Kruger Safari & The Garden Route

16 Days
From CAD $5,299
Best Rate
Guarantee
Trip Type
Small Group
Activity Level
Average

Rating


(3 reviews)

Experience Overview

Can’t decide between safari, culture, nature, or adventure? We got you covered. This 16-day journey through South Africa packs in the best of everything. Spend nearly a week in the Kruger area with epic safari drives and an unforgettable bush walk. Then hit the road for a week-long overland adventure along the Garden Route, from spotting elephants in Addo, to hiking Tsitsikamma, to sipping wine in stunning Franschhoek. While this trip skips a deep dive into Cape Town, it’s the perfect excuse to add extra days in the city before or after your adventure.

Highlights

  • Sit down to a traditional South African braai (barbecue)
  • Take part in a wildlife bushwalk
  • Embark on wildlife safari drives inside Kruger National Park
  • Visit the Jane Goodall Institute’s Chimp Eden
  • Enjoy traditional dancing and dinner
  • Spot wildlife on Safari drives in Addo National Park
  • Explore Tsitsikamma National Park with your CEO
  • Walk in Robberg Nature Reserve on the Gap Circuit
  • Head overland on a scenic drive between Knysna and Franschhoek with stops at Mossel Bay and Barrydale
  • Dig into Lunch and wine tasting at a vineyard in Barrydale.

Trip Details

Product CodeProduct Code: 20681

Tour TypeTour Type: Small Group

AccommodationAccommodation: Budget

TransportTransport: Private vehicles, safari vehicles, walking.

Guide LanguageGuide Language: English

Travel StylesTravel Styles: Classic, Budget

Supplier CodeSupplier Code: DSJO

StartStarts: Johannesburg, South Africa

FinishFinishes: Cape Town, South Africa

DurationDuration: 16 days

DeparturesDepartures: Guaranteed

Physical RatingPhysical rating: Average

Includes

Activities

  • Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your Foodie Moment: Traditional South Africa Braai (Barbecue), Kruger
  • Nature Walk outside Kruger National Park
  • Multiple Wildlife Safari Drives in Kruger National Park
  • Traditional Dinner and Local Dancing
  • Jane Goodall's Chimp Eden Tour
  • Addo National Park Safari drive
  • CEO-led hike in Tsitsikamma National Park
  • Big Tree Visit Tsitsikamma
  • Walk in Robberg Nature Reserve on the Gap Circuit
  • Driving and walking orientation tour of Knysna
  • Knysna Heads Visit
  • Scenic drive between Knysna and Franschhoek with stops at Mossel Bay and Barrydale
  • Lunch at a vineyard in Barrydale
  • CEO-led orientation walk of Franschhoek
  • Signal Hill walk
  • Free time in Tsitsikamma, Knysna, and Franschhoek
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Accommodation

  • Hotels (12 nts), Lodges (3 nts)
  • 15 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 7 dinners

Transport

  • Private vehicles, safari vehicles, walking.

Group Leader

  • CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides

Price

Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $5299 (CAD $331 /day)

Itinerary

1

Day 1: Johannesburg

Arrive at any time. After an early evening welcome meeting, enjoy an included group dinner and get to know everyone.

Meals included: Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.Accommodation - Onomo Johannesburg Sandton Hotel

2

Day 2: Johannesburg/Greater Kruger Area

Depart Johannesburg early to get a jump start on today's long drive. An included lunch along the way will break up the drive and give you a chance to stretch your legs. Arrive to your lodge accommodations in the late afternoon, just in time to freshen up for dinner with the group.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle on the way to the Greater Kruger Area and your accommodation for the night at the Awelani Conservancy.Accommodation - Bushveld Terrace Hotel on Kruger

3

Day 3: Greater Kruger Area

Wake up bright and early today for an included bush walk. Take this opportunity to get up close and personal with the incredible nature that surrounds you. Enjoy a picnic lunch after the walk and then a few hours of well earned rest back at the lodge. In the later afternoon set off on a safari drive to view the wildlife in Kruger National Park. When you return, enjoy an included Braai dinner to get a true taste of South African fare.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - There are many ways to experience the African soil, but doing it on foot is one of the most exciting ways to immerse yourself in the Great Kruger area. Follow an expert guide into the bush. The area is surrounded with Baobab trees and other plants and bushes endemic to the area. This is a great place to visit for any avid birdwatchers.Activity - Hop in a 4x4 safari vehicle and get yourself one step closer to the surrounding nature. Be ready to spot large herds of elephant roaming in the area as well as groups of buffalo, antelope, hyena, and more.Activity - Enjoy a spread of grilled meats, vegetables, homemade salads, and the opportunity to taste some of delicious South African flavours as you become acquainted with the Kruger area.Accommodation - SleepOver Orpen Gate

4

Day 4: Kruger National Park Area

Enjoy an early start this morning to enter the park and enjoy the full-day safari drive through Kruger in search of the Big Five. After an exciting day out in the wild, arrive late afternoon to your lodge and enjoy some local fare during dinner this evening.

Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Spend the day in Kruger National Park, trying to spot the big five. Enjoy a full day safari drive en-route to our lodge.Accommodation - Umbhaba Eco Lodge

5

Day 5: Kruger National Park Area

Another full day in Kruger awaits. Hop into a 4x4 to enjoy a more intimate wildlife safari drive, one offering a fresh perspective of the scenery and animals around you. Finish the day with a delicious dinner with your fellow travelers.

Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Hop in a 4x4 safari vehicle and get yourself one step closer to the surrounding nature. Be ready to spot elephants, giraffes, hippos, lions, zebras, and many other species in this impressive South African national park.Activity - Enjoy a cultural evening with the local community. Dive into local fare with a delicious traditional dinner, then watch a local dance performance.Accommodation - Umbhaba Eco Lodge

6

Day 6: Kruger National Park Area

Spend a free day in the area and choose which optional activities are best for you. Possible options include a morning or afternoon safari drive in Kruger National Park, or a full-day tour along the Panorama Route to set those photography skills to the test. The route offers unbelievable views at every turn and traverses the Great Escarpment via thrilling mountain passes.

Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - With loads of optional activities to choose from, there's lots to see and do in Greater Kruger.Accommodation - Umbhaba Eco Lodge

7

Day 7: Kruger/Johannesburg

After breakfast at the lodge, witness first-hand the large role conservation plays in Kruger and the surrounding areas on an educational visit to The Jane Goodall Institute Chimpanzee Eden, commonly referred to as Chimp Eden. This animal sanctuary for rescued chimpanzees is located in the Umhloti Nature Reserve and a tour here is the perfect way to celebrate a visit to South Africa. Arrive to the lively city of Johannesburg in the early evening and enjoy a group dinner at the hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Onomo Johannesburg Sandton Hotel

8

Day 8: Johannesburg/Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)

Depart Johannesburg in the morning and board a flight to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). Transfer the hotel before a free afternoon in town. Join an optional group dinner in the evening.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Sit back and enjoy the flight from Johannesburg to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) for your Garden Route experience.Free_time - You will have a few hours of free time in Gqeberha to have lunch on your own and explore a bit.Free_time - You will have a few hours of free time in Gqeberha to have lunch on your own and explore a bit.Accommodation - The Kelway Hotel

9

Day 9: Day Trip to Addo National Park

Experience the wildlife and landscapes of Addo Elephant National Park during a morning safari drive with knowledgeable guides in search of rhinos, lions, buffalo, leopards, and of course, elephants. Have a picnic breakfast out in the bush and finish the drive in the afternoon. There will be free time to have lunch in the area before returning to Gqeberha to spend a leisurely evening on your own.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Embark on a wildlife safari drive in search of resident elephants, rhinos, lions, buffalo, and even leopards. While this national park may be most famous for elephants, the rest of its wildlife is fantastic, too.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Free_time - Enjoy a free evening in Gqeberha to explore on your own after a day of wildlife viewing in Addo Elephant National Park.Accommodation - The Kelway Hotel

10

Day 10: Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)/Tsitsikamma

After breakfast depart for Tsitsikamma National Park, part of the famed Garden Route on the South Coast of South Africa. The area is valued for its diverse natural and cultural heritage. Enjoy a CEO-led hike along the Mouth Trail and wander along a winding boardwalk through the forest. In the afternoon partake in the Big Tree walk with your CEO, which will take you through indigenous forest to an eight hundred-year-old Yellowwood towering over the rest of the canopy. The remainder of the evening is at your leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Sit back and scan the scenery from the comfort of your private vehicle between Gqeberha and Tsitsikamma with a few stops along the way to break up the drive.Activity - Walk along the Mouth Trail with your CEO inside of Tsitsikamma National Park. The 2km trail begins at Sandy Bay and then leads you along a winding boardwalk through the indigenous forest to a suspension bridge and the Storms River Mouth Cave. If you're feeling brave there's another part of the trail that continues after the bridge and leads up to a lookout plateau. Try to spot nesting pairs of African Black Oystercatchers, one of South Africa's most endangered birds and enjoy the stunning coastal scenery along this part of the Garden Route.Activity - Walk with your CEO along a 500m pathway through indigenous bush that leads to what is known as the Big Tree. This massive Yellow Wood has a truck with a circumference of 9m and stands at 36m tall. It towers over the rest of the canopy and is estimated to be over 800 years old.Accommodation - Tsitsikamma Village Inn

11

Day 11: Tsitsikamma

Enjoy an entire free day in the Tsitsikamma area. Choose between optional activities like, the Woodcutters' Journey, a tree canopy tour, a seasonal whale watching excursion, or whitewater tubing. Your opportunity to remain active awaits. Have dinner with the group back at the hotel in the evening.

Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - The entire day is yours to do as you please in this beautiful, multi-dimensional destination with dramatic coastal scenery, reefs, rivers, lush forest and plenty of fun activities to choose from. Perhaps you will book a tree top canopy tour, or you'll go white water tubing, or a whale watching tour if its in season.Accommodation - Tsitsikamma Village Inn

12

Day 12: Tsitsikamma/Knysna

In the morning the group will visit the Robberg Nature Reserve featuring stunning coastal scenery and some of the best hiking in the country. Walk along the Gap Circuit and see evidence of the prehistoric break-up of the supercontinent of Gondwanaland some 120 million years ago.

Travel onwards to Knysna for an orientation drive along the waterfront, through the town centre, to the hip eateries and shops on Thesen Island, and through the lush landscapes of the Knysna Forest full of indigenous trees. Arrive back in town for a free afternoon to enjoy optional activities or to simply relax in the beauty of your surroundings.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the comfort of your private vehicle between Tsitsikamma and Knysna. There will be stops along the way to break up the drive and enjoy the marvelous Garden Route scenery.Activity - Robberg is situated along the Garden Route and is not only a nature reserve but also a World Heritage Site. There are rocks here in this region that date back 120 million years to the break-up of the super-continent Gondwanaland. Walk on the Gap Circuit on a trail that is 2.1km in length and will take about 30 minutes.Activity - Begin with driving along the scenic waterfront area passing by the bustling harbour and catching a glimpse of local life teeming around the boats and lagoon. Witness Knysna's charming downtown streets lined with artisan shops and cafés. Visit Thesen Island, the landscapes on the outskirts of the Knysna Forest, and gain a true sense of the natural allure of this place.Free_time - Enjoy free time in Knysna to explore on your own. Choose from a variety of optional activities sold locally. Your CEO can help you arrange the ones you wish to try.Accommodation - Knysna Log-Inn Hotel

13

Day 13: Knysna

Breakfast will be had at the hotel before an included visit to The Knysna Heads, which enclose and form the Knysna River Estuary. Visit some of the main attractions on the Eastern Head, walk along a pathway at the foot of the cliffs and learn about the importance of the land to the local population. Spend the remainder of the day as you wish and try some of the optional activities, like an oyster tour which the area is known for.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - The Knysna Heads is probably the best known, most well recognized river mouth in all of South Africa to those who live here. Separated by 300m of water the Knysna Heads are the headlands of two peninsulas that enclose and form the Knysna River Estuary. The Eastern Head has many attractions like the hidden Coney Glen Beach with its soft sands and secret rock pools, the Heads Viewpoint high on the mountain at the top of Coney Glen Road, and Fountain Point, where the wreck of the Paquita lies in its watery grave – and where you can walk along a pathway at the foot of the cliffs, and then return to enjoy a meal or coffee overlooking the water at East Head Café. The Western Head is home to one of Knysna's most popular attractions, Featherbed Nature Reserve.Free_time - Return to Knysna for a free afternoon to fill with optional activities like an oyster tour boat cruise or a visit to Featherbed.Accommodation - Knysna Log-Inn Hotel

14

Day 14: Knysna/Franschhoek

Rise early for a long, but jam-packed day of epic scenery and unforgettable sights as you drive the more scenic way from Knysna to Franschhoek. First stop is the harbour town of Mossel Bay to visit the lighthouse and walk in the area. Drive along Tradouw Pass next, through the lesser-known gem of Gatplaats Nature Reserve for a short walk and enjoy hilly views to reach the town of Barrydale. Have an included outdoor lunch at a local restaurant and enjoy a wine tasting. Arrive to Franschhoek in the evening and have dinner on your own.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Sit back and scan the scenery on your private transfer between Knysna and Franschhoek. There will be stops along the way in Mossel Bay and Barrydale.Activity - Begin in Knysna and stop first for a visit to Mossel Bay Lighthouse for about a half hour. Continue onwards driving through the picturesque landscapes in the Gatplaats Nature Reserve and Tradouw Pass with stops for photos as you go. Keep an eye out for the local wildlife and take a short walk on the trails to stretch your legs in this peaceful environment. The winding roads up the pass offer breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. It means today's drive won't feel so tedious as there's plenty to enjoy along the way.Activity - Make another stop in the quaint town of Barrydale for an included visit to a local vineyard. Offeing tastings of its handcrafted wines on an outdoor terrace surrounded by beauty. Dine at the outdoor deli and opt to join a proper tasting in their rustic cellar or outdoor garden area.Free_time - Take some time to get settled and enjoy the amenities at your Franschhoek hotel. Dinner is at your leisure this evening.Accommodation - Protea Hotel Franschhoek

15

Day 15: Franschhoek

Start the morning off with a CEO-led orientation walk along Franschhoek's main street. The remainder of the day is free for optional activities like a guided bike tour Stellenbosch, a history and art tour, or perhaps a winery visit in a region celebrated for its delicious grape varieties. Dinner this evening will be on your own.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Embark with your CEO on an orientation walk through the main streets and let the sights guide you in talking while you explore.Free_time - The rest of the day is yours to do as you please. Perhaps book a guided bike tour of Stellenbosch or a history and art tour, or bikes and wine. The options are aplenty.Accommodation - Protea Hotel Franschhoek

16

Day 16: Franschhoek/Cape Town

Leave the picturesque winelands of Franschhoek behind this morning and depart for Cape Town. Stop along the way to walk up the city's iconic Signal Hill and site of the Noon Gun, one of Cape Town's oldest living traditions. Enjoy the fantastic views from the top and catch a full glimpse of Cape Town's many landmarks. The tour ends upon arrival in Cape Town around 1:30pm.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the comfort of your private vehicle. There will be a stop along the route for the group to climb Signal Hill together.Activity - Experience the iconic views of Cape Town on a walk up Signal Hill just outside of the city. From the flat-topped hill you'll find uninterrupted views of the Atlantic Ocean, Robben Island, the entire cityscape where you can spend some time exploring.

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Tour Operator

G Adventures

G Adventures, founded in 1990 by Bruce Poon Tip, is a global adventure travel company specializing in small-group tours that emphasize authentic, sustainable, and culturally immersive experiences. Originally launched as GAP Adventures (“Great Adventure People”), the company pioneered the concept of community-driven travel by offering affordable trips that connect travelers with local communities while minimizing environmental impact. Today, G Adventures operates in more than 100 countries, offering a wide range of itineraries across themes such as active adventures, wildlife, wellness, family, and National Geographic–partnered tours, while maintaining a strong commitment to responsible tourism and social enterprise through its Planeterra Foundation.

In Business Since 1990

Reviews

 

EnsarTuran   -  Traveled, August 2024

What an amazing trip through South Africa and Namibia. This was my 7th trip with G and first one Camping. Don’t be scared! It was an adventure. Bonani and Jerry were the best CEO’s I could imagine and we had an amazing group dynamic. Everyone was helping everyone. Be ready for an amazing adventure!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/29/2024

 

Richard   -  Traveled, August 2024

Our CEO was excellent and the other members of the group were cohesive. We saw the big five and much more. Accommodations were very nice and the food was good. We were out in Kruger for four days and each guide we had were knowledgeable and very accommodating. Highly recommend this tour.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/23/2024

 

Valerie  -  Traveled, August 2024

excellent tour guide Johan wonderful and so was Moses the driver

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/21/2024

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