Cape Town · Stellenbosch · Hermanus · Knysna · Addo (Elephant National Park)

South Africa itinerary in 3 weeks: Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Hermanus, the Garden Route and Addo

A 20-night South Africa trip through five places, by rental car from Cape Town to Gqeberha.

20 nights, 5 stops Best time to travel: October and November

Best time to go, weather and road tips

1. 

   Cape Town

   5 nights

   You can spend five nights in Cape Town and still have time to visit Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula. The cable car will take you to the top in about five minutes, and your cabin will rotate during the journey. The cable car does not operate when the wind is too strong. If you prefer to walk, you can climb the steep path through Platteklip Gorge, which takes about two hours.

   Table Mountain National Park stretches 70 km. It runs from Signal Hill in the north all the way to Cape Point in the south. The Cape of Good Hope is inside the park. Boulders Beach is also part of the park. You can drive to Cape Point in about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Boulders Beach is near Simon's Town and lies on your way there, roughly 45 minutes from the city centre. African penguins live in a colony at Boulders Beach. Boardwalks let you get close to these birds. Before you go on any trips, you should leave your bags where you are staying. The German Foreign Office reports more car break-ins in Cape Town and in the areas around it.

   Good areas to stay

   Gardens and Tamboerskloof

   You will find this area right beside the city centre around Kloof Street. Many cafés are located here. It tends to be quieter than the centre. You can often find lower prices here too.

   Green Point and Sea Point

   On the Atlantic coast, you can walk to the V&A Waterfront from Green Point. Buses called MyCiTi travel from the airport to this coast.

   Camps Bay

   You will find many bars and restaurants along the beach. However, you should know that prices here are higher than what you pay in the areas closer to the city centre.

   On to Stellenbosch: about 45 min by car

2. 

   Stellenbosch

   3 nights

   Stellenbosch was set up in 1679. It is the second oldest town in South Africa. The older part of town has buildings built in the Cape Dutch style. Oak trees grow along many of the streets here. This is why people call it Eikestad, which means Oak City. The town centre is not large. You are able to walk to everything.

   The Stellenbosch Wine Route is the oldest one in the country. More than 200 wine and grape producers work along this route. If you stay for three nights, you will have two days to visit the wine estates near the town. When you want to eat and drink wine there, you should take a taxi rather than drive your rental car. You should drive here from Cape Town while it is still light outside. The German Foreign Office warns of attacks on cars on this road when it gets dark and after dark.

   Good areas to stay

   Old town around Dorp Street and Church Street

   You can explore this area by walking. There are lots of restaurants grouped near Church Street.

   On a wine estate outside town

   You will be staying in the middle of vineyards. However, you will need either your own car or a taxi whenever you want to go into town.

   On to Hermanus: about 1 h 20 by car

3. 

   Hermanus

   3 nights

   Hermanus is located on Walker Bay in the Overberg region. You can see southern right whales in the bay between June and November, and you are able to watch them from the shore. There is a cliff path that goes 12 km along the coast. In some spots the whales swim only five metres away from the rocks. The Old Harbour has areas where you can view the whales. During whale season a whale crier uses a kelp horn to alert you when he sees whales.

   Three nights give you time to do the path, take a boat trip from the harbour and visit the three museums at the Old Harbour. Grotto Beach is a Blue Flag beach that is almost 18 km long. The Hermanus Whale Festival happens in late September or early October. More than 100,000 visitors travel to the town for this festival.

   Good areas to stay

   Centre by the Old Harbour

   You can walk along the cliff path that goes straight through the area. Viewing terraces and museums are right nearby for you to visit.

   Voëlklip and Grotto Beach

   Near the Blue Flag beaches that are located to the east of the town centre, this beach can fill up with people during the busy season.

   Sandbaai

   You will find a newer housing area that is expanding quickly at the start of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.

   On to Knysna: about 5 h by car

4. 

   Knysna

   5 nights

   Knysna is located on a big lagoon. Two sandstone cliffs called the Heads form a narrow and difficult channel that connects the lagoon to the Indian Ocean. You can take boat trips on the lagoon. The town is surrounded by forest, and you will find about 80,000 hectares of protected land. Knysna, Wilderness and Tsitsikamma are all found within Garden Route National Park.

   If you stay for five nights you can base yourself in Knysna and take day trips from there. You can reach Plettenberg Bay in about 35 minutes and Wilderness in about 45 minutes. Storms River Mouth in Tsitsikamma takes about 1 hour 25 minutes by car. A forest walkway there takes you to a suspension bridge that crosses the Storms River. Rain falls on the Garden Route throughout the year, though it comes mainly at night.

   Good areas to stay

   Centre and Waterfront

   You can walk to shops and restaurants. The Waterfront is only a few blocks away from the centre. During busy times of year, you will often see long lines of cars waiting.

   Brenton-on-Sea and Buffalo Bay

   You can find quieter spots along the lengthy beaches that are away from the town. However, you will struggle to reach these places unless you have your own vehicle.

   On to Addo (Elephant National Park): about 4 h by car

5. 

   Addo (Elephant National Park)

   4 nights

   Addo Elephant National Park is the third biggest national park in South Africa. You will find the Big Five there. The park also has a marine section where southern right whales and great white sharks live. More than 600 elephants make their home in the park. You can drive the game roads on your own or you can book a guided game drive instead. You do not need four-wheel drive because any car can handle these roads.

   If you stay for four nights, you will have time to do several drives through the park. You must stay in your car while you are inside the park. There are some places where you are allowed to get out. Before you enter the park, you should fill up your fuel tank. There is no fuel station inside the park. Do not bring citrus fruit with you because the elephants will search for it. The main camp is about an hour from Gqeberha airport. You should take the N2 and drive through Colchester. SANParks advises against the R335 that goes through Motherwell for safety reasons.

   Good areas to stay

   Main Camp inside the park

   In the north-east area close to Addo, there is a place with a restaurant and a waterhole that has lights at night. You are able to go there once the roads used for viewing game animals close for the day.

   Camp Matyholweni

   There is a small camp in the southern area. You can find it at the Colchester gate on the N2. The site has chalets and nothing else.

   Addo town and surroundings

   You will find many guesthouses and lodges in the area around the park. However, you need to drive through the gate each day when you enter the park.