Cape Town to the wild coast

South Africa — The Garden Route

EXPLORE9 days

Table Mountain, coastal road, and a private-reserve safari to close

Dosage

9 days

Indication

Nature, wildlife, coast & city

Contra-indication

Fear of long drives

Side effects

Booking the next safari early

Cape Town to the wild coast why go

The classic South African loop, in the right order: a few days finding your feet in Cape Town, the long coastal drive of the Garden Route, and a private reserve at the end where the days are set by the animals, not the clock. City, ocean and bush in one trip.

✦ Walked in person. Every stop below is from our own notebook — including the wrong turns.

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At a glance

Dosage9 days

IndicationNature, wildlife, coast & city

The itinerary what to do, where

2 places

Cape Town

Table Mountain over the city, the Cape Peninsula below it, and the winelands an hour inland. Base yourself close to the waterfront and let the mountain decide your mornings.

Stay: City Bowl or Sea Point, close to the front

What to do

01Table Mountain by cable car — go on a clear, wind-free morning
02Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope drive
03Boulders Beach penguins · Chapman's Peak Drive
04A day in the Stellenbosch or Franschhoek winelands

Eatthe V&A Waterfront and Kloof Street for dinner

TipTable Mountain closes in high wind — do it on the first clear morning you get, not on your last day.

The Garden Route & a private safari

Follow the N2 east along the coast, then trade the ocean for the bush. A private reserve like Mantis runs morning and evening game drives with a ranger who knows the land.

Getting there: self-drive the coast; fly out from George or Port Elizabeth

What to do