• 7 Breakfast (B)

• Cape Town: The Garden Route encompasses everything you want to experience and see on a trip to South Africa. It has the ‘Mother City’ of Cape Town, plenty of beaches to catch a surf or tan, wine farms to indulge in, adventurous activities on both land and sea as well as Big 5 Game Reserves to get your wildlife fix.  
• Tsitsikamma National Park: It’s common to start in Mossel Bay in the west and finish at Storms River in the east – but there’s no reason you couldn’t do this in reverse or start in the middle (like the rebel you are). Our Garden Route & Addo trip starts off in Cape Town. From there, we’ll board the Contiki coach and drive east to the Addo Elephant Park via Oudtshoorn. We then head south to Gqeberha before making our way back west to Hermanus via Knysna. Check the itinerary above for more info.  
• Tsitsikamma National Park: It’ll change slightly depending on what time of year you’re visiting, but some essentials will include: Your camera Comfortable shoes & clothes for walking (including a beanie, gloves and warm jacket for open-top safari drives in the winter) Your swimming costume?& towel Sun cream, a hat, sunglasses Insect repellent  A portable phone charger Binoculars (crucial for game drives to see animals in the distance) Day bag for daily activities Torch/Headlight Reusable water bottle Read our full guide to visiting Africa here.  
• Tsitsikamma National Park: The Garden Route summer occurs between October to April, with the best beach weather coming in December to February. July to December is Whale Season, so this is the best time to visit if you’re keen to admire the Garden Route’s awesome marine life. May – September usually sees the coolest weather, so these months are ideal for hiking, outdoor activities, and safaris. 
• Tsitsikamma National Park: Excellent. We visit wildlife reserves, so you’ll have a decent chance of catching the elusive Big 5 – plus giraffes, warthogs and other famed species. You’ll also have a great chance of seeing elephants in Addo, plus the myriad marine life on our marine activities – including whales, dolphins, penguins and more.
• Cape Town: You’ll be journeying around in your very own Contiki coach or minibus, equipped with AC (for a much-needed cool down from the tropical heat.) You’ll have the company of your Trip Manager, who’ll give you all the juicy info you need about the incredible spots you see en-route. And of course, we’ll keep it groovy on the coach with some music.   
• Cape Town: This Garden Route & Addo trip is studded with incredible stays. This includes centrally-located beachside resorts and waterfront hotels, with scrumptious buffet breakfasts to kickstart your day. You’ll also have access to all amenities like restaurants, bars, and pools. 

• Cango Caves: Tour Africa’s largest limestone caves system. At over 20 million years old, it makes our nan look like a spring chicken.  
• Addo Elephant National Park: See these gentle giants in their natural habitat as you cruise in our Contiki coach through this scenic National park. Also be on the lookout for giraffes, antelopes, buffaloes, warthogs and all of Africa’s incredible wildlife.
• Jeffreys Bay: Known for its waves, its calamari and its natural beauty, there’s no beach quite like Jeffreys Bay Beach. Don’t forget your sunscreen!
• Knysna: If you’re looking for dramatic scenery, a trek through Tsitsikamma National Park will give you plenty of ops to fill up your memories and Insta feed. 
• Knysna: Stretch out on the golden sands and enjoy some sea air at one of South Africa’s best beaches.    
• Hermanus: Sensational scenery plus your favourite seabird, is this the detour of your dreams or is this the detour of your dreams?
• Stellenbosch: Get to know the photogenic wine town of Stellenbosch. Rich in vineyards, but even richer in history.
• Cape Town: Bo-Kaap. The City Centre. V&A Waterfront. This tour takes in all the historical sites & attractions of the Mother City.  
• Cape Town: Stroll around the scenic harbour and enjoy some Insta-worthy views, at South Africa’s most-visited attraction. 

Spend time on the sand at Jeffreys Bay Beach, a celebrated stop on South Africa’s surf coast. Watch surfers read the waves, feel the sea breeze and take in the long sweep of shoreline at your own pace.

Known locally as J-Bay, the town is renowned for its powerful, consistent breaks, especially the wave called Supertubes. This included beach visit lets you experience its coastal setting without needing to get in the water.

Walk through Tsitsikamma National Park towards the Storms River mouth, where forest meets a rugged stretch of Indian Ocean coastline. The hike offers views of the river gorge, rocky shore and the area’s striking pedestrian suspension bridges.

Part of the Garden Route National Park, Tsitsikamma protects both coastal scenery and indigenous forest. Take your time on the trail: changing views of the water and headlands make the walk as rewarding as its viewpoint.

Stretch out on the golden sands of Plettenberg Bay’s main beach and enjoy time beside the Indian Ocean. Walk the shore, dip your feet in the water or simply watch the surf roll towards this popular Garden Route resort town.

Plettenberg Bay is known for its broad beaches and coastal views. This included visit is an easy way to enjoy the route’s beach life, with the sound of the waves setting a different pace from its inland wildlife experiences.

Visit Stony Point Nature Reserve at Betty’s Bay to watch African penguins in their natural coastal habitat. Follow the boardwalks for views of birds moving between nesting areas, rocks and the sea, without walking through the colony itself.

Stony Point protects one of the few mainland breeding colonies of this endangered species. Seeing the penguins up close offers a memorable glimpse of South Africa’s marine wildlife and the conservation work needed to protect it.

Ride the Table Mountain cable car to the summit of Cape Town’s landmark plateau. At the top, take in wide views across the city, the Atlantic coast and the surrounding mountains when conditions are clear.

Table Mountain’s near-level silhouette has shaped Cape Town’s skyline for centuries. The summit is also part of a remarkably diverse natural landscape, giving this included ascent a perspective on both the city and the environment around it. Cable car operations depend on the weather.

Get into the water for an optional surfing lesson at Jeffreys Bay, one of South Africa’s most recognised surf destinations. Practise the basics and try catching a wave on this stretch of Indian Ocean coastline. The lesson is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

J-Bay’s reputation rests on its celebrated surf breaks, but you don’t need to be an experienced surfer to appreciate the setting. A lesson turns a beach stop into a hands-on coastal experience.

Set out on an optional marine safari from Plettenberg Bay in search of dolphins, seals, whales and other sea life. Scan the water and coastline with your guide as you explore this wildlife-rich part of the Garden Route. The safari is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Marine sightings vary with the season and conditions, so no particular animal is guaranteed. The experience offers a chance to appreciate the bay from the water as well as to watch for its remarkable wildlife.

Meet local residents on an optional township visit in Knysna and learn about community life beyond the town’s waterfront. The itinerary also describes an opportunity to make a positive impact for local children. This visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Approach the experience with curiosity and respect: its value lies in listening to the people who live here and gaining a fuller understanding of the area’s social landscape. Details of the community activity can be confirmed on tour.

Cruise Knysna Lagoon at sunset on an optional boat outing, watching the light change over the sheltered water and surrounding shoreline. The cruise is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

The lagoon forms part of the Knysna Estuary and is framed by the dramatic headlands known as the Knysna Heads, where its waters meet the Indian Ocean. From aboard, you can appreciate the setting that gives this Garden Route town its distinctive waterfront atmosphere.

Take an optional helicopter flight over Cape Town for an aerial view of its coastline, sea and mountain peaks. Look down on the city’s striking position between the Atlantic Ocean and the slopes of the Cape Peninsula. The flight is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Seeing this landscape from above reveals the scale of its bays and mountains in a way a ground-level visit cannot. The route and views may vary with flight and weather conditions.

Join an optional cooking class in Cape Town and help prepare food you’ll get to sample. Music and drinks are part of the evening, making it a sociable way to spend time around the table. The class is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Cooking gives you a more hands-on connection with a destination than dining out alone. The exact dishes are not specified, leaving room to discover the ingredients, methods and flavours introduced during the class.

Search for wildlife on an included drive through Addo Elephant National Park aboard the tour coach. The elevated vantage point helps you scan the bush for elephants, buffalo, antelope and other animals at watering holes and among the thicket.

Established to protect the region’s remaining elephants, Addo is now home to a substantial herd. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but watching for movement across this Eastern Cape landscape is part of the safari experience.

Head into the Eastern Cape’s private game reserves for two organised game drives. Keep watch for the Big Five as you travel through a varied landscape of valleys, plains and river corridors, with time to observe wildlife beyond a single sighting.

Each drive brings a different opportunity: animals move with the light, weather and time of day. Bring binoculars and a camera, and settle into the quiet anticipation that makes a safari distinctive.

Explore the Cango Caves on an included guided tour beneath the limestone hills near Oudtshoorn. Walk through vast chambers and see sculpted stalactites and stalagmites in one of South Africa’s best-known cave systems.

These ancient formations offer a striking contrast to the open landscapes of the Klein Karoo outside. Your guide brings the caves’ geology and human history into focus as you move through their illuminated halls.

Discover Stellenbosch, the historic university town at the heart of the Cape Winelands. Explore its streets and visit a local food market, where you can browse regional produce and choose something for lunch at your own expense.

Vineyards and mountain slopes frame a town with a long winemaking history and distinctive Cape architecture. The market offers another way to encounter local flavours, whether you favour savoury snacks, cheese or something sweet.

Join a short guided tour of Cape Town to get acquainted with the Mother City, including its historic centre and colourful Bo-Kaap area. You’ll also have time to explore the V&A Waterfront, with its working harbour, shops and views towards Table Mountain.

From established neighbourhoods to the redeveloped docks, these places reveal different sides of Cape Town’s history and present-day life. The waterfront’s harbour setting makes it a particularly scenic place to wander.

Choose a scenic bike ride or drive on the Swartberg Pass, a mountain route above Oudtshoorn, and enjoy a Karoo braai on a local farm. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

The pass crosses the Swartberg mountains through dramatic folds of rock and high-altitude scenery. A braai, South Africa’s tradition of cooking over an open fire, brings the outing back down to the flavours and hospitality of the Klein Karoo.

Paddle into the mouth of Storms River on an optional kayaking experience in the Tsitsikamma area. From the water, look up at the steep sides of the gorge and take in a perspective quite different from the coastal walking trail. This activity is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Here, the river meets the Indian Ocean beneath forested cliffs and rugged rock formations. Conditions shape each outing, adding to the sense of exploring a living coastal landscape.

Sample Cape wines on an optional visit to the wine farms around Stellenbosch. Taste your way through the region’s winemaking traditions while taking in the vineyard landscape. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Stellenbosch is one of South Africa’s established wine regions, with estates set among the mountains of the Cape Winelands. The tasting offers a focused introduction to local production and flavours, distinct from simply exploring the historic town.