Road Trip: South Africa's Western and Eastern Cape

Discover cosmopolitan Cape Town with your own vehicle and guide which gives you flexibility to explore at your own pace. Highlights of the tour include the Castle of Good Hope, Green Market Square, Kirstenbosch Garden, Company Gardens and of course – weather permitting – a visit to the top of Table Mountain which offers breathtaking views of Cape Town and the surrounding coastline. As you drive through the city you shall get a feel for the cultural melting pot that it is. Stop at Truth Cafe, an artisan coffee shop serving hand-roasted coffees in a vintage cast-iron drum. In the heart of the city enjoy for a short walk through the Company Gardens. From squirrels to a variety of plant life, it is just a happy place to soak up some Cape Town vibes. Continue the tour with a visit to the Castle of Good Hope – the oldest building in South Africa that today houses the Castle Military Museum and ceremonial facilities for the traditional Cape Regiments. En-route to your hotel, enjoy a drive through Bo-Kaap to discover how the Malay slaves influenced the culture, food and aesthetics of this beautiful city and its people. (Please note that if the cable car is not running due to weather or other unavoidable circumstances, guests will have to hike back down.)

Discover all that Cape Point has to offer on this enjoyable day excursion. Following an early breakfast at your hotel, drive out to the Atlantic Seaboard Coastal Road with your local guide. Enjoy your drive along this scenic stretch of road, passing by white sandy beaches and the ocean by Clifton and Camps Bay. Take in the bracing sea breeze as the wind catches your hair. Watch the sudden appearance of the Twelve Apostles Peaks to one side of the road, while the dramatic cliffs and rocky outcrops of the Cape Peninsula rise above the Atlantic on your other side. Make a pit stop at the pretty little fishing village of Hout Bay with its famous Sentinel. If you wish, you can take a boat ride to Seal Island, or browse through colorful stalls by the harbor piled high with handicrafts and local artifacts. Drive up to the Cape’s famed Chapman’s Peak and make the most of its photo opportunities. Continue up to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve before dropping by the spectacular Cape Point. Look out for the feathery ‘fynbos’ swaying in the heathland along with the region’s endemic birds and wildlife, particularly the Cape Mountain Zebra and the baboons. Gaze out at False Bay, or if you wish, you can ride the funicular to the old lighthouse for taking in the twin oceans of the South Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. Take a refreshing lunch break (optional), before visiting the colony of African penguins at Boulders Beach. (Duration: Full Day; Time of Day: Morning; Private Activity & Transfer; Fitness Level: Easy; Lunch not included. Entrance fees for Seal Island, Boulders Beach, Colony, Cape Point Nature Reserve, Funicular included; Please bring comfortable walking shoes).

Take a tour on a tram leading you through Franschhoek’s breathtaking mountain landscapes making various stops at the different wine estates along the tram-way. Make stops at famous wine estates including Mont Rochelle, Le Lude, La Bri, La Bourgogne, Rickety Bridge, Maison, Eikehof and Leopard’s Leap. This tour ushers you to the charms of leisurely country life with the elegance of classic wine producing locations. Stop at various estates for wine tastings paired with Belgian chocolate or fresh handmade cheese and delicious lunches selected from bistro style menus (Tickets and Return Transfer included, all additional costs to be paid by guests directly).

Northeast of the verdant coastal strip of the Garden Route, over the forested slopes of the Outeniqua Mountains, lies the Little Karoo – a dry area of semi-desert which is one of the more diverse regions in the Western Cape, with gigantic cliffs, desert-like landscapes, crystal clear streams and fertile vineyards. The area is bounded by the Langeberg Mountains to the southwest, and separated from the much more extensive Great Karoo by the Swartberg Mountains to the north. Visit the main highlights close to Oudtshoorn which are the Cango Caves – one of the world’s great natural wonders, sculpted by nature through the ages – fascinating limestone formations in a wide variety of colours – and the Ostrich Farms where you can visit the hatchery, learn about their behaviour, their physiology, and how they contribute to local arts, crafts and industry. (For guests on self drive; Any meals, beverages,activity costs and entrance fees will be on guest account).

Rise and shine before the sun does, to gather at the designated meeting point within the expansive alfalfa farm, De Zeekoe. Settle down at the viewing area close to the burrows within this meerkats’ conservation site. Sipping on hot beverages, soak up the fynbos landscape as you wait to encounter one among Africa’s ‘Shy Five’. Just after sunrise, expect to see gangs of meerkats venture out and peek at their surroundings. Over the course of the next couple of hours, observe the meerkats go about their daily routine, foraging and marking territories. Learn about their habitat and behavior as your guide shares wildlife facts. After this unique experience in the Little Karoo wilderness, get a glimpse of the working farm before returning to your accommodations for breakfast. (Half Day; Shared Activity; Fitness level: Easy; Please note this tour is weather dependent)

Set off at a convenient time to explore the splendid attractions of the famous Garden Route region at your own pace. You could start with a visit to Tsitsikamma National Park with its indigenous flora and fauna, and the Storms River flowing past. Take your pick of activities such as mountain biking, hiking down scenic trails, and bungee jumping. Head to Storms River village for lunch at the charming Marilyn’s 60s Diner where you can savor all-American cuisine as you soak in the retro ambiance. Afterward, enjoy the afternoon soaking in the sun as you lounge on the sand at one of two beautiful beaches by the crystal blue water in Plettenberg Bay. Alternatively, you could spend the day at the oceanside town of Knysna, picnicking by the water and enjoying a unique tour of its township. Follow it up with a trip to Knysna Elephant Park before heading back to your hotel with memories of a lifetime. (Full Day; For guests on self drive: No transfers included. Activity costs, snacks, drinks and entrance fees will have to be paid on site.).

Interact with elephants at the Plettenberg Bay Sanctuary on this fascinating tour. Choose from either morning or afternoon sessions to get up close with African elephants in their natural habitat. Get to an early start and relish a morning snack with tea or coffee at the sanctuary. After a brief orientation, enjoy observing the pachyderms exercise. Walk in the footsteps of an elephant-keeper as you brush down the gentle giants and help feed them. From your knowledgeable guide, learn about the unique features that distinguish each member of the herd. Delight in a trunk-in-hand walk before you watch a video presentation of your experience. Alternatively, opt for the afternoon session that focuses on elephant behavior and associations. Watch the interactions between members of the herd as your knowledgeable guide points out associated behaviors. Enjoy close encounters with the herd and help brush them down for the night. Watch a video presentation of your experience, participate in a Q & A session, and enjoy afternoon tea before you wind up your tour. (Only possible from Mon-Fri; Duration: half day; Time: morning/afternoon; Shared activity; Max Pax: 10; Transfers not included; Meals included: beverage and snack; Min age: 8; Please inform us of any food allergies in advance; Please bring flat walking shoes, sun hats and a camera; Certificate of attendance included; You have the option of purchasing a DVD of your elephant experience at an additional cost)

Start with a leisurely ferry boat ride across the tranquil Knysna Estuary that is fed by rivers from the Outeniqua Mountains. Reaching the Western Head of Knysna Heads that houses the private Featherbed Nature Reserve, hop on a 4×4 trailer and drive up to the viewpoint of this natural heritage site. Following your specialist guides along the scenic walking trail, learn about the region’s history, recent fires and forest rejuvenation, plus its fascinating natural treasures. Traversing the coastal boardwalks under a canopy of Milkwood forests, spot exotic birdlife including the rare and resident Black African OysterCatcher, and a variety of indigenous flora, as the aroma of fynbos fills the air. Enjoy the azure seascape dotted with local sailboats and houseboats from various panoramic lookouts while dramatic sandstone cliffs add to the scenery. Walk into ancient Khoi-Khoi sea caves that protect fascinating stories, and visit the rocky beaches that are home to myriad marine life, before calling it a day. (Half Day; Time: Morning or Afternoon; Duration: 3-4 hrs; Shared Activity; Fitness level: Moderate)

Relish from close quarters the sights of African wildlife roaming freely at the Kariega Game Reserve. The game drives, conducted twice daily with knowledgeable rangers who share the mysteries of the African bush, make your experience truly worthwhile. You can view the Big Five as well as giraffes and other smaller animals. Encounter the mesmerizing scenery and birdlife in an early morning cruise down the River Kariega. A guided bush walk through the walking trails of the Reserve gives you a firsthand experience of the African bush while you also get to spot wildlife and a myriad of birdlife in their natural habitat.

The thrill of watching wild animals doing their thing in their natural habitat is hard to surpass. Watch as an elephant comes into view where there was only a tree before, or a lion feasting on its night’s prey, or a crocodile sunning itself near a waterhole. These guided game drives through the Amakhala Game Reserve can well turn out to be the highlight of your African holiday. Venture into the wild in open Land Rovers to see the biodiversity of this malaria-free reserve. The scenic beauty of the Eastern Cape, with plentiful species of birdlife and vegetation, is sure to leave its mark on you.