Itinerary
- Day 1
Departure
Your South African adventure starts as you fly toward the Rainbow Nation. If you've already booked an extension, you're on the ground and will connect with the group tomorrow.
- Day 2
Cape Town to Paarl
After your German-speaking guide meets you at Cape Town airport, you'll head to Paarl in the Cape Winelands. The welcome includes local olives and homemade salami, then you'll walk through century-old olive groves to a waterfall before heading back to your accommodation for dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk through olive groves to waterfall
- Welcome with local delicacies (olives and homemade salami)
Landmarks/POIs Paarlberg - Day 3
Franschhoek Wine Tour
This day focuses on South African wine. You'll see Victor Verster Prison where Nelson Mandela was released in 1990, then travel to Franschhoek for the Huguenot Monument and Museum. At Lynx Wine Estate, a family-run boutique winery, you'll tour the wine cellar and taste wines before returning to Paarl.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Victor Verster Prison
- Visit Huguenot Monument and Museum
- Wine cellar tour at Lynx Wine Estate
- Wine tasting at Lynx Wine Estate
Landmarks/POIs Victor Verster Prison Huguenot Monument and Museum Lynx Wine Estate - Day 4
Klein Karoo to Oudtshoorn
You'll travel through the semi-desert Klein Karoo along Route 62 toward Oudtshoorn. Along the way, you'll stop at the former mission station Amalienstein to see the local elementary school (visits depend on school days), explore the spectacular Seweweekspoort Gorge, and taste pink port wine at De Krans winery in Calitzdorp.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional Karoo dinner)
Included Activities
- Visit elementary school at Amalienstein (if classes in session)
- Visit Amalienstein mission station and Lutheran Church
- Walk through Seweweekspoort Gorge
- Pink port wine tasting at De Krans winery
Landmarks/POIs Amalienstein Mission Station Seweweekspoort Gorge De Krans Winery - Day 5
Ostrich Farm and Cango Caves
With expert Bartel, you'll visit an ostrich farm to learn about breeding these giant birds. After that, you'll explore the famous Cango Dripstone Caves with a guide, seeing stalactite formations over 1,000 years old. Later, you'll travel across the Karoo landscape to Graaff-Reinet for an afternoon hike through Camdeboo National Park to Valley of Desolation.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Served in a rustic restaurant in Graaff-Reinet)
Included Activities
- Ostrich farm visit and tour with Bartel
- Guided tour of Cango Dripstone Caves
Optional Activities
- Early morning meerkat safari at Buffelsdrift Game Lodge (available October to April, approximately ZAR 820 per person including transfers)
Landmarks/POIs Cango Dripstone Caves Swartberg Mountains Camdeboo National Park Valley of Desolation - Day 6
Addo Wildlife Reserve
You'll do a two-hour bush walk in the Addo Wildlife Reserve with an English-speaking ranger, searching for impala, kudu, oryx, blesbok, waterbuck and giraffe. This gives you a first taste of the South African bush before the main safari experience tomorrow.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Typical dishes at Tangelo restaurant)
Included Activities
- Two-hour guided bush walk in Addo Wildlife Reserve
Optional Activities
- Three-hour safari in open off-road vehicle at Addo Elephant National Park (approximately ZAR 1,100 per person, alternative to included safari)
Landmarks/POIs Addo Elephant National Park Addo Wildlife Reserve - Day 7
Addo and Kariega Safaris
A safari in a tour bus takes you through Addo Elephant National Park, home to over 600 African elephants and the rare Addo Flightless Dung Beetle. In the afternoon, you'll transfer to the malaria-free Kariega Game Reserve for a three-hour guided safari in an open off-road vehicle searching for the Big Five.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Safari in tour bus through Addo Elephant National Park
- Three-hour guided safari in open off-road vehicle in Kariega Game Reserve
Landmarks/POIs Addo Elephant National Park Kariega Game Reserve - Day 8
Kariega Full Day Safaris
You'll start before dawn with a three to four-hour jeep safari through Kariega Game Reserve, stopping for hot coffee and tea. After that comes a one-and-a-half-hour walking safari deeper into the reserve. Following lunch and relaxation, you'll head out by jeep to the river for a one-and-a-half-hour boat safari, watching for Goliath Herons, Water Striders and Kingfishers. The day ends with a traditional dinner in the boma.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Traditional dinner prepared in the boma after sunset)
Included Activities
- Three to four-hour dawn jeep safari in Kariega Game Reserve
- One-and-a-half-hour walking safari in Kariega Game Reserve
- One-and-a-half-hour river boat safari with expert guide
Landmarks/POIs Kariega Game Reserve - Day 9
Kariega to Oyster Bay
A final three-hour game drive in an open off-road vehicle takes you through Kariega Game Reserve with a ranger. Then you'll head to Oyster Bay on the Garden Route. You'll stop in St. Francis Bay to visit the historic 1878 lighthouse, the highest in South Africa, where you might spot whales or dolphins. Later, a guided walk lets you enjoy the unique African starry sky.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Three-hour final game drive in Kariega Game Reserve
- Walk to historic lighthouse in St. Francis Bay
Landmarks/POIs St. Francis Bay Lighthouse - Day 10
Free Day at Oyster Bay
This day is yours to relax with a book on the beach or pursue optional activities. Guided bird watching tours through wetlands and fynbos forest, horseback rides through dune and forest landscapes, and dune safaris in beach buggies are all available if you want to book ahead.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch), Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided bird watching walk through wetland and fynbos forest (minimum 2 participants, approximately 400 ZAR per person)
- Horseback ride through dune and forest landscape and along beach (approximately 400 ZAR per person)
- Dune safari in beach buggy (day, sunset, or night option, approximately 400 ZAR per person)
- Day 11
Tsitsikamma National Park
You'll drive through the last untouched virgin forest of South Africa with massive yellowwood trees, giant ferns and rare orchids. At the Big Tree, a 1,000-year-old Outeniqua yellowwood about 40 meters high with 8.50-meter circumference, you'll stop to take it in. Then comes a two-hour hike along magnificent cliffs in Tsitsikamma National Park with fantastic views into the Storms River gorge. You'll arrive in Plettenberg Bay in the late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Big Tree (Outeniqua yellowwood)
- Two-hour hike along cliffs in Tsitsikamma National Park
Landmarks/POIs Tsitsikamma National Park Storms River Gorge - Day 12
Robberg and Field Band
A circular walk through Robberg Nature Reserve takes about two-and-a-half hours, passing a seal colony to reach a secluded sandy beach. After that, you'll listen to a rehearsal of the local Field Band Foundation, an international project teaching children self-esteem, respect and tolerance through music and dance. The rest of your day is free.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Two-and-a-half-hour hike in Robberg Nature Reserve with seal colony viewing
- Field Band rehearsal attendance (or Qolweni Gospel Choir performance if on weekend/holiday)
Optional Activities
- Close Encounter whale watching cruise (July 1 to November 30, approximately 970 ZAR per person, two-hour boat trip, no guarantee of sightings, weather dependent)
- Marine Encounter marine animal observation trip (December 1 to June 30, approximately 650 ZAR per person, two-hour boat trip focusing on dolphins, sharks and seals, no guarantee, weather dependent)
- Monkeyland and Birds of Eden sanctuaries guided walk (approximately 590 ZAR per person)
Landmarks/POIs Robberg Nature Reserve - Day 13
Garden Route to Swellendam
Leaving Plettenberg Bay, you'll drive to Knysna, which sits uniquely behind high sandstone cliffs on a huge lagoon. You'll visit the Eastern Head viewpoint for panoramic views, then continue along the Garden Route through Wilderness and George to Mossel Bay. There you'll see the Bartolomeu Dias Museum and the historic Old Post Office Tree, a massive Milkwood tree used as Africa's first post office in the 1500s. From there, you'll drive inland to your accommodation and take a farm walk to learn about daily work and pomegranates.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Bartolomeu Dias Museum
- Visit Old Post Office Tree
- Farm walk with guide
Landmarks/POIs Eastern Head Viewpoint Bartolomeu Dias Museum Old Post Office Tree - Day 14
Delheim Winery to Cape Town
You'll pass through green vineyards to Delheim, South Africa's largest wine cooperative. A tour shows you its history, regional soil and passionate winemakers, followed by wine tasting with views over the vines. Later you'll head west to Cape Town and take the cable car to Table Mountain's 1,286-meter summit (weather permitting) for views of the city, Robben Island and beaches. The evening brings time to explore the lively Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Delheim winery
- Wine tasting at Delheim with small bites of local delicacies
- Cable car ride to Table Mountain summit
Landmarks/POIs Delheim Winery Table Mountain Robben Island Victoria & Alfred Waterfront - Day 15
Cape Peninsula Day Trip
You'll travel along the winding coastal road with ever-changing views of bays and the Atlantic Ocean to Hout Bay. A half-hour boat trip takes you to Duiker Island to watch famous Cape seals. At T-Bag Designs you'll see locals decorating recycled tea bags for greeting cards and bags. Later, Chapman's Peak Drive takes you past Noordhoek's beautiful beaches to Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, where you'll choose between a restored rack railroad or a one to two-hour walk to Cape Point. On the way back, you'll visit Boulders Beach to see a penguin colony near Simon's Town.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Half-hour boat trip to Duiker Island to watch Cape seals
- Visit T-Bag Designs project in Hout Bay
- Visit Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
- Penguin colony visit at Boulders Beach near Simon's Town
Landmarks/POIs Hout Bay Duiker Island Chapman's Peak Drive Noordhoek Beach Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve Cape Point Boulders Beach Simon's Town - Day 16
Stellenbosch and Farewell Dinner
In nearby Stellenbosch, you'll visit Luthando kindergarten in Kayamandi township where over 100 children aged 1-5 will enthusiastically greet you. A one-and-a-half-hour walking tour with Cecil shows you the township's turbulent past and lets you chat with residents and try traditional sorghum beer. Then you'll explore Stellenbosch's diverse town center including famous Dorp Street with its many listed buildings, the village museum and grocer's store 'Oom Samie se Winkle.' The day ends with a farewell dinner at Gold Restaurant featuring an African safari journey with traditional songs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Farewell safari dinner at Gold Restaurant with traditional songs and African safari journey experience)
Included Activities
- Visit Luthando kindergarten in Kayamandi
- One-and-a-half-hour walking tour of Kayamandi township with Cecil
- Self-guided exploration of Stellenbosch town center
Landmarks/POIs Kayamandi Township Luthando Kindergarten Stellenbosch Dorp Street - Day 17
Cape Town to Departure
You'll start at District Six Museum to learn about the apartheid era's historical background. After exploring the city center and strolling through Company's Garden, you'll enjoy magnificent views of the city, Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain from Signal Hill. A walk through Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden shows you the diversity of native plant world at the foothills of Table Mountain. Your guide will then transfer you to Cape Town airport for your departure flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- District Six Museum visit
- Company's Garden walk
- Signal Hill viewpoint
- Walk through Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden
Landmarks/POIs District Six Museum Company's Garden Signal Hill Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden - Day 18
Arrival
After landing, you travel on to your hometown.
