3 Day Garden Route Tours with 4×4 Safari Small Group

Oudtshoorn

Begin your 3-day packed-paced excursion along the Garden Route from Cape Town with a drive on South Africa’s scenic Route 62. The focus is to see as much as possible in 3 days so get ready for an adventure of your life… Admire the diverse landscapes along the coast, in lush nature reserves and in the desert area of the Klein Karoo. — After a pickup (between about 6am to 8am – subject to your pickup address) from central Cape Town, leave the bright city lights behind and travel to the Western Cape by mini coach van. Gaze out at the scenery along Route 62, one of the most dramatic roads in South Africa, that meanders through the desert region of Klein Karoo. Adventure awaits. The journey takes around five to six hours, but several stops are factored into the journey so you can stretch your legs, take photos and eat. After venturing through the landscape of rugged plains and towering cliffs, stop in Oudtshoorn.

1. Buffelsdrift Game Lodge – Activities

Check out of your Oudtshoorn accommodation in the morning, and take part in an optional orphaned “elephant bush walk’’ experience (own expense) at a nearby reserve as you join a ranger and walk alongside these gentle giants in their natural environment. Their parents were poached in the Kruger National Park, and in efforts to keep this family together; the herd was hand-reared and now roam in the vast Cango Valley at the Buffelsdrift Private Game Reserve. Every morning and late afternoon, they eagerly report to the waterhole to walk alongside their human caregivers. Visitors are welcome to join and experience these loveable creatures’ caring nature in the wild Karoo setting from a reasonable distance. 45 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

1. Kaaiman’s River

Leave the area and resume the journey along Route 62 to the region, roughly an hour away. Take to the water on an easy canoe ride (no training needed) with a local guide, and paddle along a calm river that winds its way through lush forests… Indigenous forests and campgrounds line the river bank and it’s not until you stop paddling and let the gentle current guide you, that the abundance of birdlife becomes apparent. 45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

1. Bloukrans Bridge

Relax on a scenic coastal drive, enjoying views of Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Nature’s Valley, and prepare for the adrenaline-rushing view that lies ahead: one of the world’s highest bungee sites at Bloukrans Bridge. Standing 709 feet (216 meters) above the Bloukrans River, the bridge is the perfect place to face your fears with an optional bungee jump! The thrills don’t start when you jump, they begin as you zip line your way out to the jumping platform underneath the colossal bridge. If it’s not for you, get your adrenaline fix by watching the jumpers bounce through the air and then rather do a relaxing walk in the nearby Tsitsikamma forest area. The duration of the bungy jump activity can vary subject to group size and how busy it is.
3 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included

Sedgefield Lagoon Mouth

Then, travel to the coastal town of Sedgefield or Wilderness, check in to your overnight accommodation and spend the evening at leisure. If time allows and the sun is still out, go for a dip in the Indian Ocean and watch the sun slip beneath the waves, or perhaps take an stroll along the beach— a sweep of white sand known as one of the most beautiful spots along the Garden Route.

Accommodation: Overnight at Pili Pili Backpackers Saver or 3* Comfort Fairy Knowe Riverside Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast

1. Botlierskop Private Game Reserve

Leave your accommodation in the morning, and start the journey back to Cape Town to enjoy your last day of adventure. First on the list is a 2-hour game drive by 4×4 vehicle to see some members of the Big Five animals. Today, these animals are some of the most elusive and exciting forms of wildlife to see on safari. Look out for African elephants, Cape buffaloes, lions and rhinos. Giraffes, antelopes, zebras and wildebeests are just some of the other animals you may see as well. Just when you thought your bush experience couldn’t get any better, you’ll hop off your safari vehicle for an up-close and personal encounter with nature on short ±15min tranquil bushwalk. Follow your game ranger as you track wildlife through the coastal renosterveldt and Cape fynbos, keep an eye out for animal tracks, and learn about the medicinal value of the plants around you as you walk. — Then, it’s back to the van to travel back to reach Cape Town by late afternoon to early evening (from 5pm to ± 9pm).