- Tour code
ZAFADV02
- Start
Cape Town
- End
Cape Town
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Classic
- Trip pace
Relaxed
- Language
English
Eight days that pair Cape Town's mountain-and-ocean drama with the green coast of the Garden Route, in a small group of 6 to 16 travelers.
The first half is city and Cape: paddle to Boulders Beach, visit the Robben Island Museum, cook Cape Malay dishes in Bo-Kaap, climb Lion's Head at dawn if you're keen, and ride a vintage tram between Franschhoek wine estates.
Then the road trip begins. On the Garden Route you'll walk alongside giraffes in a game reserve, learn how bees are kept, meet the people behind community projects in Knysna and fly through the Tsitsikamma canopy on a zipline, finishing with oysters at a farewell dinner by the water.
The pace is relaxed, with free time built in, and your Soca Islands Host takes care of the details throughout.
Why This Journey
South Africa's story is best understood through its people, and this trip puts you in conversation with them: lunch with someone who knew Nelson Mandela during his years on Robben Island, a Bo-Kaap kitchen where Cape Malay recipes are passed on, and a community-led tour in Knysna. Around those moments sit the landscapes the Cape is famous for, from penguin beaches to vineyards and coastal rainforest.
Driving the Garden Route yourself means long distances and plenty of planning; here the transfers, guides and bookings are in place, so it suits first-time visitors to Africa and anyone who wants nature, food and real local connection in one well-paced week.
Where You'll Stay
Cape Town (4 nights): Pullman Cape Town City Centre, in the city centre near the V&A Waterfront. Knysna (3 nights): Protea Hotel by Marriott Knysna Quays, on the lagoon at the Knysna Quays. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Prices are based on sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. The trip starts and ends at Cape Town International Airport (CPT); the itinerary includes a private transfer from the airport on Day 1 and to the airport on Day 8. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
Share a bush trail with giraffes, led by a local guide
Paddle out to Boulders Beach with African penguins for company
Go behind the scenes with a local beekeeper
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Max 16 travellers per group
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travellers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities, including the sunrise Lion's Head hike
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
A private transfer brings you from Cape Town International Airport to your hotel, with Table Mountain watching over the city.
In the evening, head to the V&A Waterfront with your Soca Islands Host and the group for a welcome dinner, the first of several good meals this week.
Get on the water and kayak with penguins to Boulders Beach, one of the few mainland colonies of African penguins, then walk among them on the sand.
Next up is the Robben Island Museum and lunch with a guest who knew Nelson Mandela during his imprisonment. Later, a guide takes you through Bo-Kaap's brightly painted streets on foot, ending in a kitchen where you'll learn to cook Cape Malay curries and rotis.
Early risers can hike Lion's Head in the dark and watch the sun come up over the city and the Atlantic; everyone else can sleep in.
After breakfast your time is your own: browse boutiques, swim at Camps Bay or pick any corner of Cape Town to explore.
Board a vintage tram through the Franschhoek valley, hopping off at historic estates for tastings. At one cellar you'll blend your own wine to take home.
The day ends with a long, relaxed lunch and paired wines in the gardens of a Cape Dutch estate.
Today is a road trip east along the Garden Route, with the coast on one side and mountains on the other.
Along the way you'll stop at a game reserve for a guided walk among giraffes, then carry on to Knysna, your lagoon-side base for the next three nights.
Suit up for a close look at a beekeeper's hives and learn why these pollinators matter so much.
Later, a community-led township tour introduces you to local residents and the grassroots projects they run. The afternoon is free for the waterfront's cafés and bars, or simply a slow wander.
Head into Tsitsikamma, where indigenous forest runs right down to the ocean, and zipline between platforms high in the trees.
That evening, raise a glass at a farewell dinner in Knysna over the region's famous oysters and views of the water.
After a last breakfast, a private transfer takes you to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and the end of the trip. Say goodbye to your Soca Islands Host and the friends you've made along the way.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
Pullman Cape Town City Centre
A modern hotel in Cape Town city center, close to the V&A Waterfront and within easy reach of Bo-Kaap, the Company's Garden and the cable car to Table Mountain.
Rooms are contemporary and generously sized for the city, and twin-bed rooms are available in every main category, which helps keep a group together.
Rooms are 30 m² (323 ft²).
Hotel websiteProtea Hotel by Marriott Knysna Quays
A hotel on Waterfront Drive at the Knysna Quays, right beside the lagoon and the marina. The waterfront's restaurants, cafés and shops are on the doorstep, and the town centre is an easy walk.
Rooms look over the lagoon, the pool, the historic station or the town, and there is a heated outdoor pool, a spa, lifts and on-site parking, with a buffet breakfast served daily.
Hotel websiteRooms
You'll stay at Trip Hotel.
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- +$952 per person
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
Room prices are per person for the Apr 11, 2027 departure and can differ on other dates. You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into and out of Cape Town International Airport (CPT).
Proposed accommodation is Pullman Cape Town City Centre in Cape Town and Protea Hotel by Marriott Knysna Quays in Knysna (or similar hotels), subject to confirmation.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
The itinerary includes a private transfer from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) on Day 1 and back to the airport on Day 8. For other arrival or departure arrangements, contact our Customer Experience team. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
7 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 3 dinners, including the welcome dinner at the V&A Waterfront on Day 1 and the farewell dinner in Knysna on Day 7. Other meals are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our Cape Town & the Garden Route trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
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Flexible payment plan
Pay the balance in equal monthly payments. Everything is due 60 days before departure, so trips departing sooner are paid in full at booking.
