Garden Route Splendour

Day 1 - Cape Town to Mossel Bay

After an early morning departure from Cape Town, travel along Sir Lowry’s Pass with its magnificent views to Grabouw and Elgin, a lush landscape surrounded by majestic mountains.

The journey continues to Cape Agulhas, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. The area’s unspoilt rugged coastline historically was the graveyard for many ships and the historic Cape Agulhas Lighthouse here, signifies the southern most tip of Africa. Afterwards, continue via historic Swellendam, the third oldest town in South Africa, to Mossel Bay.

2024 departures – After visiting the lighthouse, continue via historic Swellendam and the Tradouw Pass to Barrydale and the famous Route 62. Sample top quality port style wines in Calitzdorp, before continuing to Oudtshoorn, the ‘ostrich feather capital’ and centre of the world’s Ostrich farming industry. Enjoy dinner at an Ostrich Farm, dining on local specialities such as Ostrich Steak.

Hotel: (2023) Diaz Hotel & Resort or similar
(2024) Overnight in Oudtshoorn at La Plume or similar
Meals: (2023) None,(2024) dinner

Day 2 - Oudtshoorn

After breakfast continue the journey to the Route 62 town of Oudtshoorn, located in the Little Karoo region of the Western Cape, the town is renowned as the ‘feather capital of the world’ and a visit will be made to an ostrich farm for a guided tour.

Next, enjoy a tasting at a local wine estate in the scenic Schoemanshoek Valley, before setting off on a tour of the Cango Caves, one of the world’s great natural wonders, sculpted by nature through the ages.

2024 departures – After a leisurely 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 enjoy a wine tasting at a local wine estate in the scenic Schoemanshoek Valley. Return to Oudtshoorn for a fun filled interactive guided tour at a working Ostrich Farm.

Hotel: La Plume Guest House
Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 3 - Knysna

After breakfast, travel over the Outeniqua Pass to George, the sixth oldest town in South Africa, which has some fine examples of Edwardian architecture. The tour then travels through the attractive holiday resort of Wilderness with its long stretch of beach on its way to Knysna. Known as the oyster box of South Africa, Knysna nestles on the banks of a beautiful lagoon in the heart of the Garden Route.

Later, journey into the magical Knysna Forests where you will learn stories of the woodcutters who worked the forests, the elephants that were hunted to extinction and the discovery of gold. There will be a visit the Matthee Big Tree Memorial, an enormous Yellowwood tree of over 880 years.

Enjoy a delicious lunch in the forest of traditional cuisine and local treats at Totties Farm Kitchen.

Hotel: Rex Hotel
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Day 4 - Knysna

Today explore further the natural beauty of the Knysna area with a visit the Forest Legends Museum, the colourful Old Suzie steam engine, that was used to generate power, and the stately Old Forester’s House.

Afterwards you’ll have the opportunity to visit Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary, where you will be able to see a variety of primates, roaming free in the forest. The sanctuary is well known for its efforts to rehabilitate and free previously caged primates.

The tour continues to the famous Eastern Head, where you will enjoy spectacular views of the Knysna Heads, before travelling to the nature lovers paradise of Brenton on Sea with its unspoilt beaches. The remainder of the afternoon will be at leisure.

Hotel: Rex Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 - Tsitsikamma

After breakfast travel to the Plettenberg Bay area where you will visit Birds of Eden sanctuary, the biggest single free flight aviary in the world. The sanctuary provides a safe environment in which to release a large collection of free-flight African birds.

The journey continues to Bloukrans Bridge, the highest single span arch bridge in the world, currently offering the highest commercially operated bungy jump in the world (optional!).

Later, visit the Tsitsikamma National Park which contains the popular Storms River Mouth suspension bridge. The park incorporates 80 km of rocky coastline, secluded valleys covered in mountain Fynbos and temperate forests with deep river gorges leading down to the sea.

Hotel: Tsitsikamma Village Inn
Meals: Breakfast

Day 6 - Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)

After breakfast, travel eastwards by the Tsitsikamma Forest to Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), where the tour ends.

From here, your Travel Consultant can arrange onward flights or an Eastern Cape safari.

Meals: Breakfast