Itinerary
DAY 1:
Cape
Town
Arrival in Cape Town and transfer to
the Lady Hamilton Hotel. Situated on the fringe of Cape Town's CBD
it has easy access to the hub of the daily city life. The Lodge is
ideally positioned, making tourist attractions like V&A Waterfront,
Table Mountain, Robben Island, Winelands, Kirstenbosch Gardens and
Cape Point easily accessible.
Distance:
40 km
Accommodation:
Lady Hamilton (Family Rooms with en suite bathrooms).
DAY 2: Cape
Point
B
After breakfast, we head off to Cape
Point – the most South Westerly point of Africa. Breathe the
freshest air in the world – straight from the Atlantic. This is
where the cold Benguela current on the West coast and the warm
Agulhas current on the East coast merge. As one of the highest sea
cliffs in the world (249 meters above sea level), it is a sight to
behold.
Distance:
100 km
Accommodation:
Lady Hamilton (Family Rooms with en suite bathrooms)
DAY 3:
Cape Town to Oudtshoorn
B
We depart Cape Town
this morning and head out onto Route 62, the longest wine route in
the Western Cape. It is an area of magnificent landscapes, towering
cliffs and an abundance of trees and indigenous flora, and meanders
all the way to Oudtshoorn our first destination. Oudtshoorn is the
ostrich capital of the world and this afternoon we visit a show farm
to learn about the history and use of these unique birds, as well as
their life cycle and how they are farmed.
Distance:
550
km
Accommodation:
De Opstaal or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar
& restaurant)
Day 4: Oudtshoorn to Knysna
B
After breakfast we proceed
to the impressively beautiful Cango Caves where we embark on a guided
tour of the mysterious limestone formations in this subterranean
wonderland. We continue our drive over the breathtaking Outeniqua pass
which offers stunning views over the Swartberg escarpment and the Indian
Ocean, and make our way to the Garden Route town of Knysna. The
afternoon is spent on the Featherbed Eco Experience, which includes a
return ferry trip on the Knysna Lagoon to the western head followed by a
drive up the headland onto the reserve stopping at the spectacular
lookout points. (Weather permitting.) This evening why not try out one
of the many restaurants Knysna has to offer, and sample the oysters they
are famous for.
Distance:
120 km
Accommodation:
The Graywood Hotel or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming
pool, bar & restaurant)
Day 5 : Storm River / Tsitsikamma
B
We
continue further along the Garden Route to experience the famous
Tsitsikamma National Park, where we spend the morning hiking along the
winding board walk through the forest to the suspension bridge at
Tsitsikamma mouth. The protected and indigenous forest of Tsitsikamma
contains the most amazing array of vegetation, such as; woody shrubs,
heath, proteas, fynbos, geranium, stinkwood, giant Outeniqua yellowwoods
and about 7700 more unique plant species. For the avid bird lovers; you
can enjoy possible sightings of African black oyster catchers,
orange-breasted sunbirds, Nerina trogans, Knysna Loeris and many other
species of fascinating birds. Wildlife sightings range from dolphins and
whales to caracal, genet, chacma baboons, dussies, mongooses and even
leopards. On the way back a stop can be made at the Bloukrans bridge
for those who want to experience the world’s highest bungi jump!
Distance:
160
km
Accommodation:
The Graywood Hotel or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming
pool, bar & restaurant)
Day 6
Knysna to Hermanus
B
This morning we drive along
the N2, through the coastal towns of Sedgefield, Wilderness and George
and make our way to the Garden Route Game Lodge, where we embark on a
game drive in an open Landrover with an experienced game ranger. The
game reserve is home to lion, elephant, white rhino, buffalo and cheetah
as well as giraffe and numerous antelope species, and hopefully we will
get to spot some of these magnificent creatures. We carry on to the
town of Hermanus where we spend the night.
Distance:
450
km
Accommodation:
Hermanus Lodge
on the Green or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool,
bar)
Day 7:
Cape Town
After a hearty breakfast we
take a leisurely drive to the Hemel and Aarde Valley were we sample
wines at one of the local vineyards. We proceed to the Harold Porter
Botanical Gardens which is home to a spectacular variety of Fynbos,
where we spend some time enjoying nature in these peaceful
surroundings. The last stop for the day is at Stony Point to see the
African Penguins. This is one of only three land based colonies in South
Africa. We arrive back into Cape Town later this evening.
Distance:
150 km
