Garden Route & Winelands Wonder

This journey sets out on the road less travelled through the Cape Winelands and the evocative Klein Karoo before traversing the Outeniqua Mountain Pass and descending to the lush Garden Route coastline. It is a circular route, ending back in Cape Town via the coastal roadway so you take in all the fantastic highlights of this beautiful region.

Highlights:

The evocative landscapes and warm hospitality of the Klein Karoo including a community visit at a heart-warming farm school.

Verdant beauty of mountains and lagoons, and the largest continuous tracts of stately indigenous forest

Whale-watching and fine wines from Hermanus to the heart of the Cape Wineland

Day 1

Depart Cape Town and travel through the ‘Little Karoo’ and Montagu, a picturesque and historic spa town.

En route, stop off in the town of Barrydale, where you will have the opportunity to visit a local farm school, interact with the children and teachers, spending time with them in the classroom learning more about the local farming community (the school visit is subject to school being open), before continuing to Oudtshoorn, the “ostrich feather capital” and centre of the world’s Ostrich farming industry. Enjoy a Guided Tour of an Ostrich Farm. Overnight in Oudtshoorn. [D]

Day 2

After breakfast take a tour of the spectacular limestone caverns of the Cango Caves, one of the world’s great natural wonders, sculpted by nature through the ages. Afterwards, ascend the Swartberg Mountains via the world renowned Swartberg Pass (weather permitting). Get close to nature and explore the spectacular Sandstone formations dating back more than 300 million years. Feast your eyes on the full splendour of diverse “fynbos” species ranging from various protea species as well as “cone bush” and “pin cushions”. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Oudtshoorn. [BL]

Day 3

After breakfast, travel over the scenic Outeniqua Pass to George, the administrative hub of the Garden Route area and then onto Knysna, known as the oyster box of South Africa, nestling on the banks of a beautiful lagoon in the heart of the Garden Route. Enjoy a lagoon cruise to the Featherbed Nature Reserve, where you can take a trailer ride to the top of the Western Head to enjoy panoramic views of the town and lagoon, returning for lunch under the milkwood trees. The afternoon is at leisure to further explore this charming town set around a natural harbour lagoon. Overnight in Knysna. [BL]

Day 4

After a leisurely breakfast, drive through the Tsitsikamma Forests, continuing to Bloukrans Bridge, the highest single span arch bridge in the world, currently offering the highest commercially operated Bungy Jump in the world. Explore this breathtaking stretch of the Garden Route, where mountains, indigenous forests, deep gorges, and lush vegetation hug the rugged coastline of cliffs and sandy beaches. Here is an abundance of indigenous flora, ancient yellowwood trees and magnificent fynbos plants. In the afternoon you’ll return to Knysna, via Plettenberg Bay, originally christened “Bahia Formosa” (beautiful bay) by early Portuguese explorers. The highlight of the area is undoubtedly the rivers, beaches and the bay with its ideal conditions for all facets of watersports, including sailing in the safe waters of the Bay, superb rock and surf fishing and scuba diving spots. Overnight in Knysna. [B]

Day 5

Today, begin the first leg of the return journey. Travel via George and Mossel Bay to the picturesque Cape Dutch town of Swellendam. This charming town was founded in 1745 at the foot of the Langeberg Mountain Range and is famous for its young berries, eclectic architecture and National Parks, as well as outdoor activities. Our journey further continues to the seaside resort of Hermanus, known as the heart of the whale route, offering the best land based whale watching (Aug-Nov) in the world. We will enjoy dinner while spending the night in Hermanus. [BD]

Day 6

After a leisurely breakfast depart Hermanus and continue to Somerset West, travelling via the scenic coastal road to Gordon’s Bay. This is a spectacular route with steep cliffs and lovely coves. Locals label it as the Helderberg areas own “Chapman’s Peak” drive and the route offers amazing views over False Bay. Travel to the Stellenbosch area, set within the scenic Cape Winelands. This “Heart of Cape Heritage and hospitality” is a gracious blend of old Cape Dutch, Georgian and Victorian architecture. A wine tasting will be enjoyed, before travelling to Cape Town, where the tour ends on arrival. [B] Passengers may disembark, on request, at Cape Town International Airport.