The Garden Route

On arrival at Cape Town International Airport, our representative welcomes you to South Africa and assists you through passport and customs formalities, before providing a transfer to the V&A Waterfront Hotel for a 5-night stay. The balance of the day is free to relax and enjoy the hotel's location on the city's waterfront promenade.

After breakfast this morning, set off on an escorted, half-day tour of this fabled city. Start at Table Mountain (weather permitting - cable car fee extra) to enjoy panoramic city views before walking through the stunning Company Gardens. Next visit the South African Museum then the Castle of Good Hope and other historic sites. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon, which is free to do more exploring on your own. The evening is at your hotel.

Our full day, guided excursion starts with a beautiful coastal drive to the Cape of Good Hope, passing the trendy beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay. At the Cape's Nature Reserve, there is an optional funicular ride for views of the tip of Africa, before driving up the coast past Simon's Town naval base to see the African Penguin colony at Boulders. Our last stop is the world-famous Kirstenbosch Gardens before returning to the hotel for an evening at leisure.

Today's tour heads over the mountains into the Cape's beautiful wine-growing region, stopping first at Boschendal for wine tasting. Arriving in the French-Hugenot town of Franschhoek, enjoy a lovely lunch (on own account) then drive to Stellenbosch where you'll have a tour of this fascinating town full of early Cape Dutch architecture as well as a visit to the Village Museum. Return to Cape Town in the late afternoon to enjoy the evening at leisure and overnight at your hotel.

Today is completely open to choose from a number of exciting optional excursions such as a tour of Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held prisoner for many years. Or, take a walking tour through vibrant Bo Kaap with its colourful house that express the melting-pot culture of the Cape Malay, Indian and Malaysian population. For the adventurous there is zip lining on Table Mountain or shark-cage diving. Plus just enjoy Cape Town's cosmopolitan atmosphere and beauty. Overnight is at your hotel.

Pick up your rental car this morning and head off on a lovely drive along the coast and over the Sir Lowry Pass to the seaside town of Hermanus (approx. 90km from Cape Town). Spend the night at the Misty Waves Hotel. The balance of the day is free to walk its renown, cliff-path trail, or choose optional excursions such as kayaking or horseback riding along its lovely beaches. Tonight try out one of this resort town's many fine restaurants.

Set off after breakfast this morning driving inland to Oudtshoorn (approx. 3 hrs.) to overnight at La Plume Guest House. Spend the afternoon visiting one of the Ostrich farms for which the town was famous. Here you'll learn about ostrich breeding and get to meet the world's biggest, flightless bird. Enjoy a relaxing evening at your hotel.

Driving not far from Oudtshoorn this morning enjoy a tour of South Africa's spectacular Cango Caves. These 20-million year-old caves with their fabulous rock formations can be explored easily in an hour before continuing on to cross the Outeniqua Pass and back to the Indian Ocean. Arrive in the early afternoon at the coastal resort town of Knysa for a 2-night stay at the Knysna Country House. The balance of the day and evening is at leisure.

Today is free to explore Knysna and its surrounding areas. The town itself is well known as an arts centre and is full of galleries and interesting crafts shops. Some optional excursions include a half-day cruise from the Knysna Lagoon out to the Knysna Heads including a walk along the cliffs and through a bird-filled forest, or a Whale watching boat trip (seasonal) or visit the Birds of Eden Park near Plettenberg Bay. The evening is at leisure at your hotel.

Set off early this morning following the Indian Ocean coastline along the famed ‘Garden Route’. En route, stop for a walk in the Tsitsikamma Forest on the dramatic Storms River. Then drive east and drop off your rental car at the Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) airport. Here, you'll be met and transferred to Camp Figtree near the Addo Elephant Park, arriving by mid-afternoon for a 3-night stay. After settling into this stunning mountain lodge, enjoy a sunset walk along one of the camp's private trails.

Each day is full of adventure with many optional activities to choose from including a 4-hour safari in an open land rover through Addo Elephant Park with some of the best elephant viewing in Africa. Other optional excursions include giraffe tracking and guided bush walks and bush picnics, plus in the evening, you can tour a private game park to see its many lions. Also, remember to leave time to relax and enjoy the camp's spectacular scenery. Overnights are at the lodge.

After breakfast, you will be transferred back to the Gqeberha airport which is just an hour away from the Lodge prior to boarding a flight to connect with your homebound flight out of Johannesburg.