Guide
Garden Route itineraries for 5, 7 and 10 days
Five, seven or ten days on the Garden Route: overnight stops from George, Cape Town as a separate approach and Addo as a deliberate extension.
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Quick facts
- Best time
- Set arrival and departure locations first, Arrange Robberg and Tsitsikamma around weather windows
- Recommended duration
- 7-10 days
- Budget range
- Low: 55–95 EUR/person/day · Mid: 110–210 EUR/person/day · Comfort: 260+ EUR/person/day
- With kids
- Yes
Orientation
Count the Cape Town approach separately
The short plans begin around George. If driving from Cape Town, add travel days and any intermediate nights. A return drive to Cape Town is also excluded.
Five travel days mean four nights. Check arrival, vehicle pickup and departure times against the plan before assigning an outing to the first or final day.
With a week, I would not squeeze Addo in as well. Two proper safari nights change the itinerary more than another brief coastal stop.
Alex Travels · TravelHighlights.io
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Map
Guide map
- Garden Route itineraries for 5, 7 and 10 days
Mini itinerary
- 15 days / 4 nights: Wilderness 2, Plettenberg Bay 2; start and finish George.
- 27 days / 6 nights: Wilderness 2, Knysna 1, Plettenberg Bay 2, Storms River 1; finish Gqeberha.
- 310 days / 9 nights: Wilderness 2, Knysna 2, Plettenberg Bay 2, Storms River 1, Addo 2; finish Gqeberha.
Planning notes
Avoid These Common Mistakes
Counting five days from Cape Town as five coastal days
The short itinerary starts in George. Add the approach, Cape Town stay and any return drive separately.
Adding Oudtshoorn to every version
The Klein Karoo is inland. Replace a coastal block or extend the trip.
Allocating nights and free days twice
Two nights in a place yield one full free day. Give Robberg and Tsitsikamma distinct days accordingly.
Travel planning answers
Garden Route duration
Are Cape Town days included?+
No. The examples start from George. A Cape Town stay, the approach and any return journey need additional days.
When does Addo fit?+
In the ten-day version, with two nights there. For seven days I would keep the focus on the coast.
Is this a loop?+
The five-day version returns to George. Seven and ten days end in Gqeberha, requiring a check of one-way rental and departure flights.
Worth it / Skip if
Worth it
For a coastal trip with a few overnight bases. Decide first whether you start around George or need additional days for the drive from Cape Town.
Skip if
With only five days from and back to Cape Town, shorten the route substantially; this five-day version starts in George.
With kids
The five-day option uses two bases to reduce packing. Keep two nights for Addo in the longer plan; with short holidays, remove a whole section instead.
Budget range
Low
55–95 EUR/person/day
Mid
110–210 EUR/person/day
Comfort
260+ EUR/person/day
Guide details
Start in George and add Cape Town separately
These suggestions start in George and count arrival and departure days. They are not Cape Town loops. Allow extra time for driving from or back to Cape Town. Compare rental return stations and one-way fees before fixing the final overnight stay.
Overnight stops for three trip lengths
Five days: two coastal bases
Two nights in Wilderness and two in Plettenberg Bay total four nights. Include a suitable Knysna stop while changing bases. Return towards George on day 5; the flight and vehicle return determine whether anything else fits beforehand. Addo and Oudtshoorn are excluded.
Seven days: continue to Storms River
Two nights Wilderness, one Knysna, two Plett and one Storms River total six nights. Visit Storms River Mouth on arrival with enough time, or reduce the departure-day programme. Day 7 is reserved for the drive to Gqeberha and departure.
Ten days: give Addo its own time
Two nights Wilderness, two Knysna, two Plett, one Storms River and two around Addo total nine nights. The Addo stay includes a full safari day. Drive towards Gqeberha for departure on day 10. Check the actual park entrance and accommodation location beforehand.
Add Oudtshoorn or keep the coastal days
Oudtshoorn is an additional inland diversion. Replace a coastal block or extend the trip to include it. Do not assign Robberg, Storms River Mouth and Addo to the same driving day. Another evening in one base may be more useful than another hotel move.
Assign the nights to your travel dates
Enter each overnight stay against its date, with the main drive or outing beside it. Keep park bookings and rental conditions together. Rough daily budgets are per person for two adults sharing a room and car, including food and running costs; flights and expensive tours are extra.
Sources & Last updated
Last updated: 2026-09-07
Sources
- SANParks – Addo approach: Checked recommended approach and advice against R335 through Motherwell.(checked: 2026-09-07)
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