Active Cape Town and Garden Route (9 days)

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.

City, Kirstenbosch & Constantia (Active)

Capetonians live outdoors – hiking, strolling, tasting and soaking up the views – so why not slip into this lifestyle for a day and “live like a local”?  With Table Mountain, award-winning Kirstenbosch and the Constantia Winelands all in one day, you’ll experience the Mother City from summit to cellar. Think of this as a flexible framework; we’ll dial the activity level up or down to perfectly match your energy and curiosity.

> Start your day by heading up Table Mountain or to nearby Signal Hill (if the Cape Town weather has other plans), breathing in the crisp air and savouring panoramic views over the city, coastline and distant peaks. 

> Enjoy your chosen active experience at a pre-arranged time, tailored to your interests and pace. You might:

– Surf in Blouberg (2 hours), with Table Mountain as your backdrop
– Glide across the ocean on a kayak in Table Bay or Sea Point (2 hours)
– Cruise the coast by bicycle (1–2 hours), feeling the sea breeze on your face
– Hike Lion’s Head or Table Mountain (2–4 hours) for rewarding views and a gentle challenge
– Try stand-up paddling in the V&A Waterfront canals (1 hour) for a fun, easy-on-the-legs outing

> Wander through the historic streets of central Cape Town as your guide brings the city’s layered past to life, with the option to step into a museum for a deeper, more reflective look at its history.

> Stretch your legs with a gentle walk through the Company’s Garden, the green heart of the city, sharing the paths with pigeons, geese and squirrels as you go.

> Continue to the iconic Bo-Kaap, our Cape Malay Quarter, where cobbled streets, colourful façades and the aroma of spice invite you to slow down, explore, taste local street food and capture a few postcard-perfect photos.

> Swap city bustle for nature with an unhurried stroll through the magnificent Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Wander along the Boomslang Tree Canopy Walk, pause in the Conservatory and explore as much – or as little – as you like. Enjoy a light lunch (own account) in the popular tea room with fresh local flavours, or save your appetite for a relaxed vineyard lunch in Constantia.

> Round off the day in the Constantia Winelands, visiting one or two carefully chosen estates. Opt for a guided cellar tour at historic Groot Constantia, South Africa’s oldest wine estate, or simply linger over a tasting and sweeping views at one of the more contemporary estates such as Steenberg or Beau Constantia.

> As the afternoon mellows, we can return via the scenic coastal road along Victoria Road through Camps Bay. If timing and weather are on our side, you’ll end your soft-adventure day with a classic Cape Town sunset – the perfect, golden-hour finale to a day well spent outdoors.

Cape Peninsula (Active)

This immersive day out is ideal for travellers who like to keep moving while soaking up spectacular scenery. Explore the wild beauty, dramatic coastline and rich biodiversity of the Cape Peninsula at an active, yet unhurried pace. 

Your chosen active experience may need to be scheduled at a specific time of day. Once we know your preferred option, we’ll design the routing and rhythm of the day around it, ensuring everything unfolds smoothly and at a pace that suits you.

> Follow the Atlantic Seaboard on a scenic drive past Clifton and Camps Bay, where the beaches shimmer below and the Twelve Apostles mountain range rises dramatically above the ocean.

> Continue along the world-renowned Chapman’s Peak Drive, pausing for staggering photo opportunities, before entering the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Keep an eye out for small antelope, eland, Cape mountain zebra, abundant birdlife and the ever-curious Chacma baboons.

> At Cape Point, choose to ride the funicular (included) or take the gently graded footpath for an approximately 12-minute walk up to the historic lighthouse, where sweeping views unfold over False Bay, the Cape of Good Hope and the mighty Atlantic.

> Visit Boulders Beach, home to a thriving colony of the indigenous – and critically endangered – African penguin, and enjoy time to watch their charming antics at close range.

> Begin the return journey to Cape Town via the naval town of Simon’s Town, then either cross the Ou Kaapse Weg mountain pass or travel the coastal route through Kalk Bay, where you can stretch your legs with a walk through this characterful, bohemian fishing village.

Cape Winelands (Active)

This full-day adventure is perfect for travellers who enjoy exploring on the move, combining the scenic charm of the Cape Winelands with an active experience. Expect rolling vineyards, historic estates, picturesque towns and a variety of engaging activities – all at a pace that keeps you involved and immersed. We generally cover the Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch wine routes, with the option to extend into neighbouring valleys for a more in-depth, active exploration.

Begin with an introduction to the region’s wines, before diving into a day tailored to your energy and interests. Sample easy-drinking whites, full-bodied reds, sweet wines and Cap Classique (our local take on Champagne).

Wander through the Winelands’ charming towns and villages, exploring market streets, art galleries, vintage car collections and magnificent gardens. Admire the Cape Dutch architecture and soak in the atmosphere that gives the region its iconic character.

Along the way, hear stories spanning centuries of history, including a possible visit to the prison gates where Nelson Mandela first stepped toward freedom. For the adventurous, there may also be opportunities to sample fine brandy, craft beer, grappa, olive oils, artisan chocolates and even biltong.

Families travelling with children can enjoy estates offering child-friendly grape juice and chocolate tastings, as well as a range of activities to keep young ones engaged while you savour each sip.

Your chosen active experience may need to be scheduled at a specific time of day. Once we know your preferred option, we’ll plan the day’s route so that everything flows comfortably, balancing exploration, tastings and memorable moments in the Winelands.

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 leisurely country breakfast before we make our way to a 20-million-year-old natural treasure at the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains to partake in the Cango Caves Adventure tour, with exciting passages and narrow tunnels, requiring a degree of fitness. (tight spaces, so lean persons only)

This experience goes to the deeper parts of the caves, will require you to crawl, slide on your belly (or back) and climb to get a genuine idea of what spelunking is.

Through memorable spaces like Lumbago Alley, Devil's Chimney and the aptly named Devil's Postbox, this experience is one never to be forgotten. The duration of the tour is about 90 minutes.

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 next two nights.

Today is a full day of adventure in the Tsitsikamma & Plettenberg Bay areas, where we can enjoy ...

> Ocean Safari to view dolphins and whales in Plettenberg Bay
> Hike along the Robberg Peninsula in Plett
> Hog Hollow Horse Trails
> Try the world's highest commercial bungee jump at Bloukrans Bridge
> Enjoy a gentle hike to the suspension bridge over Storms River Mouth
> Kayak or Lilo down the Storms River
> Treetop Canopy tour through the forest canopy.
 

Depart to the Wilderness where you can enjoy a kayak 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 the 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 horseshoe.

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.