On the Garden Route

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Cape Town Airport - Cape Town

  Welcome and assistance at Cape Town International Airport by our French-speaking representative. You collect your rental vehicle and drive to Cape Town and your hotel. Overnight at Antrim Villa guesthouse in a standard room.

• day 2

  Cape Town

  Day of discovery of the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town. We suggest you take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain. From the top of the mountain, 1000 meters above sea level, a walk on flat terrain offers magnificent views of the city and the Atlantic Ocean. You can then discover, as you wish, the South African National Museum, the Company's Garden, the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, the colorful Bo-Kaap district, the African craft market of Green Market Square, or the Castle of Good Hope. Suggestions during your stay in Cape Town for visits to organize in advance with us: - a guided tour of a township (half a day), - a culinary tour of the city (half a day), - a bike ride (between 3 hours and 1 day), - cage diving with great white sharks (1 day), - an evening discovering the origins of Cape Town jazz, - a helicopter flight over the city and the peninsula (between 12 and 60 minutes), - a 112 m abseil down Table Mountain (2 hours), - a paragliding flight over the Atlantic coast, - a sunset catamaran excursion in Cape Bay with sparkling wine. Night at the Antrim Villa guesthouse in a standard room.

• day 3

  Cape Town

  Day dedicated to discovering the Cape Peninsula and its mythical Cape of Good Hope. Suggested itinerary: drive to the small fishing port of Hout Bay, nestled in a magnificent bay bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. Possibility to take a boat trip to Duiker Island, the island where a colony of seals has settled. Continue along the panoramic Chapman's Peak Drive, which winds along the mountain slopes by the Atlantic Ocean. You reach Simonstown, where Boulders Beach is home to a colony of African penguins. You can have a seafood lunch, then head to the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point, the tip of the Cape Peninsula. Off the Cape of Good Hope, formerly called the Cape of Storms, many ships of the Dutch East India Company were wrecked in the 17th century, before a trading post was established on the peninsula that would become the city of Cape Town. From the Cape Point lighthouse, a beautiful 1.5-hour walk allows you to reach the tip of the peninsula. Return to Cape Town at the end of the afternoon. On the way, you can visit the Cape Point ostrich farm to learn more about the largest living bird species. Overnight at Antrim Villa guesthouse in a standard room.

• day 4

  Cape Town - Stellenbosch

  Departure for Stellenbosch, a university town located in the wine region of the Western Cape. Estimated travel time: 50 min. South Africa is an excellent wine producer, with all of its wines coming from this Western Cape region. A visit to the wine route through the valleys of Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschhoek is a must when discovering the country. Our suggestions: - Discover the town of Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South Africa after Cape Town, which has beautiful, well-maintained streets with typical Cape-Dutch style buildings (the name given to Cape architecture inspired by the Dutch). - Visit the cellars of some of Stellenbosch's wine estates and taste red, rosé, and white wines. You will discover South African wines made from grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, Merlot, but also Pinotage, a typically South African grape variety resulting from the crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsault. - Visit the village of Franschhoek (the French Corner), the South African gastronomic capital located in one of the most beautiful valleys in the country. It was in this valley that French Huguenots, including winemakers, settled at the end of the 17th century. Visit the Huguenot museum and memorial. - Enjoy a gourmet picnic outdoors in one of the beautiful wine estates of the region. Overnight at the Rusthuiz guesthouse in the center of Stellenbosch.

• day 5

  Stellenbosch - Swellendam

  Departure for the small town of Swellendam via Sir Lowry's Pass following the N2. Estimated travel time: 2h30. For a more scenic route, you can choose to take the N1, which passes through several small vineyards and mountains. Swellendam was founded in 1745 (making it the 3rd oldest town in South Africa after Cape Town and Stellenbosch) and is located at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains, halfway between Cape Town and George. Its streets are lined with oaks and beautifully preserved old buildings. Agriculture (sheep and cattle farming, cereal and fruit cultivation) is the main resource of this locality. The most important building in Swellendam is the Drostdy Museum, built in 1747, a true architectural treasure in Cape-Dutch style. Overnight at the Bloomestate guesthouse. - ALTERNATIVE from JUNE to NOVEMBER (whale season) - Departure for Hermanus, a small village located on the edge of Walker Bay in the Atlantic Ocean. Estimated travel time: 1h30. In season, from June to early December, southern right whales are perfectly visible along the southern Cape coast, making it the ideal season for whale watching. Hermanus is considered the best land-based whale watching spot in the world. Sometimes, southern right whales appear just a few meters from the shore. We recommend opting for a boat trip to discover these gentle giants of the sea, who migrate each year from Antarctica to warmer waters along the South African coast. Overnight at Lavender Manor guesthouse, in a garden view room.

• day 6

  Swellendam - Oudtshoorn

  You leave the small village of Swellendam and cross the vineyards of the Little Karoo via the longest wine route in the world: the R62, a scenic road that winds between mountain passes and nature reserves all the way to the Little Karoo desert. Estimated travel time (not including visits): 3h30. Suggestions for visits along the route: - Village of Calitzdorp: port and muscat tastings at De Krans Cellar or Boplaas. - Village of Ladysmith: visit the Parmalat cheese factory, brandy and wine tasting. - Village of Barrydale: a roadside restaurant for lunch, the Country Pumpkin Restaurant. Overnight stay in a guest house on the De Denne Country Guest House ostrich farm. - ALTERNATIVE from JUNE to NOVEMBER (whale season) - Departure for the semi-desert region of the Karoo. Estimated travel time: 5h (not including visits). Take the longest wine route in the world: the R62. You cross the vineyards of the Little Karoo along this scenic road that winds between mountain passes and nature reserves. Overnight stay in a guest house on the De Denne Country Guest House ostrich farm.

• day 7

  Oudtshoorn

  Day to enjoy the Little Karoo, particularly known for its ostrich farms. Suggestions: - Visit the Highgate ostrich farm. - Ride an ostrich. - Visit the Cango Wildlife Ranch, an animal rehabilitation center where you can pet a cheetah. - Discover the Cango Caves, which feature magnificent geological formations. - Climb to the Swartberg Pass for a magnificent panorama over the expanses of the Great Karoo desert. - Discover the Rust and Vrede waterfalls. Overnight stay in a guest house at the De Denne Country Guest House ostrich farm.

• day 8

  Oudtshoorn - Knysna

  Departure for the city of Knysna, a seaside town renowned for its lagoon and the estuary of the Knysna River, which flows into the Indian Ocean. Suggestion: boat trip on the lagoon to "The Heads", the mouth that separates the estuary from the ocean. Overnight stay in a guest house at Stannards Guest Lodge.

• day 9

  Knysna - Plettenberg Bay - Knysna

  Day dedicated to discovering Plettenberg Bay, in the heart of the Garden Route. Suggestions: - Hike in the heart of the Robberg Nature Reserve, near Plettenberg Bay. Located on a peninsula, the reserve offers visitors the opportunity to walk in unspoiled nature by the ocean, taking the full 10 km circuit or other shorter ones of 5 and 2 km. You may have the chance to spot a blue duiker, the smallest antelope in the country. - Stroll through Birds of Eden, an aviary sanctuary that is one of the largest aviaries in the world, with hundreds of bird species. - Next to Birds of Eden, visit the Monkeyland primate sanctuary. - Taste the wine from the Bramon estate at The Crags. - Enjoy the beautiful beaches of Plettenberg Bay. Overnight in a guest house at Stannards Guest Lodge.

• day 10

  Knysna - Storms River

  Departure towards Storms River, where the river, the forest, and the ocean meet. Estimated travel time: 1h30. This narrow coastal strip, wedged between the sea and the mountains, is home to Tsitsikamma National Park, bordered to the west by the village of Nature’s Valley and to the east by the mouth of the Storms River on the Indian Ocean. The view of the coast from Tsitsikamma Park is spectacular, especially when the ocean waves are raging. Suggestion: for adrenaline lovers, a bungee jump at the Bloukrans Bridge is highly recommended! The Bloukrans Bridge, 216 meters high, offers the highest bungee jump in the world and attracts adventure seekers from all over the planet. Overnight at Storms River Mouth camp in Tsitsikamma National Park.

• day 11

  Storms River - Amakhala Private Reserve

  Departure towards the private Amakhala reserve, located near the Addo Elephant National Park. Estimated travel time: 3h. Located near Port Elizabeth, this 7,500 ha reserve offers a family-friendly safari experience in an authentic setting and without the risk of malaria. You will see the famous Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, and buffalo), but also cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, and many antelopes. The activities offered by the reserve's lodges include, of course, 4x4 safaris, but also boat trips on the Bushman River. Full board stay at the Woodbury Tented Camp. Two guided safaris are included per day: a first one in an open 4x4 vehicle in the afternoon, and a second one the next morning. This camp, both rustic and intimate, offers you an authentic experience of the African savannah. Nestled at the top of a hill, the camp overlooks the plain and the Bushman River, offering a magnificent viewpoint for wildlife observation. Night in a safari tent.

• day 12

  Amakhala Private Reserve

  Full board stay at Woodbury Tented Camp. Two guided safaris are included per day: the first in an open 4x4 vehicle in the afternoon, and the second the following morning. Overnight in a safari tent.

• day 13

  Amakhala Private Reserve

  Full board stay at Woodbury Tented Camp. Two guided safaris are included per day: the first in an open 4x4 vehicle in the afternoon, and the second the following morning. Night in a safari tent.

• day 14

  Amakhala Private Reserve - Port Elizabeth Airport

  Route to Port Elizabeth airport, where you return your rental vehicle. Estimated travel time: 1h30.