Africa

Garden Route Uncovered (2026)

5 Days. From AUD $2,051pp.
Small Guided Groups
Details

Overview

Uncover some of the best parts of the Garden Route. This exquisite stretch of coastline promises adventure and scenic beauty that will have you captivated by South Africa. The Garden Route is famous for its diverse offerings of activities, sights, and landmarks.

Your journey begins in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), and you will travel through Knysna, often called the heart of the Garden Route, and adored for its oysters. It is then on to Oudtshoorn, with a booming Ostrich industry, and a unique insight into these quirky creatures. The Cango Caves is a true highlight, a subterranean world that is a natural display of magnificence.

Itinerary Highlights

  • Visit to Tsitsikamma National Park and scenic Storms River Mouth
  • Guided tour of the Cango Caves and a guided tractor tour of a working ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn
  • Explore the small towns along the well-known Route 62

Itinerary in Brief

  • Day 1: Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) - Tsitsikamma
  • Day 2: Tsitsikamma - Knysna
  • Day 3: Knysna - Oudtshoorn
  • Day 4: Oudtshoorn - Hermanus
  • Day 5: Hermanus - Cape Town

Travelling with Eclipse

Peace of Mind
  • Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
  • 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
  • We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
  • No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
  • Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
  • Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
  • We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
  • Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
  • Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
  • Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
  • Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.

Day 1: Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) - Knysna

Meet your representative and fellow travellers and head westwards along the Garden Route, which follows the Indian Ocean coastline, and is bordered inland by soaring mountain ranges and indigenous forests. Overnight in Tsitsikamma.
Distance travelled today: 190 kms

Day 2: Tsitsikamma - Knysna

After breakfast, visit the spectacularly beautiful Tsitsikamma National Park and Storms River Mouth (weather permitting). The Tsitsikamma National Park incorporates 80 km of rocky coastline with spectacular sea and landscapes, a remote mountainous region with secluded valleys covered in mountain Fynbos and temperate high forests with deep river gorges leading down to the sea. Our next stop is Mungo, a family owned and managed textile mill in Plettenberg Bay, producing fine quality textiles, using antique looms alongside modern weaving technology. Afterwards we’ll continue our travels to Knysna, known as the oyster box of South Africa, nestling on the banks of a beautiful lagoon, in the heart of the Garden Route. Enjoy a sunset cruise to the Knysna Heads, before sitting down for dinner at Drydock Restaurant, renowned for dishes with glorious aromas and flavours, using the finest local ingredients and freshly picked herbs from the region.
Distance travelled today: 100 kms

Breakfast and Dinner included.

Day 3: Knysna - Oudtshoorn

After breakfast, visit the Outeniqua Transport Museum in George. This museum offers a unique experience of the Garden Route’s railway history, showcasing a vast collection of vintage vehicles, locomotives and other transport related artifacts. Travel through the Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn, known as the “ostrich capital” and the centre of the world’s Ostrich farming industry. Along the way, visit ‘Dolphin Point’, an extraordinary viewpoint in Wilderness. In Oudtshoorn, we’ll visit an Ostrich Farm for a fun filled interactive tour and light lunch that includes local specialities such as Ostrich Steak, before taking a tour of the spectacular limestone caverns of the Cango Caves, one of the world’s great natural wonders, sculpted by nature through the
ages. We will arrive at our hotel in the late afternoon, in time to check in and relax before dinner (for own account). Overnight in Oudtshoorn.
Distance travelled today: 210 kms

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Day 4: Oudtshoorn - Hermanus

There is an option (for own account and subject to availability) to enjoy an early morning Meerkat Safari. Witness these incredible wild habituated creatures emerging out of their burrows, in time to soak up the sun before they head about their daily activities (weather permitting). A portion of the monies paid by guests for this TRAVEL WITH A PURPOSE activity go towards the Buffelsdrift Foundation, that focusses on Wildlife conservation in the Klein Karoo region, habitat conservation and the local community. Afterwards, the journey continues through the ‘Little Karoo’ to Barrydale, where you will have the opportunity to visit a local farm school, to interact with the children and teachers, spending time with them in the classroom, learning more
about this rural community. A portion of the trip monies go towards our Barrydale Farm School Development Fund, that supports local education of underprivileged children in rural communities. (The school visit is subject to the school being open). Continue via the Tradouw’s pass to Swellendam and then further to the seaside resort of Hermanus, known as the heart of the whale route, offering the best land-based whale watching (August-November) in the world. Overnight in Hermanus.
Distance travelled today: 365 kms

Breakfast included.

Day 5: Hermanus - Cape Town

After a leisurely breakfast, depart Hermanus and continue to Somerset West, travelling via the spectacularly scenic coastal road and then onwards to Stellenbosch, set in the beautiful Cape Winelands. You’ll have some free time to explore the town’s oakshaded streets, cafés, boutiques, and art galleries before travelling to Cape Town, where the tour ends on arrival.
Distance travelled today: 160 kms

Breakfast included.

DatesFromAdditional
10 Jan 2026 - 14 Jan 2026AUD$2071ppContact us
24 Jan 2026 - 28 Jan 2026AUD$2071ppContact us
07 Feb 2026 - 11 Feb 2026AUD$2071ppContact us
14 Feb 2026 - 18 Feb 2026AUD$2071ppContact us
21 Feb 2026 - 25 Feb 2026AUD$2071ppContact us
28 Feb 2026 - 04 Mar 2026AUD$2071ppContact us
07 Mar 2026 - 11 Mar 2026AUD$2071ppContact us
14 Mar 2026 - 18 Mar 2026AUD$2071ppContact us
21 Mar 2026 - 25 Mar 2026AUD$2071ppContact us
28 Mar 2026 - 01 Apr 2026AUD$2071ppContact us
11 Apr 2026 - 15 Apr 2026AUD$2071ppContact us
25 Apr 2026 - 29 Apr 2026AUD$2071ppContact us
02 May 2026 - 06 May 2026AUD$2051ppContact us
09 May 2026 - 13 May 2026AUD$2051ppContact us
23 May 2026 - 27 May 2026AUD$2051ppContact us
13 Jun 2026 - 17 Jun 2026AUD$2051ppContact us
27 Jun 2026 - 01 Jul 2026AUD$2051ppContact us
11 Jul 2026 - 15 Jul 2026AUD$2051ppContact us
25 Jul 2026 - 29 Jul 2026AUD$2051ppContact us
08 Aug 2026 - 12 Aug 2026AUD$2051ppContact us
22 Aug 2026 - 26 Aug 2026AUD$2051ppContact us
05 Sep 2026 - 09 Sep 2026AUD$2051ppContact us
12 Sep 2026 - 16 Sep 2026AUD$2051ppContact us
26 Sep 2026 - 30 Sep 2026AUD$2051ppContact us
03 Oct 2026 - 07 Oct 2026AUD$2133ppContact us
10 Oct 2026 - 14 Oct 2026AUD$2133ppContact us
17 Oct 2026 - 21 Oct 2026AUD$2133ppContact us
24 Oct 2026 - 28 Oct 2026AUD$2133ppContact us
31 Oct 2026 - 04 Nov 2026AUD$2133ppContact us
07 Nov 2026 - 11 Nov 2026AUD$2133ppContact us
14 Nov 2026 - 18 Nov 2026AUD$2133ppContact us
21 Nov 2026 - 25 Nov 2026AUD$2133ppContact us
28 Nov 2026 - 02 Dec 2026AUD$2133ppContact us
12 Dec 2026 - 16 Dec 2026AUD$2133ppContact us

** Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.

** Single supplements may apply

Suggested Accommodation
CityAccommodation
Tsitsikamma National Park Tsitsikamma Village Inn or similar
Knysna Rex Hotel or similar
Oudtshoorn Hlangana Lodge or similar
Hermanus Auberge Burgundy or similar

What's included?

  • 6 Meals: 4 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner including gratuities
  • 4 Nights’ accommodation including porterage
  • Transportation including toll fees in air-conditioned vehicles
  • Services of a professional English-speaking tour guide
  • Entrance fees as specified in the itinerary
  • Bottled water in eco-friendly packaging

What's not?

  • Any items not mentioned as included.

Important notes and additional information

Small Group Tour
Minimum 2 guests / Maximum 10 guests

Price Assurance

At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.

Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.

Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.

Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!

Destination: Africa

From its endless deserts and burning sunsets, to its abundance of wildlife and diversity of culture, the African Safari has it all. There is nowhere else on the planet with such incredible natural beauty and rich traditions than Africa. Discover your own Africa with a tailored tour through some of the most dynamic and stunningly beautiful natural landscapes the world has to offer.

Downloadable travel guide

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Garden Route Uncovered (2026)

5 Days. From AUD $2,051pp.