Garden Route & Addo 5-Day Adventure: Cape Town to Port Elizabeth

Cape Town•moderate

Difficulty

moderate

Duration

5 days

Fitness Level

A moderate level of fitness is required — you should be comfortable with short hikes, canoeing, and getting in/out of a vehicle frequently.

Overview

A five-day thread through coastal cliffs, karoo plains and elephant-populated reserves from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. Expect canoeing, penguin colonies, ostrich farms and a game drive in Addo — all wrapped in local food and small-group guides.

Garden Route & Addo 5-Day Adventure: Cape Town to Port Elizabeth

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Bus Tour

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Date

Thu, Oct 30

Travelers

You step onto the minivan at dawn and the Cape Town skyline slides away — Table Mountain a grey silhouette that the sun will chase all week. The first salt spray arrives hours later at Cape Agulhas, where the cold Atlantic nudges the Indian Ocean and a stony shoreline marks the southernmost tip of the African continent. This is not a single-place trip but a sequence of landscapes: windswept coasts, karoo plains, indigenous river forests and a national park where elephants still reshape the lanes.

Adventure Photos

Garden Route & Addo 5-Day Adventure: Cape Town to Port Elizabeth photo 1

Adventure Tips

Layer for changeable coastal weather

Mornings on the coast are cool and winds can pick up; pack a light waterproof and fleece that you can shed inland.

Bring binoculars

Wildlife and seabird colonies are best seen with optics — elephants and penguins often keep a distance.

Comfortable shoes for mixed terrain

You’ll do a 2 km boardwalk hike and river paddles in Wilderness — sturdy, grippy footwear makes both easier.

Hydrate and carry snacks for long drives

Some stretches between towns are remote; a refillable water bottle and energy snacks keep you energized between stops.

Local Insights

Wildlife

African elephant
African penguin

History

The coastal and inland routes reflect maritime trade and farming history; Route 62 developed as a safer inland alternative to the coastal shipping lanes during colonial times.

Conservation

Addo’s growth from a small reserve to a multi-species park is a conservation success, while penguin colonies face ongoing threats from habitat loss and require local protection efforts.