Itinerary
- Day 1
Cape Town to Stellenbosch
You'll arrive in Cape Town and connect with your representative for a welcome briefing about the trip ahead. After picking up your rental car, it's about an hour's drive to Stellenbosch through vineyard-covered hills. You'll be staying 2 nights at Wedgeview Country House & Spa, which sits in the mountains with those classic colonial Cape Dutch buildings throughout town. The drive gives you a good first look at the wine region you'll explore over the next couple days.
Included Activities
- Spa treatment (approximately 20 minutes)
- Visit Dorp Museum - four restored Cape Dutch-style historic houses
Landmarks Dorp Museum 
- Day 2
Stellenbosch
Today is yours to wander around Stellenbosch at your own pace. Start at the Braak, a large open meadow in the historic center, then check out the small botanical garden nearby. The town has plenty of cafés serving homemade pastries if you want to grab breakfast or lunch. There are over 50 wineries in the area you can visit, so you could spend the day wine tasting or just walking the tree-lined streets and seeing what catches your attention. It's a relaxed day to get a feel for the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Wine tastings at local wineries (over 50 available)
- Guided tours at wineries - including Boschendal, La Motte Estate, and Speers
- Leisurely stroll through historic old town
- Visit botanical garden
Landmarks Braak Stellenbosch Botanical Garden - Day 3
Stellenbosch to Montagu
You'll drive from Stellenbosch through Franschhoek, Villiersdorp, and Robertson before heading to Montagu, a historic town along Route 62. The drive takes most of the day and passes through different parts of the wine region. Once you arrive, you'll have free time to rest or wander around town, then head out for an included wine tasting in the evening. Montagu has old buildings and monuments to see, plus you might spot herons, ibises, and weaverbirds around the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Wine tasting in the evening
Optional Activities
- Explore Village Museum
- Visit historic old town
Landmarks Village Museum 
- Day 4
Montagu to Oudtshoorn
The drive along Route 62 takes you through the Little Karoo's semi-desert landscape with small villages scattered throughout. After a few hours, you'll reach Oudtshoorn, known as the ostrich farming capital. You're staying 2 nights at Surval Boutique Olive Estate, where you'll get a picnic lunch when you arrive. The estate has a swimming pool if you want to cool off after the drive, so plan to spend the afternoon relaxing.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic)
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Picnic on arrival
- Day 5
Oudtshoorn
This is a free day in Oudtshoorn with options depending on your interests. You can visit one of the ostrich farms to see how they raise these birds from egg through adulthood, or head to Cango Caves to see the rock formations inside. Later, the hotel has an included olive tasting you can do, and the swimming pool is available if you just want to relax. It's flexible, so spend it how you'd like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Olive tasting at hotel
Optional Activities
- Visit ostrich farms - learn about all stages of ostrich life from egg to adult bird
- Visit Cango Caves - world-famous caves with stalagmites and stalactites (located approximately 30 km outside Oudtshoorn at foot of Swartberg)
Landmarks Cango Caves - Day 6
Oudtshoorn to Knysna
If you're interested, there's an early morning option to see meerkats at Buffelsdrift Game Lodge before starting your drive to Knysna. The town sits on a lagoon with two large rock formations at the entrance called the Knysna Heads, which create a striking sight when you arrive. You can explore museums, check out the fishing heritage sites, eat at restaurants, or take a walk through Knysna Forest, which is the largest forest area in South Africa. There's plenty to see if you want to stay active.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Early morning excursion to Buffelsdrift Game Lodge - experience meerkats up close
- Visit Millwood House Museum
- Visit fishing museum in old prison on Queen Street
- Walk through beautiful town of Knysna
- Visit Knysna Forest - South Africa's largest forest area (80,000 hectares)
- Visit Buffalo Valley Animal Park
- Visit Featherbed Nature Reserve
- Swimming and surfing at Brenton On Sea beach in Buffalo Bay
Landmarks Knysna Heads Millwood House Museum Knysna Forest Buffalo Valley Animal Park Featherbed Nature Reserve Brenton On Sea - Day 7
Knysna to Mossel Bay
You'll drive to Mossel Bay and then into a private malaria-free game reserve. Before settling in, there's a stop at the Bartholomew Diaz Museum to see the historic Post Office Tree. Once at The Village @ Botlierskop, you'll have your first game drive to start looking for wildlife. The lodge itself is built from restored historic rural buildings surrounded by vegetable and herb gardens. After the drive, you can relax by the pool or book spa treatments if you want.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- First game drive in the game reserve upon arrival
Optional Activities
- Visit Bartholomew Diaz Museum - centerpiece is the old Post Office Tree
- Day safaris on quad bikes
- Spa treatments at Fynbos Spa
Landmarks Bartholomew Diaz Museum - Day 8
Mossel Bay
You'll do morning and afternoon game drives through the reserve with guides who'll help spot the different animals and plants. You'll return to the lodge between drives for meals, so it's a full day but with breaks built in. This is your main chance to see the wildlife the reserve has to offer, so bring binoculars and a good camera if you have one.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Morning game drive
- Afternoon game drive
- Day 9
Mossel Bay to Hermanus
Start early with a final game drive before leaving the reserve. Then it's a longer drive back toward Cape Town through Albertina and Swellendam to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of Africa. You'll visit the lighthouse there, the second oldest in the country. Continue along the coast to Hermanus, and from July through November you'll see humpback and southern right whales close to shore. You're staying at Whale Rock Luxury Lodge, so settle in and enjoy the coastal views.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Early morning game drive
- Visit Cape Agulhas lighthouse
Landmarks Cape Agulhas Lighthouse Walker Bay 
- Day 10
Hermanus to Cape Town
Spend the morning on Hermanus's cliff path, a 15-kilometer route with viewpoints and benches where you can watch marine mammals from just a few meters away. The town is popular with hikers who like the coastal scenery. After exploring, you'll start the drive back to Cape Town for your flight home, stopping at the airport to return your rental car. This wraps up your tour through South Africa's wine region, mountains, and coast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Walk along cliff path with viewpoints and benches (15 kilometers)
- Hiking in Hermanus area
Landmarks Hermanus Cliff Path
