• 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. 

Walk coastal pathways to the Storms River Mouth suspension bridge in Tsitsikamma National Park, where forested cliffs plunge to pounding surf. Feel sea spray and hear the boom of waves as you pause for photos and reflection above the dark river waters.

This protected stretch of the Garden Route shelters ancient indigenous forests, fynbos, and dramatic rocky inlets. The bridge vantage frames the gorge and ocean, capturing the rugged beauty that has long defined Tsitsikamma’s wild coastline.

Relax on Plettenberg Bay Main Beach, where the warm Indian Ocean laps soft sands and gulls wheel overhead. Swim, sunbathe, or wander the shoreline with sea breezes carrying the scent of salt and fynbos.

With views toward the Robberg Peninsula and a friendly beachfront scene, Plett pairs a classic beach day with coastal charm. Nearby cafés and gelato spots punctuate the afternoon with easy, oceanside indulgence.

Stroll the Hermanus cliff path, scanning Walker Bay for blows and breaches during land-based whale watching (July–November). Even outside peak season, the cliff-top views and briny air make for spectacular coastal scenery.

Interpretive signboards and vantage points reveal this town’s deep connection to the sea. Keep your camera ready for sweeping ocean panoramas, seabirds riding thermals, and the rugged curve of the Overberg coast.

Visit Stony Point Nature Reserve at Betty’s Bay, where African penguins nest just meters from wooden boardwalks. Watch adults shuffle between burrows, preen, and fish offshore, all within a carefully managed protected area.

As one of the continent’s only mainland breeding sites, Stony Point offers exceptional proximity without disturbance. Rangers, signage, and roped pathways underscore a conservation mission that safeguards this charismatic, endangered seabird.

Glide up the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, rotating for 360-degree views over the City Bowl and Twelve Apostles. Step onto the summit’s sandstone plateau and wander viewpoints framed by proteas and wind-sculpted rock.

From this legendary natural landmark, trace Cape Town’s streets to Robben Island and the blue arcs of Table Bay. The panorama reveals the city’s geography in one sweeping, unforgettable look.

Join a guided city tour through Cape Town’s historic core, taking in the color-washed Bo-Kaap, leafy Company’s Garden, and civic landmarks around Cape Town City Hall. Gain your bearings while discovering stories behind the Mother City’s streets and squares.

From early Dutch settlement to contemporary culture, the route offers a concise arc of the Cape’s layered past. Architecture, public art, and mountain backdrops reveal a city shaped by trade, migration, and resilience.

Explore the V&A Waterfront, a reimagined historic harbour set against Table Bay and the curve of Signal Hill. Browse local design stores and markets, listen to buskers, and watch working tugs glide between piers.

What began as 19th-century docks is now Cape Town’s lively showcase of cuisine, craft, and culture. Photo stops, waterside cafés, and sunset views create an inviting atmosphere to linger by the quays.

Wander Stellenbosch, admiring Cape Dutch gables, oak-lined streets, and mountain-framed avenues. Dive into an artisan food market to sample biltong, cheeses, preserves, and baked treats that reflect the region’s farm-to-table traditions.

Founded in the 17th century, Stellenbosch is the heart of South Africa’s wine heritage. Even without tastings, its heritage architecture, student energy, and culinary scene make this a richly flavoured cultural stop.

Coast or drive the historic Swartberg Pass, weaving over gravel hairpins through the Cape Floral Region. Dramatic sandstone folds and big-sky vistas set the tone before gathering for a traditional Karoo farm braai under open country skies.

This evening brings flame-grilled flavours, local stories, and stargazing warmth that capture the Karoo’s frontier spirit. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Learn to surf in Jeffreys Bay with local instructors who match you to gentler beach breaks. Wetsuits and boards are provided—focus on your pop-up, ride clean whitewater, and feel the stoke of your first glide.

Between sets, absorb surf-town culture and coastline views that made J-Bay a legend. This activity is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Paddle into the mouth of the gorge to kayak the Storms River beneath towering cliffs in Tsitsikamma National Park. Glide across blackwater pools where freshwater meets the sea, surrounded by dripping ferns and echoing seabird calls.

The rhythm of your paddle reveals hidden perspectives on this rugged coastline. This activity is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Head out on a marine safari to seek dolphins and seasonal whales off Plettenberg’s shores, with views toward the Robberg Peninsula. Speed across swells as your skipper interprets marine life and coastal geology.

Sea conditions and migration patterns shape the day’s sightings, but the exhilaration and ocean panoramas are constants. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Join a respectful guided township visit to meet local residents, artisans, and youth initiatives. Hear everyday perspectives and see how community projects foster creativity, entrepreneurship, and opportunity.

Thoughtfully led by local guides, this experience supports social enterprises while encouraging genuine conversation and cultural exchange. This activity is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Drift into golden hour on a sunset cruise across the Knysna Lagoon, watching light spill over The Quays and out toward The Heads. Gentle breezes, seabirds, and pastel reflections set an easy evening mood.

Toast the day as shoreline lights flicker to life and mountains silhouette the horizon. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Visit select estates for cellar-door tastings of hallmark Cape varietals, from crisp Chenin Blanc and Pinotage to elegant blends shaped by the Cape Winelands climate. Walk vine rows and compare notes with your host.

Learn about terroir, barrel regimes, and the region’s 17th-century roots as a global wine crossroads. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Lift off for a helicopter flight skimming the Atlantic Seaboard, rounding Sea Point, Camps Bay, and the arc of the Twelve Apostles. The bird’s-eye sweep reveals Cape Town’s dramatic interface of mountain and sea.

From this aerial vantage, trace beaches, peaks, and city grids in a single breathtaking panorama. This activity is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Roll up your sleeves for an interactive cooking class infused with Cape Malay spices. Chop, stir, and season under friendly guidance, turning out fragrant curries, rotis, and side dishes to share.

Expect music, stories of migration and flavour, and the satisfaction of tasting what you’ve created together. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Set out on a wildlife drive through Addo Elephant National Park, scanning spekboom thickets and open plains for more than 600 elephants. From your elevated seat, watch for trunks raised at waterholes and keep an eye out for lion, buffalo, and graceful antelope moving through the bush.

Founded in 1931 to protect the last local herds, Addo is a conservation success story. The dense thicket, red earth, and distant Zuurberg ridges create an atmospheric backdrop to Big Five sightings and close-up pachyderm moments.

Experience the thrill of two game drives across Eastern Cape private reserves, where expert local trackers read spoor and bird calls to reveal Africa’s emblematic species. Watch the light change over valleys and riverine bush as you search for the coveted Big 5.

These malaria-free reserves protect a mosaic of thicket, grassland, and fynbos. Dawn and late-afternoon hours bring heightened activity—perfect for photography and quiet observation as wildlife emerges from the shade.

Unwind on the golden sands of Jeffreys Bay, a surf mecca famed for Supertubes and long, glassy Indian Ocean rollers. Stretch out on the beach, dip into calm sections between the breaks, and soak up the relaxed surf-town rhythm.

Beyond the swells, artisan surf shops, cafés, and shell-rich tidelines reveal J-Bay’s coastal character. It’s a chance to pause, breathe the salt air, and tune into the easygoing beach culture that defines the Eastern Cape.

Discover Africa’s largest show cave on a guided journey through the Cango Caves, where boardwalks lead into cathedral-like chambers hung with delicate draperies and pillars. Follow your guide as lights reveal sculpted limestone formations and echoing halls shaped by water over millions of years.

Learn how this subterranean world formed beneath the Swartberg foothills and hear stories of archaeological finds that attest to human presence across millennia. The cool air, shifting acoustics, and dramatic calcite textures make this a quintessential Karoo experience.