Safari Tours in Garden Route: Our 15, in Order

1.2-Day Safari at Garden Route Game Lodge

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 928 reviews · 2 days · from $533Our pick

Travel in a small group of up to 12 from Cape Town to Hermanus, Betty’s Bay, and Cape Agulhas, then spend the night at Garden Route Game Lodge. Two game drives, dinner, breakfast, and 4-star chalet accommodation are included. Guides such as Chris, Vaughan, Benjamin, and Frank are known for safe driving and strong local insight.

“The Safari was Beautiful. Food was great. But the highlight was Chris our Guide. So much experience, knowledge and interest in telling us more about his home. Thank you Chris !!!!!”

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2.Little Brak River: Botlierskop Guided Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 589 reviews · from $40Best value

Spend three hours exploring Botlierskop Private Game Reserve in an open safari vehicle with an English-speaking guide. Look for rhinos, lions, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, hippos, cheetahs, and more than 200 bird species. Guides such as Chris, Neil, Mandela, and Rico are praised for sharp animal knowledge and good humor. Lunch and hotel transport cost extra.

“Absolutely worth it! The Guides are incredibly nice and know everything about the animals. We saw all the different wild Animals just some meters away. A wonderful day with Lots to remember! Thanks again for the fantastic experience, especially to Silas 🍀”

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3.5 Day Garden Route and Addo Safari – Best of South Africa Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 291 reviews · from $575Top rated

Travel from Cape Town through Route 62, Oudtshoorn, Addo, Jeffreys Bay, Tsitsikamma, Knysna, and Wilderness. You’ll ride in a small group with an English-speaking guide such as Isaac, Maudi, or Uriel, and enjoy safari drives, cave tours, wine tasting, beaches, and forest walks. Optional bungy jumping, ziplining, surfing, horseback riding, and private-reserve safaris add more adventure.

“If you’re looking for a real adventure with plenty of activities (optional), breathtaking view, an expert and friendly guide, click on this roundtrip. Excellent choice. Good value for money.”

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4.Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve: 2-Hour Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 267 reviews · 2 hours · from $55

Meet your English-speaking ranger at the Safari Center for a two-hour drive across a 2,200-hectare reserve below the Tsitsikamma Mountains. You may see rhinos, giraffes, hippos, zebras, crocodiles, antelope, ostriches, birds, and possibly other Big Five animals. Bring a warm jacket, since weather can change quickly.

“We were late ur as we were the only 2 it wasn’t a problem. 3 others were early for the next trip so we had an excellent tour of 5”

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5.Botlierskop Private Game Reserve: 3.5-Hour Sunset Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 227 reviews · from $64

Set out in an open safari vehicle for 3.5 hours at Botlierskop Private Game Reserve near Mossel Bay. An English-speaking guide leads you through 4,200 hectares in search of rhinos, hippos, giraffes, buffalo, elephants, lions, and more. A snack and drink stop breaks up the drive, and the reserve restaurant and pool are available afterward.

“We had a tour with Madeline and she was really great. We were able to see buffalos, cheetahs, rhinos, giraffes, one elephant and one lion. Would recommend to arrive early enough to have lunch at the restaurant at the same location. The food was great.”

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6.5-Day Best of Garden Route and Addo Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 221 reviews · 5 days · from $675

Travel from Cape Town in a small group of up to 13, with an English-speaking guide such as Isaac, Uriel, TK, or Denver. You will cover about 1,900 kilometers in five days, pairing Route 62 wine tasting and Cango Caves with Addo wildlife, Tsitsikamma, Knysna, Jeffreys Bay, and a private-reserve safari. Choose backpacker, comfort, or luxury accommodation.

“The guide was very good, always on time, told us many interesting things along the drive and was super reliable and friendly, was a very good experience.”

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7.3 Day Garden Route’s Best Highlights with Safari from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 189 reviews · from $366

Travel from Cape Town along Route 62 to the Cango Caves, paddle a calm river near Wilderness, and take a 4x4 safari at Botlierskop. Optional elephant observation and Bloukrans bungee jumping add extra cost. Guides may include Nev, Moudi, GG, or another Hotspots2c leader.

“Excellent tour! Every detail was so organized and we got to do a lot of activities for only 3 days time. Our guide GG was awesome- he made it fun snd took good care of us. Do the adventure tour at the caves- it's intense but so much fun! My favorite part was the elephant Read more”

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8.3 Day Garden Route Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 177 reviews · from $445

Travel from Cape Town along South Africa’s Garden Route on a three-day small-group tour capped at 13 people. You’ll visit Botlierskop and Albertinia for two 4x4 safaris, hike near Nature’s Valley, kayak to a Wilderness waterfall, and choose optional bungy jumping or ziplining. Guides may include Asanda, King, Didi, or Sbu.

“The tour was a very good one. We went for 2 drive games, also a nice kayaking, and for the braves: bungy jumping. Asanda our guide was great !! He was always trying to tell us everything about his beautiful country Southafrica. So thanks Asanda for all !!!!”

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9.Garden Route and Addo Elephant Park 6-Day Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 175 reviews · 6 days · from $852

Travel in a small group of up to 12 with an English-speaking guide such as Gareth, Christine, or Marc. Over six active days, you’ll visit Hermanus, Cape Agulhas, Oudtshoorn, Knysna, Tsitsikamma, Addo, and Mossel Bay, with accommodation, meals, canoeing, hikes, wine tasting, and a safari included.

“What an amazing week! Christine was an excellent guide, so full of energy and enthusiasm, making sure that everyone had what they needed and taking us safely from one beautiful place to the other. The places we visited were all so nice, I kept wanting to stay longer in each of them, saying “Next time..”. Yes, we did spend quite a lot of time in the bus to get between them, but that is after all unavoidable if wanting to visit them all. Shorter stops to stretch legs etc in between the main stops made the journeys feel shorter. The program was a good combination of beautiful nature and views,…”

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10.3-Day Garden Route Highlights and 4×4 Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 136 reviews · 3 days · from $417

Travel from Cape Town or Stellenbosch to Oudtshoorn and the Garden Route with an English-speaking guide such as Denver, Paul, or TK. You’ll visit Cango Caves, paddle near Wilderness, ride an open 4x4 at Botlierskop, and choose optional elephant observation or bungee jumping. Expect long drives, small groups, and two nights of accommodation.

“I would say those 3 days were the greatest in my life!”

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11.4 Day Garden Route Adventure & Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 114 reviews · from $640

Travel from Cape Town to the Garden Route in a small group of up to 13, with a driver-guide, three nights of lodging, meals, cave and ostrich-farm visits, two game drives, and seasonal whale watching. Guides such as Chris, Mawande, and Vaughan are known for warm, thoughtful service, though the long drives and compact minivan require some stamina.

“Such a great trip! Our BokBus guide, Mawande, was wonderful! From the game lodge and safaris to Tsitsikamma Park, adding in the penguins, ostrich farm and Cango Caves - such a wide variety of sightseeing opportunities. Also, the views on the Garden Route of the sea and mountains were spectacular. I opted for the private accommodation and the extra cost is well worth it. Every place we stayed was very, very nice with extensive breakfast options. Mawande made everything great and was very informative throughout the trip. I highly recommend this trip and our guide!”

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12.3-Day Garden Route Safari and Coastal Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 68 reviews · 3 days · from $720

Travel in a small group of up to 10 with an English-speaking SATOUR guide from Cape Town to Betty’s Bay, Hermanus, Cape Agulhas, and Garden Route Game Lodge. Expect long scenic drives, two game drives, 4-star stays, included dinners and breakfasts, and wine tasting on Route 62. Guides may include Benjamin, Vaughan, Chris, Dylan, or Frank.

“Incredible experience tow diferente stays 4 completely different experiences. From sightseeing on your way there to meeting where two oceans meet and ending with an amazing Safari and wine tasting.”

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13.2-Hour Game Drive at the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 58 reviews · from $57

Spend two hours in an open safari vehicle at Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve, a 2,200-hectare reserve below the Tsitsikamma Mountains. A ranger leads the drive in search of elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard, giraffe, zebra, hippo, crocodile, and antelope. Choose a morning or afternoon departure, and expect to return to the meeting point.

“Rien à dire, rien vu, vraiment l’impression d’être venue pour rien et un guide qui est parti sans un mot à la fin des 2h Tellement triste.”

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14.3 Day Garden Route Highlights and Safari with Private Transfers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26 reviews · from $1,096

Travel privately from Cape Town to Oudtshoorn, the Wilderness area, Sedgefield, and Botlierskop over three busy days. You’ll explore Cango Caves, canoe through calm waterways, join a 4x4 safari, and choose optional elephant viewing or a Bloukrans Bridge bungee jump. Your guide can adjust the private itinerary when time and availability allow.

“Our Driver/ Tour Guide was excellent! Lots of things to see and do along the route and kept us entertained while giving us the history of the region and its people!”

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15.5 Day Cape to Addo Safari – Garden Route Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26 reviews · from $611

Travel from Cape Town to Addo in a small group of up to 13, with a registered guide, four breakfasts, two dinners, park entries, canoeing, hiking, and an Addo game drive. Expect long road days, shared accommodation, and optional extras such as bungee jumping, Monkeyland, ostrich farms, and adventure activities.

“Went on the 6 day tour as a solo traveller, was a but worried at first but as it turned out I wasn't the only one in the group. Everyone was really friendly and our guide Lourens did a great job of helping us learn about SA and it's culture and also taRead more”

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