CapeTown GardenRoute
5
Day Itinerary •
South Africa
Five days along Cape Town and the Garden Route gives you the full extraordinary depth of the finest coastal destination in Africa, from the remarkable Table Mountain and Robben Island to the extraordinary Cape Peninsula, the fine Constantia wines, the remarkable Knysna Heads lagoon, the extraordinary Tsitsikamma forest and the world's highest commercial bungy jump at Bloukrans Bridge. This extended route covers Cape Town and the Garden Route completely. Table Mountain and Robben Island on Day 1, Cape Peninsula and Boulders Beach on Day 2, Constantia and Kirstenbosch on Day 3, the extraordinary Knysna Heads, Tsitsikamma and Bloukrans on Day 4, and the remarkable forest canopy tour, Wilderness lagoon and return on Day 5.
Best Time To Visit
October to April for finest Garden Route weather
Getting There
Fly into Cape Town International (CPT)
Getting Around
Hired car essential for the Garden Route. N2 highway is excellent.
Budget Per Day
Approx 800 to 3,000 ZAR per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, optional extreme activities at Bloukrans
DAY 1
CAPE TOWN
MORNING
TABLE MOUNTAIN CABLE CAR AND SUMMIT WALK
The most extraordinary urban mountain in the world, the remarkable Table Mountain rising 1,086 metres directly above Cape Town with the extraordinary flat summit plateau giving the finest 360-degree panorama of the Cape Peninsula, the Atlantic seaboard, the Cape Winelands and the distant Hottentots Holland mountains simultaneously. The remarkable cable car rotates during the 5-minute ascent. The fine 3km summit walk to Maclear's Beacon is the finest elevated walk in South Africa. Entry and cable car approx 450 ZAR. 30 min drive
MIDDAY
V&A WATERFRONT AND ROBBEN ISLAND
The extraordinary Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, the finest working harbour precinct in Africa, where the remarkable Table Mountain backdrop, the fine craft market and the outstanding Robben Island ferry give the most extraordinary heritage and leisure combination in Cape Town. The remarkable Robben Island ferry and guided tour including the fine cell of Nelson Mandela, where he spent 18 of his 27 prison years, is the most important political heritage site in South Africa. Ferry and tour approx 650 ZAR. 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
BO-KAAP AND CAPE MALAY QUARTER
The extraordinary Bo-Kaap, the most colourful neighbourhood in South Africa and the fine heritage quarter of Cape Town's Cape Malay community, where the remarkable brightly painted houses climb the slopes of Signal Hill above the extraordinary city bowl. The outstanding Cape Malay cultural heritage, the fine Bo-Kaap Museum and the remarkable architecture of the oldest surviving buildings in Cape Town create the finest neighbourhood walk in the city.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Signal Hill and Lion's Head hike above Cape Town, the finest city sunset walk in Africa, gives the most remarkable elevated view of the extraordinary Cape Town bowl, the fine Atlantic seaboard and the outstanding Table Mountain silhouette at dusk. The remarkable full moon hike to the Lion's Head summit, organised informally by Cape Town residents on full moon evenings, is the finest free outdoor experience in the city.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe Gannet or Truth Coffee, Cape Town Outstanding Cape Town breakfast. Extraordinary flat white at the remarkable Truth Coffee, the finest coffee shop in South Africa. | Lunch: Boulders Beach after Robben Island Outstanding fresh West Coast linefish at a fine Simon's Town restaurant after the extraordinary Robben Island tour. | Dinner: The Test Kitchen, Cape Town The finest restaurant in South Africa. Extraordinary modern South African tasting menu. Book months ahead.
DAY 2
CAPE PENINSULA
MORNING
CAPE PENINSULA DRIVE TO CAPE POINT
The extraordinary Cape Peninsula National Park drive, the finest coastal road journey in Africa, along the remarkable Atlantic seaboard through Hout Bay, the extraordinary Chapman's Peak cliff road, the fine Noordhoek beach and the outstanding Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve to the remarkable Cape Point lighthouse viewpoint. The extraordinary view from the Cape Point cliff, where the remarkable Atlantic and Indian Ocean systems meet, is the finest coastal panorama in South Africa. Entry approx 353 ZAR. 20 min drive
MIDDAY
BOULDERS BEACH AFRICAN PENGUIN COLONY
The extraordinary Boulders Beach in Simon's Town, where the remarkable African penguin colony of over 3,000 birds nests in the extraordinary granite boulders and swims in the fine sheltered bay. The remarkable African penguin is the only penguin species in Africa and the fine opportunity to swim alongside the extraordinary birds in the clear Cape waters is unlike any wildlife experience on the continent. Entry approx 220 ZAR. 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
KALK BAY AND FALSE BAY WHALE WATCHING
The extraordinary Kalk Bay, the finest fishing village on the Cape Peninsula, with the remarkable working harbour, the outstanding antique shops, the fine Kalk Bay Theatre and the extraordinary whale watching from the cliff above the harbour where the remarkable Southern Right Whales breach in False Bay from August to November. The fine Olympia Cafe is the most extraordinary cafe on the Peninsula.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Dias Beach at Cape Point, accessible by a remarkable 30-minute cliff walk from the Cape Point lighthouse, is the finest hidden beach at the southern tip of Africa where the extraordinary Atlantic surf crashes onto the remarkable rock formations in complete isolation. The outstanding shipwreck visible on the fine rocks below the cliff and the extraordinary isolation make Dias Beach the finest hidden Cape Peninsula experience.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast Good breakfast before the Cape Point drive. Pack provisions for the extraordinary Chapman's Peak road. | Lunch: Harbour House, Kalk Bay Outstanding fresh Cape linefish at the extraordinary Kalk Bay harbour-view restaurant. | Dinner: La Colombe, Constantia The finest restaurant in the southern suburbs. Extraordinary contemporary Cape cuisine in a remarkable wine estate setting.
DAY 3
CONSTANTIA
MORNING
CONSTANTIA WINELANDS AND WINE TASTING
The extraordinary Constantia Valley, the oldest wine-producing area in South Africa and one of the finest wine regions in the southern hemisphere, where the remarkable Cape Dutch manor houses of Groot Constantia, Buitenverwachting and Klein Constantia sit in the outstanding forested valley below the extraordinary Table Mountain Nature Reserve. The fine Groot Constantia estate from 1685, the oldest wine estate in South Africa, produces the most remarkable Muscat de Frontignan dessert wine in the country. Tastings approx 150 ZAR. 45 min drive
MIDDAY
KIRSTENBOSCH BOTANICAL GARDEN
The extraordinary Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, the finest botanical garden in Africa and one of the most remarkable in the world, with the outstanding canopy walkway through the extraordinary afromontane forest, the fine Fynbos biome collection and the remarkable King Protea garden. The extraordinary 36-hectare garden against the Table Mountain backdrop is the finest green space in South Africa. Entry approx 220 ZAR. 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
DEPARTURE OR ONWARD TO GARDEN ROUTE
drive The extraordinary R44 coastal road east from Cape Town through the remarkable False Bay coastline to the fine Overberg and the outstanding Garden Route, with the extraordinary Elgin valley apple orchards, the remarkable Houwhoek Pass and the fine Bot River wetlands marking the transition from the Cape Peninsula to the extraordinary Garden Route.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Chapman's Peak Hotel pub at the base of the remarkable cliff road, the finest pub in the Western Cape with the outstanding view of the extraordinary Hout Bay below and the remarkable Atlantic coast, is where local Cape Town surfers and the fine creative community gather for the best sundowners on the Peninsula. The remarkable Chapman's Peak Drive is one of the finest cliff roads in the world with extraordinary views at every turn.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast or Kalk Bay Good breakfast before the Constantia wine tasting. Fine Kalk Bay bakery alternative. | Lunch: Kirstenbosch cafe Outstanding lunch at the extraordinary Kirstenbosch garden cafe. Fine Cape cuisine in the remarkable garden setting. | Dinner: Cape Town farewell Outstanding farewell dinner at Jordan Restaurant or The Greenhouse in the fine Constantia wine valley.
DAY 4
GARDEN ROUTE
MORNING
KNYSNA HEADS AND LAGOON
The extraordinary Knysna Heads, the finest coastal landmark on the Garden Route, where the remarkable twin sandstone cliffs guard the narrow entrance to the extraordinary Knysna Lagoon, the finest estuarine system in South Africa. The outstanding Featherbed Nature Reserve on the western Head, accessible only by ferry, has the fine indigenous forest trails and the most extraordinary view of the lagoon from the cliff above. The remarkable ferry and guided walk approx 350 ZAR. 30 min drive
MIDDAY
TSITSIKAMMA NATIONAL PARK AND STORMS RIVER
The extraordinary Tsitsikamma National Park, the finest coastal national park on the Garden Route, where the remarkable indigenous forest meets the extraordinary rocky Indian Ocean coastline in the finest combination of old growth yellowwood forest and dramatic coastal scenery in South Africa. The outstanding Storms River Mouth suspension bridge over the extraordinary river gorge is the finest accessible short walk in the national park. Entry approx 232 ZAR. 1 hour drive
AFTERNOON
BLOUKRANS BRIDGE BUNGY JUMP
The extraordinary Bloukrans Bridge, the highest commercially operated bungy jump in the world at 216 metres above the remarkable Bloukrans River gorge, the finest extreme sport experience in South Africa. The remarkable bridge-walking tour is available for non-jumpers. The outstanding view of the extraordinary gorge and the fine fynbos-covered slopes from the bridge deck is the finest natural vista on the Garden Route. Bungy approx 1,600 ZAR, bridge walk approx 250 ZAR.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Knysna elephant herd, the last surviving wild elephants in the Western Cape, roams the fine indigenous forest between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. The remarkable Knysna Elephant Park offers extraordinary ethical close encounters with the rescued elephants. The outstanding possibility of encountering wild Knysna elephants on the Elephant Walk trail in the Knysna forest is the finest wildlife experience on the Garden Route.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Knysna hotel Good breakfast before the Knysna Heads ferry. | Lunch: Knysna Waterfront Outstanding fresh Knysna oysters and the finest linefish at a remarkable Knysna Waterfront restaurant. | Dinner: Plettenberg Bay Outstanding dinner at a fine Plett restaurant. Extraordinary Garden Route fresh seafood.
DAY 5
FOREST AND RETURN
MORNING
GARDEN OF EDEN INDIGENOUS FOREST AND BUNGEE
The extraordinary Garden of Eden indigenous forest in the Tsitsikamma near Knysna, a remarkable 36-hectare fragment of the finest old-growth yellowwood and stinkwood forest remaining on the Garden Route, with outstanding trees over 800 years old and the remarkable Outeniqua trail through the extraordinary forest canopy. The fine canopy tour zipline through the extraordinary forest is the finest forest adventure on the Garden Route. Canopy tour approx 750 ZAR. 2 hours drive
MIDDAY
WILDERNESS NATIONAL PARK AND LAGOON
The extraordinary Wilderness National Park, the finest birdwatching destination on the Garden Route, where the remarkable system of five interconnected lakes and lagoons separated by extraordinary sand spits creates the finest wetland bird habitat in the Western Cape. The outstanding African fish eagle, the fine Knysna loerie and the remarkable pied kingfisher are the finest resident birds. The extraordinary Touw River canoe trail is the finest paddling on the Garden Route. 1.5 hours drive
AFTERNOON
RETURN TO CAPE TOWN VIA OVERBERG
The extraordinary return drive from the Garden Route to Cape Town through the remarkable Overberg, passing the fine Greyton and Elgin valley and the outstanding Bain's Kloof Pass, one of the finest mountain passes in the Western Cape. The remarkable Bot River wetlands with the extraordinary flamingo flocks and the fine Cape vineyards of the Overberg make the finest return route from the Garden Route to the Cape Peninsula.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Chapman's Peak Hotel pub at the base of the remarkable cliff road, the finest pub in the Western Cape with the outstanding view of the extraordinary Hout Bay below and the remarkable Atlantic coast, is where local Cape Town surfers and the fine creative community gather for the best sundowners on the Peninsula. The remarkable Chapman's Peak Drive is one of the finest cliff roads in the world with extraordinary views at every turn.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Wilderness or Knysna hotel Good breakfast before the forest canopy tour. | Lunch: Wilderness beach cafe Outstanding light lunch at a fine Wilderness beach cafe with extraordinary Garden Route views. | Dinner: Cape Town on return Fine farewell Cape Town dinner at Harbour House V&A or the remarkable Baia seafood restaurant.
Where To Stay
Cape Town The Silo or One&Only. Approx 3,000 to 15,000 ZAR per night. Garden Route Pezula Resort Knysna or Kurland Estate Plett. Approx 2,500 to 8,000 ZAR. Budget Backpackers in Cape Town, Knysna Hollow Country Estate. Approx 400 to 1,500 ZAR.
Top Tips
1. Book Robben Island at least 3 days ahead. Sells out completely in December and January.
2. Table Mountain cable car closes in wind and cloud. Check weather the night before.
3. The Garden Route is 500km from Cape Town. Allow 4.5 hours non-stop driving to Knysna.
4. Book Bloukrans bungy ahead. Slots fill quickly in peak season.
5. Knysna oysters are the finest in South Africa. Order them at every opportunity on the Garden Route.
6. Personal safety: do not stop on quiet roads or accept help from strangers at roadsides in South Africa.
Total Budget
950 to 18,000 ZAR/day