🏁 Warm Up for the Cape Town Marathon: A Garden Route Campervan Road Trip

Name: 🏁 Warm Up for the Cape Town Marathon: A Garden Route Campervan Road Trip
Brand: With-a-camper
Price: 1100.0 EUR
Availability: InStock

Location: Garden Route (South Africa), including Tsitsikamma, Wilderness & Stellenbosch
Recommended Ages: 16+
Passion Categories: Running / Nature / Beach / Wining & Dining
Trip type: Self-guided road-trip (Sign-up for group tour dates)

A unique way to warm up for a marathon, this inspiring, energising journey will make the already remarkable Cape Town Marathon even more special. You’ll discover the spectacular coastline and trails of South Africa, enjoy some inspiring warm-up runs, and have the chance to run in places you’ve never set foot before. Along the way, you’ll balance final preparation with the joy of exploring somewhere new — making race day the pinnacle of a truly unforgettable adventure.

Trip Highlights

Run through vineyards, lush forest, along the beach and even in a world famous safari park
Self-drive your campervan through the Addo Elephant park and view wildlife eating lunch over a watering hole
Camp under the African stars, besides crashing waves and between the vineyards of the Winelands
Optional: Share your warm runs with other event participants, enjoy pasta meal together pre-race and celebratory drinks post race

Why Run South Africa 'With-a-Camper'?

🚐 Run More, Pack Less
Travel across the country and run in a wider variety of places — from coastlines to mountain gorges — without the hassle of packing and unpacking at every stop.

🏃 A Basecamp for Every Run
Start and finish each run right at your van. You’ll always have your shower, fridge, gear, and recovery space ready, making it effortless to combine training with exploring.

🌿 Freedom & Adventure
Enjoy the simple joy of campervan life: waking up outdoors, cooking your meals with a view, and experiencing Greece in a more immersive, adventurous way than a hotel stay.

🐘 Wildlife from your lunch table & much more
View Big Five animals at the waterhole as you drive your campervan through Addo Elephant Park. Sleep under the African stars, wake to the sound of waves & stay under the mountains of the Winelands

Featured Trip Highlight

A remarkable set of runs to prepare you for your marathon: start with an unforgettable trail run inside Addo Elephant Park where you might spot kudu and zebras along the path; run along the forested coastline at Tsitsikamma National Park, with dramatic cliffs and sea spray in your hair; enjoy a barefoot sunrise jog along the vast Wilderness Beach; and finish with gentle vineyard routes winding between oak trees and mountain views in Stellenbosch.

Booking this Trip (2025 marathon now sold out)

Book a 10-day campervan rental starting in Port Elizabeth and ending in Cape Town (from €85/night + one-way fee)
Marathon entry must be booked separately

See options for your dates here ⇾⇾⇾

2026 Cape Town Marathon

Email hello@with-a-camper.com to hear when entries open

Additional Options

🏃 Guided Training Run
Start your trip with a guided training run led by a local running coach. ♂️They’ll join you on your Addo Elephant Park trail run, offer personalised technique coaching (including trail running tips), and share local insights about Addo and the rest of your South Africa adventure. 📞 After your session, your coach will be available by phone in case you have questions later in your trip.

👥 Join a Group
We're working on arranging special departures where multiple campervans travel together as a group. Travel in convoy with other campervans for a trip that’s as much about the people as the places. Share the runs, cook together, swap stories under the stars, and build new friendships along the way — all while exploring spectacular routes side by side.

🏆 Running Club Challenge
Multiple clubs take on the same itinerary, turning each run into a friendly competition. Times are tallied over the week for bragging rights and shared celebration at the finish.

✉️ Interested to know more? Email hello@with-a-camper.com

Itinerary details

🗓️ Day 1 – Pick Up in Port Elizabeth & Addo Elephant Park NP
Collect your campervan and drive to Addo Elephant Park. Enjoy a thrilling afternoon of self-drive game viewing and the excitement of seeing elephants, buffalo, and zebras up close. Stay overnight at the main rest camp campsite, sleep under the African stars, and enjoy a local meal in the camp restaurant.
🚐 Drive time: ~1 hour.

🗓️ Day 2 – Addo
Start the day with a morning trail run along the park’s designated hiking path – a rare opportunity to jog in a wildlife reserve where you might glimpse antelope. After breakfast, explore the park, which spans over 1,640 square kilometers.
🏃 Suggested run distance: 5–8 km.

🗓️ Day 3 – Leave Addo and Overnight in Tsitsikamma National Park
Depart Addo taking a further chance to spot wildlife. Drive south to Tsitsikamma and set up camp beside the dramatic coastline, where waves crash against ancient cliffs. Take an easy walk among giant yellowwood trees.
🚐 Drive time: ~2.5 hours.

🗓️ Day 4 – Tsitsikamma Run, Knysna Lunch & Wilderness Camp
Begin your morning with a pre-breakfast run on the Storms River coastal trail, with panoramic ocean views and fresh sea air. After breakfast, drive to Knysna for lunch and time to explore the waterfront. Continue to Wilderness campsite for the night.
🏃 Suggested run distance: 5–10 km.
🚐 Drive time: ~2 hours.

🗓️ Day 5 – Morning Beach Run & Karoo Crossing to Worcester
Wake early for a refreshing barefoot run on Wilderness Beach, stretching for miles along the Indian Ocean. Drive across the Karoo, enjoying the vast open spaces as you drive across the interior of Western Cape. Arrive in Worcester for a restaurant meal of great food and wine.
🏃 Suggested run distance: 5–7 km.
🚐 Drive time: ~4.5 hours.

🗓️ Day 6 – Stellenbosch Run & Vineyard Relaxation
Drive to Stellenbosch and take an easy run through Jonkershoek trails, with shaded paths and mountain views. Later, enjoy a relaxed lunch and tasting at your choice of the many great wine estates in the area.
🏃 Suggested run distance: 4-5 km.
🚐 Drive time: ~1.5 hours.

🗓️ Day 7 – Relaxation in Winelands (or transfer to Cape Town if you are running 5k, 10km or trail events)
Enjoy a slow morning in the vineyards—sleep in, stroll through Stellenbosch’s oak-lined streets, visit an art gallery or farm shop, or simply unwind at your campsite with a book and a glass of local wine. Those participating in the 5k, 10km, or trail events can transfer to Cape Town in the afternoon to be ready for race logistics the next day.

🗓️ Day 8 – Vineyard Breakfast & Cape Town Transfer
Have a final vineyard breakfast such as at Jordan Wine Estate, then drive into Cape Town to drop off your campervan and check in to your hotel. Spend the afternoon exploring Bo-Kaap and the V&A Waterfront.
🚐 Drive time: ~1 hour.

🗓️ Day 8 – Cape Town Marathon Race day!
Wake refreshed, walk to the start, and enjoy the Cape Town Marathon. Celebrate with your group afterward.

🗓️ Day 9 – Recovery Day / Enjoy Cape Town
Relax and recover, visit Camps Bay beach or stroll the city.

🗓️ Day 10 – Departure
Savour breakfast overlooking Table Mountain before heading home.

Top tips for this trip in a campervan

- For running (or hiking) in Addo Elephant Park it is recommended to do this in a group
- Join the basecamp community for camaraderie and convenience
- Plan short runs and good sleep leading up to race day
- Post-marathon: hydrate, recover, and celebrate slowly

Other great itineraries

Depending on your time and passions, other top South Africa options could be:

🇿🇦 🦁 1. Kruger & Panorama Route: Big Five & Big Views
Self-drive through Kruger National Park, spotting lions and elephants at sunrise. Then wind through Blyde River Canyon, God’s Window, and scenic waterfalls.
Best for: Wildlife, photography, family adventure

🇿🇦 🍷 2. Cape Winelands & Garden Route: Vineyards, Whales & Wilderness
Sip world-class wines in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, then drive east past Hermanus and Knysna’s forests and lagoons — all the way to the Tsitsikamma cliffs.
Best for: Wine-tasting, coastal nature, foodies

🇿🇦 🏄 3. Eastern Cape Surf Trail: Waves, Culture & Wild Coast
Chase perfect breaks from Jeffreys Bay to Coffee Bay. Camp on windswept beaches, meet Xhosa communities, and enjoy starlit braais in remote hideaways.
Best for: Surfing, cultural travel, off-grid camping

🇿🇦 🌄 4. Drakensberg Escapes: Peaks, Passes & Rock Art
Hike the Amphitheatre, spot baboons in misty valleys, and discover ancient San rock paintings. Overnight near waterfalls and alpine pastures.
Best for: Hiking, nature lovers, mountain scenery

🇿🇦 🔭 5. The Karoo & Route 62: Stargazing, Silence & Small Towns
Explore Route 62’s quirky villages and wine farms, then head into the Great Karoo for silent plains, clear skies, and world-class stargazing.
Best for: Stargazing, slow travel, road trip romantics

Suggested campsites

Email us at hello@with-a-camper and we can send a curated list of Garden Route and Cape Town region campsites with great views, amenities, and easy access to nature.

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Why 'With a camper'?

Every experience tailored to a campervan

As campervan travelers ourselves, we understand both the delights of traveling in a motorhome and well as the smaller details (such as parking) which make it harder.

We use this knowledge to curate and design the very best experiences for you and your campervan.

Remarkable experiences you will remember

Our curated experiences are hand-picked to make your trip special. Whether it is an experience that is iconic to the destination, an inspiring place to take part in a certain activity or a visit to one of the best local restaurants, our goal is to introduce you to the experiences that you will want to write home about.

Something for every passion

We believe that campervan travel is a fantastic way to enjoy your passions.

Whether your interest hiking, cooking, architecture or to enjoy a great party we have a range of great campervan experiences to get you out traveling.

Book an individual experience or the whole trip

Our experiences come in a range of shapes and sizes. So whether you want to add an individual activity to your existing itinerary or you are looking for an end-to-end trip then we have choices for you.

Travel with your own camper or let us help you find the perfect rental

Our experiences are designed for anyone traveling in a campervan. For travelers without their van we offer various 'campervan included trips' but also the opportunity to book a van from one of our preferred van rental partners.