South Africa: Cape and Garden Route

Our with-flight guests depart the UK, flying into Cape Town.

Upon arrival at Cape Town International Airport, you’ll be met by your Tour Manager and transferred to our waterfront hotel for a three-night stay. Later, there’ll be a guided orientation walk-about on the V&A Waterfront.  We will enjoy a welcome dinner with views over the ocean and the iconic Table Mountain.

Distance: 2 miles (3km)

Today we’ll uncover the history of Cape Town with a journey to Robben Island, a poignant reminder of South Africa's past. A 40-minute ferry ride from the V & A waterfront takes us to the island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 18 years. Now a UNESCO Heritage Site the entire island functions as a museum. Tours are often led by ex-Political prisoners which provides a unique and personal perspective. You will tour the infamous prison and see Mandela’s cell. There are other historic sites to visit and the natural beauty of the island with its inhabitants of penguins, seals, and sea birds.

After lunch, we’ll explore Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens at the foot of Table Mountain. It was established in 1913 and displays South Africa’s unique flora. It features themed areas, vast forests and fynbos, a mix of fine-leaved shrubs, heaths (Ericas), proteas, bulbs, reeds, and other unique plants. There is also a tree canopy walk. The day concludes with a 14-dish tasting menu at Gold African Restaurant complete with live entertainment that celebrates local culture.

Distance: 2 miles (3km)

This morning we’ll ascend to the summit of Table Mountain by aerial cable car. The modern cars have rotating floors, ensuring all passengers get unobstructed, panoramic views during the ascent and descent during the 5 minute ride. You will have stunning views of Cape Town, the Atlantic Ocean, Table Bay, and the Twelve Apostles range. At the top, you can choose from several short walking routes around this area of incredible natural beauty. In the afternoon, there’ll be a guided walking tour of Cape Town, exploring its vibrant streets and iconic landmarks which reveal the colonial and apartheid history. We will visit Bo-Kaap a historic neighbourhood famous for brightly coloured houses and its rich Cape Malay culture. This culture is born from enslaved and political exiles from Southeast Asia.

After a day of exploring, we’ll dine in style amidst the coastal beauty of Camps Bay Beach, with an optional stroll along the Sea Point Promenade lined with swaying palm trees.

Embark on a full-day exploration of the Cape Peninsula including the Good Hope Nature Reserve and Boulders Beach. Along the way, we may spot Cape Mountain Zebra, Bontebok, Eland, Baboons, Ostriches, and other bird species.

Traversing picturesque winding costal roads, we head to Boulders Beach home to a colony of the endangered African Penguin. This colony began with the release of only two breeding pairs in a successful conservation project. Today there are an estimated 2,000 – 3,000 birds. They are viewed in their natural habitat from wooden walkways, which is the only place of the world where you can get close to a land-based colony of these birds. Returning to the V & A Waterfront we will enjoy dinner and sharing the highlights of the day.

We bid farewell to Cape Town as we head inland to Wellington, a picturesque town nestled at the foot of the Groenberg Mountains, important in the wine growing industry. En route, we’ll stop at renowned wine estates in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek to enjoy tasting experiences and town walks. Stellenbosch is South Africa’s second oldest town with beautiful Cape Dutch buildings and oak-lined street. Franschhoek has French Huguenot roots and is know as the gourmet centre. Both town’s  vineyards produce a wide range of South African wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, and the unique Pinotage, alongside whites such as Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. Franschhoek is also known for its sparkling wines. For the next two nights here we will be staying on a wine estate.

Distance: 3 miles (5km)

A full-day wine walk in Wellington offers stunning mountain scenery, miles of vineyards, fynbos, fruit orchards, and olive groves. Today offers easy walking on diverse terrain, moving from valleys through vineyards and into the surrounding foothills where landscapes include pine forest and fynbos-covered slopes. There’ll also be an opportunity to sample local olives and Buchu tea, a group of aromatic shrubs unique to the Southwestern Cape. Afterwards, we’ll return to our beautiful wine estate accommodation.

Today we travel along the scenic Route 62 to Oudtshoorn. Experience fertile valleys nourished by the Breede River and the towering peaks of the Swartberg mountains. Our first stop is the town of Robertson with its many Victorian buildings, jacaranda-lined streets, and beautiful gardens. We will take a rest stop at Affie Plaas Farm Stall where you can explore the local produce and grab a tea or coffee and one of their delicious pastries. The landscape transforms to become drier and more arid as we head towards Barrydale. We will stop for lunch at one of the town’s popular farm shop cafes, followed by free time to explore its charming quirky shops and art galleries.

Continuing on Route 62, we drive through classic Klein Karoo vegetation and dramatic red-hued mountain passes, on our way to Calitzdorp, the Port Wine capital of South Africa. With a hot, dry climate similar to Portugal's Douro Valley, wine estates here produce exceptional fortified wines using traditional Portuguese grape varieties. We will visit one of the estates where you can sample rich, complex ports with notes of nuts, caramel, and spice.

The last leg of our journey takes us to Oudtshoorn, famous as the home of ostrich farming. On arrival we will check into the hotel and stretch our legs with a walk around the town.

Our day begins with a fascinating exploration of the intricate formations of the Cango Caves. This system of caves is estimated to be around 20 million years old and one of the oldest accessible networks of caves in the world. We’ll also tour Cango Ostrich Farm where expert guides will teach us about these unique birds with an opportunity to feed and pet them. Back on the road again, we’ll take a short rest stop in the town of Wilderness before arriving in Plettenberg Bay. After checking into our hotel, we'll enjoy a late afternoon beach walk accompanied by the soothing sounds of the ocean and a South African sunset.

Distance: 2 miles (3km)

Driving south, we enter the breathtaking landscapes of Robberg Nature Reserve. A dramatic peninsular jutting out into the Indian ocean it offers great walks and the chance to spot marine life including seals, and with luck, the rare blue duiker, the smallest antelope in the Western Cape. Our adventure continues to the Tsitsikamma Storm River Mouth section of the Garden Route National Park. This is a protected area with stunning coastline where the Storms River meets the Indian Ocean. A must-do is a walk over the river suspension bridge for the outstanding views. We’ll return to Plettenberg for a relaxing evening.

Today we’ll discover the ecological wonders of Knysna with a thrilling Featherbed Eco Experience, exploring pristine natural landscapes and coastal habitats by ferry, 4 x4 and walking with a nature guide. Afterward, we head to Gondwana Private Game Reserve for an exhilarating afternoon game drive and hopefully spot one or more of Africa’s Big 5 - lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo in a stunning landscape of rolling hills. For over 20 years the reserve has been about safeguarding, rewilding, and restoring habitats in three biodiversity hot spots. We spend the evening in the malaria-free reserve which actively contributes to the restoration and conservation projects.

Enjoy two game drives at the best times of the day after breakfast and after lunch.  The park safari drivers use radio communication to share wildlife sightings with each other ensuring that guests can locate key animals like lions and rhinos. We will also walk some of the Fynbos trail which reveals the incredibly diverse Cape Floral Kingdom. This is characterised by evergreen, fine-leaved shrubs, Proteas, Ericas, reed and bulbs.

Distance: 3 miles (5km)

We’ll begin the day with another thrilling game drive, capturing the magic of the African bush as the sun rises over the savannah. Later, journey to Hermanus, renowned for its stunning coastal scenery and seasonal whale-watching opportunities. Along the way we will have a rest stop at the small town Albertinia, famous for its numerous Aloe plantations. We stop at the factory shop where there are amenities like a café, and you may be interested in checking out the vast range of aloe-based health, wellness and skincare products. You can also see various aloe species and learn about aloe tapping.  We travel on to our lunch stop at Swellendam, an historic town nestled at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains and known for its charming Cape Dutch architecture. It has a rich history being the third oldest town in South Africa. (founded 1743)

On arrival in Hermanus we’ll embark on a scenic cliff path walk along a rugged coastline that offers some of the best land-based whale watching opportunities in the world. Hermanus is famous for seasonal Southern Right and Humpback whales (June-Dec) and the Bryde's Whale a  species you can see all year round.

Distance: 4 miles (6km)

Today we take a short drive to the natural beauty that is Fernkloof Nature Reserve, located in the mountains above Plettenberg. We will embark on invigorating walks amidst fynbos-covered slopes home to over 100 recorded bird species including the Orange-breasted Sunbird, Cape Sugarbird, Cape Rockjumper, Victorin's Warbler, and Cape Siskin, plus raptors like the Jackal Buzzard and Verreaux's Eagle, alongside forest birds such as Rameron Pigeons and Flycatchers. The reserve also provides stunning views of the Indian Ocean.

Our next stop is Pearly Beach a tranquil coastal town with pristine white beaches, rocky outcrops, clear waters, and rolling fynbos dunes. Taking a leisurely stroll along the beach, exploring rock pools, taking a dip, or just sitting and looking out to sea, provides a relaxing end to our day. Return to Hermanus and in the evening we will have our farewell dinner and talk over the highlights of our  tour.

Bid farewell to the beauty of the Western Cape as with-flight guests transfer to Cape Town International Airport for your overnight flight back to the UK.

Arrive back in the UK