7 day Garden Route & Safari (CT-CT)

Day notes

Welcome to the colourful and diverse Cape region of South Africa. You will be collected in the morning by our professional tour guide at your Cape Town hotel. With the soaring Table Mountain behind us we travel inland on the N1 highway via Route 62, considered the longest wine route in the world and we will definitely sample some of its vineyards along the way. 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. 

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 we make our way into Oudtshoorn South Africa's ostrich Capital

Relax and enjoy the friendly Klein Karoo hospitality, with dinner at your country lodge.

Day notes

This morning we have the option to wake really early to go meet the cute Meerkats of the Karoo (weather permitting), just as they awake and come out of their burrows.

Enjoy a country breakfast at the hotel, before we can 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, where we take the  opportunity to explore this one of a kind karoo town.

Day notes

We then head through the Langeberg and onto our overnight safari at Kariega Private Game Reserve where we will arrive just in time for lunch.

Once checked into your luxury room its time to enjoy your late afternoon game drive in this lush and well stocked Big 5 reserve! Dinner is served in the boma (weather permitting) or lodge restaurant and lounge area. Retire to your room after a jam packed day of discovery to unwind in the african bush and listen for the calls of the wild.

Day notes

After your morning game drive, we head back down the N2 and can stop in at Port Elizabeth and surfers paradise at Jeffreys Bay if you wish.

The area where we will spend most our time today is the Tsitsikamma Forest / Storms River Mouth region. Tuck into lunch (own account) and enjoy a one hour walk to the suspension bridge overlooking Storms River mouth .

We then continue our journey  towards Plettenberg Bay, our base for the next 2 nights.

Day notes

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
> Keurbooms River ferries
> Monkeyland and/or Birds of Eden
> Tenikwa Wildlife Centre
> Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary

Day notes

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 at the hotel overlooking the Indian Ocean or maybe take a short stroll into the historic fishing village of Kasiesbaai 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.

Day notes

We journey to the scenic coastal town of Hermanus, renowned for its whale watching, a place where Southern Right whales return annually during the winter and early spring months (July to November).

Continue our sweeping coastal drive along False Bay with its panoramic views of Cape Point and Table Mountain. Stop at Gordon’s Bay for a traditional fish and chips lunch (own account) before continuing the journey back to the mother city of Cape Town. This tour ends, late afternoon, back in Cape Town at your hotel or at Cape Town International Airport.

Here we’ll say hamba kahle, good bye.