Garden Route, Karoo and Addo Wonders

Day 1 | Tuesday 
CAPE TOWN to OUDTSHOORN via ROUTE 62 (±420km) 
Your African adventure begins in Cape Town. The most beautiful city in South Africa sets a high bar for what is to come. Day One takes us into the Cape Winelands and along Route 62, the longest and most mountainous wine route in the world. Your window will become a series of picture postcards as you travel through scenic towns and past bountiful vineyards. After lunch in one of the charming towns, you will have time to sample some of the best wines in the world at a celebrated vineyard (both at your own expense). South Africa is justifiably famous for its wine industry, which dates back to the 17th century, making it one of the oldest in the world. There are 148 wine farms along our route. Our final destination is Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world and home to the world’s largest ostrich population. Nestled between the towering Swartberg and Outeniqua Mountains, the town seems to be in a different, slower time. The semi-arid conditions of the Klein Karoo make it ideal for ostrich farming. Oudtshoorn produces its own wine and brandy. You may be tempted to sample a glass as you enjoy dinner (at your own expense) and the local cuisine in town.  
Overnight at Queens Hotel or similar – Breakfast  
 
Day 2 | Wednesday 
FULL DAY in OUDTSHOORN (±70km) 
A Meerkat Adventure will introduce you to this endearing creature. Watch the burrowing member of the mongoose family as it hunts for beetles, rodents, or snakes. The ever-vigilant meerkat is known for its upright, sentinel posture as it scans for predators. This excursion is at your own expense and recommended to book in advance to secure availability. Enjoy your breakfast and then prepare for an experience in the subterranean, enchanted realm of the Cango Caves. The Caves – approximately 20 million years old and are considered as one of the great wonders of the world. Don’t worry about claustrophobia; the Van Zyl’s Hall cave is 107m long and 54m wide. Look forward to a delicious farm lunch (at your own expense) and an interactive ostrich farm tractor tour. Time permitting, we will visit a school that is the community project of the ostrich farm. Visit the captivating exhibits in the CP Nel Museum (at your own expense), to learn about the ostrich trade in the Victorian era and the history of the town. With leisure time in the evening, head into town to explore and find the restaurant that appeals to your taste – there are plenty to choose from.  
Overnight at Queens Hotel or similar – Breakfast  
 
It is recommended to pre-book the Oudtshoorn Meerkat Excursion in advance 
 
Day 3 | Thursday 
OUDTSHOORN to GRAAFF-REINET (±320km) 
You will have discovered by now that South Africa’s scenery changes constantly. After an early breakfast, we leave the dry Klein Karoo and drive via Meiringspoort through diverse landscapes to reach Graaff-Reinet, the oldest town in the Eastern Cape and the fourth oldest town in South Africa. It has a remarkable history, once serving as the centre of a short-lived republic established by disgruntled farmers. It boasts more national monuments than any other town or city in the country. Just outside Graaff-Reinet, your open safari vehicle will climb the steep road to the top of the Valley of Desolation in the Camdeboo National Park. Stand amongst towering boulders and gaze over an extraordinary volcanic valley with giant dolerite towers protruding from the earth. You will be standing at the edge of a natural wonder over 100 million years in the making. Don’t be deceived by the valley’s dry appearance; it has abundant wildlife. With your bird’s-eye view, wait for a Black Eagle or a Kori Bustard, the heaviest flying bird in the world, to glide past you. The Park is home to endangered Cape mountain zebra, kudu, and buffalo. Enjoy an evening in Graaff-Reinet and sample the delights of Karoo cuisine (at your own expense).  
Overnight at Drostdy Hotel or similar – Breakfast 
 
Day 4 | Friday 
GRAAFF-REINET to ADDO (±238km) 
After a relaxed breakfast at your hotel, find out more about the fascinating town of Graaff-Reinet. Look for the “Victory Peace Angel” sculpture, created as a reminder of the global impact of World War 1. As with most South African towns, churches raise their spires as beacons of welcome and inspiration. The town has several churches with the oldest, the St James’ Anglican Church, established in 1850. Our next stop; the Zuurberg Mountains in the Greater Addo Mountain Range, offering a taste of your Addo safari experience. The village, over 160 years old, and regarded as a dream destination, will put the Addo Elephant Park into grand and splendid perspective, with its breathtaking view. Enjoy your comfortable hotel with time to relax and enjoy a quiet dinner.   
Overnight at Zuurberg Mountain Village or similar – Dinner and breakfast 
 
Day 5 | Saturday 
ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK 
Have a good breakfast to prepare yourself for an unforgettable full day safari and lunch in the Addo Elephant National Park, the third largest national park in South Africa. Your open safari vehicle will take you into this magnificent conservation area where you will soon see elephant herds making their serene way across the grasslands. The Park is home to the ‘Big 5’ (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, buffalo, and elephant) but also look for zebra and various species of buck, to name just a few. This is a wildlife haven, with 95 mammal and 417 bird species. The isiZulu name for the elephant is “Indlovu”, meaning crashing or overturning. Elephants push over trees effortlessly but they also walk almost silently on feet padded to carry their enormous weight. The elephant is a symbol of resilience and power. Your guide will tell you more about this fascinating creature with its great, curved tusks and mobile trunk. You are assured of finding a treasure and will have stories to tell over dinner back at your hotel. 
Overnight at Zuurberg Mountain Village or similar – Dinner, lunch, breakfast, and a game excursion 
  
Day 6 | Sunday 
ADDO to KNSYNA via TSITSIKAMMA FOREST (±360km) 
You will want to linger over breakfast, reluctant to leave, but there is so much more to experience on the spectacular Garden Route. The excellent road will ensure a smooth trip past coastal vistas and indigenous forests on our way to the Tsitsikamma National Park, famous for its natural beauty. On entering the Park, the road suddenly tops a rise, offering a spectacular view of the ocean and a deep, green gorge. It’s a short walk to cross the famous Storms River suspension bridge and experience the thrill of standing high above the vast rocky chasm below you. After an own expense lunch in the forest, the afternoon drive takes us to Knysna, a town famous for its inland waterways and the Knysna Heads, the sandstone cliffs towering over the entrance to a vast lagoon. End a perfect day cruising the lagoon, tasting oysters, and marine watching at the river mouth as kingfishers hover and dive for fish. Listen for the cry of an African Fish Eagle, a resident of this wetland. You’ll have a long list of sightings to recount over dinner at your hotel (at your own expense). 
Overnight at aha The Rex Hotel or similar – Breakfast  
 
Day 7 | Monday 
FULL DAY AT LEISURE in KNYSNA  
After breakfast, you have the opportunity to take a ferry across the lagoon to the Featherbed Nature Reserve on the Western Head, at your own expense. The Reserve is a sanctuary and a South African Heritage Site, offering a unique eco-experience. Featherbed Nature Reserve runs a breeding programme for the endangered Knysna seahorse and the secretive blue duiker, the smallest antelope species in the world, standing between 32-41cm. It’s alive with birds, most notably, the Blue Crane, South Africa’s national bird, and the brightly coloured Turaco (Knysna Lourie). Enjoy lunch in the beauty of the reserve. Walk through the lush indigenous forest with its diverse flora and fauna and spend time looking down into the clear, turquoise water of the lagoon and panoramic vistas of the Indian ocean. Ensure you have binoculars in case you spot dolphins at play, or perhaps even a whale breaching in season. Spend an afternoon exploring Knysna with its fine art galleries, craft markets, gin cafés, and bistros. The Thesen Island marina is the ideal place to relax and enjoy the slow pace of the town. Be sure to leave space for dinner in town (at your own expense). 
Overnight at aha The Rex Hotel or similar – Breakfast  
 
Day 8 | Tuesday 
KNYSNA to HERMANUS via CAPE AGULHAS (±540km) 
After breakfast, we leave for Hermanus via Cape Agulhas, stopping on the way in Swellendam. Hugging the Langeberg Mountains and established in 1745, Swellendam, one of the oldest towns in the country, is a showcase for Cape Dutch architecture and boasts over 50 provincial heritage sites. This thriving wine farming area also produces delicious jams, relishes, and liqueurs. You will have an opportunity to experience a tasting adventure, then choose a restaurant for a tranquil lunch (at your own expense). The rocky headland of Cape Agulhas is another highlight. At the southernmost point of the African continent, see the official line that divides the cold Atlantic and warm Indian Oceans at the Map of Africa Monument. Visit the beautiful lighthouse and its museum. Cape Agulhas, the “Cape of Needles”, named by Portuguese navigators, is where the compass needle always points to true north. Our compass points us to Hermanus, a town renowned for its whale watching and natural beauty. Set against the majestic backdrop of the Overberg Mountains and with its toes in the Indian Ocean, you will be in another world. Spend the afternoon whale watching (depending on the season) or exploring the town before heading to your hotel for dinner (at your own expense). 
Overnight at Arabella Spa & Hotel or similar – Breakfast  
 
Day 9 | Wednesday 
HERMANUS to CAPE TOWN via FRANSCHHOEK (±190km) 
The final day of your adventure starts with an early breakfast and another scenic drive to Franschhoek, through the Overberg Mountains to Villiersdorp and then Franschhoek Mountain Pass – a route known for its beautiful scenery. Villiersdorp is the only place in South Africa that processes persimmons with their sweet, honey tasting flesh. The area is a fragrant fruit basket, farming apricots, nectarines, apples, peaches, and pears. Franschhoek (French corner), a historic town and one of the oldest settlements in the country, dates back to the arrival of the French Huguenots in 1688. The exceptional wines from this area owe much to the French winemakers. True to its French roots, the restaurants in Franschhoek offer exciting choices for fine dining or something more casual, making it the ideal place to stop for an own expense lunch. We pass an interesting landmark on the way to Cape Town, the Drakenstein Prison. Previously named the Victor Verster Prison, it is where Nelson Mandela was held before his release on February 11, 1990 – an event watched by the world. Be guided through Stellenbosch before your South African adventure comes to its end at your hotel in Cape Town, where you will no doubt be planning your next African adventure. 

Inclusions

Accommodation: 4 and 5-star hotels
Meals: 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners
Entrance fees: Camdeboo National Park, Addo Elephant National Park conservation fee, Garden Route National Park conservation fee (Storm’s River), Agulhas Lighthouse Museum
Excursions: Ostrich farm tractor tour, Cango Caves heritage tour, Valley of Desolation tour, full day open safari vehicle game drive in Addo Elephant National Park, sunset Knysna oyster cruise
Green Seat: Endangered Wildlife Trust, Trees for Tourism

Exclusions

Travel insurance, flights, visa fees, airport transfers, 8 lunches, 6 dinners, optional excursions, gratuities, and personal expenses