South Africa · GARDEN ROUTE TOURS

The 15 Best Garden Route Tours & Day Trips

115 tours  ·  ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.8 average  ·  from $27

Knysna lagoon, the Tsitsikamma canopy, elephants at the far end. Whether you are driving it over four days or taking one big trip out of Cape Town, these 15 are priced, timed and clear about the distances involved.

From Cape Town: 2-Day Safari at Garden Route Game Lodge - Garden Route Game Lodge: comfortable safari base, not just a bed
2-Day Experiences, Cape Town Tours, Garden Route Tours, Safari, Safaris in Cape Town, Safaris in the Garden Route, Tour Reviews

From Cape Town: 2-Day Safari at Garden Route Game Lodge

1.2-Day Safari at Garden Route Game Lodge

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 928 reviews · 2 days · from $533Our pick

Two days from Cape Town to a 4-star lodge for sunset and morning safaris, plus Cape Agulhas and Hermanus sights.

“The Safari was Beautiful. Food was great. But the highlight was Chris our Guide. So much experience, knowledge and interest in telling us more about his home. Thank you Chris !!!!!”

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Knysna Ziplines Tour - The 2-hour flow: gear-up, forest walk, then cable time
Garden Route Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Zip Lines

Knysna Ziplines Tour

3.Knysna Ziplines Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 688 reviews · from $48Top rated

Zipline 250m over Knysna’s gorge with a small group of up to 8. Gear, water and raincoat included, ocean views at Kranshoek.

“Fantastic experience whisky staying in Plett. I would highly recommend. Smiley and Lucas were great and made the experience even more fun! We felt very safe all the way through and the views were insane!”

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Little Brak River: Botlierskop Guided Game Drive - Meeting at Gonnakraal Road, and getting your gear right
Game Drives, Garden Route Tours, Guided, Tour Reviews

Little Brak River: Botlierskop Guided Game Drive

4.Botlierskop Guided Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 589 reviews · from $40

3-hour guided game drive at Botlierskop near Mossel Bay. Spot rhinos, lions, elephants, and 200+ bird species in an open vehicle.

“Although we were a bit unlucky with the weather (rain + fog) we were offered to be booked for a later tour - which we declined - we still got to see a lot. Our guide shared lots of information and answered all our questions with us. In general all the staff is very friendly and the entire reserve and estate is great. Highly recommend ! We had a great time :)”

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Storms River: Tsitsikamma National Park Zipline Canopy Tour - Safety That Feels Tight: Harnesses, Briefing, and a Calm Team
Garden Route Tours, National Parks, Tour Reviews, Tours, Zip Lines

Storms River: Tsitsikamma National Park Zipline Canopy Tour

6.Tsitsikamma National Park Zipline Canopy Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 481 reviews · 2h 30m · from $55

Soar 30m above Tsitsikamma forest on a small-group zipline canopy tour from Stormsrivier. Learn birdlife, then hike 600m.

“Experienced guides made us feel safe and able to confidently enjoy the zip-lining. Stunning area. Wonderful experience overall and recommended for young and old. Our group ranged in ages from 8 to 61.”

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Knysna: 75-Minute Lagoon Boat Cruise - On Board the Oyster Boat: What the 75 Minutes Feels Like
Boat Tours in the Garden Route, Cruises & Boat Tours, Garden Route Tours, Tour Reviews

Knysna: 75-Minute Lagoon Boat Cruise

7.75-Minute Lagoon Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 445 reviews · 1h 15m · from $31

A 75-minute guided Oyster Boat cruise from Thesen Island to Knysna Heads, with sunny views and local history for $31.

“The activity was awesome. I liked the comfort of the boat and how knowledgeable about the area the driver of the boat was. The driver was very friendly.”

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Standard Canyoning Trip in The Crags, South Africa - Meeting Point and the Simple Plan to Get There
Garden Route Tours, Tour Reviews

Standard Canyoning Trip in The Crags, South Africa

8.Standard Canyoning Trip in The Crags, South Africa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 381 reviews · from $60

Thrill-canyon through The Crags in South Africa, with rappels, jumps, a zipline over a 98-foot waterfall, and gear plus top guides.

“AMAZING GUIDES! AMAZING EXPERIENCE!! Could not recommend this more! Guides are professional, thoughtful, funny and kind, helping us through our fears and creating a phenomenal experience for us. A MUST DO!”

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Plettenberg Bay: Whale Watching Boat Cruise - Ocean Safaris Meeting Point, What You Do First, and Why It Matters
Boat Tours in the Garden Route, Cruises & Boat Tours, Garden Route Tours, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

Plettenberg Bay: Whale Watching Boat Cruise

9.Whale Watching Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 362 reviews · 2 hours · from $49

2-hour Plettenberg Bay speedboat whale watch with beach launch, close sightings in season, dolphins, seals, and rain gear.

“Such a slick, well managed ride with delightful guides. We had a magical adventure hunting with dolphins and “playing” with a young humpbacked whale!”

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5 Day Garden Route and Addo Safari - Best of South Africa Small Group Tour - Day 1: Route 62 wine tasting, then Oudtshoorn and possible elephant watching
5-Day Experiences, Cape Town Tours, Garden Route Tours, Safari, Safaris in Cape Town, Safaris in the Garden Route, Tour Reviews, Tours

5 Day Garden Route and Addo Safari – Best of South Africa Small Group Tour

11.5 Day Garden Route and Addo Safari – Best of South Africa Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 291 reviews · from $575

Pack 5 days of elephants, forests, beaches, and safaris. Small-group pace, scenic drives, and key inclusions from Cape Town.

“If you’re looking for a real adventure with plenty of activities (optional), breathtaking view, an expert and friendly guide, click on this roundtrip. Excellent choice. Good value for money.”

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6-Day Garden Route & Addo South African Adventure from Cape Town - Day 1: Agulhas National Park, Stony Point penguins, and the Cape Agulhas moment
6-Day Experiences, Cape Town Tours, Garden Route Tours, Tour Reviews

6-Day Garden Route & Addo South African Adventure from Cape Town

Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve: 2-Hour Game Drive - The 2-Hour Game Drive: How The Timing Really Works
2-Hour Experiences, Game Drives, Garden Route Tours, Tour Reviews

Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve: 2-Hour Game Drive

13.Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve: 2-Hour Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 267 reviews · 2 hours · from $55

A 2-hour safari drive at Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve, aiming for the Big Five, with chances to spot rhinos, leopards, hippos, and crocs.

“Excellent, saw lots of animals, elephants, giraffe, lion, buffalo, springbok, rhino & baby, crocs, tortoise, ostrich and more. Our guide was very good, very informative”

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Botlierskop Private Game Reserve: 3.5-Hour Sunset Game Drive - Key Things To Know Before You Go
Evening Experiences, Game Drives, Garden Route Tours, Private, Tour Reviews

Botlierskop Private Game Reserve: 3.5-Hour Sunset Game Drive

14.Botlierskop Private Game Reserve: 3.5-Hour Sunset Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 227 reviews · from $64

3.5-hour sunset game drive near Mossel Bay: guided open-vehicle spotting, snacks, big animals, and 200 bird species at Botlierskop.

“We had a tour with Madeline and she was really great. We were able to see buffalos, cheetahs, rhinos, giraffes, one elephant and one lion. Would recommend to arrive early enough to have lunch at the restaurant at the same location. The food was great.”

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From Cape Town: 5-Day Best of Garden Route and Addo Safari - Day 1: Route 62 wine stop and the ride to Oudtshoorn
5-Day Experiences, Garden Route Tours, Port Elizabeth & Addo Tours, Safari, Safaris in Port Elizabeth & Addo, Safaris in the Garden Route, Tour Reviews

From Cape Town: 5-Day Best of Garden Route and Addo Safari

15.5-Day Best of Garden Route and Addo Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 221 reviews · 5 days · from $675

5 days from Cape Town to Addo and Tsitsikamma, with Route 62 wine, Cango Caves, suspension-bridge views, and Big Five safari drives.

“An unforgettable 5-day journey along the Garden Route and into Addo National Park! Our guide, Denver, was exceptional—he made the trip seamless and shared his extensive knowledge, answering all our questions with ease. Traveling in a small group allowed us to share some really special moments together, which made the experience even more personal. The Garden Route itself was stunning, and Addo was phenomenal. Overall, a deeply satisfying and amazing adventure that I highly recommend!”

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