Down to Earth - the Garden Route

Many different companies offer Garden Route holidays. So why should you consider ourGarden Route holiday?

Simply because it's different. It includes lots of excellent activities within the price (most don't), and allows you to meet some really wonderful local people. We will also get you close to the nature of the Cape Floral kingdom, and even take you to a garden, experiences which - perhaps surprisingly - you'll struggle to find on most other itineraries!

This is a self-drive holiday and we've arranged some great places for you to drive to and to stay.
We've also included some excellent activities which will really bring you closer to what the Garden Route is all about. There is a picnic in a very special and quite mad garden, a tour of the Knysna Elephant Park and an eco-marine trip to see dolphins and whales.

We give you plenty to do, but also leave you enough free time to do your own thing.

So you see, this really is no ordinary Garden Route holiday!

This is one of Tribes' Down to Earth holidays. This is a great range of more affordable, set itinerary holidays, as opposed to our tailor made trips.
The Down to Earth holidays also have their own website where you will find lots more details about each trip.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE DOWN TO EARTH HOLIDAYS PAGE FOR THIS HOLIDAY

Gallery and trip information

Open Panel

Included

Flights and taxes (if selected). Accommodation based on twin share (2nts nature retreat, 1nt wine farm, 1nt homestay - or upgrade to a guesthouse for £35pp sharing, 1nt lodge, 2nts guest house), meals and transfers as shown, activities as shown, 7 days Europcar group B car hire.

Not included

Flights and taxes (if not selected), visas, vaccinations, meals and activities not inc., drinks.

Is it for you?

Flights and taxes (if not selected), visas, vaccinations, meals and activities not inc., drinks.

Best time

From about October to March the weather along South Africa's Garden Route is mostly hot and dry. November and February are very Mediterranean in climate.

Getting there

The journey starts in Cape Town. If coming from abroad you'll obviously fly here, but if you're arriving from elsewhere in South Africa, you could come by train, in which case we'll collect you from the station (we can book a train for you if you like). At the end, from Port Elizabeth you can fly out to Jo'burg, Cape Town, or other regional airports, and connect to homeward flights if relevant. If coming from the UK you would normally take an overnight flight to Cape Town the day before this itinerary starts and on the way back would also take a night flight arriving back in the UK the following day.

Weather and highlights

Open Panel

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
- Sunny
- Sunny
- Cloudy
- Rain
- Sunny with Cloud
- Sunny with Cloud
- Sunny with Cloud
- Sunny with Cloud
- Sunny
- Sunny
- Sunny
- Rain

Min Temp

- 15
- 15
- 10
- 10
- 5
- 0
- 0
- 0
- 5
- 10
- 15
- 15

Max Temp

- 35
- 33
- 30
- 30
- 25
- 25
- 23
- 23
- 25
- 30
- 34
- 35

Stunning nature retreat near Gansbaai.
Picnic in a magical and whacky botanical garden.
Fabulous coastal scenery, beaches and lagoons.
Stay in a winery.
A homestay in Outdshoorn. Chance to see the Cango Caves, meerkat project and ostrich farms.
A tour of the Knysna Elephant Park.
Exciting eco-marine encounter - chance to see whales and dolphins.

Itinerary

Open Panel

Duration: 10 days including the flights

Day 1: Arrive Cape Town, collect hire car and drive to Gansbaai.
Day 2: Full day in Gansbaai. (B)
Day 3: Garden visit and picnic, plus stay at a wine farm. (B,L)
Day 4: Outdshoorn. (B)
Day 5: Knysna - inc. tour of the Elephant Park. (B)
Day 6: Free day in Plettenberg Bay. (B)
Day 7: Morning eco-marine encounter. (B)
Day 8: To Port Elizabeth. Flight to Johannesburg and connect to overnight flight back to UK (if selected). (B)

Pricing guidelines for South Africa

Open Panel

We hope the following will give you a rough idea of costs. These are quoted per person based on twin share for two people, without international flights but including internal flights. We’ve used good standard accommodation throughout. There are nearly always ways to spend more money than we’ve suggested (!), but these prices show a good and realistic range for each type of trip.

International flights will add from about £600 to £800 depending on the season and route (unless the airlines have special offers). South Africa combines well with Botswana, Mauritius and Mozambique.

For each accommodation on this website you will find an indication of the price. The bands are based on the price per person per night at peak season and are represented by the following values for this country:
	£50 to £100
	£100 to £200
	£200 to £300
	£300 to £500
	Over £500

For a specific personal quote based on any tailor made itinerary you have in mind, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help you.

Example tripPrice per person
1 week in the Western Cape (eg Cape Town, Winelands, Garden Route, Cedarberg etc) using good guest houses & hotels, and with a hire car.Between £500 and £1000+
1 week safari based at private lodges or tented camps (for example in Kruger, Madikwe, Hluhluwe ...)Between £1000 and £3000+
2 week safari and beach holidayBetween £1800 and £3000+
2 week Kruger and Cape holidayBetween £1800 and £3000+

Pricing for Down to Earth - the Garden RouteOpen Panel 

8 days (but 10 days with flights) - from £765 per person

For all dates and prices, see the Down to Earth website page.

South Africa