Garden Route Uncovered - Guided Tour | Cullinan Guided Journeys

Garden Route Uncovered 2025

From R20410

per person

Discover scenic mountain passes and explore a rugged coastline known for its beaches and indigenous forests.

Experience the beauty of the garden Route, South Africa’s most scenic coastal region.
From Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) through to Cape Town. Head westwards towards the Tsitsikamma Forest and Knysna, set around a beautiful lagoon. Travel via the Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn and discover iconic sights like the Cango Caves and a working Ostrich Farm. Travel onwards through the ‘Little Karoo’ to Hermanus, a whale-watching mecca in season, before ending in Cape Town.

5 Days

Adventure

Guided Journeys

South Africa

Wildlife & Nature

Departure

Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Include

4 breakfasts

1 dinner

1 lunch

Porterage

Accommodation

Professional English-speaking Guide

Transportation

Sightseeing
Not Included

Visit to the sites where Ashley Kriel and Anton Fransch were killed

Visit to the Trojan Horse Memorial

Light Lunch

Scenic coastal drive along the Atlantic Seaboard and Constantia Nek

Entrance to the Nelson Mandela Legacy Exhibition

Entrance to the Castle of Good Hope

Visit Bo-Kaap with its colourful houses

Visit to Greenmarket Square

Entrance into Isimangaliso Wetlands Park

Scheduled St Lucia Boat Cruise

Game Drive in Hluhluwe Game Reserve (closed / open depending on selection)

Entrance fee to Hluhluwe Game Reserve

Transfers to/from Richards Bay Harbour

Closed vehicle game drive in Tala Game Reserve

Entrance fee to Tala Game Reserve

Return transfer to / from Durban Cruise Terminal

Phezulu Cultural Village & Reptile Park

1 x Wine Tasting at Babylonstoren Wine Estate

Boulders Beach Penguin Colony (excluding cost of the entrance fee)

Guided Tours of Table Mountain & Kirstenbosch Gardens

3 x wine tastings

Robben Island Excursion

6 x Dinners

Guided tours of the Company Gardens and the Arderne Gardens

3 x Mittagessen

13 x Fruhstuck

6 x Fruhstuck

5 x Fruhstuck

2 x Mittagessen

1 x Abendessen

4 x Abendessen

1 x Mittagessen

11 x Fruhstuck

Besichtigungen laut Reiseplan

Gepacktragergebuhren

Transport

Ubernachtung

3 x Fruhstuck

3 x Abendessen

2 x craft beer tastings and brewery tours

1 wine tasting at Buitenverwachting Wine Estate

Kliptown Open Air Museum

11 breakfasts

1 x cheese & wine pairing

1 wine tasting and a BBQ (Braai) lunch)

2 x Craft Beer Tastings & a Beach BBQ (Braai) dinner

Boulders Beach

1 wine tasting of five wines at Groot Constantia Wine Estate

Visit to V&A Waterfront

Muizenberg Beach

Table Mountain (excludes the cost of the Cable Way ticket & weather permitting)

USB charging ports onboard vehicle

Wifi onboard vehicle

1 wine tasting and a 2 course winelands lunch

Entrance to the Franschhoek Motor Museum

Surface Tour at the Cullinan Diamond Mine

Professional English Commentary only

2nd Wine Tasting (time permitting)

Shore-based Whale Experience

Carlton Centre

Entrance into Cradle of Humankind and Sterkfontein

Hector Peterson Memorial site (photo opportunity only)

Lilliesleaf Farm

Entrance to Sun City Resort

Closed vehicle game drive in PIlanesburg Game Reserve

Visit to Paul Kruger House

Visit the Voortrekker Monument

Visit the Apartheid Museum

Visit to Hector Peterson Memorial

Regina Mundi Church

Visit to Constitution Hill

Return transfer from main Sandton / Rosebank Hotels

Entrance fees: God’s Window, Three Rondawels and Bourkes Luck Potholes

Bottled water

Kruger National Park Conservation Fees

Return transfers from central Hazyview Hotels

Entrance fee in to Addo Elephant National Park

Closed vehicle game drive in Addo Elephant National Park

Electric mountain bikes, helmets & water bottles

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

1x wine-tasting at Stellenbosch Wine Estate

Cape Point Nature Reserve

3 x wine tastings and 1 x cellar tour

Estate is closed on Sundays, a visit to the Stoney Point Penguin Colony will be included instead.

1 x wine-tasting at Bouchard Finlayson Wine Estate

Welcome drink on arrival

English-speaking game ranger

2 -3 hour open vehicle game drive

Guided tours at Zeits MOCCA and the Norval Foundation

Guided tours of Company Gardens and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

3 x gin tastings

2 hour cruise accompanied by marine biologists

Chocolate and wine pairing

Cloete Cellar

Cape Dutch Manor House at Groot Constantia

Groot Constantia Wine Estate

Entrance fees for guided tour of the Heart Museum

2 x wine tastings

Passage on the wine tram

Entrance to the Oranjezicht City Farm Market and Neighbourgoods Market at Old Biscuit Mill

Interactive djembe drumming session and set menu dinner

Return transfers to / from Cape Town City Center Hotels with English driver only

Afternoon Tea

An accredited fully licensed guide and use of riding gear

1 x craft beer or 1 x wine tasting

Return transfers to / from Cape Town City Centre Hotels

National Park permits

2 wine tastings

Interactive Djembe drumming session & set menu dinner

Show, 4-course dinner and a glass of sparkling wine

Riding gear

1 craft beer tasting or 1 wine tasting

Kruger National Park Conservation Fees

Lunch

Complimentary collection service from select hotels*

Return transfers from Port Elizabeth city centre hotels

Full board at Chobe only

Return airfare ex Johannesburg

14 breakfasts

3 lunches

13 breakfasts

4 dinners

10 breakfasts

2 dinners

2 breakfasts

6 breakfasts

2 lunches

5 breakfasts

Accommodation

3 dinners

3 breakfasts

Entry Fees

From Our Gallery

Garden Route Uncovered - Cullinan Guided Journeys

Ostriches at Oudtshoorn - Garden Route Uncovered

Day 1: Saturday - Port Elizabeth - Tsitsikamma

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: Sunday - 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. 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. [Breakfast & Dinner] Distance travelled today: 100 kms

Day 3: Monday - Knysna - Oudtshoorn

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 funfilled interactive tractor 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. [Breakfast & Lunch] Distance travelled today: 210 kms

Day 4: Tuesday - 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. After this thrilling experience, head back for a delicious breakfast. After breakfast, 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. [Breakfast] Distance travelled today: 365 kms

Day 5: Wednesday - 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 oak-shaded streets, cafés, boutiques, and art galleries before travelling to Cape Town, where the tour ends on arrival. [Breakfast] Distance travelled today: 160 kms

OPTIONAL EXCURSION

Enhance your journey with an optional excursion, available for pre-booking, subject to availability and a minimum of 2 adults travelling: Rack Rates valid 01/01/25 – 31/12/25: ** DAY 4 – TUESDAY - OUDTSHOORN – TRAVEL WITH A PURPOSE Activity - EARLY MORNING MEERKAT SAFARI – R 985.00 per person There is an option 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 & subject to availability at the time of booking). 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.

Our Gallery

Garden Route Uncovered - Cullinan Guided Journeys

Garden Route Uncovered - Cape Dutch house in the mountains

2025 English Departure Dates

January - 11, 25
February - 8, 15, 22
March - 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
April - 12, 26
May - 3, 10, 24
June - 7, 21
July - 12, 26
August - 9, 23, 30
September - 13, 27
October - 4, 11, 18, 25
November - 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
December - 13

Tour Highlights:

Visit to Tsitsikamma National Park and scenic Storms River Mouth
Enjoy a delicious dinner at a delightful lagoon side restaurant in Knysna
Afternoon sunset cruise on the Knysna Lagoon
Visit the ‘Dolphin Point’ lookout in Wilderness, with spectacular views of Wilderness beach and beyond
Guided tour of the Cango Caves
Guided tractor tour of a working ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn
Visit a local farm school in the Barrydale area with the opportunity to interact with the children. This visit supports our Barrydale Farm School Development Fund that encourages local education of underprivileged children in rural communities
Explore the small towns along the well-known Route 62 between Oudtshoorn and Cape Town
Enjoy carefully chosen optional TRAVEL WITH A PURPOSE Activities that positively impact both the travellers and the destinations they visit

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

All departures are in English commentary
This Small Group Tour requires a minimum of 2 Guests to operate and will not exceed a maximum of 10 Guests
Transport will be in a Cullinan Guided Journeys branded vehicle with 2-10 guests travelling in a 13-seater vehicle

2025 RATES valid:

01/01/25 - 30/04/25
- R 20 655.00 per person sharing twin/double accommodation
- R 22 845.00 per single person
01/05/25 - 30/09/25
- R 20 410.00 per person sharing twin/double accommodation
- R 22 590.00 per single person
01/10/25 - 31/12/25
- R 21 270.00 per person sharing twin/double accommodation
- R 23 680.00 per single person

Accommodation included:
- Tsitsikamma Village Inn or similar x 1 night
- Rex Hotel in Knysna or similar x 1 night
- Hlangana Lodge in Oudtshoorn or similar x 1 night
- Auberge Burgundy in Hermanus or similar x 1 night