3 Day Garden Route's Best Highlights with Safari from Cape Town

Day 1: Cape Town - Oudtshoorn

1. Cango Caves
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Begin your 3-day packed and fast-paced journey along the Garden Route from Cape Town with a drive on South Africa’s scenic Route 62. If your focus is to see as much as possible in 3 days, this this adventure is for you.
   
   ( Travel tour route: about 450km, 6hrs )
   
   Depart from the tour's Meeting Point at 6:45am in Cape Town, or if booked early you can arrange hotel pickup from 5km of central city. Gaze out at the scenery along Route 62, one of the most dramatic roads in South Africa, through the semi-desert Klein Karoo to reach Oudtshoorn.
   
   Visit the Cango Caves to tour the depths of the caves and wander along the subterranean pathways, admiring towering stalactite and stalagmite formations. Your evening is then spent at your leisure in Oudtshoorn.
   
   === Accommodation included - subject to stay package selected:
   Saver own room/dorm stay > Uthando backpackers,
   3 star Comfort > 88 Baron van Reede guesthouse
   4 star Luxury stay upgrade fee > Buffelsdrift

Day 2: Oudtshoorn - Sedgefield

1. Buffelsdrift Game Lodge - Activities
   Pass by
   (Travel route today: about 350km / 4 hours)
   Check out of your Oudtshoorn accommodation in the morning, and take part in an optional orphaned "elephant observation in nature’’ experience (at own expense) at a nearby reserve as you observe and follow elephant guides alongside these gentle giants in their natural bushvelt environment. Their parents were poached in the Kruger National Park, and in efforts to keep this family together; the herd was hand-reared and now roam in the vast Cango Valley at the Buffelsdrift Private Game Reserve. Visitors are welcome to observe and experience these loveable creatures’ caring nature in the wild Karoo setting from a reasonable distance under the guidance of their human caregivers and guides. Journey onwards to the next stop.
2. Kaaiman's Adventures
   45m · Admission ticket included
   Leave the area and resume the journey along Route 62 to the region, roughly an hour away. Take to the water on an easy canoe ride (no training needed) with a local guide, and paddle along a calm river that winds its way through lush forests... Indigenous forests and campgrounds line the river bank and it’s not until you stop paddling and let the gentle current guide you, that the abundance of birdlife becomes apparent.
3. Bloukrans Bridge
   3h · Admission ticket not included
   Relax on a scenic coastal drive, enjoying views of Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Nature’s Valley, and prepare for the adrenaline-rushing view that lies ahead: one of the world’s highest bungee sites at Bloukrans Bridge. Standing 709 feet (216 meters) above the Bloukrans River, the bridge is the perfect place to face your fears with an optional bungee jump! The thrills don’t start when you jump, they begin as you zip line your way out to the jumping platform underneath the colossal bridge. If it’s not for you, get your adrenaline fix by watching the jumpers bounce through the air and then rather do a relaxing walk in the nearby forest area. The duration of the bungy jump activity can vary subject to group size and how busy it is.
4. Sedgefield Lagoon Mouth
   Pass by
   Please Note > This day-by-day itinerary serves as a guideline as your trip may need to run in reverse or a different order based on seasonal or operational availability.
   
   Then, travel to the coastal town of Sedgefield, Wilderness to check in to your overnight accommodation and spend the evening at leisure. If time allows and the sun is still out, go for a dip in the Indian Ocean and watch the sun slip beneath the waves, or perhaps take an stroll along the beach— a sweep of white sand known as one of the most beautiful spots along the Garden Route.
   
   === Accommodation included - subject to availability and stay package option selected:
   Saver/dorm > Pili Pili backpackers,
   3 star Comfort > Fairy Knowe or similar,
   4star Luxe stay > Dolphin Dunes or similar

Day 3: Sedgefield – Cape Town

1. 3h · Admission ticket included
   (Travel route today: about 450km / 6 hours - excluding game drive)
   Leave your accommodation in the morning, and start the journey back to Cape Town. Enjoy your last day of adventure with an included game drive by 4x4 vehicle to see and search for some members of the Big Five animals. This 2-hour safari drive activity focus on spotting wildlife in Botlierskop Game Reserve's camps. Look out for African elephants, Cape buffaloes, lions and rhinos... giraffes, antelopes, zebras and wildebeests are just some of wide range of animals you may see as well. Your game ranger will use their local knowledge to track the wildlife through this coastal renosterveldt and Cape fynbos, keeping an eye out for animal tracks while sharing share stories about the animals you find and also fun facts about the plants of the region.
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   After lunch it’s back to the minivan to journey onwards and reach Cape Town by early evening (from 6pm to ± 9pm) to conclude this epic adventure.

Pickup details

Select hotel pickup from any address within 5km of central Cape Town or Stellenbosch town (available if booked at least 2 days before departure). Pickup service starts up to 90 minutes before the tour departure time, depending on your location and the day's pickup route. Your exact pickup time will be confirmed during check-in about 1 day before the tour.

• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• Note that this tour has a packed pace with many activities and stops a day. It is advised to book a longer or private Garden Route tour if you prefer to have a more relaxed journey.
• Minimum age is 8 years. Children from 8 to 18 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible adult, legal guardian or parent and cannot stay in dorm rooms.
• According to availability, the itinerary can run in reverse or different route.
• Daily drive time: about 4 to 6 hours / in total 1200 km distance route. This packed, fast-paced itinerary is filled with many of the best highlights of the region and ideal for the young-at-heart traveller that wants to explore this vast region with limited time available.
• Personal comprehensive travel insurance is excluded and recommended
• The tour operator already pre-booked space at all optional activities for the group and you can simply decide on the first day of the tour if you'll partake. Optional activities can only be paid on the tour directly to the supplier. Bungy jump optional activity waiting time can vary from 1 to 2 hours and is subject to group size and how busy it is during the time visited. Optional activities are subject to weather conditions and cannot be guaranteed.
• According to availability at time of booking, accommodation will be in the mentioned hotel or in one of a similar standard and star rating in a similar area. Sedgefield accommodation will occasionally be sold out and then your accommodation will be in nearby town of Wilderness or Knysna.
• Some meals and drinks are not included on most tours; giving the ideal opportunity to experience typical South African meals (or your own preference) at local restaurants, shops or eating spots. Do check your tour's specific included and excluded section to verify the included meals for your tour package. You'll have free time scheduled daily to buy and enjoy meals. – Breakfast is mostly enjoyed at the accommodation's breakfast room/restaurant in the morning. Bed & Breakfast multi-day packages include breakfast for each overnight stay. – Lunch will be en-route with limited time & limited options to choose from. – Dinner-time during multi-day tours is scheduled in free-time after each day’s tour schedule. You can dine out at leisure; or book meals with your guide at the overnight accommodation that day. Your guide can recommend the best local restaurants, or most backpackers even have communal kitchens to prepare your own food - should you wish to buy the ingredients after the tour to prepare your own meals.
• TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Best-of-the-Best Awards Winner - Listed as Top 10 Things to Do in South Africa (2025)
• Special Dietary Needs: Vegetarian options are available on request and food allergies can also be informed on tour. We don't cater for or guarantee availability of more specific special diet options (like: vegan, halal, gluten-free, lactose-free, etc.) - please esnure to plan and budget for your own alternatives. Payment for meals can be made by credit/debit card on tour or your guide can take you to the nearest ATM to draw cash on tour.