Stephan Eder
I traveled through South Africa twice with Overcross: once on a motorcycle, the second time by truck. Both trips were super organized and unforgettable experie...
ADVENTURE-TOURS · SOUTH AFRICA
Garden Route Tour South Africa
Garden route tour South Africa in a shared overland truck — a 6-day small group journey from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town covering the most scenic stretch of the South African coast.
How long?
6 Days
When?
Summer, Autumn, Winter
Price
$ 1,554
/ Person
The Journey
Overland Safari from Port Elizabeth
This garden route safari South Africa runs from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town in a 4x4 overland truck across six days of coast, forest, and karoo. The route takes in the Addo Elephant National Park on Day 1, then Jeffreys Bay, the Tsitsikamma National Park, and Knysna before heading inland to Oudtshoorn and the Cango Caves. The final day covers the Cape Whale Coast with a stop at the Stony Point penguin colony. Accommodations run as a garden route camping tour or lodge option, both from €869. Groups travel with 4 to 12 people, guided in English throughout.
Key Highlights of the Trip
Key Highlights of the Trip
01
Garden Route Safari Drive
01
Garden Route Safari Drive
Travel the full garden route overland tour from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town in a 4x4 truck, covering coast, forest, and karoo terrain across six days with a small group of 4 to 12 travelers.
02
Addo Elephant Park Safari
02
Addo Elephant Park Safari
Spend Day 1 on a half-day game drive through Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa's third-largest national park, where elephants and the Big Five roam across diverse bush and scrubland terrain.
03
Tsitsikamma National Park
03
Tsitsikamma National Park
Walk the Waterfall Trail along the Storms River Mouth, explore one of South Africa's key marine reserves on a tsitsikamma national park tour, or add the optional Woodcutters Journey into the forest biome.
04
Cango Caves Oudtshoorn
04
Cango Caves Oudtshoorn
Join a guided tour of the Cango Caves near Oudtshoorn on this cango caves tour South Africa — one of the largest limestone cave systems in the world, with formations built over thousands of years in the Little Karoo.
05
Cape Whale Coast Finale
05
Cape Whale Coast Finale
Close the south Africa overland tour along the Cape Whale Coast, stopping at the Stony Point African penguin colony and passing through Hermanus, where southern right whales are visible from July to November.
South Africa
This garden route tour South Africa runs from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town across six days, covering elephant country, coastal forests, limestone caves, and the Cape Whale Coast in a shared 4x4 overland truck.
Days 1–6
Port Elizabeth – Addo Elephant Park
The garden route tour South Africa opens with a half-day safari in Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa’s third-largest national park and home to the Big Five. The overland truck enters the park in the morning for a game drive focused on the elephant herds that gave Addo its name. Expect to spot buffalo, black rhino, and lion alongside the park’s diverse fynbos and valley bushveld. The afternoon is spent settling into camp or lodge accommodation near the park, with a briefing on the days ahead. Entry fees for the national park are included.
Jeffreys Bay – Garden Route Start
After breakfast the truck heads west to Jeffreys Bay, one of the world’s most recognized surf breaks on the Indian Ocean. Time here is free — swim, visit the small surf museum, or take coffee overlooking the bay. This is the official start of the south Africa garden route tour as the coast road opens up. The afternoon continues west into the Tsitsikamma region, with overnight accommodation near the national park. The Garden Route’s mix of white beaches, dense forests, and coastal trails begins in earnest here.
Tsitsikamma National Park Hike
Today is a full tsitsikamma national park tour day. After breakfast the group walks the Waterfall Trail along the first section of the Otter Trail to the mouth of the Storms River — a significant marine protected area. Those who prefer a shorter route take the boardwalk promenade to the Storms River Mouth viewpoint. Optional afternoon activities include the Woodcutters Journey, a guided forest walk that explores the Tsitsikamma biome’s flora, fauna, and timber history. Adrenaline seekers can book the Bloukrans Bridge bungy jump at 216 m, the highest commercial bungy in the world.
Questions about the tour itinerary?
Our tour guide is happy to answer any questions about the day-by-day route, stops, and details.
Knysna – Cango Caves Oudtshoorn
The morning stop is Knysna, known for its lagoon and the forested hills rising behind the town. Time in town allows for a walk along the waterfront and shopping before the truck climbs the Outeniqua Mountains with a final view over Knysna Lagoon. The route descends into Oudtshoorn in the Klein Karoo — the ostrich capital of the world. The afternoon is spent on a guided tour of the Cango Caves, one of the largest limestone cave systems on earth, where calcite formations have grown over millennia inside the cave network. The base tour is included in the price.
Route 62 – Barrydale & Ronnie’s
Leaving Oudtshoorn, the garden route small group tour follows Route 62 through the Western Cape hinterland, passing fruit farms, vineyards, and Karoo towns. An early highlight is watching meerkat groups emerge at sunrise before human activity disturbs them. A stop at a farm stall along the route lets travelers pick up local produce, preserves, and handmade crafts directly from producers. The day’s most unusual stop is Ronnie’s Sex Shop — a well-known country pub with a history of creative name changes, cold beer, and snacks. Overnight in Barrydale or surrounds on this garden route camping tour or lodge option.
Cape Whale Coast – Cape Town
The final day of this garden route safari South Africa follows the Cape Whale Coast, a 150 km stretch of cliffs, estuaries, and fishing villages east of Cape Town. The route passes through Hermanus, where southern right whales are visible from the cliffs between July and November. A stop at Stony Point Nature Reserve in Betty’s Bay brings the group to the largest breeding colony of African penguins on the Western Cape coast. The truck also passes Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, before arriving in Cape Town to end the tour.
Want a detailed description of all tour days?
Our expert will walk you through the full itinerary and answer all your questions.
Verified Reviews
What participants say about Adventure-tours in South Africa
5.0
PRICE
from
$ 1,554
/ person
Price Options
Small group trip
$ 1,554
Additional Options
single room surcharge
$ 170
Trip includes
- Meals (6x breakfast, 3x lunch, 4x dinner)
- Overnight stay in fixed accommodations/lodges/fixed tents (lodge safari) or in a tent (camping safari)
- Trained, English-speaking tour guide (unless otherwise noted)
- Transport in a 4x4 overland truck
- Camping equipment (tent & sleeping mat) on the camping safari
- Information for trip preparation & tour folder
- Entry fees for the national parks
FAQS
-
Safari in Addo Elephant National Park, Tsitsikamma National Park, Cango Caves, wine region Stellenbosch.
-
The group travels together in an overland truck!!
-
The trip can be booked as a camping or lodge tour, with a preference for locally managed accommodations.
OVERCROSS note on itinerary
The above travel description is a non-binding online proposal and does not represent a binding travel itinerary. We expressly reserve the right to make changes to the route, schedule, and accommodations (§ 651d BGB in conjunction with Art. 250 EGBGB). The terms and conditions of OVERCROSS apply.Terms and Conditions of OVERCROSS
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