Travel from bustling Cape Town through the famous Garden Route on this eight-day, off-the-beaten-track adventure tour of South Africa! Experience the Garden Route’s hidden gems and enjoy the spots and activities that are favored by locals.
Program Highlights
Experience the beauty of the famous Garden Route
Itinerary:
Arrival Day, Thursday: Arrive into Cape Town International Airport (CPT). The hostel transfer service will be waiting to collect you. Settle into the hostel and meet fellow travelers.
Day 1, Friday: Participants will head out of Cape Town to go ziplining in the mountains, set out on the Garden Route and arrive in Mossel Bay in time to watch the sunset.
Day 2, Saturday: Explorers will experience hints of the history of Mossel Bay and enjoy a quick hike up the St. Blaize cliff and swimming at the famous ‘Poort’ rock pools or at Santos Beach. Lot's of optional adventures are on the menu for the day. In the evening, participants will enjoy in a traditional South African barbeque, called a "braai."
Day 3, Sunday: Participants will embark on a three-hour authentic African game drive to observe Africa’s Big Five species - the lion, elephant, rhinoceros, cape buffalo and leopard! Explorers will then enjoy the magnificent views of the Garden Route on the way to Nature's Valley.
Day 4, Monday: Participants will take on the famous Salt River forest hike to a hidden beach before spending the afternoon exploring Plettenberg Bay with plenty of optional activities to choose from. The evening brings amazing sunset views.
Day 5, Tuesday: Explorers will visit the Rastafarian village of Judah Square, in the town of Knysna. Here, participants will take part in a community outreach activity. Travelers will spend time with the children and share each other's cultures. From there, participants can enjoy water sports*, a brewery tour and seafood dinner.
Day 6, Wednesday: Depending on the weather, participants will continue their exploration of Knysna and the nearby town of Sedgefield or will trek into the Knysna Forest.
Day 7, Thursday: Participants can enjoy the morning on the beach before heading to the town of Wilderness via the Timberlake Organic Village. Explorers will spend the night in a Wilderness hostel with magnificent views.
Day 8, Friday: Participants will enjoy a local wine tasting before the drive via the famous Route 62 back to Cape Town. Volunteers will enjoy a final farewell barbecue together in the evening.
*These activities are at participants’ own expense.
Please note: This schedule is subject to change.
Extend your stay by volunteering in South Africa!
Program Highlights
Experience the beauty of the famous Garden Route
- Enjoy eight days of adventure, sightseeing and trekking
- Three-hour Big Five safari, zip-lining adventure, craft brewery tour, kayaking, hiking, a community outreach activity, and National Park entrance fees included
- Experience South African culture, from a traditional braai to engaging with locals
- Visit Mossel Bay, Sedgefield, Plettenberg Bay, Knysna and more
- Observe wildlife up-close on an authentic 3 hours African safari
Itinerary:
Arrival Day, Thursday: Arrive into Cape Town International Airport (CPT). The hostel transfer service will be waiting to collect you. Settle into the hostel and meet fellow travelers.
Day 1, Friday: Participants will head out of Cape Town to go ziplining in the mountains, set out on the Garden Route and arrive in Mossel Bay in time to watch the sunset.
Day 2, Saturday: Explorers will experience hints of the history of Mossel Bay and enjoy a quick hike up the St. Blaize cliff and swimming at the famous ‘Poort’ rock pools or at Santos Beach. Lot's of optional adventures are on the menu for the day. In the evening, participants will enjoy in a traditional South African barbeque, called a "braai."
Day 3, Sunday: Participants will embark on a three-hour authentic African game drive to observe Africa’s Big Five species - the lion, elephant, rhinoceros, cape buffalo and leopard! Explorers will then enjoy the magnificent views of the Garden Route on the way to Nature's Valley.
Day 4, Monday: Participants will take on the famous Salt River forest hike to a hidden beach before spending the afternoon exploring Plettenberg Bay with plenty of optional activities to choose from. The evening brings amazing sunset views.
Day 5, Tuesday: Explorers will visit the Rastafarian village of Judah Square, in the town of Knysna. Here, participants will take part in a community outreach activity. Travelers will spend time with the children and share each other's cultures. From there, participants can enjoy water sports*, a brewery tour and seafood dinner.
Day 6, Wednesday: Depending on the weather, participants will continue their exploration of Knysna and the nearby town of Sedgefield or will trek into the Knysna Forest.
Day 7, Thursday: Participants can enjoy the morning on the beach before heading to the town of Wilderness via the Timberlake Organic Village. Explorers will spend the night in a Wilderness hostel with magnificent views.
Day 8, Friday: Participants will enjoy a local wine tasting before the drive via the famous Route 62 back to Cape Town. Volunteers will enjoy a final farewell barbecue together in the evening.
*These activities are at participants’ own expense.
Please note: This schedule is subject to change.
Extend your stay by volunteering in South Africa!
Location of the Project:
Various locations along the Garden Route, South Africa
Project length:
8 days
Arrival Airport:
Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
Age:
Minimum age of 18
Number of Volunteers:
Maximum of 11 international participants. This trip requires a minimum of 4 participants, any less and the trip will not take place.
What's Included
Accommodations:
Shared rooms in various hostels
Food:
Two meals per day are included (breakfasts and dinners)
Orientation:
An overview of the road trip will be provided on Arrival Day.
Support:
Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local guide/host and a team on the ground.
What's not Included
Flights, visas (if required), lunches, water activities fees (optional), travel health insurance, personal expenses.
Located at the southernmost tip of the epic African continent, South Africa offers a veritable plethora of fascinating destinations. Cape Town is a colorful, coastal city with some of the most impressive views anywhere. The history, cuisine and hiking opportunities in Cape Town make this a fabulous place to visit. The Kruger National Park area is an enticing spot, with some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the world. Plettenberg Bay is a seaside town along the famously beautiful Garden Route.
Internet:
WiFi is available at nearly all accommodations.
Laundry:
Laundry services can be arranged for an additional fee.
Accommodations:
Volunteers will share rooms in various hostels. Bedrooms will generally have 4-6 beds. Same-gender rooms are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. Volunteers can upgrade to twin or private rooms for an additional fee.
Food:
Breakfast and dinner are included each day
Please take note of this road trip's minimum requirements:
- Minimum age of 18
- Basic level of English
- Moderate level of physical fitness and general good health
During the trip there will be opportunities for participants to join optional activities at their own expense. These include: Shark cage diving, skydiving, sand boarding, surf lessons, bungy jumping, canyoning, abseiling, swimming with seals, additional wine tasting , scuba diving, tandem paragliding, horse riding trails, gourmet foodie walks and more!
Extend your stay by volunteering in South Africa!
Extend your stay by volunteering in South Africa!
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