Cape Town and the Garden Route

Days 1 - 3: Cape Town

Fly from the UK to Cape Town. Landing on day 2 you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your boutique hotel which offers a view of Table Mountain for a 2 night stay. 

Set at the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic oceans and backed by the iconic Table Mountain, the bustling city of Cape Town presents an alluring combination of drawcards such as Boulders Beach, where penguins might swim right up to you in the warm Indian ocean waters, the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens where you can walk along a treetop canopy among incredible native flora, and Robben Island where visitors can see the cell where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years; and many more.

Included is a trip on the Cape Town Hop-On-Hop-Off bus tour which provides a convenient and informative way to access all major highlights in Cape Town, including a visit to Camps Bay, Hout Bay Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and Table Mountain.

Days 4 - 5: Langebaan/West Coast
Distance: 95km/59m

Transfer to the motorhome depot where you will collect your vehicle and start your overland journey to the beautiful West Coast.

The tranquil West Coast is best known for its wide, open spaces, charming fishing villages, unspoilt beaches and abundant animal and marine life. From whale watching to enchanting spring flowers, hiking among the fynbos, mountain biking, birding and fresh seafood, this beguiling year-round destination has it all.

Day 6: Touws River
Distance: 235km/147m

The pretty little railway town of Touws River sits between Barrydale and Ladismith in the little Karoo. Touws River is set on the fringes of the Klein Karoo, basically a valley sandwiched between the Langeberg and the Outeniqua Mountains, which in turn separates the Little Karoo from the Garden Route’s coastal strip.

Days 7 - 8: Oudtshoorn
Distance: 282km/175m

Travel through the Klein Karoo area towards Oudtshoorn and make a stop at the Cango Caves for an included tour. These hour long tours are led by experienced, knowledgeable and accredited cave guides who will give you an insight into the six halls, chambers and rooms within the caves, as well as a close up view of stalactites, stalagmites, and a colony of bats that have made the cave their home.

From Oudtshoorn we highly recommend that you visit Buffelsdrift Game Lodge for a unique and wonderful experience.  Here you will meet three African Elephants originally orphans from the Kruger National Park where their parents were poached.  You will feel so fortunate when you meet these true gentle giants, Jabari, Bulelo & Malaika with their lovely personalities.

Days 9 - 10: Camdeboo National Park 
Distance: 322km/201m

Formed hundreds of millions of years ago, the Karoo is one of the great natural wonders of the world. Camdeboo National Park provides the visitor with insights into the unique landscape and ecosystem of the Karoo, not to mention awesome scenic beauty. You can settle in at your campsite and enjoy the afternoon exploring Camdeboo National Park in your own vehicle.  This area is part of the Park's game viewing area which is home to buffalo, antelope such as gemsbok, eland, red hartebeest and springbok, smaller mammals such as black-backed jackal and many bird species.  

Days 11 - 12: Addo Elephant Park
Distance: 215km/134m

Set in the enchanting Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, the Addo Elephant National Park is the country’s third largest national park and offers a truly unforgettable safari experience. This finely-tuned ecosystem provides a sanctuary to large numbers of elephant, lion, buffalo, black rhino, spotted hyena, leopard, antelope, zebra, and over 400 bird species. This unique park is the world’s only park with the ‘Big 7’ - the Big 5 plus the southern right whale and great white shark off the coast of the Algoa Bay.

During your stay at the Addo Elephant National Park, there is an included half day safari game drive, giving you the best chance to see all that it has to offer. Not only do the guides have trained eyes for spotting wildlife but they also have local knowledge regarding animal identification, local history, vegetation, local culture and plenty of local stories to round off a great tour.

Days 13 - 15: Garden Route
Distance: 333km/208m

Sandwiched between the Outeniqua, Tsitsikamma Mountains and the glistening Indian Ocean, this lush 200-kilometre stretch of coastal plain between Mossel Bay and Storms River Mouth provides one of the world’s most spectacular drives. Whether you are seeking pristine, uncrowded white-sand beaches, world-class golf courses, ancient forests, top-notch surf spots, extraordinary nature reserves, excellent hiking opportunities or exhilarating outdoor adventures, the Garden Route has it all.

 

Days 16 - 17: Whale Coast
Distance: 387km / 242 miles

Travel to Hermanus, also known of the Whale Coast of South Africa. The main towns that form the Whale Coast are Kleinmond, Hermanus, Stanford and Gansbaai; but the Cape Whale Coast is in fact made up of a collection of villages, farms, rivers, bays, coves and valleys. Explore the wine routes, golf courses and stunning wildlife in this beautiful region, the Cape Whale Coast.

Hermanus is the whale watching capital of South Africa, with whales often being sighted from land. Whale season is generally from June to mid-December each year, and during this period we highly recommend a whale watching cruise which can be anything from one and a half to three hours in duration depending of the sightings.

Days 18 - 19: Cape Winelands
Distance: 97km / 61 miles

Depart Hermanus for Stellenbosch and make a stop at Stoney Point, home to an African Penguin Colony. Roughly 3,600 penguins now live at Stony Point's old whaling station, increasing from the two who originally ventured here in 1985. A wine tasting is included at Lanzerac Wine Estate this afternoon, home to the world’s first bottled Pinotage and one of the oldest heritage farms in the Western Cape dating back to 1692, which has been cultivating award-winning wines for decades.

Spend some time exploring Stellenbosch or perhaps take the short trip to Franschhoek where you can take the Franschhoek Wine Tram. On the final evening there will be a chocolate and wine pairing followed by a farewell dinner at Spier Wine Estate. 

Day 20 - 21:  Cape Winelands to UK

Check-out and drive to the motorhome depot (81 km / 51 miles) where you will return your rental vehicle. From here you will be transferred to Cape Town International Airport where you will check in for your overnight flight home.