3-Day Garden Route Highlights & 4x4 Safari from Cape Town

Route 62 and the Little Karoo

Route 62 is the inland road between Cape Town and the Garden Route, a slower and more scenic alternative to the coastal highway. It crosses fruit-growing valleys, climbs through rocky mountain passes and enters the Little Karoo, a semi-desert basin between the Swartberg and Langeberg ranges dotted with farm towns and Cape Dutch houses.

The guide stops for photographs and a break along the way, and explains the farming, geology and history of the region. Driving Route 62 yourself means long distances and careful timing; on this Garden Route tour from Cape Town you simply enjoy the landscape while the guide drives. Expect a long but rewarding first day, with arrival in Oudtshoorn in the afternoon.

Oudtshoorn and the Cango Caves

Oudtshoorn is the main town of the Little Karoo, famous for ostrich farming since the feather boom of the late nineteenth century, when grand sandstone mansions were built with the profits. Ostrich farms still surround the town, and the streets keep their old character.

The Cango Caves lie in the Swartberg foothills about half an hour north of town. A guided visit leads through huge underground halls filled with stalactites, stalagmites and drip-stone curtains formed over many thousands of years, lit to show their colours. The standard tour takes about an hour on easy paths. The Cango Caves opening hours are daily from morning to late afternoon, and the caves are a classic stop on any Garden Route itinerary.

Wilderness: lakes, forest and canoeing

Wilderness is a small village between George and Knysna, where a chain of lakes, rivers and lagoons meets a long sandy beach backed by forested hills. Much of the area is protected as part of the Garden Route National Park, and the viewpoint above the river, shaped like a map of Africa, is a favourite photo stop.

The included canoe trip follows the calm waters of the river upstream through the forest, with birds such as kingfishers along the banks. The paddling is gentle and suits beginners, and the guide gives instructions before you start. It is a peaceful contrast to the long drives and a chance to feel the nature of the Garden Route up close.

4x4 safari in a private game reserve

The highlight of the last day is a game drive of about two hours in an open 4x4 vehicle in a private game reserve on the Garden Route, near Mossel Bay. The reserve protects native bushveld and grassland where you can look for elephants, rhinos, lions, buffalo, giraffes, zebras and antelope with an experienced ranger. The ranger stops at each sighting and explains the animals' behaviour.

Is a Garden Route safari worth it? For travellers who cannot fit Kruger into their trip, it is an easy, malaria-free way to see big African animals close to the coast. Sightings are never guaranteed, and leopards are rarely seen in this region. After the drive the group heads back west to Cape Town.

Best time to visit the Garden Route

The Garden Route is pleasant all year. Summer, from November to March, brings warm days for the beaches and lagoons; autumn and spring are mild and quieter; and winter, from June to August, has cooler mornings, clear skies and whales passing along the coast. Rain can fall in any season, which keeps the forests green.

This tour starts early and covers long distances, so a light bag, comfortable clothing and a jacket for the cooler evenings are best. Optional extras such as an elephant encounter or a bungy jump can be booked during the tour, depending on the order of the days. The guide confirms the order of the days at the start of the trip, since it can change with the season.