Hiking tours in South Africa

Hiking tours >> Hiking tours to the highlight of the Garden Route: From Cape Town to the Addo Elephant National Park (14 days) 6-15 guests

Highlights

Hiking onto Table Mountain and at the Cape of good Hope

Hiker’s secret: The magnificent Panorma round trip in the Jonkershoek Valley near Stellenbosch

Pure Nature: three days from one hut to the next one in Marloth Nature Reserve near Swellendam

Far away from civilization: four days from hut to hut on the Tsitsikamma Trail

Safari in open land rovers with the „Big 5“ in Addo Elephant National Park

(B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)

Day 1
Greeting at Cape Town airport by your tour guide. After checking in to the guest house and a city tour you have midday at your disposal. In the afternoon we take our first, flat hike around Lion’s Head with beautiful views over the city, Table Mountain and the Atlantic. (1,5 hours) (B)

Day 2
After breakfast a transfer takes you to the famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. We hike through the gardens directly to the shadowy Skeleton Gorge on the 1067 m high Table Mountain. Many proteas can be found here. The hike along the edge of Table Mountain allows for the most beautiful views of the city. The descent is on the Atlantic side. (6-7 hours) (B)

Day 3
We drive to the Indian Ocean to the Boulders penguin colony. In the nearby Table Mountain National Park we begin our virtually flat hike along the breath-taking Atlantic Coast. With a bit of luck we will see not only whales and dolphins but also baboons, ostriches and blesbok. From the Cape of Good Hope we climb to Cape Point. (5 hours). On the return journey to Cape Town we pass along Chapman’s Peak drive, one of the most beautiful sections of the South African coast. (B, L)

Day 4
Transfer to Stellenbosch – a university town that lies in a beautiful, fertile valley. Starting from the Jonkershoek Valley, we pass beautiful Fynbos, proteas and ericas all the way up to the 1000 m high plateau of the Hottentots Holland Mountains where we can enjoy spectacular views of the Cape of Good Hope (6-8 hours). From there we drive through the Overberg region to Caledon, which is famous for its hot mineral springs. We stay overnight at a guest house in Caledon. (B, L)

Days 5-7
Today we head to Swellendam, the third-oldest town in South Africa. After shopping we start our 3-day hiking tour through the Marloth Nature Reserve, hiking from hut to hut. This hiking trail is a well-kept secret amongst hikers. Our route leads us through an impressive, mountainous landscape rich in proteas and ericas, as well as through indigenous forest. Fantastic views down into the steep valleys are the highlights along the way. We spend the night of the 7th day in thatched chalets in Swellendam. (Daily hikes of 5-9 hours) (B, L, D)

Day 8
A transfer takes us to Mossel Bay where we visit the worthwhile Diaz Museum with its replica of a 500 year old Portuguese ship. Near George the Victoria Bay invites you for a swim in the warm Indian Ocean. In beautiful Knysna, situated on a lagoon, we visit the waterfront and buy groceries for our upcoming hikes. We continue on to Nature’s Valley where the indigenous forest stretches down to the beach. We are accommodated in holiday cottages near to the beach. (B, D)

Days 9-12
Our 4-day hiking tour starts at the lagoon and leads us through indigenous forest with its enormous yellowwood trees, and through typical coastal fynbos, crossing many streams along the way. If we are lucky we might see the Knysna Loerie, a local species of parrot. The daily hiking distances range between 17 and 20 km, leaving us with enough time to enjoy the flora and fauna and the wonderful views. We are once again accommodated in simple, beautifully situated huts. On the 12th day we arrive at our next destination: Stormsriver Village. We visit a gigantic, 800-year old yellowwood tree. A short transfer takes us to the beautiful chalets of the Tsitsikamma National Park, which are situated at the sea. (Daily hikes of 6-8 hours) (B, L, D)

Day 13
In the morning we go for a walk through the beautiful coastal forest to the Storms River suspension bridge. Afterwards we drive via Port Elizabeth to the Addo Elephant National Park. The park contains seven different ecosystems. In the afternoon we go on a game drive in an open off-road vehicle in search of elephants, rhinos, buffalos, antelopes and even lions. From our chalets we have a good view over a water hole which is lit up at night. (B)

Day 14
We start the day with another game drive in our own vehicle before traveling to Port Elizabeth airport, where this spectacular hiking tour along the Garden Route ends. (B)

Travel Information:
The hiking trails are selected so that they are suitable for those with an average to good level of fitness and normal level of agility. During the multi-day tours we carry our backpacks ourselves, dividing the food between all participants. On all the offered dates of travel the climate is pleasantly warm with temperatures up to 28 degrees. At night it can get colder along the coast.

Included:
qualified English-speaking tour guide
accommodation in double rooms with own shower/toilet (3*), during the multiple day hikes simple huts with bunk beds, mattress and communal toilet (1*)
all meals as mentioned
all entrance fees
all transfers & travel in a air conditioned minibus

Excluded:
flights within South Africa
flights to and from South Africa
gratuity

Book this tour

If our fixed departure doesn't suit you, don't despair! Contact us for exclusive itineraries for small groups or individual travelers, we will be happy to put together a special tour for you.

Email: reservations@africanbikers.com | Phone: +27 21 465 2018 | Fax: +27 21 461 2349
Address: 35 Breda Street, Oranjezicht, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa

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