Project Description
Tour Description
From Cape Town to Knysna and back again, enjoy the mountainous vistas of the Klein Karoo, take in the sights of the lush Garden Route, search for the “Big Five” and other African animals of the bush, visit the tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas.
PLEASE NOTE: There will be a 3rd weekly departure on Fridays in guided in English & German for the 2017/2018 season.
Itinerary
Molo! Welcome to the colourful and diverse Cape. You will be collected in the morning by our professional tour guide at your Cape Town hotel. With the soaring Table Mountain behind us we travel inland on the N1 highway via Route 62 towards Oudtshoorn. As soon as you leave Cape Town, the scenery starts to change dramatically. It’s often said that South Africa has one of the most varied landscapes of any country, and there’s nowhere better to see this than on the drive from green, lush Cape Town to the semi-arid desert like Klein Karoo. Enjoy a comfort stop in the small artists town of Barrydale at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains that rise out of the plains surrounding them.
Back onto Route 62 we head towards the heart of the Klein Karoo. In a secluded valley, which was once a lake, we’ll discover Calitzdorp, South Africa’s port wine capital where we will enjoy lunch (own account). Port can be a bit of an acquired taste due to its strength and sweetness, but that’s a journey we are happy to help you start on. In the late afternoon we embark on an ostrich farm tour to learn about these exotic birds and their industry, then dare to ride the world’s biggest bird species. They may have eyes larger than their brains, but they are nevertheless, very impressive (and taste wonderful). Relax and enjoy the friendly Klein Karoo hospitality, with dinner in town.
Accommodation: Hlangana Country Lodge or similar – dinner, bed and breakfast
Enjoy a country breakfast at the hotel, before we make our way to a 20 million year old natural treasure at the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains, the Cango Caves. Descend the 200 steps of Jacob’s Ladder into the Great Hall and continue into King Solomon’s Mine. Leaving this subterranean wonderland, we head back towards Oudtshoorn, which boasts the highest number of sunny days compared to any other place in South Africa.
Depart the Klein Karoo, and travel over the Outeniqua Pass towards the Garden Route via George to Wilderness. Surrounded by mountains, ocean, lakes and lagoons Wilderness makes for a tranquil and splendid destination. Enjoy stunning and unspoilt scenery at Dolphin Point and Map of Africa look out points (weather permitting). Tuck into lunch (own account) before making your way along the coastal road to Knysna. In Knysna, we set out on a sunset Knysna Oyster Tour. Hopefully you enjoy the silky sensation of the oysters and fiery Tabasco that traditionally goes along with it. An informative and interactive cruise, this tour introduces you to the wild Knysna oyster and its trade while enjoying the natural surrounding beauty. Dinner tonight can be enjoyed in town before retiring to your hotel.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel Knysna Quays or similar – dinner, bed and breakfast
Depart the hotel after breakfast, and head for the historical harbour town of Mossel Bay which was the first place that Europeans landed on South African soil. Now it’s a playground of sun and Garden Route visitors, with excellent restaurants and historical sights. Visit the Dias Museum Complex which is made up of several different museums, among them the Shell and Maritime Museums. The Maritime Museum sports a life-sized replica of the ship that Dias sailed in 1488. At the centre of the museum complex is the Post Office Tree. An ancient Milkwood tree that has served as a post office since 1500. As was done 500 years ago, you can leave a message for a loved one to read under a bottle or a horse shoe.
Lunch will be enjoyed (own account) at The Point before we make our way to our safari destination for this evening’s accommodation. With the Langeberg Mountains as the backdrop, this private game reserve offers you bushveld beauty along with sightings of a wide range of game and the “Big Five”. An afternoon game drive here gives a personal, relaxed chance to see some of South Africa’s best wildlife. Let the bushveld sounds serenade you while enjoying an outdoor dining experience (weather permitting).
Accommodation: Garden Route Game Lodge or similar – dinner, bed and breakfast basis with 2 game viewing activities
Enjoy a well-deserved breakfast before leaving the bush behind and making our way via Swellendam and Bredasdorp to the coastal village of Arniston.
Lunch will be taken en route (own account). This town has two official names, Arniston and Waenhuiskrans, which refers to the size of one of the sea caves, apparently the size of a wagon house. This town was named for the ship that got lost and crashed into the rocks in 1815, its captain thinking he was 100’s of km away from his actual location. Its limestone cliffs, caves and enormous sand dunes lie on the warm Indian Ocean and this is a great place to relax and enjoy a quiet evening. Tonight, dinner will be served at your hotel.
Accommodation: The Arniston Hotel or similar – dinner, bed and breakfast
Sit down to a leisurely breakfast while you let the fresh sea air awaken your senses. This morning we journey to the rugged, windswept beauty of the southernmost tip of Africa, Cape Agulhas. A place where the warm Indian Ocean meets the cool Atlantic, the Cape of Storms has caused many an ancient mariners to brave its waters and wreck their ships in the name of exploration and adventure. We continue our journey to the scenic coastal town of Hermanus, renowned for its whale watching, a place where Southern Right whales return annually during the winter and early spring months (July to November).
Continue our sweeping coastal drive along False Bay with its panoramic views of Cape Point and Table Mountain. Stop at Gordon’s Bay for a traditional fish and chips lunch (own account) before continuing the journey back to the mother city of Cape Town. This tour ends, late afternoon, back in Cape Town at your hotel or at Cape Town International Airport. Here we’ll say hamba kahle, good bye.
Tour Details
- Duration: 5 Days | 4 Nights
- Start Location: Cape Town
- End Location: Cape Town
- Pax.: 2 – 14 guests per vehicle
- Departures: Mondays (bilingual in German & English) and Wednesdays
- Departure Time: 07h30 to 08h15 from various hotels, Pre-departure letters to be sent to each guest’s pick-up location a day prior collection
- Languages: English
Other language tour guides available on request if booked on a private basis
- Accommodation: 4 star Hotels and Private Game Lodges
- Vehicle: Luxury Sedan or Minibus
- Baggage Allowed: One suitcase and one shoulder bag
- Tour Guide: Services of CATHSSETA registered tour guide throughout tour. Open safari vehicle game drives with FGASA accredited nature tour guide – where applicable
- Visa / Passports: Not required
- Optional Tours en-route: All excursions are inclusive
- Recommended Pre/Post Tours: Private Cape Peninsula tour, Private Cape Winelands tour, Private City and Table Mountain tour,
Rates
- ⇒ Sharing:
R 16 300 pp (valid until 31 October 2017)
R 17 620 pp( valid until 31 October 2018)⇒ Single:
R 18 100 pp (valid until 31 October 2017)
R 19 600 pp (valid until 31 October 2018)⇒ Children 7-11 years:
R 8 150 per child sharing with two adults (valid until 31 October 2017)
R 8 810 per child sharing with two adults (valid until 31 October 2018)Please Note: Only one child permitted per two adults sharing and subject to availability at properties. Should you have two or more children or they are under 7 years of age, we can operate this package on a private basis. Please request quote.
- Included:
⇒ Meals: 4 Breakfasts; 4 Dinners.
⇒ Entrance Fees: Cango Caves; Ostrich Farm; Sunset Knysna Oyster Cruise; Diaz Museum; Cape Agulhas Lighthouse & Museum; 2 Open safari vehicle game drivesExcluded:
⇒ Travel insurance, flights, airport transfers, porterage, 5 lunches, gratuities, visa fees and personal expenses
For the next big adventure.
What Clients’ Say
We really appreciate our clients feedback on their African Blue experience as we are constantly striving to improve our service levels and selection of tour and safari experiences.
“We were a group of 6 Australians that wanted to see some of the beauty of South Africa. We booked this 5 day tour with a wonderful young man, David, who was very knowledgeable and accommodating. We saw a lot through this particular tour and having a guide made it very easy. The accommodation was excellent and so was the restaurants chosen by David. We would recommend African Blue to anyone wishing to visit South Africa. Thank you David for putting up with us.”
Hi Dave
Just a quick note to say we LOVED our tour! Everything was absolutely perfect – the other people were lovely and Angelo our guide/driver was amazing – he could not have been better! He was a great driver, very knowledgeable, amusing and just terribly nice and SO helpful. We had an amazing time and just thought you should know we loved every minute and it all went really smoothly. We will never forget it Ten out ten !
A huge Thank you and please pass these comments onto whoever Angelo works for as they need to know what a great guy he is – he was just perfect.
Thank you again!
“Cape Town & Magical Garden Route”
5 of 5 starsReviewed 30 January 2014
It’s almost a year since we have seen David Smith of Africa Blue, and I still keep telling people about what a great time we had with him.
We had several experiences with him over a period of 6 days – all great!
Firstly, he got us the Robben Island Tour in the ‘nick of time’. We had arrived by cruise ship and were late docking so, with military precision and a casual, yet efficient manner, he made sure we got there in time.
He guided us around Cape Town and Table Mountain. I like his style. He gives you enough information and enough time to yourself. Some guides just keep talking and nothing sinks in. He has a healthy balance.
A few days later, he collected us in Franschhoek and guided us for 5 days to various destinations and attractions on the “Garden Route”.
Throughout this time, David had to deal with varying numbers of Aussies as some joined different parts of the activities. In total, there were 14 people.
All-in-all, a big “thank you”. We thoroughly enjoyed every moment.
So you want to go on vacation, and would like someplace not too expensive, but adventurous and welcoming, relatively free of the hassles of over-touristed spots. Someplace you feel like you are getting your money’s worth, and then some, rather than getting taken advantage of.
Go to South Africa. And do this tour. We had a wonderful tour guide (Heidi) who told us so much of the history and culture of South Africa, and was so much fun to be with. The garden route is beautiful, and each day was a different adventure, from the caves near Oudtshoorn to the lagoon at Knysna and the game lodge in Albertini. We are frequent travelers, and have not had such a wonderful time and felt such great value for our money as this tour.
Really, you will fall in love with South Africa.
