GROUP 15-DAY SOUTH AFRICA EXPERIENCE TRIP Winelands & Cape Town | Addo safari | Garden Route & Karoo Bookable as a group in January, March/April and October/November Departure from your home country, own transfer to the airport for the flight to Cape Town.
Day 1 | Arrival in Cape Town/South Africa. Bus transfer to the accommodation, the 4* boutique guesthouse in Somerset West, in the wine region around Cape Town. Short briefing over a welcome drink. In the afternoon we visit the Lourensford wine estate, where there is an opportunity for a light meal, and on request a wine tasting is also possible right next to our guesthouse. If you wish, a visit to the Twilight Market on the estate.
8 nights + breakfast in the 4* boutique guesthouse in Somerset West
Day 2 | Cape Town – Table Mountain – Gold Restaurant By cable car up Table Mountain. Then a short city tour of Cape Town with a visit to the Company’s Garden, the Greenmarket and the Bo-Kaap quarter. If today is a Wednesday or Saturday, visit to the Oranjezicht Market by the sea. Time to stroll next door at the V&A Waterfront. Dinner at the Gold Restaurant, an African experience.
Day 3 | Tour into the vineyards Today an excursion and wine tastings in the Franschhoek & Stellenbosch wine region. On Saturday or Sunday we visit a typical market. Alternatively a city tour of Stellenbosch. To finish, a wine and chocolate tasting at the Waterford wine estate.
Day 4 | Vergelegen A walk on the beach on request. At about 11 am a visit and wine tasting at the Vergelegen Wine Estate and an olive oil tasting at the Morgenster wine & olive estate. In the afternoon relax in the garden and by the pool of the accommodation. In the evening a typical braai is served – the South African version of a barbecue.
Day 5 | The Cape & Cape Peninsula Drive around the famous Cape Peninsula through Camps Bay and Hout Bay over the famous Chapman’s Peak Drive, one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world. Then we reach the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point. Visit to the penguins at Boulders Beach. Via Simon’s Town we continue to a sunset dinner by the sea in Camps Bay.
Day 6 | Robben Island or Paternoster / West Coast Boat trip to the former prison island of Robben Island with a guided tour and a visit to Nelson Mandela’s prison cell (optional). The afternoon is free at the V&A Waterfront. Dinner at the Waterfront. Alternative programme: excursion along the West Coast and West Coast National Park to Paternoster. You need to tell us which programme you prefer. Robben Island tickets are not included in the price and would have to be booked in advance.
Day 7 | Hermanus Along one of the most beautiful coastal roads in South Africa, past False Bay, to Hermanus. This town is known for its whales, which gather in the bay between July and November. In Hermanus we walk along its rugged rocky coast, have lunch by the sea and stroll through the lovely town. The way back leads through the fruit and wine-growing regions of Elgin & Grabouw and Sir Lowry’s Pass back to Somerset West.
Can be booked on request only up to here or only from here :😊
Day 8 | Start of the 9-day Garden Route extension Today we say goodbye to part of the group, if applicable, and start the roughly 5-hour drive to Knysna. Before dinner, sunset at the “Knysna Heads”. At dinner we may try the famous, freshly caught Knysna oysters at the little Waterfront of Knysna. Overnight stay + breakfast in a 4* guesthouse on the Knysna lagoon
Day 9 | …a day in and around Knysna – Wilderness Early in the morning a mudflat walk into the lagoon. In the morning a hike on the “Knysna Heads” or a boat trip through the lagoon. Rest in the garden and at/in the pool of the guesthouse. In the afternoon and for the sunset, on request including dinner in Wilderness or Brenton on Sea, known as the most beautiful beach on the Garden Route… Overnight stay + breakfast again in the same accommodation in Knysna
Day 10 | Knysna – Tsitsikamma – Addo Elephant Park Today we travel via Plettenberg Bay first to Tsitsikamma National Park. There we walk through a rainforest to the Storms River Suspension Bridge, a suspension bridge over the river mouth. Now we continue to Addo Elephant National Park. We may already drive through the park, where, besides elephants, lions, buffalo, zebras, antelope, rhinos and many other wild animals can be seen. This elephant park is the largest in the Eastern Cape and was founded in 1931 to protect the last 11 surviving elephants of the region. Alternatively, in the early evening a sundowner boat trip on the Sundays River, on request including sliding down the dunes on sandboards. Overnight stay + breakfast in a 4* lodge at Addo
Day 11 | Addo Elephant Park & safari in a private game reserve Even before breakfast we drive through Addo Elephant National Park. In the late afternoon a guided game drive takes place through the neighbouring private game reserve . At sunrise and sunset in particular, many different animals can be observed. Dinner in an open boma. “Night safari” back to the entrance. Overnight stay + breakfast again in the same accommodation at Addo
Day 12 | Addo – Swartberg Today we travel inland via Wilderness and George into the Little Karoo. Oudtshoorn, known as the centre of the ostrich industry. On request Cango Caves. A wonderful drive through this African idyll to the accommodation. In the dark you can admire the unique starry sky in the Little Karoo desert. Overnight stay & breakfast in the 4* lodge near Oudtshoorn
Day 13 | Swartberg – Montagu Today we cross the breathtaking Swartberg Pass and the fascinating semi-desert onto the famous Route 62 to Montagu, a small town that artists and craftspeople have chosen as their home. We can spend the rest of the day in the garden and by/in the pool of the accommodation. Dinner in a restaurant within walking distance. Overnight stay + breakfast in the idyllic and very private 4* guesthouse
Day 14 | Montagu – Robertson – Franschhoek – Cape Town Via the Robertson wine valley there is an 11 am picnic boat trip on the Breede River. At the exit of Robertson we should treat ourselves to a champagne tasting at the famous champagne (MCC) producer Graham Beck. Over magnificent mountain roads, beautiful valleys and rock formations we continue to our accommodation in Cape Town. Overnight stay + breakfast in the 4* guest villa in Cape Town
Day 15 | …at your own disposal in Cape Town | Flight home Punctually in line with your departure time, you will be taken to Cape Town airport today to begin your journey home. Perhaps there is still time for a visit to a market and/or a stroll around the Waterfront or a few hours at the beach & a nice lunch. A good idea is a sightseeing tour on the hop-on-hop-off bus.
Arrival back home, own transfer to your door.