Discover the stunning South African Garden Route on this 6-day circuit which will see you travel from Cape Town and explore a private game reserve to spot the Big 5. The circuit finishes off with a visit to the picturesque village of Franschhoek in the world-famous Cape Winelands.
Africa
Garden Route, Safari & Winelands
6 Days. From USD $1,339pp.
Small Guided Groups
Details
Overview
Itinerary Highlights
- Visit a local farm school in Barrydale and see meet the school children and their teachers
- Stop by an ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn, an area renowned for it's large population of these birds
- Spend two nights in Knysna, the heart of the Garden Route
- Enjoy game drives in a private game reserve where you will have the opportunity to see the Big 5
- Sample some delicious wines when you visit the picturesque Cape Winelands
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Cape Town to Oudtshoorn
- Day 2: Oudtshoorn to Knysna
- Day 3: Featherbed Nature Reserve
- Day 4: Knysna to Albertinia
- Day 5: Albertinia to Hermanus
- Day 6: Hermanus to Cape Town
Travelling with Eclipse
Peace of Mind
- Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
- 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
- We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
- No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
- Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
- Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
- We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
- Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
- Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
- Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
- Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.
Day 1: Cape Town to Oudsthoorn
This morning you will be collected from your hotel by the tour guide. Depart Cape Town for the ‘Little Karoo’, travelling via Montagu, a picturesque spa town. Enjoy tea and scones at the only original Art Deco Hotel in South Africa. Stop off in the town of Barrydale, where we will have the opportunity to visit a local farm school, interact with the children and teachers, spend time with them in the classroom, learning more about this rural community. A portion of the trip monies goes towards our Barrydale Farm School Development Fund, which supports the local education of underprivileged children in rural communities. (The school visit is subject to the school being open). Sample top quality port style wines in Calitzdorp, before continuing to Oudtshoorn, the ‘ostrich feather capital’ and centre of the world’s Ostrich farming industry. Overnight in Oudtshoorn. Enjoy dinner at an Ostrich Farm, dining on local specialities.
Distance travelled today: 418 kms
Dinner included.
Day 2: Oudtshoorn to Knysna
After breakfast take a tour of the spectacular limestone caverns of the Cango Caves, one of the world’s great natural wonders, sculpted by nature through the ages. Return to Oudtshoorn for a fun-filled interactive tour and light lunch at an Ostrich Farm, including local specialities such as Ostrich Steak. Our journey continues over the scenic Outeniqua Pass to George, the administrative hub of the Garden Route area and then onto Knysna, known as the oyster box of South Africa, nestling on the banks of a beautiful lagoon in the heart of the Garden Route. Along the way, visit the ‘Map of Africa’, an extraordinary viewpoint in the Wilderness.
Distance travelled today: 204 kms
Breakfast and Lunch included.
Day 3: Knysna - Plettenberg Bay - Knysna
After a leisurely breakfast, drive through the Tsitsikamma Forests. Explore this breathtaking stretch of the Garden Route, where mountains, indigenous forests, deep gorges, and lush vegetation hug the rugged coastline of cliffs and sandy beaches. Visit the spectacular Tsitsikamma National Park and Storms River Mouth (weather permitting). In the afternoon you’ll return to Knysna, with a stop in Plettenberg Bay, originally christened "Bahia Formosa" (beautiful bay) by early Portuguese explorers. There is an option (for own account and subject to availability) to visit Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary, where you will be able to see a variety of primates, roaming free in the forest. A portion of the trip price of this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, goes towards ensuring that these already endangered species can survive and reproduce for a future reintroduction into the wild. The experience directly advances UN Global Goal 15: Life on Land. There is also an option. (for own account and subject to availability) to visit the Birds of Eden Sanctuary, the biggest single free-flight aviary in the world. A portion of the trip price of this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience goes towards protecting genetically pure species of various Taxa in a semi-wild state and to hold the seeds of these Taxa for future reintroduction into the wild. The experience directly advances UN Global Goal 15: Life on Land. Lunch will be enjoyed en route. Overnight in Knysna.
Distance travelled today: 200 kms
Breakfast and Lunch included.
Day 4: Knysna to Albertinia
After a leisurely breakfast, travel via George and Mossel Bay to Albertinia, a town set against the backdrop of the majestic Langeberg Mountain Range. En route, enjoy a leisurely walk or swim at Victoria Bay, one of the smallest and most beautiful bays along the Garden Route. Join an afternoon open vehicle game drive, at a malaria free private game reserve, that is home to an abundance of animal and birdlife, including the Big Five. Enjoy a relaxed dinner of safari cuisine, discussing the day’s game viewing. Overnight in the region of Albertinia.
Distance travelled today: 150 kms
Breakfast and Dinner included.
Day 5: Albertinia to Hermanus
Our safari adventure continues with an early morning open vehicle game drive. Our expert guide will endeavour to spoil us with sightings of the ‘Big Five’, general game and prolific bird life. Leaving the bush behind, our journey will take us to the picturesque Cape Dutch town of Swellendam. This charming town was founded in 1745 and is famous for its youngberries, eclectic architecture, and National Parks, as well as outdoor activities. Our journey further continues to the seaside resort of Hermanus, known as the heart of the whale route, offering the best land-based whale watching (August to November) in the world. Dinner at the Heritage Restaurant, one of the oldest fisherman’s cottages in Hermanus, where delectable dishes are created using seasonal, local produce. Overnight in Hermanus.
Distance travelled today: 370 kms
Breakfast and Dinner included.
Day 6: Hermanus to Cape Town
After a leisurely breakfast depart Hermanus and travel to Franschhoek, a picturesque village surrounded by spectacular vineyards, where French Huguenots settled more than 300 years ago, bringing with them their age-old French wine and food culture. Our guide will take us on a tour through Franschhoek village, sharing with us the fascinating history of the French Huguenots, then drive past the Victor Verster prison, where Nelson Mandela was released in 1990. Finally, onto Cape Town, the oldest city in South Africa, spectacularly set at the foot of Table Mountain where the tour ends on arrival with a drop off at your hotel.
Distance travelled today: 180 kms
Breakfast included.
| Dates | From | Special Offer |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Apr 2025 - 29 Apr 2025 | USD$1361pp | Contact us |
| 08 May 2025 - 13 May 2025 | USD$1339pp | Contact us |
| 05 Jun 2025 - 10 Jun 2025 | USD$1339pp | Contact us |
| 03 Jul 2025 - 08 Jul 2025 | USD$1339pp | Contact us |
| 24 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025 | USD$1339pp | Contact us |
| 07 Aug 2025 - 12 Aug 2025 | USD$1339pp | Contact us |
| 21 Aug 2025 - 26 Aug 2025 | USD$1339pp | Contact us |
| 04 Sep 2025 - 09 Sep 2025 | USD$1361pp | Contact us |
| 18 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025 | USD$1361pp | Contact us |
| 02 Oct 2025 - 07 Oct 2025 | USD$1361pp | Contact us |
| 16 Oct 2025 - 21 Oct 2025 | USD$1361pp | Contact us |
| 06 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025 | USD$1361pp | Contact us |
| 20 Nov 2025 - 25 Nov 2025 | USD$1361pp | Contact us |
| 04 Dec 2025 - 09 Dec 2025 | USD$1361pp | Contact us |
** Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
** Single supplements may apply
Suggested Accommodation
| City | Accommodation |
|---|---|
| Oudtshoorn | La Plume Boutique Guest House or similar |
| Knysna | Rex Hotel or similar |
| Albertinia | Garden Route Game Lodge or similar |
| Hermanus | Misty Waves Boutique Hotel or similar |
What’s included?
- Accommodation
- Transport
- Porterage at hotels
- Meals as specified: 5 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
- Sightseeing as per the itinerary with English speaking guide
What’s not included?
- Air transportation
- Air transfers
- Passport, visa & immigration fees
- Airport arrival/departure taxes
- Single supplement
- Additional hotel nights
- Travel protection plan
- Alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages
- Laundry service
- Gratuities
- Any items not mentioned as included.
Notes
Minimum: 2 guests, Maximum: 18 guests
Price Assurance
At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.
Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.
Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.
Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!
Destination: Africa
From its endless deserts and burning sunsets, to its abundance of wildlife and diversity of culture, the African Safari has it all. There is nowhere else on the planet with such incredible natural beauty and rich traditions than Africa. Discover your own Africa with a tailored tour through some of the most dynamic and stunningly beautiful natural landscapes the world has to offer.
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