14 DAY GARDEN ROUTE
Day 1 - Tour Induction
Meet and greet at Cape Town International Airport
Transfer to hotel where introductions and tour induction is made.
Ease into your authentic Cape Eco experience with a day of leisure. Accommodated in B&B’s within close proximity of the city and other major attractions such as the V&A waterfront.
Day 2 - City Orientation, Cape Culture and Table Mountain
Explore the historical centre of Cape Town including the Bo-Kaap (colourful Cape Malay Quarter), the former District Six (1960’s forced removals under the Group Areas Act) and the Mother City’s icon…. Table Mountain. Climb the 1086m high table top via cable car with an informative 45min circular guided walk (specialist Table Mountain National Parks guide) on the table top where spectacular 360° views of the city bowl, Table Bay, the False Bay and the expensive Atlantic seaboard await you.
Savour true Cape Malay cuisine at a local restaurant with views over the City Bowl after which we extend our culture tour into Cape Towns oldest township, Langa. Here we experience a township walk with a local guide and spend the night at the areas most hospitable establishments.
DAY 3 - Classic Cape Peninsula
Today we meander along 170 km's of pristine beaches and rugged coastline. There are numerous activities along this route but the main attractions include:The False Bay coast, boasting many historic fishing villages, SA's first naval base of Simons Town and the Boulders Penguin Colony. The highlight of today’s tour is of course, the famous Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve “where the two oceans meet.” Here a resident reserve warden will take us on a special guided walk to the Cape of Good Hope (45 minutes).
The tour then continues with the dramatic Chapman’s Peak Drive into Hout Bay where a short boat trip can be taken to Seal Island, a colony of 5000 Cape Fur Seals and follows with a drive along the scenic and exclusive coastline of the Atlantic Seaboard (Llandudno and Camps Bay).
Day 4 - !Khwa ttu
On day 4 we visit an NGO on the West Coast of the Western Cape, 45min outside of Cape Town in a very special cultural biome. Here we meet the indigenous "San" people who has, and continues to exist in harmony with nature for more than 40 000 years. Come witness this beautiful culture which has changed little in recent times.
Aspects of this day out include:
Discussions on the restoration and display San heritage, culture, folklore, visual arts, cosmology, languages and craft production.
Activities include visiting the on-site Audio/ visual theatre and photo-gallery, a nature walk and game/ bird/ flora viewing.
Day 5 - Scenic Whale Coast and Hot Springs
Depart for the South Western Cape along the “Scenic Coastal Route” to Hermanus (acclaimed to be the worlds’ best land-based whale watching site). Apart from enjoying great aerial views of the passing beaches and bays with the Helderberg Mountains as our backdrop, we also visit the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens (one of the few places where you may see the rare Red Disa, the Western Cape provincial flower) and a the Disa waterfall.
The night is spent at the Caledon Natural Hot Water Springs. Allow your stress to melt away in one of the Khoi-San rock pools where the mineral salts help to soothe any tensions. If you are in need of a little more TLC soothing massages are available at their famous spa.
Day 6/7 - De Hoop Nature Reserve
This spectacular coastal reserve is like no other on earth. By using expert specialist site guides we explore this very rich and diverse area.
A “vlei” exploration walk. Fascinating trail of this special sub- biome all while receiving in-depth info on rich and diverse flora and fauna.
Picnic lunches 1½hrs & Game viewing.
Marine interpretation walk; including gigantic dunes, birding, whale watching and an explanation on coastal fynbos and marine management.
Braai’s & Relaxation.
Extending 5km’s out to sea, it protects the shoreline and its rich marine life. The reserve covers a small, yet exceptionally diverse area -seven different ecological biomes are found within the 36000 ha reserve. A large freshwater vlei, surrounded by marshlands, stretch for 15km's and boasts huge and diverse numbers of aquatic birds. The coastline is mix of sandy beaches and rocky headlands and cliffs with wave cut platforms. A little further inland are giant sand dunes, some as high as 90m, and behind these are limestone hills and the Potberg mountains. It has been estimated that overt 1500 species of plants grow here, of which 34 endemic to the reserve are including rare low land fynbos species. With such a variety of terrain crammed into a relatively small area, the region supports a diverse range of wildlife.
Over 250 species of birds have been recorded here, large numbers of Cape mountain zebra, bontebok, common eland, grey rhebok, and klipspringer are encountered. Elusive leopard are also no stranger to these parts. The last known breeding colony of the Cape Vulture in the South-western Cape is close to Potberg, and you may glimpse them circling high in the skies. The Windhoek cave is home to a large colony of bats which have attracted their fair share of research interest. Other rare species that you will find include African Black Oystercatcher which forage amongst the dunes, and finally there is a good chance of seeing the Southern right whale which calf in the shallow waters. Whales found here are often larger in concentration than elsewhere.
Guests are accommodated in comfortable, rustic chalets. Enjoy a cocktail over a sunset and a “real” South African dinner. Retire early or stay up by the fire until the African sun, rises over the beach.
DAY 8 - African Safari Extravaganza (Game Farm)
Here a day and night will be spent at an exclusive private game reserve, where guests will experience the big five, and there friends in all its glory.
The experience includes:
4 star luxury accommodation
Refreshments on arrival
A guided nature walk.
South African style dinner
Authentic African drumming and dancing performance.
Early morning game drive
Full South African Breakfast
DAY 9 - God’s Back Yard
We then travel to the Gateway town of "the Garden Route”, the historical forestry post of George. An antique steam-train will transport us along some of the most spectacular scenery covering the Wilderness National Park which incorporates wetlands, estuaries, narrow ravines, breath-taking landscapes and dense mountain forests.
We alight at the popular town of Knysna where we explore the unusual geological feature of the Knysna heads and the Featherbed nature reserve. It includes a boat trip on the Knysna lagoon and sightings of another species on the Red Data list, the rare blue duiker. We also have the option of visiting an oyster farm. Spend the night in Knysna.
DAY 10 - Plettenberg Paradise
In Plettenberg Bay we explore the Robberg Nature Reserve, with its colony of Cape Fur Seals, take an exciting and informative ocean safari in search of dolphins and whales (in season). We also explore the spectacular forested mountain pass of the Blaaukrantz. We then take time to out to absorb the natural beauty in a beach paradise.
DAY 11 - Tsitsikamma Forest Fantasy
Today we explore a national park which is second in popularity only to the Kruger National Park but second to none in awesome beauty. It consists of lush coastal, afro-montane forest and is known for its excellent birdlife. Not only is the forest protected, but being the first marine reserve in Africa, the boundary reaches 5kms’ out to sea and is a strict no-take zone. Here we explore the sensitive inter-tidal zones, walk across the river mouth of the Storms river across a suspension bridge and a boat trip up the narrow Storm's River gorge. We then do a guided walk for 45 minutes through the lush forest which is home to a number of spectacular creatures. For the more fit/adventurous we also walk to a spectacular waterfall along this stretch of protected coastline. This is also the first part of one of SA’s most treasured hiking trails- the Otter Trail. Spend the night in the National Park or in accommodation on its fringes.
DAY 12 - Leisure Day
At your leisure. Adventurers can particapate in a number of adventure activities, including the Worlds highest commercial bungee, tree-top canopy tours or black-water tubing down the Storms River. Alternatively guests can soak up the natural surroundings by doing a wood-cutters journey by tractor or relax on one of the pristine beaches.
Day13 - Cango Adventure
We travel along a winding mountain pass through the Outeniqua (Khoi-San word for danger) range to a National Heritage Site- The Cango caves. Explore the first two chambers or the more adventurous can take an hour long caving adventure which explores the length of the 1km cave. Although the Karoo is an arid region, a colourful carpet of wild flowers appears in the Reserve. Of particular interest to the botanist is the occurrence of recently discovered rare protea species. Overnight in Oudtshoorn, SA’s ostrich farming capital.
Day 14 - The Ochre Trail
We travel the long, winding mountain passes along the Langeberg Mountains through the world’s longest wine route, with our tours final destination, Cape Town in the distance. On route we stop at a private farm and the only rock art site this close to Cape Town. Besides the skeletal remains found in archaeological digs all over SA, the most profound evidence of this ancient civilizations existence is found in nearly 20 000 rock art sites scattered over the Southern Cape. Many of the paintings have surreal elements as they depict the spiritual side of the San culture. Their spiritual beliefs are based on the concept of Shamanism which is in essence connecting with the spiritual world through an altered state of consciousness. These sometimes haunting images run the full gamut from dramatic, robust panels containing many figures to the delicate depiction of a single antelope, and are well worth a closer look.
Explore this natural private reserve with the use of an expert local guide.
It will include:
Spectacularly beautiful mountain scenery
1hr walking tour of various rock art sites
Explanation on the geology, flora, fauna and their specific uses to San people.
Myths and legends of this captivating culture
Lavish lunch in the lee of dramatic red sandstone landscape
Tour concludes with a 2hr drive to Cape Town where we bid you farewell.