Cape Garden Route Experience
A 3-day Southern Cape tour through the Klein Karoo & the Coastal Garden Route
This route includes experiences across 2 very different Cape geographical areas – the rugged, semi-arid Klein Karoo Route 62 and the famous Garden Route, named for its green forested coastline, referred to as “God’s Garden”. Both of these regions include a wealth of possible experiences that could include:
- The rugged, mountain landscapes of the Klein (Little) Karoo have fascinating geology, wine, port and fruit farming and rural hospitality. Visit one of the many private, malaria-free game reserves along this route like Sanbona, where you can see African savannah game like antelope, buffalo, giraffe, as well as rhino and even predators like lion, from your guided game-drive vehicle.
- A popular stop is Oudtshoorn, ostrich feather capital of the world in its early 20th Century heydays. See an ostrich farm, and the amazing stalactite caverns of the Cango Caves, South Africa’s largest cave system.
- Heading over the Outeniqua mountains towards the towns of George or Mossel Bay, enjoy horseback safaris at Botlierskop reserve. Or head through the indigenous forests of this coastline to Knysna Elephant Park, a sanctuary for African elephants – a rare forest sub-species of which lived here just over 100 years ago.
- Knysna is rated as South Africa’s “Favourite small town”, with its rare marine estuary just off the coast. Enjoy a boat excursion, or a local seafood dish at its Waterfront. Further along the coastal road sample the popular beaches and holiday resorts of Plettenberg Bay.
- Our journey could also take us through the Tsitsikamma (‘place of sparkling water’ in the San/Bushman tongue) South Africa’s oldest, longest and narrowest National Park. Experience the country’s tallest indigenous forests, and rivers that tumble into the ocean near Storm’s River, where you can hike along the seashore.
- Further up this coast, you can experience a variety of game parks, including Addo Elephant Park, South Africa’s third-largest reserve, with species including some 450 African elephants, you can observe up close.