Cape Town, the Garden Route & Safari

Depart for Cape Town

Depart for Cape Town to enjoy the beauty of South Africa's Garden Route and one of the many highlights of the trip, a Big Five game safari!

Arrive in Cape Town

Morning

Upon arrival in Cape Town, you will be met by our local representative in the airport. Begin your holiday with a trip to Table Mountain, (weather permitting) for a cable car ride taking in the spectacular views of the city, stretching to False Bay, including Robben Island and the Devil’s Peak on a clear day. After your excursion to Table Mountain, continue to your hotel taking a short orientation tour en-route.

Transfer to your Hotel

Afternoon

The rest of the day is yours to relax and to become familiar with your surroundings. Your guide can point out places of interest for your free time. You will spend the next three nights in Cape Town.

Guided Tour of the Winelands countryside & Stellenbosch

Full Day

In the morning you will travel through the picturesque Winelands countryside. Enjoy the incredible scenery of rolling vineyards while sampling some of South Africa’s favourite wines and enjoy a delicious lunch at a local winery. There will also be an opportunity to do a short walking tour of Stellenbosch town.

Full Day Guided Excursion to Cape Peninsula

Full Day

On today’s guided Cape Peninsula excursion, you will be treated to some of the most breath-taking scenery in the world! You will drive along the coast route, overlooking the rocky peninsula and take in stunning views of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans along the way. You will visit Cape Point, Boulders Beach for an up close and personal encounter with African Penguins and the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, where the Portuguese explorer Bartholomeu Dias first established trading routes between Africa and Asia in the fifteenth century. En- route to your hotel you will have the opportunity of visiting Kirstenbosch Gardens. Lunch is included.

Visit Robben Island

Morning

Weather permitting; today you will catch the boat from the Victoria & Alfred waterfront out to Robben Island. Located almost 7km off the coast in Table Bay, the island is internationally known as the location where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. Today the island is a UNESCO world heritage site and a living museum, welcoming thousands of visitors every year. You will have a guided tour of the island and museum. Afterwards catch the boat back and transfer onwards to your next destination. Please note: your next destination can vary according to your chosen date of departure.

Travel to Arniston

Afternoon

Depart Cape Town and transfer onwards to the tranquil small fishing village of Arniston for the next two nights of your stay, depending on your chosen date of travel. This quaint village is an attraction for artists and photographers, known for its prettiness, rolling sand dunes, blue sea and rugged cliffs. The transfer will take approximately three hours (210km).

Or Travel to Hermanus (Depending on your chosen date)

Afternoon

On certain chosen dates, your itinerary will include two nights in Hermanus, or one night in Hermanus and one night in Montagu. Please enquire with your sales agent for available dates and more details.

Guided Tour of Arniston & Cape Agulhas

Morning

Today you will have a short panoramic orientation tour of Arniston, to further become familiar with your surroundings. After you will visit Cape Agulhas, included is a stop at the lighthouse, which is situated at the southernmost tip of Africa. The rest of your day is at leisure to further discover this charming little village of Arniston, your guide will advise on places of interest to visit.

Or Hermanus (Depending on your chosen date)

Morning

Hermanus 2 nights: Today you will have a short orientation tour of Hermanus and a visit to Cape Agulhas. The rest of your day is at leisure, your guide will advise on places of further interest to visit at your own pace.

Knysna - via the Garden Route

Full Day

After breakfast transfer from Hermanus or Arniston (depending on your chosen date) along the N2 via Mossel Bay to Knysna, enjoying some of the most scenic landscape in the world along the Garden Route, the journey will take approximately four and a half hours drive to the coastal town of Knysna (364km). This town lies on the Knysna lagoon, the mouth of which is guarded by two promontories known as ‘The Heads’ and is famed, due to the number of sailors who lost their lives sailing through this dangerous stretch. Spend the next two nights of your holiday in Knysna.

Visit the Featherbed Nature Reserve

Full Day

Today you will visit the Featherbed Nature Reserve, where you will travel by ferry across the Knysna Lagoon. The reserve lies on the unspoilt western head of Knysna, and here you will be driven in a 4x4 to see stunning views and beautiful flora & fauna. Enjoy a buffet lunch sitting underneath a canopy of Milkwood trees. Also included is the option to take a guided walk through coastal forest and fynbos into ancient sea caves.

Note: Please note your visit to the Featherbed Nature Reserve is subject to weather conditions.  If possible, another attempt will be made and/or an alternative excursion organised.  Our guide will reconfirm the arrangements locally.

At Leisure

Afternoon

You will have the remainder of the evening to spend at leisure.

See the Tsitsikamma National Park & Forest

Morning

Today, you will travel to Tsitsikamma, where you will experience the dramatic coastal areas of the Garden Route where the forest meets ocean. Visiting the Tsitsikama National Park, a glorious 10km stretch of wild and rocky coastline characterised by massive cliffs, narrow isolated beaches and shady indigenous forest, composed of Stink Woods and Yellow Woods along the river valleys.

Travel to Port Elizabeth

Afternoon

Afterwards you will travel to your hotel in Port Elizabeth where you will spend the night, your journey today will take approximately three and a half hours (261km). Check into your hotel, the rest of your evening is spent at leisure, time to relax and unwind.

Travel on to Kariega Game Reserve

Morning

After breakfast at your hotel, you will travel on to Kariega Game Reserve approximately two hours journey (144km), where you will spend your next three nights. Kariega is a family-owned and operated private safari reserve located in South Africa's Eastern Cape and is situated along the Garden Route. Make sure to have your camera ready, as animals can appear at any time, not just while on a safari drive!

Game Drive

Afternoon

After lunch at the lodge, you will enjoy your first game drive in the Kariega Game Reserve. The experienced game rangers will try to bring you close to the Big 5 - lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard as well as a multitude of other African wild game and bird species. Have the camera ready and the binoculars polished in anticipation for your game drive.

At Leisure

Evening

After the game drive, dinner will be served in the lodge. You will have the rest of the evening at leisure. Take a dip in the pool or just relax and enjoy the beautiful calm surroundings of your lodge.

Early Morning Game Drive

Morning

It’s time for safari! You will set off early this morning while it’s still cool and the animals are most active, in an open top four-wheel drive vehicle to explore some of the magnificent 10,000 hectares of Kariega Game Reserve. If you are lucky today, you might witness a lion hunting, or the heart-warming social interactions of an elephant herd.

Afternoon Game Drive

Afternoon

You will return to the lodge for lunch and depart in the afternoon for a second game drive in the reserve. You might be able to see other species such as hippo, hyena, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, eland, kudu, waterbuck and a variety of other antelope, as well as a myriad of bird species including the nesting crowned eagle, martial and fish eagles.

Early Morning Game Drive

Morning

Another early morning start, this time you will drive through a different area of the park in search of some new species of birds and animals to the ones you saw yesterday.

Afternoon Game Drive

Afternoon

After enjoying lunch at the lodge, you will enjoy your last game drive in the reserve. This is your last chance to see the big 5 so keep your eyes peeled!

Depart South Africa

Today we say farewell and transfer to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) Airport for your flights home, the journey will take approximately two hours (144km). Check in for your return flight home after enjoying the many memorable highlights South Africa has to offer.

Arrive home following your once in a lifetime trip to South Africa.