This site is operated by The Travel Corporation, not by Costco. Use of this site (and any destination you reach through this site) is subject to The Travel Corporation’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, rather than those of Costco.
Call Us   (877) 789-3558
Usa Flag US 
Amalfi coast

Garden Route and Addo | 2026

This tour has other variations available

Everyday Price From

$1,033

$1,475

7 days

No Countries

Overview

Ready for one of the world’s most epic road trips – where you flicker from wildlife to city life to beach life? You’ll gawp at the Cango Caves, sample the nightlife of Cape Town, and even encounter the Big 5 at some of Africa’s finest national parks. The Garden Route has everything, and you’ll experience it all on this unforgettable 7-day adventure, with a squad of fellow 18-35s.

Locations Visited

Cape Town, Cango Caves, Oudtshoorn, Addo Elephant National Park, Gqeberha, Private Game Reserves, Jeffreys Bay, Tsitsikamma National Park, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Hermanus, Stellenbosch

Countries Visited

South Africa

Travel Style

For 18 - 35 year olds

Accommodations

6 nights included

Age Requirements

Social travel experiences for 18-35 year olds

garden-route-and-addo_2025_pad.png

Itinerary

COLLAPSE ALL EXPAND ALL

Day 1

Cape Town to Oudtshoorn via Cango Caves

Hello Africa… and hello Cape Town. Ready to get going? It’s off to the Karoo desert via the famous ‘Route 62’. Today's scenic drive goes through mountain passes, vineyards and epic desert scenery along the way.

An included guided tour of Africa's LARGEST show cave system. The Cango Caves are replete with cavernous halls, limestone formations, cave paintings and artefacts (which indicate they were in use throughout the Middle Ages)! How's that for a pitstop?

Welcome to the Klein Karoo! We'll check into Oudtshoorn with our first adventure on offer. How good does a scenic bike ride (or drive down) the UNESCO Swartberg Mountain Pass, plus a Karoo braai dinner on a local farm sound? (So good!). And this evening, you can opt to do just that.

  • Accommodation

    Riempie Estate (or similar)


Highlights

highlights.title

Explore Cango Caves

Tour Africa's largest limestone caves system. At over 20 million years old, it makes our nan look like a spring chicken.  

Good morning! Let's continue heading East towards one of South Africa's most loved National Parks: Addo Elephant. (Anyone guess which animal this place is famous for?)
That’s right, it’s elephant time. After lunch, we’ll set out in our comfy (and tall!) coach in search of Africa's largest land mammal here at the Addo National Park, home to over 600 of these tusk-tastic creatures. (Keep your eyes peeled for lions, buffalo, and antelope too though!)
We'll retreat here for the night but fear not, more safari adventures await in the morning. Stuck for something to do this evening? Let us introduce you to the karaoke bar just around the corner. (Cue your fave Lion King jams.)

  • Accommodation

    Town Lodge Port Elizabeth (or similar)


  • Meals

    Breakfast

Highlights

highlights.title

Take a Coach Game Drive in Addo Elephant National Park

See these gentle giants in their natural habitat as you cruise in our Contiki coach through this scenic National park. Also be on the lookout for giraffes, antelopes, buffaloes, warthogs and all of Africa's incredible wildlife.

Today is all about wildlife, both on land and in the ocean. We’ll start with a morning tour of the SANCCOB Penguin Rehabilitation Centre, who give sick and injured penguins the care they deserve and help them to return to the wild.

Later this morning, we’ll set out on the first of today’s two private game drives (both optional but highly recommended!). The Eastern Cape’s game reserves are some of South Africa’s best spots for seeing the Big 5, home to valleys, plains, rivers and much more. Yup. That's three game drives in 36 hours, giving you the best chance of spotting the Big 5. Lucky you, right?
Tonight we’ll head back to the city where a free evening awaits. Karaoke round two? We won’t stop ya.

  • Accommodation

    Town Lodge Port Elizabeth (or similar)


  • Meals

    Breakfast

Highlights

highlights.title

Support the SANCCOB Penguin Centre MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience

The good folks at the SANCCOB Penguin Rehabilitation Centre work around the clock to rescue injured seabirds and help them make their way back into the wild. On this visit, we’ll see first hand how they work – and meet plenty of adorable penguins too.

Beach time. Desert? Tick. Caves? Tick. Safari? Tick. Now it’s time to make our way along the famous Garden Route to our next destination, Knysna – with a few sensational stop-offs on the way.
Known as one of the best surf spots in the world, it’d be wrong not to start our day with some chill time on J-Bay… which is exactly what we’ll do. And of course, there's an optional surfing lesson for the wave-dodgers among us.

Welcome to our next pitstop, known for the infinitely Instagramable Storms River Bridge – which we’ll take a picturesque hike to so you can get all the legendary snaps you need. Wanna up the adrenaline? You can choose to go kayaking up the mouth of Storms River.

And then we pull into the beautiful coastal town of Knysna, ready to explore all the sights and activities the Garden Route is known for. (We've got two nights here too!)

  • Accommodation

    Knysna Quays (or similar)


  • Meals

    Breakfast

Highlights

highlights.title

Discover One of the World’s Best Surfing Beaches

Known for its waves, its calamari and its natural beauty, there’s no beach quite like Jeffreys Bay Beach. Don’t forget your sunscreen!

highlights.title

Hike Tsitsikamma National Park

If you’re looking for dramatic scenery, a trek through Tsitsikamma National Park will give you plenty of ops to fill up your memories and Insta feed. 

Rise and shine, team. Today starts with an included breakfast, overlooking the Knysna lagoon, and then we’re off again once more.
It’s ocean time! You can choose to join our marine safari and set out in search of whales, dolphins, seals and more spectacular sea life. Afterwards, we’ll spend the rest of the day relaxing on Plettenberg's main beach, catching those rays and helping ourselves to some splendid seafood.
This evening, we’ll embark on an optional Township visit here in Knysna, where you’ll meet the locals and have the chance to make a positive impact for the children who live here. Afterwards, you'll have the option to cruise the Knysna lagoon & see the sunset onboard. And finally, we'll tuck into a group dinner by the water before finishing off with a night on the town (again, optional but unmissable!).

  • Accommodation

    Knysna Quays (or similar)


  • Meals

    Breakfast

Highlights

highlights.title

Kick Back at Plettenberg Bay Beach

Stretch out on the golden sands and enjoy some sea air at one of South Africa’s best beaches.  

 

Make sure you call dibs on a window seat. As we drive back to Cape Town, you’ll watch the magnificence of the Garden Route unfold as we pass coastal towns, forests, gorges and some jaw-dropping ocean views.
Marine mania… We’ll have lunch and a little free time here in the coastal town of Hermanus, which is one of the world’s best areas for spotting whales – between July and November at least – so have your binoculars at the ready. 
And here we are, back in the city where it all began. Tonight, you can opt for a MasterChef-style cooking class and enjoy the food, music and drinks. 

  • Accommodation

    Waterfront Breakwater Lodge (or similar)


  • Meals

    Breakfast

It might be our last day together but fear not, there’s still plenty planned about the Cape Winelands. And most of it revolves around food. But before that, you have the chance to hit the skies on an optional helicopter ride over the seas and peaks.
After some free time to explore (and shop till you drop) we’ll set out to discover Stellenbosh’s awesome wine farms with an optional experience to sample the very finest of the Cape’s fine wines. With spectacular views, and a traditional South African braai for lunch, this really is one tasty excursion indeed.
And, after a brief drive back to Cape Town for an airport/hotel drop-off, that's a wrap! You'll have the option to jump on our Cape Town Explorer trip starting this evening (that's 4 more days in the Mother City!). It’s been wild – we’re thrilled from what we’ve experienced, and we can’t wait to do it all again!

  • Meals

    Breakfast

Highlights

highlights.title

Explore Stellenbosch

Get to know the photogenic wine town of Stellenbosch. Rich in vineyards, but even richer in history.

Explore Cango Caves
Take a Coach Game Drive in Addo Elephant National Park
Support the SANCCOB Penguin Centre MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience
Discover One of the World’s Best Surfing Beaches
Hike Tsitsikamma National Park
Kick Back at Plettenberg Bay Beach
Explore Stellenbosch
  • { "url": [ "http://content1.travcorpservices.com/media/18065/gettyimages-458848497.jpg" ], "alt": "Explore Cango Caves" }
  • { "url": [ "http://content1.travcorpservices.com/media/18066/two-elephants-playing-635928270.jpg" ], "alt": "Take a Coach Game Drive in Addo Elephant National Park" }
  • { "url": [ "http://content1.travcorpservices.com/media/ghcfgfvf/gettyimages-1383519373.jpg" ], "alt": "Support the SANCCOB Penguin Centre MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience" }
  • { "url": [ "http://content1.travcorpservices.com/media/vwrfyiaw/gettyimages-480324755.jpg" ], "alt": "Discover One of the World’s Best Surfing Beaches" }
  • { "url": [ "http://content1.travcorpservices.com/media/iw4dmzui/contiki_sa_stills_v3_day3_shot_04.jpg" ], "alt": "Hike Tsitsikamma National Park" }
  • { "url": [ "http://content1.travcorpservices.com/media/18067/keurbooms-river-lagoon-at-plettenberg-bay-525362503.jpg" ], "alt": "Kick Back at Plettenberg Bay Beach " }
  • { "url": [ "http://content1.travcorpservices.com/media/18078/2431eurs2020.jpg" ], "alt": "Explore Stellenbosch" }

Highlights

FAQs

  • A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.

  • The Garden Route encompasses everything you want to experience and see on a trip to South Africa. It has the ‘Mother City’ of Cape Town, plenty of beaches to catch a surf or tan, wine farms to indulge in, adventurous activities on both land and sea as well as Big 5 Game Reserves to get your wildlife fix.  

  • It’s common to start in Mossel Bay in the west and finish at Storms River in the east – but there’s no reason you couldn’t do this in reverse or start in the middle (like the rebel you are).

    Our Garden Route & Addo trip starts off in Cape Town. From there, we’ll board the Contiki coach and drive east to the Addo Elephant Park via Oudtshoorn. We then head south to Gqeberha before making our way back west to Hermanus via Knysna. Check the itinerary above for more info.  

  • It’ll change slightly depending on what time of year you’re visiting, but some essentials will include:

    • Your camera
    • Comfortable shoes & clothes for walking (including a beanie, gloves and warm jacket for open-top safari drives in the winter)
    • Your swimming costume & towel
    • Sun cream, a hat, sunglasses
    • Insect repellent 
    • A portable phone charger
    • Binoculars (crucial for game drives to see animals in the distance)
    • Day bag for daily activities
    • Torch/Headlight
    • Reusable water bottle

    Read our full guide to visiting Africa here.

     

  • The Garden Route summer occurs between October to April, with the best beach weather coming in December to February. July to December is Whale Season, so this is the best time to visit if you’re keen to admire the Garden Route’s awesome marine life. May - September usually sees the coolest weather, so these months are ideal for hiking, outdoor activities, and safaris. 

  • Excellent. We visit wildlife reserves, so you’ll have a decent chance of catching the elusive Big 5 – plus giraffes, warthogs and other famed species. You’ll also have a great chance of seeing elephants in Addo, plus the myriad marine life on our marine activities – including whales, dolphins, penguins and more.

  • You’ll be journeying around in your very own Contiki coach or minibus, equipped with AC (for a much-needed cool down from the tropical heat.) You’ll have the company of your Trip Manager, who’ll give you all the juicy info you need about the incredible spots you see en-route. And of course, we’ll keep it groovy on the coach with some music.   

  • This Garden Route & Addo trip is studded with incredible stays. This includes centrally-located beachside resorts and waterfront hotels, with scrumptious buffet breakfasts to kickstart your day. You’ll also have access to all amenities like restaurants, bars, and pools. 

Dates & Prices

Versions of this Tour

We have pre-selected the best options based on your search, however please feel free to adjust them to suit your desires. Please note that changes here will affect availabilty, pricing and trip itinerary.


Itinerary

Select...

Departure

Select...

2025
2026
2027

Clear all

Trip

From Price

Garden Route and Addo | 2026

$1,033
$1,475

Garden Route and Addo | 2026

$1,160

Results: loading...

Definite Departures Only

Special Offers

Airfare is not included, but can be added to quote upon request.

Tour Version Selected

You have successfully selected a different version of this tour

Terms & Conditions

Trip Notes:

  • ​Please note that airfare to and from your start/end destinations are not included in the cost of your trip.
  • Call 1-877-456-0527 for great deals from the USA to & from all start/end cities for your selected itinerary.
  • Internal flights as specified on individual trip itineraries are included as part of the trip price.
  • Travel to Europe from the USA often requires an overnight flight. Please arrange flights to arrive on or before Day 1 of your itinerary start date.

Terms & Conditions:

  • ​Prices listed are land only & do not include airfare to and from the start/end of the tour.
  • Prices listed are per person, based on twin or multi-share. If you’re traveling solo, we can pair you with a same-sex roommate at no extra cost or you can upgrade to a single for an additional cost, based on availability.
  • For departure points and stay longer accommodation options call 1-877-456-0527 for more details.
  • ​​'Exclusive Costco Member Price' is available upon member login. 
  • 'Price with Current Deals' reflects current applicable 'Last Minute Deals.' Last Minute Deals are available on select departures only and only available to travelers departing from the United States; not combinable with any other promotional offers; full payment due at time of booking. 
  • All discounts are for new bookings only, subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Call or request a quote for complete details.
  • ​​​Trip prices and information are correct at the time of the products going live, however are subject to confirmation - please confirm all details at time of quote and booking.
  • For full details, please refer to our Terms & Conditions or FAQs page.
  • For Travel Insurance, please refer to our Travel Insurance page.
  • Other conditions may apply. CST#1001728-20