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🇿🇦South Africa

South Africa : Garden Route Road Trip
11 day travel itinerary

TripMapper
by TripMapper

The Garden Route is one of the best ways to introduce yourself to South Africa.

11 Days
Active
Beach
Culture
Food
History
Nature
Outdoor
Road Trip
Wildlife
Image by Casey Allen on Unsplash
Image from Adobe Stock
Image by TripMapper on Unsplash
Image by TripMapper on Unsplash

The Garden Route is an amazing self-drive trip covering a stunning stretch of coastline in the Eastern and Western Cape Provinces.

Nestled among the majestic Table Mountain National Park and pristine white beaches lies a vibrant and lively city. Cape Town, the starting point of this epic trip, is home to world-class restaurants, hip markets and a thriving art scene. A visit to Robben Island and The District Six Museum are poignant reminders of what the city has experienced and what has shaped it to become the place it is today. 

Past Cape Town’s borders, a world of adventure awaits - stunning vineyards, mountain ranges, national parks, charming towns and rugged coastlines. A sprinkling of bungy jumping, kayaking, game drives and penguin spotting should be thrown in for good measure! 

Use TripMapper to plan your trip and for staying in control of your travel budget. If you are in need of a little inspiration to get you started click 'Customise' to use our interactive South Africa Garden Route itinerary (below) for the best things to see and do on your Garden Route road trip - then customise to make your own!

By combining both a trip itinerary app and a travel budget app, TripMapper is the best all-in-one travel itinerary app to help you craft your perfect trip!

* Please check all relevant government guidance prior to, and during, your travels. Please also check any opening & closing times for all establishments contained within our itinerary. Find our Terms of Service here.

Itinerary Highlights

  • Visit Cape Town, a city known for its beaches, nature, food and the majestic Table Mountain
  • Spot African Penguins at Boulder's Beach and whales in Hermanus
  • Taste delicious wine at one of South Africa's stunning vineyards
  • Keep your eyes peeled for the Big 5 on a safari drive
  • Bloukrans Bridge bungy jump (if you dare!)
  • Hike and kayak at Tsitsikamma National Park

Discover the Itinerary

Scroll right to view the days

Layout
  • Day 1

    • TRAVELTravel to Cape Town International Airport
    • OTHERPick up car hire from CPT
    • ACTIVITYVictoria and Albert Waterfront
      V&A Waterfront, Dock Road, Cape Town, South Africa
    • ACTIVITYWatershed (shopping)
      The V&A Waterfront Watershed, V&A Waterfront, Dock Road, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa
    • ACTIVITYCity Sightseeing Bus Tour (V&A Waterfront Bus Stop)
      V&A Waterfront, Dock Road, Cape Town, South Africa
    • ACTIVITYTable Mountain Aerial Cableway
      Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, Tafelberg Road, Table Mountain (Nature Reserve), Cape Town, South Africa
    • ACTIVITYBack on the City Sightseeing Bus Tour
      Table Mountain, Table Mountain (Nature Reserve), Cape Town, South Africa
    • ACTIVITYZeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art
      Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art, South Arm Road, Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa
    • FOODCape Town Fish Market (V&A Waterfront)
      Cape Town Fish Market V&A Waterfront, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa
  • Day 2

    • ACTIVITYCamps Bay beach
      Camps Bay Beach, Cape Town, South Africa
  • Day 3

    • ACTIVITYRobben Island
      Robben Island, South Africa
    • ACTIVITYSee penguins at Boulder's Beach
      Simonstown, Cape Town, South Africa
    • ACTIVITYCape of Good Hope
      Cape of Good Hope, Cape Peninsula, Cape Town, South Africa
  • Day 4

    • FOODTruth Coffee Roasting
      Truth Coffee Roasting, Buitenkant Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, South Africa
    • ACTIVITYDistrict Six Museum
      District Six Museum, Buitenkant Street, District Six, Cape Town, South Africa
    • ACTIVITYLong Street (shopping)
      Long Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, South Africa
  • Day 5

    • TRAVELDrive to Mont Rochelle
      Mont Rochelle, Dassenberg Road, Franschhoek, South Africa
    • ACTIVITYBike ride
      Wine Estate - Mont Rochelle, Dassenberg Road, Franschhoek, South Africa
    • ACTIVITYWine tasting
      Wine Estate - Mont Rochelle, Dassenberg Road, Franschhoek, South Africa
    • FOODMIKO
      Miko Restaurant, Dassenberg Road, Franschhoek, South Africa
    • ACCOMMODATIONMont Rochelle
      Mont Rochelle, Dassenberg Road, Franschhoek, South Africa
  • Day 6

    • ACCOMMODATIONMont Rochelle
      Mont Rochelle, Dassenberg Road, Franschhoek, South Africa
    • FOODThe Country Kitchen
      The Country Kitchen, Mont Rochelle, Daniel Hugo Street, Franschhoek, South Africa
    • ACTIVITYHike through hills, valleys and vineyards
      Wine Estate - Mont Rochelle, Dassenberg Road, Franschhoek, South Africa
    • TRAVELDrive to Hermanus
    • ACTIVITYWhale watching
      Hermanus, South Africa
  • Day 7

    • FOODDrink/ Snack - Diesel & Creme
      Diesel & Crème and The Karoo Moon Motel, Tennant Street, Barrydale, South Africa
    • ACTIVITYEastern Head Viewpoint
      East Head View Point, Glen View Road, The Heads, Knysna, South Africa
    • ACTIVITYVisit Thesen Island
      Thesen Island, Knysna, South Africa
  • Day 8

    • ACTIVITYLookout Beach (Plettenberg Bay)
      Lookout Beach, South Africa
  • Day 9

    • TRAVELDrive to Face Adrenalin Bloukrans Bungee
      Face Adrenalin Bloukrans Bungee, Tsitsikamma, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
    • ACTIVITYBungy jump off Bloukrans Bridge
      Face Adrenalin Bloukrans Bungee, Tsitsikamma, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
    • ACTIVITYHiking & kayaking in Tsitsikamma National Park
      Tsitsikamma National Park, South Africa
  • Day 10

    • TRAVELDrive to Shamwari Private Game Reserve
      Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, Paterson, South Africa
    • ACTIVITYLate afternoon game drive
      Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, Paterson, South Africa
    • ACCOMMODATIONShamwari Private Game Reserve
      Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, Paterson, South Africa
  • Day 11

    • ACCOMMODATIONShamwari Private Game Reserve
      Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, Paterson, South Africa
    • ACTIVITYEarly morning game drive
      Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, Paterson, South Africa
    • TRAVELDrive to Port Elizabeth International Airport
      Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), Allister Miller Drive, Walmer, Gqeberha, South Africa
    • TRAVELPort Elizabeth to Home
    • OTHERReturn car hire
      Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), Allister Miller Drive, Walmer, Gqeberha, South Africa