Garden Route privately guided

ABOUT THIS TRIP

On this trip, you will travel as a couple, family or group of friends with your own private tour guide (either German or English-speaking), who will be at your disposal throughout. The trip can be started daily. You will spend the night in selected upscale accommodation. Of course, the itinerary can be adapted to your individual wishes at any point. The price per person depends on the size of your private group.

Experience the highlights of the malaria-free Garden Route on a privately guided tour: Tsitsikamma National Park, Knysna, the Cango Caves, an ostrich farm, Route 62, the Robertson Winelands, Cape Town City and Table Mountain as well as the Cape Peninsula with the Cape of Good Hope.

Please note: Our privately guided tours are designed for groups of people who have already been confirmed in advance. If you are interested in joining a group, please look under "Small group tours".

INCLUDED IN THE PRICE

• 9x overnight stays in the Deluxe category (5-star guesthouses and lodges)
• 9 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
• Air-conditioned vehicle according to group size
• 4 game drives in an open-top SUV
• Excursions and entrance fees according to program
• Private tour guide (German or English of your choice) and 24-hour hotline (English-speaking) on site
• Comprehensive travel documents (with an individual tour book and a travel guide per room)
• Virtual meeting with the tour guide before departure on request
• Insurance according to German travel law incl. travel price insurance certificate

NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE

• Drinks and meals not specified
• Long-haul flights from/to Europe (we are happy to arrange suitable flights on request)
• optional excursions, other personal expenses, tips
• Travel insurance

Tour description and prices as PDF

We also offer this trip in the Superior category ****.

Day 1: Welcome to South Africa
At Cape Town Airport, you will be met by your personal tour guide and driven to your accommodation. Afterward, you will explore the sights of the “Mother City.” Behind the colorful Bo-Kaap neighborhood lies a long history; the centrally located Company’s Garden invites you to take a relaxing stroll amid the hustle and bustle of the city, and at Greenmarket Square you can shop for all kinds of arts and crafts and souvenirs. If the weather is good, you’ll of course visit Table Mountain, the city’s landmark, and enjoy the breathtaking view. If the cable car is closed, you can alternatively enjoy the view from the Cape Wheel Ferris wheel at the V&A Waterfront.
Overnight stay with breakfast – Dock House Boutique Hotel & Spa (Luxury Room) in Cape Town

Where you stay
The historic Dock House Boutique Hotel & Spa originally served as the harbor master's private residence and welcomes its guests in an elegant ambience. Located directly on the V&A Waterfront, you can stay right in the heart of the city and still enjoy the tranquillity of the large garden away from the hustle and bustle. The seven luxurious rooms all have a bathroom/WC, balcony/terrace, air conditioning, satellite TV, minibar, tea/coffee station and a safe. The hotel offers a pool, a garden, a terrace, a fitness center and a spa area.

Day 2: The Cape Peninsula
You’ll set out on a day trip to the Cape Peninsula. Your first stop is Muizenberg, where you can admire the colorful cottages featured on every postcard. The journey continues along False Bay, past Kalk Bay, to Simon’s Town, where you’ll visit the famous penguin colony. Afterward, you’ll drive to the Cape of Good Hope National Park, home to the Cape of Good Hope, and continue along Chapman’s Peak Drive—one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world—to Hout Bay and its small fishing harbor. You’ll return to Cape Town in the late afternoon.
Overnight stay with breakfast – Dock House Boutique Hotel & Spa (Luxury Room) in Cape Town

Day 3: Cape Town
This day is yours to spend at your leisure in Cape Town. Take advantage, for example, of the excellent shopping and dining options at the V&A Waterfront. Ferries to the former prison island of Robben Island also depart from here. Or stroll through the lively city center and Company’s Garden and visit one of the many museums located there. A little further away from the hustle and bustle of the city lie the beautifully landscaped Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and the magnificent wineries of the Constantia Valley. Your tour guide is, of course, available to assist with excursions; however, any admission fees and tastings are not included in the price.
Overnight stay with breakfast – Dock House Boutique Hotel & Spa (Luxury Room) in Cape Town

Day 4: Winelands (approx. 60 km)
After breakfast, you’ll leave the Mother City and head for the charming town of Stellenbosch, nestled in the heart of the Western Cape. The country’s second-oldest town boasts a beautiful historic center with many buildings in the Cape Dutch architectural style. Cafés, restaurants, and shops invite you to stroll and linger. You’ll enjoy a wine tasting at one of the region’s many wineries, and in the afternoon you’ll reach Robertson, which—with its numerous jacaranda trees (blooming in November), oak-lined avenues, and many Victorian buildings—has become one of the most popular Cape Winelands towns.
Overnight stay with breakfast – Babylonstoren (Farmhouse Suite) in Franschhoek

Your Stay
Nestled in the triangle between Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl, amidst beautiful countryside, lies the luxurious Babylonstoren estate, world-renowned for its magnificent gardens. The hotel suites and cottages are located in various buildings spread across the expansive grounds. Various restaurants invite you to enjoy lunch and dinner. Hotel guests can use the pool and, for an additional fee, the wellness area. The individual suites and cottages all feature a bathroom/toilet, air conditioning, a fireplace, a minibar, a TV, a safe, and tea/coffee-making facilities. The Two-Bedroom Cottages have two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom/toilet.

Day 5: Oudtshoorn & the Little Karoo (approx. 400 km)
Today, your journey takes you over the beautiful Franschhoek Pass to Robertson, which—with its numerous jacaranda trees (in bloom in November), oak-lined avenues, and many Victorian buildings—has become one of the most popular towns in the Cape Winelands. The journey then continues along the famous and scenically unique Route 62, the former road connecting Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. This route exudes a certain Wild West atmosphere, hence the name’s similarity to the legendary Route 66. Once you arrive in Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital, you’ll get up close and personal with these large, flightless birds at an ostrich farm and learn many fascinating details about the animals and their breeding during a very informative tour (in English, conducted with other participants). Your destination is a cozy lodge in Oudtshoorn.
Overnight stay with half board – Rosenhof Country House (Luxury Room) in Oudtshoorn

Where you stay
The Rosenhof Country House in Oudtshoorn is a five-star hotel built in Victorian style around 1852 and recently restored for discerning guests who love the natural. Antique furniture and warm colors create a cozy ambience. The lovingly and impeccably landscaped garden with fountains, herbs and a large rose garden will tempt you to dream and is the ideal place for lovers. The wide terraces and lush greenery create a very romantic atmosphere. The Rosenhof offers haute cuisine that combines traditional South African cuisine with international influences. The property is also known for its wide selection of wines.

Day 6: Garden Route (approx. 120 km)
At dawn, you have the option (for a fee) to experience a family of meerkats in the wild: At sunrise, you’ll set out with an experienced guide in search of the meerkats of the Little Karoo and watch these adorable predators as they start their day (in English, conducted with other participants).

In the morning, you’ll explore the stalactite-filled landscape of the Cango Caves on a guided tour (in English, conducted with other participants). Numerous chambers within this vast cave system showcase an impressive variety of enormous stalactite formations. You’ll then leave the arid hinterland via the scenic Outeniqua Pass and arrive in the lagoon town of Knysna, the heart of the Garden Route. Here, the afternoon is yours to spend at your leisure. At sunset, round off the day with a leisurely boat tour on the lagoon (in English, conducted with other participants).
Overnight stay with breakfast – Kanonkop House (Luxury Lagoon Facing Suite) in Knysna

Where you stay
You will spend the night in the spacious and luxurious Kanonkop House. Make yourself comfortable on the large terrace and enjoy the fantastic view over the lagoon and the forests of Knysna. The 7 stylish rooms have en-suite bathrooms, indoor and outdoor seating areas, minibar, TV, underfloor heating, safe and tea/coffee making facilities with Nespresso machine. The guest house offers a pool, sun deck, terrace, lounge and bar.

Day 7: Knysna
Today you’ll visit Tsitsikamma National Park, which—with its hiking trails, beaches, and waterfalls—is part of the Garden Route National Park. First, you’ll stop for a quick visit to the Big Tree, a centuries-old yellowwood tree that stands over 40 meters tall. Afterward, you’ll visit the mouth of the Storms River. A leisurely, short hike takes you here to the famous Suspension Bridge, offering breathtaking views (access to the bridge may be closed due to weather conditions). In the afternoon, you’ll reach the beautiful Nature’s Valley, where you’ll have some time to relax on the secluded beaches or go for a hike before heading back to Knysna.
Overnight stay with breakfast – Kanonkop House (Luxury Lagoon Facing Suite) in Knysna

Day 8: Addo Elephant National Park (approx. 330 km)
After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll say goodbye to your hosts in Knysna. The journey continues along the Garden Route through diverse landscapes toward the Eastern Cape—your destination is the malaria-free Addo Elephant National Park, famous for its large herds of elephants, which gave the park its name. But Addo has much more to offer: through land acquisitions, it now extends all the way to the coast and thus boasts of being the only “Big 7” national park that offers whale and shark sightings in addition to lions, buffalo, elephants, rhinos, and leopards. The unique Gorah Elephant Camp is located in a private concession within the park; here you will say goodbye to your tour guide.
You can first enjoy the amenities of your beautiful lodge, and in the afternoon, you’ll set out on your first game drive in an open-top 4x4 in search of the Big Five—lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, and leopard (English-speaking guide, conducted with other guests).
Overnight stay with full board – Gorah Elephant Camp (Luxury Tented Suite) in Addo National Park

Your Stay
You’ll stay at the first-class Gorah Elephant Camp, located in a private concession in the heart of Addo National Park. Right next to the lodge is a natural waterhole that is regularly visited by elephants. The colonial-style Gorah Farmhouse serves as the lodge’s main building and transports you back to a bygone era. The eleven luxurious safari tents are all equipped with a bathroom/toilet, air conditioning, underfloor heating, a minibar, a safe, and a veranda. The lodge also offers its guests a pool, a lounge and veranda, an observation deck, a boma, and a library.

Day 9: On Safari
Today is all about African flora and fauna. On two guided game drives in the morning and afternoon, you’ll discover the diverse wildlife of Addo National Park from an open-air 4x4 (in English, conducted with other guests). The rest of the day, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the unique atmosphere of your lodge and the first-class cuisine. And it’s not uncommon to see herds of antelopes, zebras, and elephants passing by on their way to the popular waterhole right in front of the main building.
Overnight stay with full board – Gorah Elephant Camp (Luxury Tented Suite) in Addo National Park

Day 10: Farewell, South Africa
Today marks the end of your trip, and it’s time to say goodbye. Depending on your departure time, you may be able to go on one last game drive in the morning. Afterward, a driver from our transfer partner (English-speaking) will take you to Port Elizabeth Airport in time for your flight.