One Week in South Africa: Cape Town and the Garden Route
Contents
- 7-Day Overview
- Where to Stay — Night-by-Night
- Days 1–3: Cape Town
- Day 1 — Arrive and Orient
- Day 2 — Table Mountain and Bo-Kaap
- Day 3 — Cape Peninsula
- Day 4: Cape Town to Hermanus (120 km, 1.5 hours)
- What to Do in Hermanus
- Day 5: Hermanus to Knysna (280 km, 3.5 hours)
- What to Do in Knysna
- Day 6: Knysna to Tsitsikamma (100 km, 1.5 hours)
- Tsitsikamma Section — Garden Route National Park
- Day 7: Tsitsikamma to Addo Elephant Park (180 km, 2 hours)
- Addo Elephant National Park
- Departure
- Practical Details
- Car Hire
- Total Budget Estimate (7 days, per person sharing)
One week is enough for South Africa’s two most popular regions: Cape Town and the Garden Route. This itinerary starts with three days in Cape Town, then follows the N2 highway east through Hermanus, Knysna, and Tsitsikamma to finish at Addo Elephant Park near Port Elizabeth.
The driving distances are manageable — the longest single-day drive is approximately 280 km (3.5 hours). We have built in enough time at each stop to actually enjoy it rather than just ticking off a list.
7-Day Overview
| Day | Location | Distance | Key highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Cape Town | — | Arrive, V&A Waterfront |
| Day 2 | Cape Town | — | Table Mountain, Bo-Kaap |
| Day 3 | Cape Town | — | Cape Peninsula drive |
| Day 4 | Hermanus | 120 km from Cape Town | Whale watching, wine |
| Day 5 | Knysna | 280 km from Hermanus | Knysna Heads, lagoon |
| Day 6 | Tsitsikamma | 100 km from Knysna | Storms River Mouth trail |
| Day 7 | Addo Elephant Park | 180 km from Tsitsikamma | Safari drive, depart PE |
Total driving distance: Approximately 680 km over 4 driving days.
Where to Stay — Night-by-Night
| Night | Hotel | Budget tier | Approx. rate (as of 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Derwent House, Cape Town | Mid-range | From ZAR 2,500/night |
| 1–3 | POD Camps Bay (alternative) | Upscale | From ZAR 4,500/night |
| 4 | Harbour House Hotel, Hermanus | Mid-range | From ZAR 2,200/night |
| 5 | Turbine Hotel, Knysna | Mid-range | From ZAR 2,800/night |
| 6 | Tsitsikamma Village Inn | Mid-range | From ZAR 1,800/night |
| 7 | Gorah Elephant Camp, Addo | Upscale | From ZAR 8,000/night all-inclusive |
| 7 | Addo Dung Beetle Guest Farm (alt) | Budget | From ZAR 1,200/night |
Days 1–3: Cape Town
We cover Cape Town in detail in our 3-day Cape Town itinerary, but here is the condensed version.
Day 1 — Arrive and Orient
Fly into Cape Town International Airport (CPT). Uber to your accommodation costs ZAR 200–350 (approximately USD 11–18). If arriving before noon, walk the V&A Waterfront and have lunch at Makers Landing food market (dishes from ZAR 60–120).
Evening: Dinner at Kloof Street House — mains from ZAR 180–280.
Day 2 — Table Mountain and Bo-Kaap
- Table Mountain cable car: ZAR 430 return (approximately USD 23). Opens 08:00 in summer. Book online.
- Bo-Kaap: Walk Wale Street, visit the Bo-Kaap Museum (ZAR 40). Lunch at Cape Malay Kitchen — mains from ZAR 120–180.
- Afternoon: Zeitz MOCAA at the Waterfront (ZAR 200 entry) or browse the craft market.
Day 3 — Cape Peninsula
Full-day driving loop: City Bowl → Camps Bay → Hout Bay → Chapman’s Peak Drive (toll ZAR 55) → Boulders Beach penguins (ZAR 220) → Cape Point (ZAR 353 park entry) → return via M3.
Lunch at The Meeting Place in Simon’s Town — mains from ZAR 100–160.
Day 4: Cape Town to Hermanus (120 km, 1.5 hours)
Leave Cape Town after breakfast. Take the N2 east, then turn off onto the R44 coastal road at Bot River for one of South Africa’s most scenic drives along the coast of Walker Bay.
What to Do in Hermanus
Hermanus is the whale watching capital of South Africa. Southern right whales visit from June to November, with peak season in September and October. Even outside whale season, the town is worth a stop for the coastal walks and restaurants.
- Cliff Path Walk: A 12-km paved walkway along the coast from New Harbour to Grotto Beach. Free. Allow 2–3 hours for the full walk, or do a shorter section.
- Whale watching boat trip: From approximately ZAR 950 per person with Southern Right Charters (2 hours, departs from New Harbour). Book a morning trip for calmer seas.
- Creation Wines: 15 minutes outside Hermanus on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge Road. Tasting from ZAR 120, food-and-wine pairing from ZAR 380. Open 10:00–16:00. This is one of the best wine estates in the Overberg.
Lunch: Fisherman’s Cottage on Lemm’s Corner — seafood mains from ZAR 140–220.
Dinner: Bientang’s Cave, built into a sea cave on the cliff face — mains from ZAR 180–280. Book ahead in season.
Stay: Harbour House Hotel (22 Harbour Road) — from ZAR 2,200 per night as of 2026. Sea-facing rooms have direct views of Walker Bay. Budget alternative: Zoete Inval Travellers Lodge — dorms from ZAR 350, privates from ZAR 900.
Day 5: Hermanus to Knysna (280 km, 3.5 hours)
This is the longest driving day. Take the N2 east through Swellendam and Riversdale. The road is a fast, well-maintained highway. Stop in Swellendam for coffee at the Old Gaol Coffee Shop in the historic town centre if you want to break the drive.
What to Do in Knysna
- Knysna Heads: Drive to the Eastern Head viewpoint for views over the lagoon entrance. Free. The Western Head is accessible via the Featherbed Nature Reserve ferry and guided walk (approximately ZAR 650 including lunch).
- Knysna Lagoon: Rent a paddleboard or kayak from ZAR 200 per hour at the Waterfront.
- Knysna Forest: Hike the Garden of Eden boardwalk trail (20 minutes, free) or the longer Elephant Walk (3 hours, moderate). These indigenous forests are some of the last remaining yellowwood and stinkwood forests in Africa.
- Knysna Oysters: The lagoon produces excellent oysters. 34 South Restaurant on the Waterfront serves a dozen Knysna oysters for approximately ZAR 180–220.
Lunch: East Head Café — the setting alone (perched above the Heads) is worth the visit. Mains from ZAR 130–200.
Dinner: Île de Païn Bakery & Café (The Boatshed, Thesen Island) — artisan breads and modern bistro food, mains from ZAR 140–220.
Stay: Turbine Hotel & Spa (Thesen Island) — a converted power station on a lagoon island, from ZAR 2,800 per night as of 2026. Budget: Island Vibe Backpackers — dorms from ZAR 300.
Day 6: Knysna to Tsitsikamma (100 km, 1.5 hours)
Take the N2 east through Plettenberg Bay. If you want a stop, Plett has excellent beaches — Robberg Nature Reserve (entry ZAR 75) has a 9-km circular hiking trail along a dramatic rocky peninsula (3–4 hours, moderate). Otherwise, continue to Tsitsikamma.
Tsitsikamma Section — Garden Route National Park
Tsitsikamma is the highlight of the Garden Route for many travellers. The park protects a strip of ancient coastal forest and dramatic rocky coastline.
- Park entry: ZAR 353 per adult (SANParks international visitor rate as of 2026)
- Hours: 07:00–18:00 daily
- Storms River Mouth Trail: A 1-km boardwalk and suspension bridge trail to the river mouth. Easy, 45 minutes return. The suspension bridge over the gorge is the most photographed spot on the Garden Route.
- Waterfall Trail: 3 km one way to a waterfall (1.5 hours return, moderate). Starts from the same rest camp.
- Blackwater tubing: Float through a canyon in the Storms River with Untouched Adventures — from ZAR 750 per person (3 hours, including transport from Storms River Village).
Lunch: Tsitsikamma Falls Lodge restaurant or the basic SANParks restaurant at Storms River Mouth rest camp — meals from ZAR 80–150.
Dinner: Marilyn’s 60s Diner in Storms River Village — burgers and steaks, mains from ZAR 100–180. It is the only proper restaurant in the village.
Stay: Tsitsikamma Village Inn (Storms River Village) — from ZAR 1,800 per night as of 2026, walking distance to park entrance. Budget: Tube ‘n Axe Backpackers — dorms from ZAR 280.
Day 7: Tsitsikamma to Addo Elephant Park (180 km, 2 hours)
Drive the N2 west towards Port Elizabeth, then turn north on the R335 to Addo Elephant National Park.
Addo Elephant National Park
Addo is the third-largest national park in South Africa and home to over 600 elephants. It is malaria-free, making it the most accessible Big Five safari in the country.
- Park entry: ZAR 353 per adult (SANParks international visitor rate as of 2026)
- Hours: 07:00–19:00 (summer), 07:00–18:00 (winter). Main camp gate opens at 06:00 for early game drives.
- Self-drive: The park has 120 km of gravel roads in good condition. A standard sedan works fine. Allow 3–4 hours for a loop drive.
- Guided game drive: SANParks offers 2-hour guided drives from approximately ZAR 350 per person. Book at main camp reception.
Key areas: The Hapoor Dam and Spekboom Hide are reliable elephant gathering points, especially in dry months (November–March). Addo also has lion, buffalo, spotted hyena, and black rhino — but elephants are the main attraction and almost guaranteed.
Lunch: The SANParks restaurant at Addo Main Camp serves basic meals (ZAR 80–150). Pack snacks and water for the game drive.
Stay: Gorah Elephant Camp (private concession inside the park) — from ZAR 8,000 per night all-inclusive with guided game drives. This is the luxury option. Budget: Addo Dung Beetle Guest Farm (just outside the park gate) — from ZAR 1,200 per night, good value.
Departure
Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) airport is 70 km south of Addo (1 hour). Flights to Johannesburg with Airlink or FlySafair run from approximately ZAR 1,200–2,500 one way as of 2026. If flying out the same evening, leave Addo by 15:00 to allow time for car return at the airport.
Practical Details
Car Hire
A rental car is essential for this itinerary. Hire a car at Cape Town airport and return at Port Elizabeth airport (one-way fees typically ZAR 500–1,500 extra).
- Compact car: From approximately ZAR 500–800 per day as of 2026
- SUV/crossover: From approximately ZAR 900–1,400 per day
- Fuel: Budget approximately ZAR 1,200–1,500 for the full route (petrol at approximately ZAR 24 per litre as of 2026)
Total Budget Estimate (7 days, per person sharing)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Upscale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | ZAR 8,000 | ZAR 18,000 | ZAR 40,000 |
| Meals | ZAR 4,000 | ZAR 7,500 | ZAR 14,000 |
| Activities & park entry | ZAR 3,000 | ZAR 5,000 | ZAR 8,000 |
| Car hire + fuel | ZAR 6,000 | ZAR 8,000 | ZAR 12,000 |
| Total | ZAR 21,000 | ZAR 38,500 | ZAR 74,000 |
| In USD (approx.) | USD 1,100 | USD 2,025 | USD 3,900 |
All prices approximate as of 2026.
Book ahead
Book the key experiences
Turn this itinerary into reality. Secure your spots — popular tours sell out 2–3 days ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can you do the Garden Route in a week?
- Yes. Seven days allows three days in Cape Town and four days driving the Garden Route from Hermanus to Addo Elephant Park. You will not see everything, but you will cover the highlights comfortably without rushing.
- Is the Garden Route safe to drive?
- The N2 highway and coastal roads along the Garden Route are well-maintained and straightforward to drive. Drive during daylight hours and fill up at major fuel stations. The route is one of the most popular self-drive holidays in Africa.
- What is the best time for the Garden Route?
- October to April offers the warmest weather and longest daylight hours. Whale watching in Hermanus peaks from August to November. The Garden Route gets some rain year-round, so pack a waterproof layer regardless of season.
- Do I need a 4x4 for the Garden Route?
- No. A standard sedan or compact car handles the entire route. All major roads are paved. Only off-road tracks in nature reserves require a higher-clearance vehicle, and those are optional detours.
Car Hire
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