DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive in Cape Town

You will be met at Cape Town Airport and transferred to your hotel in this beautiful city, within sight of Table Mountain.

Check in and relax in your magnificent surroundings.

Day 2: Explore Cape Town

This morning your hire car will be dropped off at your hotel. The balance of your day is free to explore the "Mother City" of Cape Town.

To orientate yourself, you can purchase a pass onboard the convenient Red Route Hop-Off Bus, which stops at all Cape Town’s key sights and attractions, including the Table Mountain cable car (discounted tickets are sold on the bus). Here you can ascend and enjoy one of the world's most famous views.

Day 3: Cape of Good Hope

Today we recommend spending the day exploring the beautiful Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve peninsula.

Start with an optional short boat trip from Hout Bay to view Cape fur seals at Seal Island and continue via Chapman’s Peak Drive to spectacular Cape Point where you may see baboons, ostrich and perhaps even dolphins or whales in season (July/November).

On the return journey we recommend driving through naval Simons Town and visit the resident penguin colony at Boulders Beach. You can also make a short stop at the world famous Kirstenbosch Gardens, before returning to your hotel in the late afternoon.

Day 4: At leisure

At leisure to relax and explore more of the beautiful city of Cape Town.

Many optional activities are available in this beautiful city. You can explore the vibrant Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and visit Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned (advance booking essential in season).

You can also take the Hop-Off bus (Blue Route) to visit world famous Kirstenbosch Gardens, enjoy a city tour or simply relax on golden Camps Bay Beach.

Day 5: Drive to Stellenbosch

Drive 45 minutes to the beautiful Stellenbosch Winelands.

Along the way we recommend stopping at the Cheetah Outreach project in Somerset West, a community-based programme seeking to raise awareness of the plight of the cheetah and campaign for its survival.

You can also stop at one or more wine estates along the famous Stellenbosch wine route. Check in to your hotel in this famous wine producing area, relax under the giant oak trees and savour the fine food and wines of this region.

Day 6: Explore the Winelands

At leisure to relax in beautiful Stellenbosch, surrounded by its mountains and vineyards.

Explore this old university town with its many street markets, craft shops and museums, including the Modern & Contemporary Art Gallery, or visit Stellenbosch Botanical Gardens.

You can also self-drive the wine routes of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl with many opportunities for wine tasting at famous wine estates. Alternatively use the Vine Hopper hop-off bus to explore these winelands or book an optional small group tour.

In the evening there are several fine dining restaurants in the area (advance booking strongly recommended).

Note: Vine Hopper bus does not operate on Sundays.

Day 7: Drive to Hermanus

Drive 2 hours today from Stellenbosch to the small seaside town of Hermanus, travelling along the scenic coastal route through Gordon’s Bay and along the False Bay coast.

Along the way we suggest a detour to the Stoney Point Penguin Colony in the small coastal town of Betty’s Bay. You may also want to visit Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, renowned for its fynbos flowers. The walk through the gorge and down to the waterfall is particularly rewarding (pay all entrance fees locally).

Continue to Hermanus and check in to your hotel. From July to November, southern right and humpback whales come here to breed and this is considered the best location for land-based whale watching in the world. Once severely endangered, these magnificent creatures of the deep are now breeding successfully in the area due to a major international conservation effort.

Day 8: At leisure in Hermanus

At leisure to relax in the small seaside town of Hermanus.

During the whale season enjoy Whale Watching from the cliffs, which usually offer excellent viewing. For closer views, you can take an optional whale watching boat trip (advance booking recommended in season).  There is a small beach at the foot of the cliffs, with steep access.

You can visit the Panthera Big Cat Sanctuary or venture further afield to Cape Agulhas, the most southerly point of Africa and the true meeting point of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans (pay all entrance fees locally).

You can also explore this small town on foot, with its open-air craft market in season and coastal path with wonderful indigenous fynbos and bird life. The small Fernkloof Nature Reserve, situated on the slopes of a mountain outside the village, is a fynbos wildflower sanctuary cared for by the local botanical society.

Day 9: Drive to Oudtshoorn

Today drive 4 hours along the scenic Route 62 through the dramatic Little Karoo to Oudtshoorn.

Along the way we suggest you stop at the historic town of Swellendam - the third oldest town in South Africa, with some wonderful examples of Cape Dutch architecture.

On arrival we suggest visiting an Ostrich Farm to see these huge flightless birds in their natural surroundings (pay locally), before checking in to your hotel.

Day 10: Drive along the Garden Route

We suggest that today you visit the famous Cango Caves – a vast series of underground halls and caverns formed over 20 million years ago in the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains. The caves, which extend for over 3 miles, contain spectacular stalagmites and stalactites and offer relatively easy access.

If you are adventurous and enjoy driving on steep gravel mountain passes, you can detour via the Swartberg Pass (about 1 hour) to Prince Albert. You can return the same way, or head east along the base of the mountain and return to Oudtshoorn via the Meiringspoort Pass (about 2 hours). This detour offers spectacular views, but a 4x4 vehicle is recommended.

Then continue 2 hours through the magnificent Outeniqua Pass to the oyster capital of Knysna in the heart of the scenic Garden Route. Enjoy the beaches of Wilderness and the lakes of Sedgefield, before checking in to your hotel in this area of outstanding natural beauty.

Note: In season we recommend booking Knysna restaurants online in advance of your visit, to avoid disappointment.

Day 11: Explore Knysna

Today we recommend making your way to the Knysna Waterfront for the ferry to Featherbed Nature Reserve situated on Knysna's Western Head, one of two magnificent sandstone cliffs guarding the entrance to the vast Knysna Lagoon.

This spectacular nature reserve is only accessible by ferry, followed by a short trailer ride to the top of the reserve which offers panoramic views. Most visitors choose to return on foot along a 1 mile guided nature walk through natural coastal forest onto the cliffs, through caves and along a scenic coastal path, followed by an included seafood buffet lunch served under the old milkwood trees.

In the afternoon we recommend a visit to Knysna Elephant Park, for the opportunity to interact with and feed these gentle giants for 45 minutes (pay entrance fee locally).

The remainder of the afternoon is free to explore Knysna. This lively town is famous for its oysters, which are grown in the lagoon. It offers good shopping opportunities and many interesting craft shops.

Note: Subject to availability, it is possible to book a night of self-catering accommodation in Knysna Elephant Park. The en-suite bedrooms overlook the outdoor boma and the communal lounge overlooks the elephants' sleeping area - allowing you to watch them browse, feed and sleep.

Day 12: At leisure in Knysna

Today is free to explore the small town of Knysna with its beautiful lagoon, shops, restaurants and beaches.

Optional activities include horse riding, mountain biking, kayaking and golf.

Day 13: Drive to East Cape Game Reserve

Today travel 5 hours from Knysna to your malaria-free private game reserve near Addo in the beautiful Eastern Cape.

Enjoy sightseeing stops as you drive past the beaches of Plettenberg Bay, across the dramatic Storms River Gorge and through the Tsitsikamma Forest to your game lodge.

On arrival enjoy an afternoon game drive, where game viewing opportunities should present themselves almost immediately. Hopefully see several species of antelope, zebra, wildebeest and maybe even giraffe today - as well as several of the Big Five - before dining in your warm African surroundings.

Note: Ensure you arrive at your lodge in good time (preferably by 2.30 pm latest) so you do not miss your afternoon game drive.

Day 14: Game Drives

Rise at dawn to take advantage of the best game viewing conditions of the day and enjoy a thrilling open-top game viewing safari with your lodge ranger in your Private Game Reserve which is home to all the Big Five - lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino. Hope to see many interesting species before returning to your lodge for breakfast.

The rest of the morning is free to relax by the lodge swimming pool, before setting out again in the late afternoon for another game drive. Hope to see giraffe, hippo, kudu, crocodiles, antelope, waterbuck, warthogs, baboons and many other interesting animals. With hundreds of different bird species, outstanding bird watching is also guaranteed!

After a beautiful African sunset, enjoy the balmy evening and pristine stars of the Milky Way as you have never seen them before – as well as the spectacular Southern Cross.

Note: If travelling with a child < 6 please request a family lodge that allows young children on open top game drives.

Day 15: Fly Home

Enjoy some final early morning game viewing, before driving 2 hours to Port Elizabeth Airport for your flight home.

PRICING

Price is based on two adults sharing en-suite accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, with full board whilst on safari. All park fees and game drives are included. International and domestic flights are not included and will be quoted separately.

We offer a choice of hotels at different prices, so please discuss your requirements with us. All hotels are subject to availability.

It is essential that you have personal holiday insurance and an appropriate driving licence. The FCO should also be consulted.