9 day Cape Town and Garden Route (CT-CT)

Upon arrival into Cape Town International Airport, you are transferred to your hotel in the V&A Waterfront.

Rest of the day spent at leisure or exploring the Waterfront.

Cape Peninsula (Classic)

Savour a full day on the Cape Peninsula, taking in its dramatic coastline, sweeping ocean views and remarkable biodiversity at a relaxed, unhurried pace. This is a timeless exploration of one of the world’s most beautiful stretches of coastline.

We also include a leisurely lunch stop tailored to your preferences, with several carefully chosen venues offering fabulous ocean views (lunch for own account) – the ideal moment to pause, soak it all in and enjoy fresh local flavours.

> Follow the Atlantic Seaboard on a leisurely scenic drive past Clifton and Camps Bay, where pristine beaches meet the deep blue Atlantic and the Twelve Apostles mountain range rises steeply behind.

> Continue along the iconic Chapman’s Peak Drive, with plenty of stops for memorable photographs, before entering the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Keep watch for small antelope, eland, Cape mountain zebra, abundant birdlife and the ever-mischievous Chacma baboons.

> At Cape Point, either ride the funicular (included) or take the gently graded footpath – around 12 minutes – up to the historic lighthouse, where expansive views unfold over False Bay, the Cape of Good Hope and the Atlantic Ocean.

> Visit Boulders Beach, home to the indigenous and critically endangered African penguin, and enjoy time to observe these charming birds in their natural habitat.

> Return to Cape Town via the naval town of Simon’s Town, then either cross the Ou Kaapse Weg mountain pass or follow the coastal road through Kalk Bay, with time for a stroll through this characterful, bohemian fishing village.

City, Kirstenbosch & Constantia (Classic)

Experience Cape Town at a gentle pace, savouring its scenery, stories and celebrated landmarks. The iconic slopes of Table Mountain, the tranquil beauty of Kirstenbosch and the historic Constantia Winelands combine to create an elegant introduction to the Mother City. Think of this itinerary as a beautifully drawn outline – we’ll refine the details around your interests, timing and energy on the day.

Begin with a visit to Table Mountain, or to Signal Hill, should the weather be less forgiving, and take in sweeping views over the city, harbour and Atlantic coastline.

Continue into the historic heart of Cape Town as your guide shares the city’s layered story, with the option to visit a museum for a more in-depth look at its past.

Enjoy a leisurely walk through the Company’s Garden, the city’s original vegetable garden, now a leafy oasis where pigeons, geese and squirrels go about their day.

Visit the vibrant Bo-Kaap, the Cape Malay Quarter, with its cobbled streets, brightly painted houses and enduring cultural heritage.

Stroll through the magnificent Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, pausing at highlights such as the Boomslang Tree Canopy Walk and the Conservatory. Enjoy a light lunch (own account) at the popular tea room showcasing local flavours, or save your appetite for a relaxed meal among the vines in Constantia.

Discover the Constantia Winelands, visiting one or two handpicked estates in this historic valley. You may wish to explore the cellars and heritage of Groot Constantia, South Africa’s oldest wine estate, or sample fine wines and views at one of the more contemporary properties, such as Steenberg or Beau Constantia.

As the day winds down, we may return via the scenic coastal road along Victoria Road through Camps Bay. With luck and good timing, you will be treated to a classic Cape Town sunset – a fitting finale to a refined and memorable day in the Mother City.

Cape Winelands (Classic)

This full-day tour showcases the gentle charm and sweeping beauty of the Cape Winelands. Think rolling vineyards, historic estates, storybook towns and a generous sprinkling of fine wine. We generally explore the Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch wine routes, but if you’d like to spend more than one day in the Winelands, we can happily extend into neighbouring valleys for a deeper, more leisurely experience.

Begin with an introduction to our wines, as you learn what makes South Africa’s wine culture so distinctive. From easy-drinking whites to full-bodied reds, sweet wines to Cap Classique (our local take on Champagne), we’ll curate a selection of memorable tastings to suit your palate and preferences, so you can simply sit back, relax and enjoy.

Spend time strolling through some of the Winelands’ most romantic towns and villages, browsing market streets, art galleries, vintage car collections and magnificent gardens. Admire the grand gables and elegant lines of Cape Dutch architecture that lend the region its iconic character.

Along the way, hear stories from centuries of history, and, if you wish, visit the prison gates where Nelson Mandela took his first symbolic steps toward freedom. For those keen to broaden their tasting experience, there may also be the opportunity to sample fine brandy, craft beer, grappa, olive oils, artisan chocolates and even a little biltong.

For those travelling with children, several estates offer child-friendly grape juice and chocolate tastings, along with a variety of engaging activities to keep the little ones entertained while you savour each sip.

With the soaring Table Mountain behind us we travel inland on the N1 highway via Route 62 towards Oudtshoorn. As soon as you leave Cape Town, the scenery starts to change dramatically. It’s often said that South Africa has one of the most varied landscapes of any country, and there’s nowhere better to see this than on the drive from green, lush Cape Town to the semi-arid desert like Klein Karoo. Enjoy a comfort stop in the small artists town of Barrydale at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains that rise out of the plains surrounding them.

Back onto Route 62 we head towards the heart of the Klein Karoo. In a secluded valley, which was once a lake, we’ll discover Calitzdorp, South Africa’s port wine capital where we will enjoy lunch (own account). Port can be a bit of an acquired taste due to its strength and sweetness, but that’s a journey we are happy to help you start on.
In the late afternoon you can embark on an ostrich farm tour (own account) to learn about these exotic birds and their industry, then dare to ride the world’s biggest bird species. They may have eyes larger than their brains, but they are nevertheless, very impressive (and taste wonderful).

Relax and enjoy the friendly Klein Karoo hospitality, with dinner (included) at the lodge.

Enjoy a country breakfast at the hotel, before we make our way to a 20 million year old natural treasure at the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains, the Cango Caves. Descend the 200 steps of Jacob’s Ladder into the Great Hall and continue into King Solomon’s Mine. Leaving this subterranean wonderland, we head back towards Oudtshoorn, which boasts the highest number of sunny days compared to any other place in South Africa.

Depart the Klein Karoo, and travel over the Outeniqua Pass towards the Garden Route via George to Wilderness. Surrounded by mountains, ocean, lakes and lagoons Wilderness makes for a tranquil and splendid destination. Enjoy the stunning and unspoilt scenery at Dolphin Point and Map of Africa lookout points (weather permitting).

Travel through Knysna and visit the Knysna Heads before arriving at Plettenberg Bay for the nest 2 nights.

Today is a full day of adventure in Knysna & Plettenberg Bay where we can enjoy ...

> Ocean Safari to view dolphins and whales in Plettenberg Bay
> Hike along the Robberg Peninsula in Plett
> Featherbed Eco Experience
> Knysna Elephant Park
> Hog Hollow Horse Trails
> Enjoy a 10km beach walk from Brenton on Sea to Buffalo Bay.

We also explore the Tsitsikamma region where you will have the chance to do the world's highest commercial bungy jump at Bloukrans Bridge, enjoy a gentle hike to the suspension bridge over Storms River Mouth (included) and then tuck into lunch (own account) in the Tsitsikamma National Park.

The list of optional activities seems endless in this adventure region:
> Treetop Canopy tour through the forest canopy.
> Monkeyland
> Birds of Eden
> Tenikwa Wildlife Centre
> Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary

Depart to Wilderness where you can enjoy a kayak (own account) on the Touws River. Surrounded by mountains, ocean, lakes and lagoons Wilderness makes for a tranquil and splendid destination. Enjoy the stunning and unspoilt scenery at Dolphin Point and Map of Africa look out points (weather permitting). 

A short visit to the historical harbour town of Mossel Bay which was the first place that Europeans landed on South African soil.  Visit the Dias Museum Complex which is made up of several different museums, among them the Shell and Maritime Museums. The Maritime Museum sports a life-sized replica of the ship that Dias sailed in 1488. At the centre of the museum complex is the Post Office Tree. An ancient Milkwood tree that has served as a post office since 1500. As was done 500 years ago, you can leave a message for a loved one to read under a bottle or a horse shoe.

Lunch will be enjoyed (own account) at The Point before we make our way to the seaside village of Arniston on the Cape South Coast, we will travel along the N2 passing through Swellendam and then turn due south for the coastline again.

You can either enjoy dinner (own account) at the hotel overlooking the Indian Ocean or maybe take a short stroll into the historic fishing village of Kassiesbaai where you are invited to take part in a traditional evening meal by candlelight in one of the fishermen’s houses. The meals are prepared by the fishermen’s wives, a rather authentic experience.

After breakfast, we take the 1,5 hour drive through the rolling hills of the overberg farming region, with its bright yellow canola fields, to the seaside town of Hermanus where you can enjoy some whale watching from the cliff paths surrounding the village and overlooking Walker Bay.

Spend the afternoon walking the cliff paths viewing whales, maybe joining a boat based whale watching trip in Walker Bay (your guide can arrange) and there is also the Hemel-en-Aarde valley behind the town for some great wine tasting and picturesque lunch venues.

We will return to Cape Town through Bettys Bay and along the scenic Clarens Drive which hugs the False Bay coastline where you can view Table Mountain and Cape of Good Hope across the bay.