Molo! Welcome to the colourful and diverse Cape. 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 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. This is where we enjoy a lunch (own account)
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. 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 with a wine tasting (own account). In the late afternoon, we embark on an ostrich farm tour to learn about these exotic birds and their industry, 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 in town.
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 of the Outeniqua pass and Dolphin Point (weather permitting). Tuck into lunch (own account) before making your way along the coastal road to Knysna. In Knysna, we set out on a sunset Knysna Oyster Tour. Hopefully you enjoy the silky sensation of the oysters and fiery Tabasco that traditionally goes along with it. An informative and interactive cruise, this tour introduces you to the wild Knysna oyster and its trade while enjoying the natural surrounding beauty. Dinner tonight can be enjoyed in town before retiring to your hotel.
Depart the hotel after breakfast, and head for the historical harbour town of Mossel Bay which was the first place that Europeans landed on South African soil. Now it’s a playground of sun and Garden Route visitors, with excellent restaurants and historical sights. 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 our safari destination for this evening’s accommodation. With the Langeberg Mountains as the backdrop, this private game reserve offers you bushveld beauty along with sightings of a wide range of game and the “Big Five”. An afternoon game drive here gives a personal, relaxed chance to see some of South Africa’s best wildlife. Let the bushveld sounds serenade you while enjoying an outdoor dining experience (weather permitting).
Enjoy a well-deserved breakfast before leaving the bush behind and making our way via Swellendam and Bredasdorp to the coastal village of Arniston.
Lunch will be taken en route (own account). This town has two official names, Arniston and Waenhuiskrans, which refers to the size of one of the sea caves, apparently the size of a wagon house. This town was named for the ship that got lost and crashed into the rocks in 1815, its captain thinking he was 100’s of km away from his actual location. Its limestone cliffs, caves and enormous sand dunes lie on the warm Indian Ocean and this is a great place to relax and enjoy a quiet evening. Tonight, dinner will be served at your hotel.
Sit down to a leisurely breakfast while you let the fresh sea air awaken your senses. This morning we journey to the rugged, windswept beauty of the southernmost tip of Africa, Cape Agulhas. A place where the warm Indian Ocean meets the cool Atlantic, the Cape of Storms has caused many an ancient mariners to brave its waters and wreck their ships in the name of exploration and adventure. We continue our 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.
