Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival to Oudtshoorn
Your guide meets you at the hotel early in the morning, then you're driven through the Cape Winelands along Route 62, which winds through some spectacular mountain scenery. The route takes you past several small towns and vineyards along the way. You'll stop for lunch in one of these charming towns, and after eating you head to a local winery for a tasting of South African wines. From there, it's on to Oudtshoorn, located between two mountain ranges and famous for its ostrich farms.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive through Cape Winelands and Route 62
- Visit famous winery and wine tasting
Optional Activities
- Wine tasting at winery
- Dinner and local cuisine sampling in Oudtshoorn
Landmarks/POIs Cape Winelands Route 62 Oudtshoorn - Day 2
Oudtshoorn
If you want to catch the sunrise, you can get up early for that (it's optional). There's also an optional meerkat tour if the weather cooperates. After that you'll have breakfast at the hotel. The main activity is visiting the Cango caves, which are carved into the mountainside at the base of the Swartberg range. Later you visit one of the ostrich farms to learn how these birds are raised from egg to adult. The rest of your day is free to do what you like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Cango dripstone caves
- Visit ostrich farm and learn about ostrich lifecycle
Optional Activities
- Optional meerkat tour (weather permitting)
- CP Nel Museum visit
- Lunch on the farm
Landmarks/POIs Cango Caves Swartberg Mountains CP Nel Museum - Day 3
Oudtshoorn to Graaff-Reinet
You'll travel through the semi-desert landscape into Camdeboo National Park, which was shaped by volcanic activity millions of years ago. The Valley of Desolation gives you views out over Graaff-Reinet and the surrounding area. While you're there, keep an eye out for Cape mountain zebras, kudus, and various bird species like black eagles and giant bustards. By evening you reach your hotel and settle in for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Camdeboo National Park
- Visit Valley of Desolation
- View Cathedral of the Mountains
Landmarks/POIs Camdeboo National Park Valley of Desolation Cathedral of the Mountains - Day 4
Graaff-Reinet to Zuurberg
After breakfast you walk through Graaff-Reinet to see the town's historic buildings and churches, including St. James' Anglican Church from 1850 and the Victory Peace Angel sculpture. The town has around 220 buildings on the heritage list, so there's plenty to see while you wander around. Later you travel to the Zuurberg section of Addo Elephant National Park to get a feel for what a safari experience is like. Dinner is served back at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Graaff-Reinet
- Visit Victory Peace Angel sculpture
- Visit St. James' Anglican Church
Landmarks/POIs Graaff-Reinet Victory Peace Angel St. James' Anglican Church Addo Elephant National Park - Day 5
Zuurberg
You'll spend the entire day in an open vehicle driving through Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa's third-largest park and it doesn't have malaria. The park is home to large herds of elephants, plus you might spot lions, leopards, rhinos, buffalo, and zebras. Lunch is included and served somewhere in the park during your game drive. You'll return to the hotel in time for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch en route in the national park), Dinner
Included Activities
- Full-day game drive in Addo Elephant National Park (open safari vehicle)
- Lunch en route in national park
Landmarks/POIs Addo Elephant National Park - Day 6
Zuurberg to Knysna
From breakfast you head toward the coast and the Garden Route. There's a walk through the forest along Storms River, and the suspension bridge at Storms River Mouth offers some nice views. You'll reach Knysna in the afternoon, a town known for oysters and situated on a lagoon. The lagoon connects to the Indian Ocean through two narrow rocky passages called the Knysna Heads. Later in the afternoon you take a sunset cruise where wine and fresh oysters are served.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walk in indigenous forest along Storms River
- View Storms River Mouth suspension bridge
- Knysna Sunset Oyster Cruise with wine and oysters
Optional Activities
- Lunch at Tsitsikamma National Park restaurant
- Dinner at hotel
Landmarks/POIs Storms River Mouth Tsitsikamma National Park Knysna Knysna Heads Outeniqua Mountains - Day 7
Knysna
This day is yours to spend however you like. You can explore Knysna on foot, relax on the beach, or take an optional trip to Featherbed Nature Reserve, which involves a ferry ride and an off-road vehicle, plus a 2.2 km walk through forest and along the coast. If you do that tour, lunch is at the Forest Restaurant, an outdoor spot on the edge of the lagoon under trees.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Featherbed Nature Reserve (ferry, off-road vehicle, forest walk)
- Lunch at Forest Restaurant on the lagoon edge
Landmarks/POIs Featherbed Nature Reserve Forest Restaurant - Day 8
Knysna to Hermanus
You'll head to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of Africa, with a stop in Swellendam on the way. Swellendam is one of South Africa's oldest towns, founded in 1745, and has some nice examples of Cape Dutch architecture. At Cape Agulhas you'll see the lighthouse, the second oldest in the country, and the Map of Africa Monument. Then you continue to Hermanus along Walker Bay. If you're visiting between July and November, you might see humpback and southern right whales close to shore.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Swellendam
- Visit Cape Agulhas
- Visit Cape Lighthouse
- Visit Map of Africa Monument
Optional Activities
- Whale watching in Hermanus (depending on season)
Landmarks/POIs Swellendam Cape Agulhas Cape Lighthouse Map of Africa Monument Hermanus Walker Bay - Day 9
Hermanus to Cape Town
After breakfast you head toward Cape Town with a stop in Franschhoek, a wine region town set in a valley surrounded by mountains and with French influence visible in its character. You visit the former Victor Verster Prison, now called Drakenstein Correctional Center, which is where Nelson Mandela was released. From there you continue to your final hotel, the SunSquare Cape Town City Bowl, completing your round trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Franschhoek
- Visit Victor Verster Prison/Drakenstein Correctional Center (Nelson Mandela release site)
Optional Activities
- Wine tasting lunch in Franschhoek
Landmarks/POIs Franschhoek Victor Verster Prison/Drakenstein Correctional Center Cape Town
