A South African holiday for people who love the great outdoors. Hike, kayak & experience the best that Cape Town has to offer and then set off along the world famous Garden Route where you swap your car for hiking boots & trek the Dolphin Trail. Your holiday ends on a real high, searching for the Big 5 on safari in the Eastern Cape.
Tailor-made Classic 15 days
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This holiday has been designed for people who want to get out there and really experience South Africa. Your holiday begins in Cape Town, which effortlessly blends urban chic with the great outdoors. During your stay, you will take a hike up Table Mountain, kayak to a penguin colony and explore the wild Cape Peninsula. Having explored the best of the Cape Nature, you will also learn more about the darker history of the place, with a guided tour of Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela and countless other political prisoners were imprisoned.
From Cape Town, you’ll drive east to one of our favourite discoveries in the region, the Beaumont wine estate. This is an opportunity to experience Overberg life on a real wine farm. There are two simple, authentic cottages on the farm and days can be spent wine tasting, taking a gentle stroll through the vineyard or trekking / mountain biking up onto the Fynbos-rich mountain trails. Whale season runs from June to end of October so if you are visiting at that time, you will be able to enjoy nearby shore based whale watching in Hermanus which is 30 minutes.
One of the longest drives of the trip takes you to the Knysna to some delightful cottages on the shores of the lagoon. This is an excellent spring board for exploring the area. Foodies will love sampling the fresh oysters from the lagoon superb and you won’t want to miss canoeing to some hidden waterfalls. More adventurous travellers might like to try out kloofing or abseiling . Further afield, you can visit the ostrich farms at Oudtshoorn or the Karoo which is a two hour drive inland.
The highlight of this trip has got to be the Dolphin Hiking Trail which covers 17 kilometres in two days in the stunning Tsitsikamma coastal belt, staying in comfortable four star accommodations. All meals are included, baggage is transported between overnight stops and you are accompanied by local guides. Group size is minimum 2 and maximum 12 with 1 or 2 guides.
Your final stop, the Amakhala Reserve, is a beautifully situated malaria free private reserve in the Addo / Eastern Cape area. Set in a primeval landscape, Amakhala has a well-balanced wildlife population boasting the big five and substantial herds of plains game. Staying in the beautiful intimate Quartermains, you’ll enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in open topped 4WDs with expert wildlife guides. For travel June to October a safari in the Great Kruger or non-malarial Madikwe is worth considering
Itinerary in Brief
DAY 1: ARRIVE & EXPLORE THE V&A WATERFRONT
DAY 2: CAPE TOWN – CAPE PENINSULA TOUR WITH GUIDED KAYAKING
DAY 3: CAPE TOWN – GUIDED WINELANDS TOUR
DAY 4: CAPE TOWN - TABLE MOUNTAIN HIKE & ROBBEN ISLAND TOUR
DAY 5: DRIVE TO OVERBERG REGION
DAY 6: OVERBERG REGION
DAY 7: TRAVEL TO GARDEN ROUTE - KNYSNA
DAY 8: GARDEN ROUTE – KNYSNA
DAY 9: GARDEN ROUTE - KNYSNA
DAY 10: GARDEN ROUTE – DOLPHIN TRAIL
DAY 11: GARDEN ROUTE – DOLPHIN TRAIL
DAY 12: GARDEN ROUTE – DOLPHIN TRAIL
DAY 13: DRIVE TO PRIVATE RESERVE
DAY 14 ON SAFARI
DAY 15: DEPART PORT ELIZABETH
Full Itinerary
DAY 1: ARRIVE & EXPLORE THE V&A WATERFRONT
Most international arrivals are in the early morning, so you should be at your hotel by lunchtime. Your guest house is a short walk to the centre of Cape Town and the city bowl area which has a number of good restaurants and small independent shops. The rest of your afternoon is at leisure. We recommend taking it easy, perhaps heading down to the V&A Waterfront to soak up the atmosphere. The Victoria and Albert Waterfront is the historic heart of Cape Town, buzzing with cafes, restaurants, street performances and stunning views of the working harbour and Table Mountain.
Meals Included: None
Accommodation: Acorn Guest House
Transport: Self-drive from Cape Town Airport. +/- 30 minutes.
DAY 2: CAPE PENINSULA TOUR & GUIDED KAYAKING
After breakfast, you will set off to Simon’s Town for your guided kayak tour. Heading away from the beach past the harbour, you will paddle to Boulder’s Beach which is home to a colony of Africa penguins. If you’re lucky, you may see them swimming alongside you in the water, or hopping on to the beach. The double kayaks are very stable and perfect for those with no paddling experience. After you’ve seen the penguins, you will stop on the beach for refreshments and a swim before heading back. We suggest a lunch at Simon’s Town waterfront before driving on to Cape Point Nature Reserve and Cape of Good Hope where you can visit the old lighthouse and go for a bracing walk. Back in the car, you return to Cape Town via the spectacular Chapman’s Peak Drive, passing through Hout Bay and the trendy Camps Bay area. Depending on the time available and your interests, you may be able to fit in a wine tasting in the Constantia Valley, a visit to the quaint town of Kalk Bay or take a short walk through Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Acorn Guest House
Transport: Self-drive with guided kayak trip in Simons Town
DAY 3: CAPE TOWN – GUIDED WINELANDS TOUR
Today will be spent visiting vineyards and artisanal producers in Stellenbosch, Franschoek or Paal with your guide, Pamela, a passionate foodie and local resident. You will get to taste some fine wines and delicious food in incredibly beautiful surroundings. Pamela knows the vineyards inside out and tailor-makes your day out based on your interests on particular wines and foods. Pam is driving so you can just sit back and enjoy yourself.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Acorn Guest House
Transport: Private guided full day Cape winelands tour with collection from Cape Town
DAY 4: TABLE MOUNTAIN HIKE & ROBBEN ISLAND TOUR
This morning is an early start for your Table Mountain Hike. There is no better place to get a sense of Cape Town than from the top of Table Mountain amidst the lush Fynbos, indigenous to the region. Most tourists venture no more than 5 minutes from the Cableway, however we recommend getting away from the crowds on a guided walk. For those wanting something gentle, there is a 2 hour circular walk which involves taking the cable car up the mountain and hiking on the plateau to Maclears Beacon, the highest point on Table Mountain. The trail passes stunning viewpoints and marsh and Fynbos bush. For the more adventurous, we will arrange a more challenging trek climbing the Mountain via Skeleton Gorge or from the Twelve Apostles which will take about 6 hours. With both options, you will take the Cableway down afterwards.
This afternoon is a slightly more sobering experience, with a visit to Robben Island, the former prison for political prisoners. Reached by ferry from the V&A waterfront, the prison played host to many prisoners over the years, including Nelson Mandela
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Acorn Guest House
Transport: Transport to/from Table Mountain. Self-drive to the waterfront for Robben Island tour.
DAY 5: DRIVE TO WHALE COAST
Today you leave Cape Town behind, heading East on the N2 Highway. As soon as you leave the city limits, the scenery changes with massive horizons falling into stunning mountain ranges. The Fynbos, mountains & wild coast off the Western Cape's Whale Coast is worth a visit year round but is further elevated during the whale season from July to October.
Bot River, a short distance inland from the Whale Coast, is not the kind of place tourists usually stop at, which is a good thing, as it is a lovely find. These simple farm cottages on the family run Beaumont wine farm in Bot River are a real gem and offer the perfect opportunity to experience Overberg life on a real wine farm. There are two simple, authentic farm cottages on the farm, each boasting open fireplaces in the kitchen and lovely wood-burning stoves in the living room. Days can be spent wine tasting, taking a gentle stroll through the vineyard or trekking up onto the Fynbos-rich mountain trails. There is no swimming pool, but a dip in the dam is a great way to cool down on a hot day, and the jetty is a beautiful spot for a sun downer. If you fancy a day at the beach, you are only half an hour from the beaches of Hermanus and the Whale Coast.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Chateau Beaumont Cottages in Mill House
Transport: Self Drive Cape Town to Bot River +/-2 hour driving
DAY 6: WHALE COAST
If you can pull yourself away from relaxed charm of the wine farm, then a visit to the Coast during the whale season is an absolute must. Hermanus is an easy drive as is Walker Bay Nature Reserve, both offering easy to access land based whale watching. Outside of whale season, there are good beaches in Hermanus and the Coastal trail running through Hermanus is highly recommended.
Meals Included: None included, self-catering
Accommodation: Chateau Beaumont Cottages in Mill House
Transport: Self Drive
DAY 7: GARDEN ROUTE - KNYSNA
Today sees you leaving Bot River behind and continuing your journey in an easterly direction along the N2 coastal route to Knysna. This journey will take the best part of the day and we recommend stopping at some of the quaint towns along the way, such as Swellendam, Albertina or the lovely beaches at Mossel Bay. If you want to get out of the car for a couple of hours, we suggest stopping at Wilderness National Park and hiring a canoe to paddle up to Touw River Waterfalls. It is a gentle hour of easy paddling upstream through meandering reed beds until you can go no further, from that point there is a boardwalk through the forest to the waterfalls. It is a very gentle river and no prior experience is required.
Once you have arrived at your accommodation, you can relax on your sundeck and enjoy your waterfront view.
Meals Included: No meals included
Accommodation: Under Milkwood Chalets in a waterfront cottage
Transport: Self Drive +/- 5 hours driving
DAY 8: GARDEN ROUTE - KNYSNA
The next two days see you based in Knysna. The area is the perfect base for exploring Tsitsikamma National Park and heading to one of the superb visitor attractions such as Monkeyland or Knysna Elephant Park. Further afield, Oudtshoorn is only a two hour drive inland. This arid Karoo region is famous for the Cango Caves and Ostrich farms which brought great prosperity to this area with feather fashion in the Victoria era.
Meals Included: No meals included
Accommodation: Under Milkwood Chalets in a waterfront cottage
Transport: Self Drive
DAY 9: GARDEN ROUTE - KNYSNA
Today we recommend that you head into Knysna itself to enjoy the oysters cultivated in this area. After lunch, you might want to take the ferry across the lagoon into the Featherbed Nature Reserve where you can enjoy some beautiful views and some gentle hiking.
Meals Included: No meals included
Accommodation: Under Milkwood Chalets in a waterfront cottage
Transport: Self Drive
DAY 10: GARDEN ROUTE – DOLPHIN TRAIL
Today you have a short drive to Tsitsikamma National Park which is the trail head for the Dolphin Trail. If you have a head for heights, then stop off at the Storm’s River Canopy Trail to experience the views from a different vantage point. You will be able to check into your quaint chalet from 14h00, enjoy the afternoon and meet at the restaurant for 19h00 to meet your guide and enjoy dinner with light trip briefing.
Meals Included: Dinner included
Accommodation: Tsitsikamma National Park accommodation
Transport: Self Drive 100km / 1 ½ hrs driving
DAY 11: GARDEN ROUTE – DOLPHIN TRAIL
Breakfast will be served from 0800 and your luggage collected from 0830. Meet your guides for 0900 departure along the Storms River Mouth board walk to the suspension bridge. The trail then follows a steep rocky path to the Lookout Point with a view towards Plettenberg Bay. You then begin your descent through indigenous forest to sea level for lunch with a stop for picnic lunch. After lunch is a steep ascent up Steikop, ending with a comfortable walk to the Misty Mountain Reserve. Arriving mid to late afternoon, there will be time to enjoy the swimming pool or spa bath, or go bass fishing in the dam before dinner.
Meals Included: All meals included
Accommodation: Misty Mountain Reserve
Transport: Guided walk of about 8 kilometres
DAY 12: GARDEN ROUTE – DOLPHIN TRAIL
Breakfast will be served from 0830 and after which you will head off down a steep path to the rock pools. The morning trail is along the coast where swimming and snorkelling in the rock pools is possible. Your morning walking culminates with a stiff climb up a cliff to the forest where you will break for lunch. After you’ve eaten, the last 3 kilometres continue through Fynbos and forest ferns. You will arive at the Fernery chalets mid-afternoon to relax and enjoy dinner. For the more energetic there is boating, cycling, bird watching, swimming pool, Jacuzzi and sauna available.
Meals Included: All meals included
Accommodation: The Fernery
Transport: Guided walk of about 8 kilometres
DAY 13: DRIVE TO PRIVATE RESERVE
Early risers can enjoy some bird watching or visit the fern export operation, before breakfast at 0830. Then you head off on a scenic 4x4 drive through the old Storms River Pass back to the trailhead to collect your vehicle. You then depart on a long drive east to the Amakhala Private Reserve, a beautifully 7,500 hectare, non-malarial private reserve neighbouring Shamwari and east of Addo National Park. There are 11 small camps and lodges on the reserve in total and a well-balanced wildlife population boasting all of the big five. Your stay here is fully inclusive of game drives and all meals. After settling into your camp, you will head out for a late afternoon game drive and sundowner.
Meals Included: Dinner included
Accommodation: Quatermains 1920 Safari Camp
Transport: Self Drive 350km / 4 hrs driving
DAY 14: ON SAFARI
This morning will be a very early start. Heading off in an open game-viewing vehicle, you will traverse over 18,000 acres weaving through 5 of the country’s 7 biomes. The wilderness of Amakhala Game Reserve preserves a complex and diverse ecosystem, providing habitat for over 60 mammal species. The Bushman’s River winds its way through the reserve providing its life source of water to the myriad of wildlife and birdlife. The majestic lion, herds of elephant, buffalo and giraffe, cheetah and endangered white and black rhino make up the big game component. There are also substantial herds of plains game species including zebra, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, Oryx and eland. After a couple of hours in the reserve return to Camp for a relaxed brunch and downtime before heading out again in the mid afternoon for a last game drive and sun-downer.
Meals Included: All meals
Accommodation: Quatermains 1920 Safari Camp
Transport: Scheduled shared game drives in open 4x4 vehicles.
DAY 15: DEPART PORT ELIZABETH
Early morning game drive and breakfast at the lodge. It is a short drive to the Port Elizabeth Airport to drop off your hire car and begin your journey back home.
Meals Included: Breakfast only
Accommodation: End of Services
Transport: Self Drive. +/- 1 hour
Guide price is based on recommended accommodations. Alternative accommodations and upgrades are available. Please get in touch for alternatives and upgrade options.
Flying into Cape Town and out of Port Elizabeth, South African Airlines usually has the best fares from £950-£1250, this does involve stopping in Johannesburg both ways, but it makes sense, given you have to stop there anyway on the flight from Port Elizabeth. BA offers the same route, albeit usually a little more expensive but with the option of a direct flight to Cape Town on the way out (the return from PE is via Johannesburg)
Flight prices on this route are always cheaper booked in advance, particularly when flying during holidays. If you are booking anything less than a month prior to departure expect to pay through Virgin and BA tend to offer flight sales around September and October, which are worth looking out for.
There are a number of good value options via Europe and the Middle East which are worth considering if you do not mind the stop overs. These work exceptionally well for those travelling from regional airports, please ask for details.
Please let us know your preferred departure airport and we would be pleased to quote for a flight inclusive ATOL protected package.
Rental car with comprehensive insurance and unlimited mileage, all accommodation with meals as specified, tours in Cape Town as mentioned, guided Dolphin Trail and safari activities as mentions.
Broadly speaking, the Southern, Eastern and Western Cape of South Africa enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate in reverse order to that found in the Northern Hemisphere. Whilst the regions spring and autumn are our favourite times to visit (Sep, Oct, March, April & May), visits during their winter (June – August) are not to be ruled out.
Spring (September to October) is a lovely time to visit, temperatures are around 15 -25 Celsius, it is usually relatively dry (with only moderate chances of rain) and the Fynbos flowers are blooming. The weather is improving but not too hot and there is a good chance of seeing the spectacular whales of the Coast of Hermanus and around (the whale season runs July – October).
Summer (November to February is generally dry and hot with day time temperatures of 25-35 Celsius and plenty of sunshine (10.5hrs a day on average). The Christmas Holidays may offer the best weather but are generally best avoided as the area gets over-run with domestic tourists and prices are vastly inflated. February and March is the most popular time of the year for British traveller to visit South Africa, with the advantage of great weather without the peak crowds of Christmas / New Year.
Autumn (March - May) is also one of the best times of year to visit the region. If you can put up with cooler overnight temperatures, you’ll find the country much quieter with very pleasant warm days in the gentle autumn sunshine.
Winter (June – September) is the least favourable time of year to visit from the perspective of the weather. However the appeal of seeing the Southern Right Whales, low season rates and generally mild sunny days grants a certain logic to visiting the Cape during this time. The big drawback is the strong chance of blustery wet conditions around Cape Town and the winelands. The Garden Route and Eastern Cape is very dry during winter, but expect very cool overnight temperatures, you will need to pack some warm clothes, especially if you are going on early morning game drives.
Reasonable amount fitness and interest required. For the Dolphin Trail, it is achievable by people of all ages who have maintained a good level of fitness, agility and an active lifestyle. children under the age of 12 years on special request only.
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth office check www.gov.uk/travelaware
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Thank you, we had an absolute wonderful time, and everything was well-planned and as described. Carla was crying on the day of our departure from Ants Nest, she didn’t want to go home and for it all to end, and when I asked how much longer she would want to stay, she responded “four weeks”
Lars B reviewing Best of South Africa for Families on 01 March 2024
It was certainly a holiday of a lifetime for us and we loved every minute!! The standard and location of each accommodation was excellent, as was the variety of each different accommodation type. Our schedule was perfect and we managed to achieve everything on our to-do task list. Your documents were also really helpful, as were the driving directions. We all thank you for making this such a wonderful holiday. Happy to leave a review publicly if you point me the right way. Best Steve
Stephen H reviewing Classic Garden Route & Eastern Cape Safari on 01 September 2023
Hi Lisa, We had a fabulous time thank you. The accommodation and other ideation were all terrific - that’s so much for your help. The apartment in Cape Town was particularly good - we would never have found that: Boschendal was great as well and game lodge was superb. Thanks again, Alistair
Alistair A reviewing Cape Town, Garden Route and Kruger on 28 April 2023
Our itineraries are carefully designed by our experienced travel designers based on years of experience and customer feedback. For a custom itinerary tailored to you, please enquire giving as much detail as possible on your brief.