TOUR C 16A

DAY 1:     THE GARDEN ROUTE

We leave PE for the Tsitsikamma Forest area, pausing for tea before exploring the impressive Storms River Gorge. This is followed by a 500m walk in the forest to the 800-year old ‘Tsitsikamma Big Tree.’ Next we visit Storms River Adventures at the village and afterwards enter the Storms River National Park on the rugged coast, to watch the spray as waves pound the rocks, explore Bushmen Caves and enjoy stunning views. This is followed by mountain vistas near the world’s highest bungee at the Blaaukrantz Bridge. Lunch is enjoyed in this beautiful area.

We journey on, via the Groot River Pass, to Natures Valley, where you leave footprints in the sand. After passing Kurland Estate en route, Plettenberg Bay, the Baia Formosa, is the next pause. Here one enjoys some of the best views in the world – towards Robberg, and over Look-out Beach. Next we check into accommodation in Knysna and prepare for a scenic sunset-cruise towards The Heads on the estuary. This is followed by a superb dinner at JJ’s restaurant on the Waterfront.  Overnight at Knysna Manor.

DAY 2:     KNYSNA

This is South Africa’s favourite tourist town. We spend the day exploring Knysna and surrounds – the Heads, Leisure Isle, the Waterfront. Overnight at Knysna manor.

DAY 3:     We travel through the Lakes District, pass Wilderness and visit the Railway Museum in George. Then it’s on to the Diaz Museum to see the Post Office Tree and a replica of the Portuguese caravel which was the first European ship to reach our shores. After lunch at the Point, we travel to the Little Karoo over the Robinson Pass. Next we visit the Cango Wildlife Ranch and the Cango Ostrich Farm and then overnight in the Schoemanspoort farming area nearby. Here we will enjoy Cango wine and ostrich fillets followed by stargazing in the clear skies.

DAY 4:     ROUTE 62

We take the first tour through the Cango Caves, one of South Africa’s foremost natural wonders, before visiting some of the “Volstruis Paleise” and other historical buildings in Oudtshoorn. (Very early morning optional extras – for own account –  are hot-air ballooning or a visit to the Meerkat Man.) Leaving Oudtshoorn, we taste Bo-Plaas Estate’s award-winning port en route to Calitzdorp where we overnight.

DAY 5:     CAPE WINELANDS

From the heart of the rugged Karoo scenery of Route 62, where we have the chance to visit a hot-water spa at Warmwaterberg or Montagu, we move on to the Cape Winelands. Surrounded by fruit and wine farms in the beautiful Franschhoek Valley, we enjoy the best wine-tasting experiences in South Africa, visiting 3 top wine estates. This is also the culinary capital of SA and we will sample fine food as well as tour a chocolate factory. Overnight Franschhoek.

DAY 6:     We visit Stellenbosch and explore the Stellenbosch wine-route before entering Cape Town, with Table Mountain dominating the view.