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HOME > South Africa > Fly-drives & Tours > Garden Route Explorer Fly-Drive

Garden Route Explorer Fly-Drive

2022 fly-drive package holidays to Cape Town Winelands Hermanus and the Garden Route South Africa Holiday prices are per person based on two sharing, including flights, accommodation and car hire, and are subject to availability. Flights from Heathrow - other departures also available, call for details. Holiday Code T0520W.

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Cape Town, Winelands, Whale Coast & the Garden Route fly-drives

Explore the Garden Route in detail with this fly-drive itinerary starting in Cape Town and finishing in Port Elizabeth - take in the Winelands, Hermanus, a few days on safari, and the towns and scenery of the Garden Route itself.

SUGGESTED ITINERARY

Day 1 - UK to Cape Town

Fly from London to Cape Town, arriving next day.

Day 2 - Cape Town

On arrival you'll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel, for a three night stay. Our holidays are extremely flexible so if you’d prefer a shorter or longer stay just ask!

We generally don’t suggest you have a car in Cape Town as the traffic can get a little busy, parking can be tricky and most things are easy to get to. If you’d prefer to collect a car when you arrive and have it for your full duration, however, just let us know and we can arrange this for you!

Days 3-4 - Cape Town

Spend the next few days exploring Cape Town, one of our favourite cities. We find that the Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing buses are a great way to explore, taking in all the central areas as well as Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Hout Bay and Camps Bay.

Day 5 - Cape Town to the Winelands

Collect your car from the Cape Town depot - costs include a Toyota Corolla or similar, although there’s a good selection of options available. Leave Cape Town behind and drive to the Winelands - the direct drive can be done in an hour or so, but we’d really recommend travelling via the beautiful Cape Peninsula, setting off via the spectacular Chapman’s Peak Drive and taking in Hout Bay, the Cape of Good Hope and the penguins at Boulder Beach - this should take around three hours, plus stops. On arrival, check in to your chosen hotel for a two night stay - this is flexible, of course!

Driving is fairly straightforward in South Africa, with well maintained roads which are generally fairly quiet outside of the main towns. Driving is on the left and most laws and customs are familiar to UK drivers. Do bear in mind that all drivers will need a valid drivers licence plus the DVLA online code and printout, along with a credit card in the name of the main driver for deposit purposes. Other T&C’s apply - just ask for details!

Day 6 - Winelands

Spend the next few days exploring the beautiful Winelands area. Get to know the three towns of the Winelands area - Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl. The whole region is a foodie paradise so be sure to check out some of the superb restaurants.

Day 7 - Winelands to the Whale Coast at Hermanus

It’s around a 90 minute drive from the Winelands to the heart of the Whale Coast at Hermanus, although the 2 hour route around False Bay to the penguins at Betty’s Bay would be our suggestion. Hermanus is one of the best places in the world for whale watching,and cruises depart mainly from June to November. It’s often possible to see whales from the shore - just stand on the cliffs in the centre of Hermanus and start looking! On arrival in to Hermanus check in to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 8 - Whale Coast at Hermanus to Swellendam

It’s around a two hour drive from Hermanus to Swellendam in the Little Karoo, although the three hour route via Cape Aghulas - the southernmost point in Africa - and Arniston, would be our suggestion. On arrival in to Swellendam check in to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 9 - Swellendam to Botlierskop Game Reserve

It’s around a two hour drive from Swellendam to Botlierskop Game reserve today (plus stopping time), but you need to be at the Reserve for lunch, and there’s a game drive included in the afternoon. Spend two nights at Botlierskop, with all meals included.

Day 10 - Botlierskop Game Reserve

Spend a full day at Botlierskop Game Reserve, with morning and afternoon game drives included for you. Botlierskop is home to four of the ‘Big 5’ plus a variety of other wildlife, so it’s a great opportunity to see a taster of Africa wildlife up close.

Day 11 - Botlierskop Game Reserve to Wilderness

A final game drive around the game reserve is included this morning, before leaving Botlierskop and heading on to the Garden Route. It’s an easy drive to your next destination, Wilderness, but we’d suggest a slightly unusual route taking you inland a little - head in to the Outeniqua Mountains via the Outeniqua Pass, and back to the coast via the Montagu Pass, stopping for a trek in to the hills along the way. Wilderness’ beaches are beautiful and dolphins can often be seen off-shore. Check in to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 12 - Wilderness to Knysna

Continue along the Garden Route to Knysna (approx 1 hour), slowing things down to take in some of the pretty beaches and bays that make this coastal route so famous. Garden Route National Park and Buffalo Bay are both worth detours off the highway. On arrival in to Knysna check in to your hotel for a two night stay.

Day 13 - Knysna

Consider taking a day off driving today and perhaps head to the water - Knysna Lagoon is a beautiful area and boat trips are popular here. Alternatively, sample some of Knysna’s renowned food in one of the numerous restaurants.

Day 14 - Knysna to Tsitsikamma

From Knysna it’s around an hour and a half to Tsitsikamma - stop for coffee in pretty Plettenberg Bay and gawp at the brave (or stupid) people throwing themselves off the Bloukrans Bridge, one of the world’s highest bungee jumps. Tsitsikamma National Park is a beautiful area of forests and coastline, so make time to explore the area. Check in to your accommodation in the village of Storms River for an overnight stay.

Day 15 - Tsitsikamma to Port Elizabeth

Your final drive is around two hours from Storms River to Port Elizabeth, and we’d make a stop at Jeffreys Bay and Cape St Francis en route. Arrive in to Port Elizabeth, for your final night.

Day 16 - Return

It’s a very short drive to Port Elizabeth airport today, where you will drop off your vehicle and check in for your flight back to the UK.