• 7 Breakfast (B)

• Marrakesh: A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
• 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. 

Unwind on the golden sweep of Plettenberg Bay, where warm sands and calm shallows invite a barefoot meander. Swim, sunbathe or find a café terrace overlooking rolling surf and headlands.

With the Robberg Peninsula framing the bay and seabirds skimming the breakers, the scene is pure Garden Route—expansive horizons, soft sea breezes and time to savour the coast at your own pace.

Ride the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway to panoramic viewpoints where city, sea and mountain meet. From the summit, trace Lion’s Head to the Twelve Apostles and capture panoramic views over the Mother City.

Continue with a concise city orientation through Bo-Kaap and the City Centre, where colourful facades and layered history reveal Cape Town’s multicultural story—from Cape Malay heritage to colonial-era landmarks and thriving contemporary life.

Cruise the sheltered waters of the Knysna estuary as golden light warms the sandstone Knysna Heads. Sip a drink, feel the breeze and watch cormorants skim low while boats trace lazy wakes across the lagoon.

Skippers share tales of shipwrecks, tides and oyster beds that shaped the town. This relaxing cruise is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Experience two classic safaris—dawn and dusk—on Eastern Cape private reserves where riverine thicket gives way to open plains. Set out with expert rangers on two game drives, scanning for giraffe silhouettes, browsing rhino and the stealthy movements of big cats.

Golden hours amplify the bush’s drama: birds call, antelope gather and predators stir. Guides interpret tracks and behavior, sharing the ecology behind the Big 5 and the region’s successful rewilding. It’s immersive, ethical wildlife viewing at its most atmospheric.

Walk a coastal forest trail in Tsitsikamma National Park to the iconic Storms River Mouth suspension bridge. Hear the surf thunder beneath your feet, feel mist on your skin and watch emerald fynbos tumble to dark, churning water.

Rangers safeguard this meeting point of waves and fynbos cliffs, a sanctuary for birdlife and indigenous trees. Pause for photos and reflection as the bridge spans a dramatic gorge—nature’s architecture framed by rugged shoreline and endlessly moving sea.

Soak up surf-town vibes at Jeffreys Bay, where long Indian Ocean lines peel along the point at Supertubes. Stroll the sand, watch locals carve the break and breathe in the briny air that fuels this legendary right-hand point.

Beyond the waves, J-Bay blends artisan surf stores with relaxed seafood shacks—famed for fresh calamari. It’s a photogenic pause on the Garden Route, perfect for coastal panoramas and a snapshot of South Africa’s laid-back beach culture.

Visit Stony Point Nature Reserve to encounter a mainland African penguin colony from purpose-built boardwalks. Watch these endangered seabirds waddle to their nests, preen on sun-warmed rocks and torpedo through clear shallows.

Interpretive signage explains conservation at one of only two mainland breeding sites in South Africa. Alongside penguins, look for cormorants and dassies as ocean swells crash against the rocky shore—an intimate, respectful window onto coastal wildlife.

Explore the V&A Waterfront, a lively district where a working harbour pairs with open-air plazas, buskers and craft markets. Stroll past converted granaries and gleaming yachts with Table Mountain forming an ever-changing backdrop.

Enjoy waterside viewpoints ideal for photography, browse local design stores, or watch seals bask near the quays. The blend of maritime grit and polished culture makes this a quintessential Cape Town scene.

Visit Stellenbosch, the Winelands’ elegant university town framed by vineyards and mountains. Wander oak-lined avenues, admire whitewashed Cape Dutch gables and take in manicured squares buzzing with cafés and galleries.

Founded in 1679, Stellenbosch blends academic energy with farming heritage. Architectural preserves and museums spotlight settler history and contemporary design, while the surrounding Winelands set a graceful stage of terroir and tradition.

Cycle or drive the historic Swartberg Pass, a gravel masterpiece built by Thomas Bain that snakes between sheer sandstone cliffs. Take in switchback panoramas of the Klein Karoo’s folded mountains and stark, high-altitude fynbos.

Continue to a local farm for a convivial Karoo braai dinner, where starry skies and open fires set the mood. This experience is available at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Hit the water for a beginner-friendly session in South Africa’s surf capital. Instructors introduce ocean safety, paddling and pop-up technique before you try catching green waves near J-Bay’s gentler breaks—while pros carve Supertubes down the point.

All essential gear is provided, and the stoke is instant as you feel the board plane beneath you. This lesson is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Paddle beneath forested cliffs where tannin-dark waters meet the sea at the Storms River Mouth. Glide through narrow gorges, slip under overhangs and feel the energy of swells funneled into this dramatic canyon.

Guides share insights into geology, fynbos and the marine reserve as you explore. This adventure is at additional cost and bookable on tour, weather and tides permitting.

Set out on a coastal cruise to seek dolphins, seabirds and playful Cape fur seals, with seasonal whale sightings along the Garden Route’s nutrient-rich waters. Skippers position the vessel for respectful, close viewing while keeping a safe distance.

Learn about local ecology and migration patterns as you scan the horizon with the crew. This marine safari is at additional cost and bookable on tour; whale activity peaks in the winter–spring months.

Meet community leaders and artisans on a guided visit that introduces daily life, culture and resilience in a Knysna township. Hear personal stories, learn a few Xhosa phrases and see grassroots initiatives supporting local children.

Engagement is respectful and meaningful, with opportunities to contribute where appropriate. This cultural experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Lift off over the Atlantic Seaboard for cinematic views of Table Mountain, the sinuous Twelve Apostles and the city’s scalloped bays. Circle Robben Island and trace the curve of the Cape Peninsula from a thrilling aerial perspective.

Pilots point out landmarks and hidden coves few see from land. This panoramic flight is at additional cost and bookable on tour, weather permitting.

Taste your way through historic estates in the Cape Winelands, comparing terroir-driven whites and bold reds such as Chenin Blanc and South Africa’s signature Pinotage. Winemakers or hosts guide you through cellar-door flights amid mountain-framed vineyards.

Between sips, learn about heritage cellars, Cape Dutch architecture and sustainable viticulture shaping the region’s future. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Cook alongside local hosts to explore Cape Malay flavours—blend your own masala spice, fold fragrant samosas and knead soft rotis before sharing the dishes you’ve created together.

Stories of migration and tradition bring Bo-Kaap’s cuisine to life, accompanied by music and warm hospitality. This hands-on culinary workshop is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Join a guided game drive through Addo Elephant National Park, home to over six hundred elephants and a wealth of plains game. Watch for elephant herds moving between thicket and waterholes, while your elevated coach vantage helps spot kudu, hartebeest and warthog across open scrub.

Hear how Addo’s careful conservation revived endangered species and restored habitats. Keep your lens ready for lions and buffalo too, whose presence adds thrilling anticipation to every bend in the road. Soft afternoon light and sweeping valley bushveld set a dramatic wildlife stage.

Discover the subterranean wonder of the Cango Caves on a guided tour through soaring chambers lined with sculpted limestone formations. Marvel at cathedral-like halls, rippling flowstones and delicate stalactites as your guide illuminates how water and time carved this underground world.

Unpack human stories as well as geology: see evidence of historic use, including cave paintings and artefacts that point to centuries of shelter and ceremony. The Klein Karoo’s dry climate preserves an otherworldly silence, perfect for pausing to absorb the scale and natural artistry around you.