South Africa's Garden Route

This small-group tour with Explore Worldwide starts in Cape Town, where the city’s ocean edge and the Twelve Apostles mountains frame visits to the Cape Peninsula and Stellenbosch’s vineyards. From golden sands at Camps Bay to tasting local Chenin Blanc amid oak-lined streets, the pace allows for both guided highlights and personal exploration.

The route continues along the coastal Garden Route itself, pausing at quiet penguin colonies at Stony Point and a walk with a local reef conservation project by Swartvlei Beach. The hike through Robberg Nature Reserve rewards with coastal views and a chance to spot dolphins or seals. Inland, the limestone formations of the Cango Caves contrast with a safari game drive in Addo Elephant National Park, where herds of elephant tread beside warthogs and zebra.

The tour covers a variety of landscapes and wildlife without rushing. It is honest about timings and occasional weather interruptions, such as the cable car on Table Mountain. Evenings offer time to sample local cuisine across small towns, culminating in a traditional braai near Addo that brings this stretch of South Africa to close.

These are the places the trip visits, in order. Explore Worldwide publishes the day-by-day itinerary on its own site.