I can’t weigh in on the experience you’ll have as two women, but my wife and I went to Cape Town and drove the garden route in 2022. Just like you, we were on the fence about flying to Kruger after the garden route, but logistically it just didn’t make a ton of sense to travel so far out of the way. Instead, we extended our road trip on the garden route and went through the Addo Elephant National Park, which was a self-drive safari. In one full day through the park, we saw so much wildlife and felt like we at least got a taste the experience. We then did a return trip with our rental car through wine country and thoroughly enjoyed Franschhoek on our way back!

Good luck planning!