Feel the excitement build as your flight touches down at Cape Town Airport, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel near the V&A Waterfront for a four night stay.

With three full days, you have time to see the sights, learn about the city’s history and unique culture, and discover the stunning coastal landscapes nearby. You can explore independently or pre-book guided excursions, including to Table Mountain, the Cape of Good Hope and Robben Island. Just let your Travel Consultant know what you would like to do.

The Commodore Hotel, Cape Town

Breakfast

This morning you will be met by your local tour guide and depart for the scenic Garden Route.

Travel along Sir Lowry’s Pass, with its magnificent views, to Grabouw and Elgin, a lush landscape surrounded by majestic mountains. Stop en route at a farm stall packed with locally produced products from the area.

Your journey continues to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. The area has largely been untouched and unexplored with its rugged coastline being the graveyard for many ships. The historic Cape Agulhas Lighthouse is considered a South African icon that marks the tip of Africa.

After visiting the lighthouse, you will continue on to historic Swellendam, and the Tradouw Pass to Barrydale and the scenic Route 62. Continue 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.

La Plume Guest House, Oudtshoorn, or similar

Breakfast, Dinner

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.

In the afternoon, join an interactive guided tractor tour at a working Ostrich Farm, followed by a wine tasting, sampling some of the top quality wines from this region region. Overnight in Oudtshoorn.

La Plume Guest House, Oudtshoorn, or similar

Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, travel over the Outeniqua Pass to George, the sixth oldest town in South Africa, with many historical landmarks like the Slave Tree and King Edward VII Library building; said to be the best example of Edwardian architecture in the town.

The tour then travels via Wilderness, an attractive holiday resort, to 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 delicious lunch en route of traditional cuisine and local treats. The remainder of the day is at leisure until you join an afternoon sunset cruise on the Knysna Lagoon.

Rex Hotel, Knysna, or similar

Breakfast, Lunch

Today you’ll have the opportunity to further explore the natural beauty of the Garden Route.

You will be able to visit ‘Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary’, where you can 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 can 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.

Rex Hotel, Knysna, or similar

Breakfast

After breakfast, travel to the Plettenberg Bay area where you can visit the 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 African birds.

The journey then 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!).

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

Tsitsikamma Village Inn or similar

Breakfast

After breakfast, your tour continues eastwards through the Tsitsikamma Forest to Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), where the tour ends and you will be dropped off at your hotel for a one night stay. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

The Beach Hotel, Port Elizabeth, or similar

Breakfast

After breakfast, you will be met at the hotel for your transfer to your chosen lodge in either the Kariega Game Reserve, Amakhala Game Reserve, or Shamwari Game Reserve for a three night stay (see options below).

Your safari will include all meals as well as morning and afternoon game drives in search of lion, elephant, buffalo, cheetah, antelope, to name but a few species that reside in the parks. You can also choose to join a river cruise or guided bushwalk, led by an experienced ranger.

Between activities, you can sit back and enjoy the luxuries of a private reserve and the relaxed atmosphere that comes with it. You can spend time on your private deck, or by the pool, or indulge in a spa treatment.

Stay at Kariega, Amakhala or Shamwari Game Reserves (see below)

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

You’ll be collected this morning for the scenic drive from your game reserve back to Port Elizabeth Airport to begin your flight home, or on to the rest of your holiday.

Kariega Game Reserve offers an intimate and exclusive safari experience in South Africa’s malaria-free Eastern Cape, making it ideal for families and first-time safari-goers.Spanning over 10,000 hectares of diverse landscapes from river valleys to rolling hills, this private reserve is home to ‘Africa’s Big 5’, alongside giraffe, zebra, hippo and a wealth of birdlife.

What sets Kariega apart is its combination of exceptional game viewing and choice of accommodation,

• River Lodge, luxury thatched suites
• Settlers Drift, luxury tented suites
• Main Lodge, large wooden cabins
• Ukhozi Lodge, contemporary suites with private plunge pools

With expertly guided game drives, river cruises and the option of walking safaris, you’ll experience the thrill of African wildlife with warm, personal hospitality, just 90 minutes drive from Port Elizabeth.

Amakhala Game Reserve offers an authentic ‘Big 5’ safari experience in South Africa’s malaria-free Eastern Cape, just 60 minutes drive from Port Elizabeth.

Spanning over 9,000 hectares of diverse landscapes from river valleys to open plains, this private reserve is home to lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard, alongside cheetah, giraffe and an abundance of antelope species.

What makes Amakhala special is its multiple accomodation options ranging from luxurious retreats to intimate tented camps.

• Woodbury Tented Camp, ensuite safari tents
• Woodbury Lodge, elevated lodge rooms
• Amakhala Safari Lodge, luxury thatched suites
• Bush Lodge, luxury thatched suites with private plunge pools

With expertly guided game drives, river cruises along the scenic Bushman’s River, and optional walking safaris, you’ll experience warm Eastern Cape hospitality and exceptional wildlife encounters in this beautiful and accessible reserve.

Shamwari Game Reserve is one of South Africa’s most prestigious ‘Big 5’ safari destinations, spanning 25,000 hectares of malaria-free wilderness in the Eastern Cape.

Just an hour’s drive from Port Elizabeth, this award-winning reserve is renowned for its exceptional conservation efforts and choice of luxurious accommodation.

• Riverdene Family Lodge, large interconnected rooms
• Bayethe Tented Lodge, ensuite safari tents with private plunge pool
• Long Lee Manor, elegant rooms with private verandahs

Beyond twice-daily game drives where you’ll encounter lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard, you can also visit the Born Free Big Cat Sanctuary and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, experiencing first-hand how Shamwari is restoring and protecting this magnificent landscape for future generations.