Itinerary
Cape Town & the Garden Route (10 Days)
The 10-day split that gives Cape Town its due and still does the Garden Route properly — two bases, one slow drive east.
Why this route works
Cape Town and the Garden Route are the two things every first-timer wants, and doing both in ten days is the structure that actually works: four nights in the city, five on the route, and a slow drive between them rather than a flight you'll regret skipping.
Day 1
Cape Town
Overnight: Cape Town
—
Arrive + Table Mountain
Land CPT; cableway if open; Waterfront.
Day 2
Cape Town
Overnight: Cape Town
100 km
Cape Peninsula
Boulders, Cape Point, Chapman's Peak.
Day 3
Cape Town
Overnight: Cape Town
—
City day
Robben Island, Bo-Kaap, Company's Garden.
Day 4
Cape Town
Overnight: Cape Town
60 km
Winelands day
Stellenbosch + Franschhoek day trip.
Day 5
Wilderness
Overnight: Wilderness
350 km
Drive east
Drive to the Garden Route via Swellendam; overnight Wilderness.
Day 6
Wilderness
Overnight: Wilderness
—
Wilderness & lagoon
Beach, forest walk, lagoon.
Day 7
Knysna
Overnight: Knysna
80 km
Knysna & the Heads
Knysna, the Heads, Brenton.
Day 8
Plettenberg Bay
Overnight: Plettenberg Bay
40 km
Plett
Robberg Reserve, Lookout Beach.
Day 9
Tsitsikamma
Overnight: Storms River Village
60 km
Storms River
Storms River suspension bridge, forest walk.
Day 10
Depart
Overnight: —
—
Drive to George or PE airport
Depart GRJ or PLZ.
Make it yours
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This itinerary, plus route notes and places worth making room for.