South Africa Garden Route

We depart from Cape Town at 7h30am (please refer to pre-departure information) and travel to pretty Hermanus (only in season) which is famous for the Antarctic whales that calve in Walkers Bay to calve (seasonal). Our route to Mossel Bay is via farmlands of apple and pear orchards and rolling hills. We will enjoy lunch en route. We then drive to Sedgefield, where we’ll overnight for two nights.

Following a hearty breakfast, we drive via George and the picturesque Outeniqua Pass to the mecca of South African ostrich farming – Oudtshoorn. We’ll see one of the many ostrich show ranches and the Cango Wildlife Farm. You can also visit the world famous and stunning dripstone cave – Cango Caves* (optional cost as it is not wheelchair accessible at all). After a leisurely drive back with breath taking views, we relax for the second night at Sedgefield.

Today we drive to Knysna, through Wilderness and the Lake District, one of the world’s most picturesque drives. After a fascinating stop at Knysna Heads and a boat cruise* (weather dependant and optional extra cost) on the Knysna Lagoon we travel to the heart of the Garden Route – the Tsitsikamma National Park – which embraces an 80km strip of superb coastline together with a marine reserve that stretches 5 km offshore. Relax or enjoy a walk in a forest which is richly endowed with plant life and birds, the rock pools teem with colourful marine life; and whales, dolphins and sea otters can often be seen sporting close to the shoreline.

In the morning, you’ll visit the Monkeyland*, Birds of Eden* and the Elephant Sanctuary* (*optional extra cost) where you can do a “trunk in hand tour” (elephant-back ride* also available on request at optional cost) or you can take some time out and just relax. After an exciting or peaceful morning our journey takes us to Stormsriver, the adventure centre of the Garden Route with the Bloukrans Bungi-jump* (216M!!), one of the highest in the world. We take a leisurely drive along more fantastic coastline before returning to Tsitsikamma Forest for the second night.

On our last day we take a leisurely drive along the breathtaking coastline to the fifth largest city in South Africa – Port Elizabeth, also known as “friendly city” or “windy city” or just PE. The tour ends on arrival in PE.