendly attitude and he answered all our questions. Relaxing, interesting, best way to see the Lagoon and the Heads. Can definitely recommend this boat trip.”

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Garden Route Tours, Tour Reviews

Standard Canyoning Trip in The Crags, South Africa

9.Standard Canyoning Trip in The Crags, South Africa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 381 reviews · from $60

Join Africanyon River Adventures for a three-hour canyoning trip in The Crags. Swim or hike through a river, rappel down a 25-meter waterfall, jump from a cliff, and zipline over a 30-meter fall. Guides such as Darren, Puna, Tabzzz, and Julian keep the action safe and lively.

“Really fun experience! Everything is well organized - It‘s possible to rent some shoes if you don’t wanna wrack up your own (R140). After jumping in the wetsuits they help you get your helmet and your safety diaper on. A van will then bring you with your 2 guides to the CanyRead more”

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Plettenberg Bay: Whale Watching Boat Cruise

10.Whale Watching Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 362 reviews · 2 hours · from $49

Set out from Ocean Safaris on a 400-horsepower cat-style speedboat for two hours along Plettenberg Bay. Guides such as PK, Andy, Ashwin, and Sergio help spot whales, dolphins, seals, and seabirds. Morning departures offer the best chance of going ahead in changeable weather.

“Such a slick, well managed ride with delightful guides. We had a magical adventure hunting with dolphins and “playing” with a young humpbacked whale!”

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Garden Route Tours, Tour Reviews

Plettenberg Bay: Canyoning Trip

11.Canyoning Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 353 reviews · 2 hours - 150 minutes · from $52

Join Africanyon River Adventures for a guided canyoning trip through indigenous forest near Plettenberg Bay. You will abseil, swim, scramble, cliff jump, and ride a 55-meter zip-line into a river pool. Guides such as Steph, Darren, Tebz, Julian, and Puna are praised for calm safety support.

“An amazing outing! take time to see the scenery while swimming. Warren and Julian are amazing guides that take your safety seriously so that you can enjoy the activities without worry. wear decent gripping shoes for the rocks amd your good to go!”

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5 Day Garden Route and Addo Safari – Best of South Africa Small Group Tour

12.5 Day Garden Route and Addo Safari – Best of South Africa Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 291 reviews · from $575

Travel from Cape Town through Route 62, Oudtshoorn, Addo, Jeffreys Bay, Tsitsikamma, Knysna, and Wilderness with a local guide. Expect long drives, four breakfasts, shared accommodation options, an Addo game drive, wine tasting, Cango Caves, and optional bungy jumping, surfing, horse riding, and ziplining.

“Maudi was a great tour guide! The tour and sites were amazing. Maudi was very engaging, kept the tour on track and made us all feel like a family. Highly recommended tour!”

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6-Day Experiences, Addo Elephant Park Safaris, Addo Elephant Park Safaris in Cape Town, Addo Elephant Park Safaris in Garden Route, Cape Town Tours, Garden Route Tours, Garden Route Tours in Cape Town, Tour Reviews

6-Day Garden Route & Addo South African Adventure from Cape Town

13.6-Day Garden Route & Addo South African Adventure from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 282 reviews · from $675

Travel from Cape Town to Addo in a small group of up to 12, with a local guide, five nights of lodging, four dinners, wine tasting, canoeing, hiking, and a safari. Expect early starts, frequent stops, optional thrills, and a fast-moving route through South Africa’s southern coast.

“Fantastic trip : a large variety of landscapes, a small group very pleasant and a guide very nice and dévoted to all of us.”

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Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve: 2-Hour Game Drive

14.Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve: 2-Hour Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 267 reviews · 2 hours · from $55

Spend two hours in a 2,200-hectare reserve below the Tsitsikamma Mountains, riding with an English-speaking ranger in search of rhinos, leopards, giraffes, hippos, zebras, crocodiles, antelope, and birds. Bring a warm jacket and arrive 30 minutes early at the Safari Center.

“Excellent, saw lots of animals, elephants, giraffe, lion, buffalo, springbok, rhino & baby, crocs, tortoise, ostrich and more. Our guide was very good, very informative”

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Botlierskop Private Game Reserve: 3.5-Hour Sunset Game Drive

15.Botlierskop Private Game Reserve: 3.5-Hour Sunset Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 227 reviews · from $64

Spend 3.5 hours on a late-afternoon open-vehicle drive through Botlierskop Private Game Reserve near Mossel Bay. Your English-speaking guide looks for rhinos, lions, elephants, hippos, giraffes, buffalo, and birds, with a drinks and snacks stop included. Arrive early if you want lunch or time by the pool.