NightDriveSafaris

tour 4: GARDEN ROUTE & KAROO

Maximum 4 guests

Your 9 days/8 nights guided, self-drive safari tour through the Garden route
and Karoo promises a fascinating and unique wildlife experience.

Tour dates: 10-18 November 2025
                   16-23 February 2025

CHECKLIST

  • Recommended checklist:
  • Own vehicle for transportation between destinations
  • Warm clothes (beanies and gloves winter months May-August)
  • Hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Bird guidebook
  • Binoculars
  • Camera
  • Spotlights
  • Insect repellent
  • Pool Towels (For swimming during summer months September -April)
  • Personal medication

ITINERARY

Day 1: Departure and self-drive to Wilderness, Garden route
  • The tour guide will meet you at either Cape Town International Airport or your hotel in Cape Town (08:00).
  • A brief meeting with basic instructions and providing you with a 2-way radio setup for communication.
  • Self-drive, with your own vehicle to the Garden Route (5 hours).
  • Stop at a traditional farm stall for lunch.
  • Check-in comfortable chalets in Wilderness, Garden Route (14:00).
  • Guided forest hike next to the Touws River to explore elusive forest birds like the Knysna Loerie/Turaco, Half-collared kingfisher, Cape batis, Collared sunbird, Black-backed puffback. Approximately 3 hours easy route.
  • Dinner at a restaurant in Wilderness, Garden Route.
Day 2: Adventure morning and birding
  • Optional guided morning canoe on the Touws River.
  • Lunch at a restaurant followed by time to relax.
  • Afternoon guided forest hike on a different route to explore elusive forest birds like the Knysna Loerie/Turaco, Half-collared kingfisher, Cape batis, Collared sunbird, Blacked-backed puffback and many more. Approximately 2 hours easy route.
Day 3: Explore the Eastern Cape on route to Addo Elephant National Park
  • Depart to Addo Elephant National Park (4 hours).
  • Lunch at a traditional restaurant.
  • Check-in comfortable chalets (14:00).
  • Optional guided afternoon game drive with tour guide’s SUV (16:00-18:00).
  • Target species include lion, buffalo, bushbuck, spotted hyena as well as a variety of birds such as hoopoe, kingfisher, woodpecker, secretary bird, blue crane, bokmakierie.
  • Dinner at the restaurant followed by a guided night drive (19:00-21:00).
  • Target species include lion, bush pig, black-footed cat, caracal, small-spotted genet, nightjar, porcupine, brown hyena, spotted hyena.
Day 4: Addo Elephant National Park
  • Guided morning game drive with SUV (09:00-12:00).
  • Lunch at the restaurant.
  • Target species include lion, buffalo, bushbuck, spotted hyena as well as a variety of birds such as hoopoe, kingfisher, woodpecker, secretary bird, blue crane, bokmakierie.
  • Dinner at restaurant followed by a guided night drive (19:00-21:00).
  • Target species include lion, bush pig, black-footed cat, caracal, small-spotted genet, nightjar, porcupine, brown hyena, spotted hyena.
Day 5: Depart to the upper valley of the Great Fish River
  • We depart to the upper valley of the Great Fish River (3 hours).
  • Lunch on route at traditional South Africa restaurant.
  • Check-in comfortable Chalets (14:00).
  • Optional guided afternoon 4x4 route with tour guide’s SUV OR time to relax.
  • Dinner at the restaurant followed by a guided night drive in open game viewer (19:00-21:00).
  • Target species include lion, cheetah, aardwolf, black-footed cat, caracal, small-spotted genet, nightjar, porcupine, brown hyena.
Day 6: Upper valley of the Great Fish River
  • Optional guided morning 4x4 drive with SUV exploring target species lion, mountain zebra, cheetah as well as hoopoe, kingfisher, woodpecker, secretary bird, blue crane, blue korhaan (07:00-10:00) OR Optional guided morning drive and walk with cheetah (Additional costs).
  • Lunch at restaurant followed by time to relax.
  • Optional guided afternoon game drive with SUV OR hike in fenced area exploring birds OR time to relax.
  • Dinner at the restaurant.
  • Guided night drive in an open game viewer (19:00-21:00).
  • Target species include lion, cheetah, aardwolf, black-footed cat, caracal, small-spotted genet, nightjar, porcupine, brown hyena.
Day 7: Greater Karoo
  • We depart to the Greater Karoo (3 hours).
  • Stop at traditional Karoo farmstall on route for lunch.
  • Check-in comfortable chalets (14:00).
  • Optional afternoon drive in tour guide’s SUV (16:00-18:00).
  • Dinner at the restaurant followed by a guided night drive in an open game viewer
    (19:00-21:00).
  • Target species include African wildcat, caracal, aardwolf, brown hyena, porcupine, lion, and bat-eared fox.
Day 8: Return to Cape Town
  • Depart for Cape Town (3 hours).
  • Arrive and conclude the tour.

INCLUDED

  • Tour guide on your journey
  • Comfortable chalet accommodations with WC, shower, small kitchen, air-conditioning,
    and a fridge
  • Guided night drives with an open game viewer
  • Guided game drives and 4x4 routes in a SUV
  • Spotlights for game viewing
  • 2-way radio for communication

EXCLUDED

  • Vehicle and fuel for transportation between destinations (this is a guided self-drive tour)
  • All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
  • All beverages (water, alcoholic drinks, soft drinks etc.)
  • National Park Conservation fees approximately R250 per day
  • Gratuity
This well-crafted itinerary includes a balance between nocturnal and diurnal wildlife experiences, providing guests with the opportunity to encounter a diverse array of species in their natural habitats. The inclusion of comfortable accommodations and guided drives enhances the overall safari experience.

PRICING

ENQUIRE

**Please note**

  • All prices are estimates and a final invoice will be issued to you once the BOOKING and INDEMNITY FORM has been signed
  • Your guide will drive in his own vehicle in front throughout the tour and will provide in-car 2-way radios en route for communication
  • You will transfer to the guide’s vehicle on arrival at destinations for optional morning and afternoon game drives
  • You will be expected to provide your own vehicle for driving from Cape Town International Airport/hotel in Cape Town to the selected destinations
  • All times mentioned on the itinerary are estimates
  • You do not need a vehicle with 4x4 capabilities, a sedan or similar is sufficient

GALLERY

TOUR MAP

tour map

About

NightDriveSafaris specialises in organising small group, self-drive, guided tours with the best night drives across South Africa.

  

Contact

Cape Town, South Africa

Tel: +27 62 060 7309

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