“Route 62” is our equivalent of the famous Route 66 in America that linked Chicago with Los Angeles. Both routes were built in the 1920’s to connect rural communities with urban centres and important harbours. However the South African Route 62 is still totally intact and in use. Unwind along South Africa’s “Route 62” and enjoy the unexpected pleasures of the Breede River Valley, the Klein Karoo and return to Cape Town along the Garden Route.
Arrive in Cape Town ‘the fairest city in the world’, with its majestic backdrop of Table Mountain, a pristine coastline and an array of excellent restaurants and sophisticated shops. Met and transferred to your hotel. Afternoon private guided ½ day City tour including the Waterfront, Signal Hill, Table Mountain (weather permitting) and the Atlantic Ocean drive.
Cape Town - Camps Bay - Chapman's Peak - Sun Valley / Simonstown – Cape Point - Kommetjie - Fish Hoek - Boyes' Drive / Steenberg - Constantia Neck - Kirstenbosch - Cape Town
A ride around the Cape Peninsula sets the tone for a touring holiday of spectacular proportions. The playgrounds of the rich and famous at Clifton and Camps Bay are passed through on the way to the Chapman's Peak and Hout Bay. Cutting into the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the road makes for one of the most magnificent drives in the world. Cross over Red Hill and make your way through the historic navel town of Simon's Town before moving onto the wild and rocky promontory of Cape Point where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans are supposed to meet. With the sea on your left, head out of the reserve clinging to the coastline, before turning inland through the thick forests of Constantia Neck to the city.
Leave the Mother City and head for Stellenbosch with its oak-shaded avenues and historic Cape-Dutch homes. The route takes you through the heart of the Cape Winelands – visit a wine cellar in Stellenbosch. Climb over Sir Lowry's Pass with its spectacular views over False Bay before turning inland to the heart of the apple industry. Travel through the farming communities of Grabouw, Elgin visit another wine farm in this valley before continuing along Viljoen’s Pass. Then, the highlight of the day – the winding Franschhoek Pass. Stop in Franschhoek (the French Valley) for lunch before returning via the Helshoogte Pass to Stellenbosch in the heart of the winelands.
Cape Town - Worcester- Route 62 - Robertson – Kogmanskloof Pass – Montagu
Today you leave the Winelands and start your cross-country journey. Drive via the old scenic Du Toitskloof pass to Worcester and the start of the famous historic Route 62. The terrain continues to rise and fall as you head into the fertile Breede River Valley. Morning at leisure in Worcester to visit the Kleinplasie Living Open-Air Museum and experience life as the pioneers lived in years gone by. Visit the KWV Brandy Cellar, largest of its kind in the world, for a cellar tour and brandy tasting. For lunch depart for Robertson. Spend the afternoon tasting wine at one of the 23 wine cellars along the historic Route 62. Drive through orchards and vineyards to one of the typical rural towns in the Breede River valley for your overnight accommodation.
MONTAGU - Barrydale – Ladismith- Huisrivier Pass – Calitzdorp - Oudtshoorn
The Langeberg Mountain range through which you travel today, along the eastern part of the historic Route 62, forms a natural barrier between the fertile farmlands of the Breede River valley and the sunburned rock garden of the Little Karoo. The road straddles this rocky divide. Fertile valleys are linked to the Garden Route on the one side and the “Groot Karoo” on the other side by rugged , beautiful mountain passes such as the spectacular old “Seweweekspoort Pass”. Stop for refreshments at the Country Pumpkin in Barrydale before continuing to “Ronnies Sex Shop”. Continue to Oudtshoorn, capital of the Ostrich feather industry. Many grans houses (“feather palaces”) date from 1810 and are kept in pristine condition.
At leisure
Options: The Country Pumpkin coffee shop, Ronnie’s Sex Shop, Amalienstein and Zoar mission stations, wine and port tasting, Cango Caves, Ostrich farms, Cheetah Ranch.
OUDTSHOORN - Swellendam – Bredasdorp- Agulhas – Stanford - Hermanus
Today you continue travelling west passing through the Wilderness lakes area – a favourite nature spot for sailing and fishing. Travel up the Outeniqua Pass to George and Mossel Bay. Say farewell to the Garden Route as we move inland to the one-time rebellious colony town of Swellendam. The roads remain perfect, with little traffic. Heading south, make for the southernmost tip of Africa, Cape Agulhas. Lunch at the 19th Century lighthouse, which still sends its beams across the water. Leaving Agulhas, the scenery becomes flat, until you negotiate the Akkedisberg Pass and the landscape becomes a series of rolling, sun-bleached sanddunes. The coastline in this area is infamous for the numerous sailors' lives it has claimed. A museum in Bredasdorp commemorates the many ships which fell foul of the turbulent currents and razor sharp rocks on this seaboard. Arrive in Hermanus at day's end, with the possibility of seeing whales as the sun slips over the horizon
Hermanus - Betty's Bay – Kleinmond - Gordon's Bay - Cape Town
For the adventurous, an optional shark-viewing experience in the morning with at sea. Then a ride through one of the World's richest floral kingdoms - the small Kleinmond region alone is home to more species of flora that the whole of Western Europe! Ride into Cape Town via Betty's Bay and Gordons Bay hugging the False Bay coast. The twisting, cliffside road with its smooth, perfect cambers completes the touring holiday of a lifetime. The glorious sight of Table Mountain greets you from a distance as you approach Cape Town.
[RETURN BIKES & Back-up Vehicle]
OPTIONS: White Shark Diving / Whale watching
Cape Town
Day at Leisure
Cape Town – Departure
Today is the last day of your tour. Enjoy Cape Town at leisure for last minute shopping before your transfer to the airport in the afternoon.
