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Garden Route and Game DrivesDiscover the Cape, drive the beautiful Garden Route and top it all off with a Big Five safari during this Eastern and Western Cape itinerary. First, you'll explore Cape Town, one of the most beautiful and dramatic cities in the world. Next, you'll head into the sweeping Cape Winelands for a wine tasting experience in classic Stellenbosch, visit the ostrich farms of the Klein Karoo in Oudtshoorn and enjoy fresh oyster meals at Knysna Harbour. You'll also have a chance to try some out-of-the-ordinary outdoor activities as you travel along the Garden Route, including a bungee jump off the world's tallest bridge and a forest canopy tour in Tsitsikamma National Park.After this, your wildlife adventure begins with a self-drive safari in the comfort of your own rental car at Addo Elephant National Park. Keep your camera close at hand, as it won't be long before you cross paths with a group of gentle grey giants. Finally, you'll end your journey in style in a luxurious safari tent on the banks of the meandering Kariega River. In the early morning and late afternoon, you'll set off on game drives with the help of a professional ranger, tracking the Big Five in the bush. |
| Duration | 14 days, 13 nights | Departure | Daily |
| Comfort level (1-5) | 3 and 4 See accommodation | Accommodation | Double occupancy rooms with private bathroom, comfort level 2, 3 and 4. |
| Price | £1147 per person - based on 2 people sharing | Includes | Rental car category B (with air conditioning) including all mileage, taxes and full insurance coverage, accommodation with breakfast (Safari lodge includes full board, drinks, boat ride and 2 game activities per day) and route information. |
| Transportation | Rental car | Excludes | All additional car expenses on location (for this trip: 1 x one-way fee, 1 x contract fees and 1x deposit). Park entrance fees, optional excursions and international flights. Peak season surcharge in September and October starting at £20. |
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Day 1 and 2: Arrival in Cape Town Usually you'll arrive in South Africa in the morning and you'll start off by picking up your rental car and meeting our local representative (or else you'll meet him/ her at your first hotel). Then you'll drive to Cape Town, a 30km drive. After you've freshened up a bit at your guest house you'll have the rest of the afternoon to explore Cape Town. If arrive in South Africa late at night, we'll arrange a transfer to your accommodation in Cape Town for you. Your rental car will be dropped off at your guest house the next morning. Our local representative will come to meet and will give you an information pack filled with practical travel info, tips, vouchers and driving directions. He/ she will also go through the route for your trip with you so that you can ask any questions you may have.Cape Town has so much to offer that it's impossible to be bored here. We recommend visiting the Cape of Good Hope (Table Mountain National Park) and naturally the Table Mountain. Looking down upon the city from on top of the 3km 'Table Top' is incredible experience. Also check out the mellow, trendy beaches at Camps Bay, the penguins at Boulders Beach, Robben Island and the Two Oceans aquarium. Each of these spots is unique and memorable. However Cape Town is more than just a great place to go sightseeing. The city also has countless fun spots where you can enjoy an Amarula (African drink) at the end of the day. You could also sit down to a traditional African 'braai' in the evening for a bite to eat. Cape Town simply has a lovely, bubbly atmosphere where anything and everything is possible. |
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Day 3: Cape Town - StellenboschToday you can go on a leisurely drive to Stellenbosch, not far from Cape Town. You could also choose to take a detour and visit Cape Point before continuing on to Stellenbosch. You'll follow the beautiful coastal route from Houtbaai (Wood Bay) and Chapmans Peak Drive to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. This is a great place to stretch out for a bit and there are many secluded beaches perfect for picnics.After lunch you can visit the penguin colony at Boulders Beach and you can drive through the friendly towns of Simon's Town, Kalk Bay en Muizenberg on your way to Stellenbosch. Once you reach your final destination Stellenbosch, you'll have some time to look around a bit and explore your new surroundings. As the sun sets, go for a walk through the vineyards and get a taste for the local atmosphere. In the evening we can reserve a table for you in a private gazebo at the Moyo restaurant located on the Spier estate. This open air restaurant has several 50 metre long buffets with the most delicious dishes. Best of all, it's an all you can eat buffet! You won't forget this dining adventure anytime soon. Total distance for today is approximately 50 kilometres or 1 hour (depending on which route you take). |
Day 4: StellenboschToday you will have the entire day to visit Stellenbosch and its surroundings. Stellenbosch is one of the best kept towns dating back to the Dutch East-Indian Company (or VOC) days. The best place to see what's left from those days is the Dorpstraat where you'll find many Cape Dutch-style houses and the famous 'Oom Samie se Winkel'. This is a historic Dutch store where they've had the same assortment of products for ages. Walking through the shop and seeing the products of the past is a fun way to learn about the town's past. There is plenty more to see as well. Visit the Braak, the market square, where you'll find the 'Burgerhuis' built in Cape-Dutch style, the 'VOC-kruithuis', a powder house built in 1777 to store the town's weapons and gunpowder in, and a beautiful church named St. Mary's.Naturally you don't want to miss a wine tasting while in the wine country. One of our favourite wine estates is 'Blauwklippen'. This wine estate is located about 4km south of town on the road towards Somerset West, where Cabernet Sauvignon is made. The wine estates are all located close to one another and surrounded by breathtaking scenery. In between wine tasting sessions, have a local lunch or picnic between the vineyards. |
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Day 5: Stellenbosch - OudtshoornToday you'll travel from Stellenbosch to Oudtshoorn. Along the way you'll pass through vineyards, rugged mountains, paddocks filled with ostriches and several quaint villages that you may want to visit. Besides giving you an opportunity to stretch your legs a bit and to have a drink, stopping at the villages will give you a feel for the local way of life. One of our favourite stops is Swellendam with its broad, oak-lined streets and historic homes that radiate the atmosphere of yesteryears.Oudtshoorn is fairly spread-out town with broad lanes and beautiful old buildings. You'll spend the night just outside of town, amidst the ostrich farms, in our charming guest house with swimming pool. Total distance for today is approximately 385km. |
Day 6: OudtshoornOudsthoorn is the world's ostrich farming capital. You'll get a pretty good idea about what it takes to breed ostriches (or Volstruis as they are known in South Africa) while staying on an ostrich farm. Ostriches are actually ridden like horses by very light volstruis-jockeys. If you would like to ride one, hang on tight..... it's hard to stay on their backs. Naturally you can also try the well known ostrich steaks during your stay or you can even try the out of the ordinary large ostrich egg omelette.Depending on what time your ostrich farm tour starts and whether you feel up to driving a bit further, you'll have time to visit the Cango limestone caves which are 30 km away. Many tourists visit these limestone caves; however despite being a tourist-magnet, they are spectacular enough to warrant a visit. There are tours every hour and you can choose a 1-hour or a 1.5-hour tour. Another option would be to visit the Cango Wildlife Ranch, a small zoo where you can not only look at animals but also touch or hold them in some cases. Fancy petting a cheetah, holding a snake or going cage diving amidst crocs? |
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Day 7: Oudtshoorn - KnysnaToday you'll drive across the 800m high Outeniqua Pass and past the Wilderness lagoon to Knysna. Your warm and inviting hotel with swimming pool is located near all types of great restaurants and the waterfront overlooking Knysna Lake. This evening you can dine on delicious fresh oysters or a large steak; there are plenty of options to choose from.Total distance for today is approximately 110km. |
Day 8: KnysnaToday you'll spend the day in Knysna and surrounding areas. Knysna is one of the most important towns along the Garden Route. Everything you could possibly need is nearby, including a stunning lagoon. You can choose from optional activities such a hike or a treetop canopy tour in Tsitsikamma National Park, dolphin-spotting or whale-watching, a boat trip across the Knysna Lagoon or simply spend the day relaxing on the beach at Brenton-on-Sea. In the evening you can get a bite to eat at one of the fun bars, pubs and restaurants along the waterfront that feature live-music until late at night. |
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Day 9: Knysna - AddoAfter visiting Knysna you'll drive on to Addo. Along the way you can stretch out for a bit by going for a walk in the Tsitsikamma National Park. The hike to the park's Suspension Bridge takes about an hour. Afterwards you'll reach the beach towns St. Francis Bay and Jeffrey’s Bay. At the end of the day you'll reach your accommodation near Addo Elephant National Park, in the town of Addo. You'll spend the night in an enchanting villa with a large garden.Another option would be to spend the night in a luxurious safari tent with a breathtaking view. This option is based on full board and includes 2 game activities per day of which one activity is a ride on the back of an African elephant. The surcharge for this option is £ per person, per night. Total distance for today is approximately 300km. |
Day 10: AddoToday you'll have an entire day to spot wild animals at Addo Elephant National Park. The park has fairly reasonable sandy roads fine for spotting elephants from your own rental car. The National Park is mostly known for its elephants; however aside from these giants you may also see rhinos, bush bucks, kudus and zebras. If you're lucky you may even see a hyena or lion lurking about. In any case, keep your camera close at hand... you'll leave the park with countless great new pictures.Several years ago there were only a small number of elephants left in this area. In an effort to save the elephants, poaching became illegal and the area was preserved. The conservation efforts were a great success! The ecosystem is back in balance. You'll find (luckily not all at once) more than 350 elephants in the park these days. There are also plans to expand the park with an additional 125,000 acres making it 4 times as large as it currently is. If you're interested, you can join an organised evening game drive in the nearby Schotia Game Reserve. Your accommodation will have more information available for you. |
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Day 11: Addo - Eastern Cape, Safari lodgeWe recommend an early start this morning so that you arrive in Kenton-on-Sea no later than noon. It's about a 2 hour drive from Addo. Once you arrive in this sleepy town at the mouth of the Kariega River, you'll leave your car behind at a guarded parking lot. A boat will be waiting to take you on the 45-minute voyage to the reserve. As you sail upstream towards camp, our professional ranger will share stories about the area as you sip on a cold drink and enjoy the view. Once you reach your destination lunch will be served and you'll have the rest of the afternoon to spend as you wish. At afternoon's end our ranger will escort you deeper into the massive reserve in an open 4WD. game drive ends in a typical Africa way; with a 'sundowner' in hand you'll watch the real thing slowly sink below the wide opens plains stretching out before you.Total distance for today is approximately 110km. |
Day 12: Eastern Cape, Safari lodgeThis morning you'll start off early. After a light breakfast you'll head off on a morning safari with the ranger to see how the bush awakens. The ranger will have plenty of interesting stories and facts to share, all the while he'll scan the area to spot any wild animals lurking about to point them out to you. The afternoon is yours to spend as you wish... relax and read a book or you could even go on a canoe ride. At the end of the afternoon you'll head out for another safari. By now you'll probably be better at spotting wild animals on your own, in any case you'll want to bring along a pair of binoculars. |
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Day 13: Eastern Cape, Safari lodge - Port ElizabethAfter spending two nights in a safari tent and going on one last morning game drive, a boat will take you back to your rental car. Once you have your car you'll drive to Port Elizabeth. Port Elizabeth, South Africa's fifth largest city, is located on the shores of Algoa Bay. PE (as Port Elizabeth is known as among locals) is a breezy, hospitable city. PE has several tropical beaches nearby: King's, Humewood, Hobie and Pollock. This last evening will be spent in a charming hotel near the beaches and the airport.Total distance for today approximately 140km. |
Day 14: Port Elizabeth - UKToday you'll drop off your rental car, with a full tank, at Port Elizabeth's airport. Then you'll board a plane to Johannesburg or Cape Town for your flight back to the UK. Today your South African adventure featuring the Best of the Cape, comes to an end. |
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