Tour Itinerary
Day 1 - The Whale Route, Hermanus, Birkenhead Brewery and Cape Agulhas
Departing Cape Town at 8:30 am and Stellenbosch at 9:30 am, our exciting journey begins today as we join the world famous whale route in Gordons Bay for a stunning drive along the picturesque R44 mountain pass overlooking False Bay to the vibrant coastal town of Hermanus. After an opportunity to take some photographs and a picnic lunch on the seafront, we continue to Birkenhead Brewery to sample some fine beers before moving on to the southernmost tip of Africa in Cape Agulhas National Park. After a visit to the lookout point we make our way to the harbour in Struisbaai where there is an option to embark on an exciting ski-boat cruise to search for dolphin and whales (June to December). After our cruise we take a walk back to our accommodation along "Die Plaat", the longest beach in the Southern Hemisphere.
This day is designed to be a relaxing one for you to get to know your fellow travellers, to get used to travelling in our vehicle and to settle into the comfortable routine of life on tour. Overnight in Cape Agulhas.
Included Meals: Dinner
Included Activities: Beer tasting at Birkenhead Brewery
Optional Activities: Ski-boat cruise off Cape Agulhas R200
Day 2-Little Karoo, Route 62, Ronnies Pub & Warmwaterberg Hot Springs
Driving inland this morning our journey takes us north through rolling wheat fields to the Langeberg Mountains and on to the pristine semi-desert environment of the Little Karoo. Shortly after Barrydale on Route 62 we stop for a refreshing drink and lunch at Ronnies "Sex" Shop; an interesting; and now famous, roadside pub and restaurant bearing no actual resemblance to a sex shop other than the hundreds of signed items of underwear donated by international travellers. You're welcome to leave your mark!
After Ronnies we move on to our accommodation in Warmwaterberg Hot Springs. Surrounded by the raw beauty and wide-open space of the Karoo this afternoon there is an option to go on a desert horse ride and tonight we enjoy a few drinks while relaxing in 43-degree natural spring water under a canopy of stars. Overnight in Warmwaterberg Hot Springs
In the afternoon we drive through Ladysmith and Carlitzdorp to the capital of the Little Karoo, Oudtshoorn. Known as the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn is situated in a beautiful valley between the Outeniqua and Swartberg Mountains, here there is an option to view and ride one of these prehistoric birds on a working farm or go on a guided tour of the Cango Endangered Wildlife Ranch for an opportunity to pet cheetah, cage dive with crocodiles and view many rare and endangered animal species. Overnight in Oudtshoorn.
Included Meals: Dinner and a cooked breakfast
Included Activities: A free drink at Ronnies and swimming in Warmwaterberg mineral Hot Springs
Optional Activities: Guided tour of Cango Wildlife Ranch R85
Tour of an ostrich farm and ostrich riding R50
Pet a hand raised cheetah (incl photos) R130
Cage diving with crocodiles R200
Day 3-Cango Caves, Knysna Heads, Bloukrans Bungi Jump & Tsitsikamma
After a scrumptious cooked breakfast, this morning we drive through Ladysmith and Carlitzdorp to the Karoo town of Oudtshoorn. Known as the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn is situated in a beautiful valley between the Outeniqua and Swartberg Mountains. Here we'll embark on a 1-hour guided tour of the magnificent Cango Caves, with a wonderland of stalactite and stalagmite formations millions of years old, Cango is a world heritage site and one of the great wonders of the natural world.
After our visit to the caves we leave the Karoo and travel 60km to the coast through the magnificent Outeniqua Pass Entering the Garden Route for the first time in George we take a leisurely drive up the coast to Knysna. Rated South Africa's most beautiful town, here we'll take a walk to the entrance of the lagoon to explore the captivating scenery surrounding the famous Knysna Heads.
After lunch we drive to Bloukrans Bridge, at a height of 216m this is the site of the highest bungi jump in the world, for those wishing to take the leap, this is your opportunity!! Overnight in Tsitsikamma
Included Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Included Activities: A guided tour of Cango Caves
Optional Activities: Bloukrans bungi-jump R580
Flying Fox Cable Slide R150
Bridge walking tour R50
Day 4-Tsitsikamma Zipline, Jeffreys Bay and the Sundays River Valley
After breakfast and a visit to the exciting 8 cable zipline at Tsitsikamma Falls Adventures, this morning we continue east up the coast into the Eastern Cape for the pristine beaches of Jeffreys Bay. Renowned the world over as one of the best surfing waves on the planet we'll take time out to view the waves at "supertubes" before exploring the town and visiting the ever-popular surf wear factory shops ie: Billabong, Rip Curl, Roxy, Quicksilver etc.
After J.Bay we make our way inland to Addo and our accommodation for the night in the Sundays River Valley, set in a wild and beautiful location, here there is time to relax as well as explore the river by canoe. Around the campfire tonight, this is what you've come to experience... Wild Africa at her enigmatic best!
Overnight in Sundays River Valley
Included Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Optional Activities: Tsitsikamma waterfall & treetop zip-line R300
Day 5-Addo Elephant National Park, Game Driving and Port Elizabeth
Up early this morning we head down the road into the great Addo Elephant National Park! Proclaimed in 1931 this malaria free 145 000 ha park extends all the way down to the Indian Ocean and is home to the densest African Elephant population on earth totalling over 500 elephant. Addo Park is also famous for being the only park in Africa playing host to the Big 7 ie: Elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, leopard, the Southern Right Whale and the Great White Shark. At 8am we begin a 3-4hr game drive along a network of winding roads stopping regularly for photographs and information on the animals we encounter along the way. On our game drive we'll also disembark from our vehicle at the main lookout point for a spectacular view over the evergreen wilderness that is Addo.
After our game drive we'll take lunch at the park restaurant before a leisurely drive down to the coast and Port Elizabeth. A major sea port and tourist destination, Port Elizabeth is set along the beautiful shores of Algoa Bay and is fondly referred to as the Friendly City, in terms of area it is the second largest city in South Africa and the fifth largest in terms of population (1.1 million). In the early evening we take a walk along the Waterfront before enjoying a meal at the Boardwalk.
Overnight in Port Elizabeth
Included Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Included Activities: A 3-4 hour game drive in Addo Elephant National Park
Day 6-The Crags Elephant Sanctuary, Plettenberg Bay and Wilderness
This morning we begin our relaxing journey back to Cape Town with our first stop for the day at the Crags Orphaned Elephant Sanctuary. For a truly wonderful close encounter experience, here you have an opportunity to walk, feed and ride an African elephant while receiving instruction from a knowlegable African guide. After the sanctuary we travel to the popular holiday town of Plettenberg Bay, renowned for her great beaches here we'll visit the famous Lookout Beach for a swim and an opportunity to go sea kayaking.
After Plett we continue down the Garden Route stopping occasionally to take in anything we may have missed on our way up. In the late afternoon we arrive at our accommodation situated in a forest in the stunning Wilderness Lakes Region, here you will also have the opportunity to explore the beautiful lakes by canoe. Our last evening together on tour, tonight we drink a toast to our shared adventures around a roaring fire. Overnight in Wilderness
Included Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Optional Activities: Elephant encounter, walking, feeding and riding R345
Plettenberg Bay Sea Kayaking R250
Wilderness Lakes canoeing R100
Day 7-Return to Cape Town via Sir Lowry's Pass
This morning we visit an Aloe factory in Albertinia and after lunch on the road and a wonderful scenic drive via Swellendam and Sir Lowry's Pass; we arrive back in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon.
Included Meals: Breakfast
