IMA Belgian Garden Route Tour

If you would like to view the digital itinerary on your smartphone you can download the TravelKey app and use the password UVPVFL to login. 

You will be collected from your conference accommodation between 07h00 and 08h00. A full day privated guided tour today that takes in the attractions of Cape Town and will include a visit to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens when they open at 08h00. Time to explore the gardens and maybe have a coffee (for your own expense) before visiting Cape Point and Boulders Beach. Leaving Kirstenbosch you drive  through Hout Bay and along the scenically spectacular Chapmans Peak Drive (if open) before arriving at Cape Point, a nature reserve within the Table Mountain National Park and a declared Natural World Heritage site.

The coastline stretches for almost 40 kilometers of Southern Africa’s most dramatic scenery, including the famous promontory of the Cape of Good Hope where we stop and, weather permitting, there is the option to stretch your legs and walk to the lighthouse.  Alternatively, you can take the Cape Point Funicular (own account).  At just under 8000 hectares the reserve abounds with around 250 species of birds, buck, baboons, mountain zebra, and spectacular scenery.

Lunch will be taken en-route for your own account (Light House Cafe restaurant is an option subject to progress on the day).

Visit the Penguin Colony at Boulders before travelling to Stellenbosch via Simonstown.

Dinner is for your own expense and taken at a restaurant within walking distance of the hotel (Stellenbosch Kitchen). 

Breakfast is included and taken at the hotel. 

Full day visiting the Cheetah Outreach Program in Somerset West and the winelands areas of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek with a minimum of two wine tastings included. You will learn how the grapes grown in the mountains differ from the grapes grown in the valley, the history of winemaking in the Cape and the architecture in the different areas your visit.  There will be time to walk the streets and take in the breathtaking views of the Cape Winelands. Lunch is en route for your own expense and taken in Stellenbosch or Franschhoek depending on your progress on the day (there are so many options in the area to choose from and your guide will assist you on the day). 

Travel to the coastal village of Hermanus which is a favourite spot of the Southern Right Whale, which visit Walker Bay, Hermanus annually between June and November.

This afternoon take a walk along the coastal path for great scenic views and some of the worlds best land-based whale watching.

Dinner is for your own expense and taken at a restaurant in town - Bientang's Cave Restaurant at Walker Bay offers an 'at the sea' experience. 

Depart Hermanus after breakfast and travel via Swellendam to  Oudtshoorn which is reputed to be the town most visited by tourists. It's famous for ostrich farming and the Cango Caves and is situated in the Klein Karoo, a semi-desert area.  On arrival visit the Cango Caves for an hour. Lunch is en route for your own expense and the guide will be able to recommend great options depending on what time you leave Hermanus and when you want to take lunch - a possible option would be La Belle Alliance in Swellendam and there are many other options in close proximity to choose from. 

Dinner is included and taken in the guest house restaurant. 

Overnight in Oudtshoorn on a working ostrich farm. 

This morning enjoy a farm tour on a working ostrich farm followed by breakfast at the guest house.  Today is a full day. 

Travel via the scenically spectacular Outeniqua Pass and George to Knysna. In Knysna  board the ferry for the Featherbed Eco Experience which takes you to the Western Head (excluding lunch).  Lunch will be for your own expense and taken en route - if you are still in Knysna then the Cruise Cafe could be an option. In the afternoon travel to Plettenberg Bay for a one hour elephant encounter at the Plettenberg Elephant Sanctuary. In the late afternoon travel through to your overnight accommodation at Tsitsikamma Village Inn.     Dinner is included and taken at the hotel restaurant. 

Breakfast is included at the hotel and then depending on timings yesterday there would be options to do additional activities in the area such as visiting the Big Tree before driving to Storms River Mouth in the Tsitsikamma National Park which offers the contrasting beauty of river, forest, sea and fynbos. At Storms River Mouth a  short walk along the rugged coastline or down to the suspension bridge is well worth the effort. From Storms River travel via St Francis Bay and Jeffreys Bay  to overnight in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).  Lunch is for your own expense and taken en route - The Cattle Baron Tsitsikamma restaurant at Storms River Mouth in the national park is a possible lunch time stop. 

Dinner is taken at a restaurant in the area and is for your own expense.  Blue Waters Cafe restaurant right on the waterfront is an option depending on the weather on the day. 

Breakfast at the hotel and then a morning flight from Qeberha (Port Elizabeth) to Cape Town. You are on the Airlink flight 4Z672 departing Port Elizabeth at 08h15 and arriving in Cape Town at 09h40.

On arrival in Cape Town those requiring the use of the day rooms will be transferred from the airport to Cape Town where you have three rooms booked at the Portswood Hotel at the V&A Waterfront  on reservation numbers 8876866/7/8. The guide will assist with check in and you are booked in from 10h00 with check out by 20h00. These rooms can be used as a base for the day. 

In the evening a transfer to Cape Town International Airport  departing the hotel at 20h00 to get you to the airport in time to make your onward connecting flight is included. 

Activities during the day, lunch and dinner are for your own expense.