13 Day Cape Town and Garden Route

Welcome to Cape Town!

Upon your arrival at Cape Town International Airport, collect your belongings and make your way to Europcar kiosk where one of our representatives will assist you with your rental. Once you've made it to your hotel and you've settled in you'll kick off your trip with your first activity.

Paraglide off Signal Hill
Paragliding in Cape Town takes place mainly from Lion's Head and Signal Hill, with the launch site determined by the wind direction. Tandem paragliding flights, guided by highly experienced instructors, vary in duration due to the changeable wind and weather conditions. While flights can range from 5 to 30 minutes, the instructors strive to provide the longest and most enjoyable experience, often up to 30 minutes. Table Mountain National Parks prohibits instructional tandem paragliding flights from Table Mountain, but lucky passengers may occasionally fly across under suitable weather conditions.

Today after breakfast you'll self drive to Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V & A Waterfront for your Robben Island Tour. This tour is Weather Dependent and is a Guided Tour from Nelson Mandela Gate to Robben Island Return to Waterfront.

A fully guided tour to South Africa’s famous World Heritage Site. Experience the footsteps of Nelson Mandela while enjoying the island’s rich fauna and flora. The tour to Robben Island is 3.5 hours and includes the ferry rides. Weather permitting.

After your tour you'll hop in your rental and self-drive to Table Mountain. Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, attracting over 25 million visitors since 1929, offers a diverse experience. Enjoy a five-minute cable car ride to the 1,089-meter summit of Table Mountain, wheelchair accessible throughout. Indulge in the self-service Table Mountain Café for a variety of food, drinks, snacks, and wines. Marvel at the 360-degree views of Cape Town, Table Bay, and surrounding peaks from the summit. Engage in retail therapy at the Shop at the Top, featuring gifts and curios to commemorate your visit to Cape Town's highest point within the Table Mountain National Park.

Dinner Restaurant Suggestions:
The Bombay Bicycle Club. This wonderfully wacky bohemian love den at the top of the hill, where everything is possible and always ensues. Try the famous chocolate chilli steak from the Theatre of Dreams. The menu includes vegetarian meals, pastas, risotto, steaks and more. A collection of all-time favourites that have enchanted our diners for many years.

https://www.thebombay.co.za/

The Test Kitchen has its finger bang on the pulse of what diners are looking for. The food is exceptional, the serving is flawless yet unfussy, the setting is designer and a bit speakeasy - all tonally perfect elements that combine to conjure an à-la-mode culinary experience not often found at this level of fine dining. http://www.thetestkitchen.co.za/standard/

The Pot Luck Club It has been dubbed the coolest place to be in Cape Town and its success is based on innovative cuisine, served in a relaxed yet edgy environment in a part of Cape Town. The menu is made up of a collections of tapas sized plates with an emphasis on sharing. The “Sharing plates” are divided into our 5 basic tastes; salty, sour, sweet, umami and bitter to allow guests to try each sensation on it’s own as well as all the flavours as a whole experience.

http://thepotluckclub.co.za/home

Today after breakfast you'll do your Self Drive Cape Point and Peninsula Tour.

Embark on an awe-inspiring drive to Cape Point, featuring magnificent beaches, scenic coastal villages, and breathtaking views. Depart from Cape Town City Centre, journeying along the Atlantic Seaboard via picturesque spots like Sea Point, Clifton, and Hout Bay. Traverse Chapmans Peak Drive to reach Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point, where you can witness the dramatic clash of the seas. Explore Simons Town with its charming Victorian architecture and the Boulders Beach Penguin Colony. Conclude the day at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, renowned for preserving South Africa's unique flora against the slopes of Table Mountain. Highlights include Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope, Boulders Beach Penguin Colony, and Kirstenbosch Garden.

Lunch Recommendation:
Harbour House Kalk Bay
Harbour House Restaurant offer fine dining in beautiful setting. Enjoy world-class cuisine and wine, beautiful décor and friendly, professional service.

Harbour House Restaurant is located in the heart of an old working fishing harbour.Come and experience fine dining as the waves splash up against the windows while you enjoy the freshest seafood and line fish caught from our own boat.

Today after breakfast you'll self-drive to your Franschhoek accommodation and drop off your luggage. You'll then self drive to the Franschhoek Terminal located on the corner of Main Road and Cabriere Street.

Franschhoek Wine Tram Hop-on-Hop-Off Experience
Embark on the popular Franschhoek wine tram Hop-on Hop-off Experience, offering flexibility to explore various wine estates in the Franschhoek Valley. Choose from eight different lines, each highlighting a distinct part of the valley. Begin at either the Franschhoek or Groot Drakenstein Terminal, enjoying a curated day with options for wine tasting, cellar tours, lunches, and vineyard strolls. The experience utilizes double-decker trams and open-air tram-buses, allowing you to hop on and off at your preferred stops. Remember to collect tickets, prepare with breakfast and water, and pack essentials like sunblock and a jacket. Purchases of wine include a charity-supported wine tote bag.

Today after breakfast you'll check out and self-drive to your Hermanus accommodation. Once you've dropped off your luggage you'll then self-drive to The Great White House where your Marine Big 5 Eco Tour will commence.

Embark on a Marine Big 5 adventure in South Africa with Dyer Island Cruises, offering a safe and comfortable cruise to witness whales, dolphins, penguins, seals, and great white sharks in their natural habitat. Providing 5-star service, the company ensures guest safety with life jackets and weather jackets, accommodating all dietary requirements. The Dyer Island and Shark Alley area is renowned as the home of the Marine Big 5, making it a must-visit destination for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. Experienced tour guides enhance the journey, offering in-depth knowledge and assistance to make your trip informative and enjoyable.

Restaurant suggestion: Pear Tree Bistro
Pear Tree Restaurant was established in 2015 and has become a firm favourite of visitors and locals alike. With a focus on fresh, modern dishes and a wide range of dishes on the menu including many seafood, vegetarian and vegan options, Pear Tree offers casual dining with food that surpasses expectations.

Located on the Village Square in the heart of Hermanus, you can enjoy the warm ambience of the restaurant’s interior, or enjoy the sea air and beautiful views over Walker Bay at our alfresco tables.

Today after breakfast feel free to self explore the Hermanus Cliff Paths
Hermanus' cliff pathways, adorned with local art, extend over 12km along the rugged shoreline, offering a leisurely hike through fynbos in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve. Birdlife and wildlife abound, and during whale season (June to November), the paths provide excellent land-based whale watching opportunities. The southern right whales calve in Hermanus, offering thrilling glimpses of breaching pods. The Whale Crier, a unique feature, signals whale sightings with a distinctive kelp horn, adding charm to the experience. The paths showcase fragrant fynbos, panoramic views, and the possibility of spotting dassies or mongooses.

Today you will also partake in your next activity White Shark Cage Diving
You are put in the natural habitat to observe and learn what Great White Sharks are really like. On board, a Marine Biologist will teach you about this predator. Shark Cage Diving is family friendly and an educational environment surrounded by experts and researchers. Guests meet at The Great White House in Kleinbaai to register your wetsuit size, pre-trip safety briefing about what to expect during the trip to Dyer Island. You will anchor for 2 hours on average, but depends on shark activity, conditions, and number of divers. All trips are weather and tide dependent so launch times may vary and will be confirmed with you the day prior.

Restaurant Suggestion: Bientang’s Cave Seafood Restaurant
Nestled in a century-old cave on Walker Bay's shores, Bientang's Cave is an internationally acclaimed restaurant and premier whale-watching destination. Overlooking Africa's sole whale sanctuary, it provides year-round views of dolphins, Bryde's whales, Humpbacks, and orcas, with Southern Right whales gracing the shores from May to December. As the world's finest land-based whale-watching restaurant, diners on the deck enjoy seafood, Cape wines, and close encounters with majestic creatures. Catering to diverse preferences, Bientang's Cave offers a unique setting for special occasions amid the stunning Marine Reserves of Western Cape.

Today after breakfast and check out you'll self drive to Knysna. Your first activity in Knysna will be Knysna Heads Eco Experience FD
Experience the wonders of the Featherbed Nature Reserve on Knysna's Western Head, part of the Garden Route. Immerse yourself in the flourishing indigenous fynbos and coastal forests, observing birds, insects, and small animals in their natural habitat. Discover diverse plant species such as fynbos, succulent groundcovers, emerald grass, bulbs, and shrubs. Take a ferry ride across the Knysna Lagoon, followed by a 4x4 journey to the reserve's viewpoints. A specialized guide will share insights into history, fauna, and flora. Choose to embark on a guided 2.2km walk through coastal forests and ancient sea caves, concluding with a delightful buffet lunch in an outdoor restaurant beneath Milkwood trees.

Today is a free day in Knysna, here are some optional activities to tailor your day:
Knysna day at leisure
Today is free to enjoy some local activities in Knysna. Join the Featherbed Cruise to the nearby nature eco-reserve, or a lagoon cruise to hear about the history of the Knysna area and how it came to be. Famed for oysters, there are a number of restaurants where these delicious treats can be enjoyed.

The Knysna Heads are the guardians of the lagoon and can be viewed on a lagoon cruise, or by driving to the Heads viewpoint.

Knysna Elephant Park: Morning Walk
Activity Description

Experience an incredible scenic walk, meandering through the Park at elephant pace with panoramic views of the Outeniqua mountains and Knysna forest. Join our guides who will relate informative ‘elephant tales’ while you follow in the footsteps of these remarkable animals. Bookings Essential.

Limited availability – Only 2 walks per day are permitted
Comfortable walking shoes are advised
Reasonable fitness is required
Walks are weather permitting
Experience Duration: Your Elephant Experience will be approximately 45 minutes.

Tsitsikamma National Park
Tsitsikamma National Park, a component of the Garden Route National Park in South Africa, offers a diverse outdoor experience with dramatic coastal scenery, reefs, rivers, lush forests, and delicate Fynbos. Positioned at the top of the Garden Route National Park, it's a paradise for hiking and water sports enthusiasts. The park features pounding breakers of the Indian Ocean, temperate high forests, unspoiled Fynbos carpets, and age-old rivers carving paths to the sea. Stretching 5km out to sea, the park's boundary protects a rich marine ecosystem with inter-tidal life, reefs, and deep-sea fish.

KAYAK & LILO Adventure
The two-and-a-half-hour Kayak & Lilo Adventure up the Storms River Gorge in Tsitsikamma National Park is a popular and highly recommended experience. Participants explore the hidden world of the gorge, encountering bottomless pools, deep caves, and ancient forests. Depending on sea conditions, the adventure starts with either kayaking across the ocean and under the Storms River Suspension Bridge or taking a guided hike through the indigenous Tsitsikamma Forest to reach the suspension bridge. Kayaking up the majestic Storms River and floating deeper on lilos offer a unique perspective, culminating in optional cliff jumping for those seeking an adrenaline rush. Suitable for all ages, this family-friendly adventure is a must-not-miss experience in Tsitsikamma.

Today after breakfast and check out out you'll self drive to the Eastern Cape for your Safari adventure.

A typical day on safari
Times may vary slightly from summer to winter:

05:30am – Wake up call, coffee and light refreshments
06:00 to 09:00am – Depart for morning activity, i.e. game drive, game walk depending on camp selected.
09:30 to 11:00 am – Return to camp for cooked breakfast or brunch
11:30am to 13:00pm – Enjoy a massage, swim, bird watch, read, siesta, whilst some camps offer guided nature walks and other activities
13:00 - 14:00pm – Some camps will offer lunch depending on when breakfast / brunch was served
15:00pm – High tea is served (a selection of sweet and savoury snacks)
16:00 to 19:00pm- Depart for afternoon activity, i.e. game drive, game walk depending on camp selected.
18:00pm – Sundowners are served in a scenic spot usually on game drives
19:30pm – Dinner is served, in some instances possibly a boma.
21:00pm – Depending on camp go star gazing, listen to a lecture or enjoy a nightcap.

Today after breakfast and check out you'll self drive to you're next safari adventure in Port Alfred.

The Experience

Beach
Explore 7km of pristine unspoilt beach at your leisure, or simply lounge or picnic on the superbly located beach deck.

Cuisine
Expect only the freshest, most beautifully crafted and mouth-watering meals. Private Dining & Beach Picnics available.

Game Drives
Home to more than 220 bird and 30 animal species. Daily game drives offer sightings of giraffe, zebra and more...

Spa
Escape to a place of deep relaxation, accompanied by the soft sounds of authentic birdsong and flowing water.

Curio Shop
Cherish the memories of your stay, with our selection of Africa-inspired gifts and Oceana branded clothing.

Gym
Our compact gym provides guests with endless and spectacular views of the Indian Ocean and the Reserve.

Bush Walks
Start the day with a guided bush walk and get up close and person with the indigenous flora and fauna on the reserve.

Pool
Enjoy a clear view of the ocean waves breaking from our Africa shaped rock pool, situated at the lodge.

After breakfast and check out self-drive to to Port Elizabeth Airport to drop off your Car Rental and fly back to Cape Town International Airport.