You will be collected from your home or hotel to rendezvous with your guide and air-conditioned minibus, arriving at Eight Bells mid-afternoon. We enjoy superb breakfasts and dinners at the hotel every day, and the friendly staff make us feel right at home. Should you wish to remain at the hotel during any of the outings, you can enjoy morning and afternoon tea and a leisurely lunch on the terrace.
GEORGE AND WILDERNESS
We head for the fascinating Outeniqua Transport Museum in George, where South Africa's railway history is depicted. Here we board the Power Van, a modified diesel-powered inspection coach, for a unique 2-hour rail adventure high into the Outeniqua Mountains. There are dramatic gorges and valleys, indigenous forest and pristine fynbos, and no less than six tunnels. We stop for superb views at the point where the railway line crosses the Montagu Pass, and turn back for George. We have a picnic lunch and later visit nearby Wilderness, and perhaps have a stroll on the beach. A scenic drive, with typical Garden route scenery, rounds off our interesting day.
OUDTSHOORN & KLEIN KAROO
We set off northwards over the spectacular Robinson Pass, with its beautiful mountain fynbos and dramatic views over the Langeberg and Outeniqua Mountains. Descending into the Little Karoo the landscape changes to semi-arid Karoo vegetation, interspersed with oasis-like farms with distant views of the Swartberg mountain massif. We arrive in Oudtshoorn - bustling hub of the ostrich industry - with time to explore the fascinating CP Nel museum, and have a look at some of the “feather palaces”. These unusual buildings date from the early 1900’s when the booming ostrich feather industry revolutionised the local economy. Later we visit the Cango Wildlife Ranch and tour their rehabilitation project for big cats, including cheetah, lion and leopard.
MOSSEL BAY & HARTENBOS
We visit the pristine ‘Blue Flag’ beach at Hartenbos for a morning stroll or swim. The historic harbour town of Mossel Bay has many interesting features, including the Dias Museum, and now we have time to do it all justice and explore at our leisure. We have a tasty lunch overlooking the bay, and afterwards we tour the town, admiring its many fine sandstone buildings. We then drive to The Point and Cape St Blaize, with its Strandloper Cave and spectacular ocean views.
HOMEWARD BOUND...
On the last day our programme still has plenty to offer. We traverse a scenic pass through the Langeberg, and after lunch in Montagu we make our way to Cape Town through the wine and fruit producing areas of the region. As always, Landscape will see you safely home.
