Day 1 | Sunday
PORT ELIZABETH (GQEBERHA) to KNYSNA via TSITSIKAMMA FOREST (±285km)
After breakfast, be ready to meet your local tour guide for the Garden Route journey to Cape Town. The road takes us to Knysna along the Garden Route, famous for its outstanding natural beauty. The excellent road ensures a smooth trip past coastal vistas and indigenous forests on our way to one of the gems of the Garden Route. We enter the Storms River section of the Garden Route National Park for a walk across the unique Storms River Suspension Bridge and experience the thrill of standing high above the vast rocky chasm below you. There are a series of 3 bridges with stable wooden paths and stairs. This hour-long walk offers spectacular views of the gorge and ocean. After enjoying lunch in the forest (at your own expense), the afternoon brings us to Knysna, famous for its inland waterways and the Knysna Heads, the twin sandstone cliffs towering over the entrance to a vast lagoon. End a perfect day with a sunset oyster cruise on the lagoon. The sun will set on the day as you enjoy the local delicacy of fresh oysters. Watch for dolphins at the river mouth and enjoy the abundant birdlife. After your cruise, dine (at your own expense) at a restaurant on the shores of the Estuary.
Overnight at Protea Hotel by Marriott Knysna Quays or similar – Breakfast
Day 2 | Monday
KNYSNA to PLETTENBERG BAY (±60km)
After breakfast at the hotel, it’s a short drive to Plettenberg Bay. This little town, with its blue flag beaches and sweeping bay is a premier tourist destination and one of the best whale spotting areas in the world. Your marine adventure starts at Central Beach, from which the boats are launched. In the impossibly blue ocean, you will have the opportunity to see humpback or southern right whales. The excitement of seeing whales breaching and crashing back into the ocean is unforgettable. These waters are home to large schools of dolphins and there are often great white sharks cutting through the waves. The protected beaches of the Robberg Nature Reserve are home to large seal colonies. Keep your binoculars ready for elegant Swift Terns, Cormorants, or a rare sighting of a Frigatebird. Back on dry land, we visit Qolweni Township, a vibrant Xhosa community. A representative of the Qolweni Community Development Trust will share insight into the project and how your contribution is utilized to pay teachers' salaries and towards the maintenance of the Qolweni crèche and its 188 children. The locals invite visitors to experience an authentic African way of life and happily share their history and culture. The children in the crèche will soften your heart with their beautiful singing. Visit a spaza shop or have a traditional drink in a shebeen. We head back to Knysna for dinner (at your own expense) at the Waterfront.
Overnight at Protea Hotel by Marriott Knysna Quays or similar – Breakfast
Day 3 | Tuesday
KNYSNA to OUDTSHOORN via WILDERNESS (±125km)
After breakfast, we continue along the Garden Route past lakes and wooded mountains to the town of Wilderness and the Map of Africa viewpoint, where the Kaaimans River creates a clear map of Africa. We turn inland and climb the Outeniqua Pass. The Pass takes us to the semi-desert of the Klein Karoo and Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world. You will have travelled through game parks, up mountain passes and across estuaries, but the Cango Caves Heritage Tour will take you into an astounding subterranean world. The Caves are considered one of the great wonders of the world. The Caves, approximately 20 million years old, are an underground marvel. Don’t worry about claustrophobia; the Van Zyl’s Hall cave is 107m long and 54m in width. We will have lunch (at your own expense) before arriving at your lodge in Oudtshoorn in the late afternoon. The dry climate here is ideal for olive growing. The estates in the region produce award-winning handpicked olives, which create exceptional quality extra virgin olive oil. Enjoy an olive tasting, paired with a Protea Rosé or fruit juice, while taking in spectacular views of the Swartberg Mountains. With leisure time in the evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Overnight at Surval Boutique Olive Estate or similar – Dinner and breakfast
Day 4 | Wednesday
OUDTSHOORN to CAPE TOWN via ROUTE 62 (±440km)
After breakfast at the hotel, it’s time to visit one of the famous ostrich farms. A fun and interactive tractor tour will take you through the farm’s breeder bird camps where you will learn about and see three different species of ostrich. The ostrich feather trade boomed during the Victorian era but collapsed during World War I. Modern farmers have successfully adapted and now farm mainly for meat, leather, and eggs. Grab some ostrich biltong (dried meat) to enjoy on the drive along Route 62, the world’s longest wine route. The scenery is captivating, with wine and orchards greening the countryside. We stop for lunch along the route and your will have an opportunity to taste local wines (all at your own expense). The scenery on the way to Cape Town via Stellenbosch is a canvas of beauty. The road wanders through valleys and past farmhouses with historic Cape Dutch architecture in Stellenbosch. The road into Cape Town presents a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and of the most beautiful South African city. There’s time to explore the V&A Waterfront to try one of the many restaurants for dinner.
Overnight at SunSquare Cape Town City Bowl or similar – Breakfast
