Cape Town to Port Elizabeth via the Garden Route
Day One: Depart Cape Town
After an early morning departure from Cape Town, we'll travel along Sir Lowry's Pass, with its magnificent views from the top, to Grabouw and Elgin, a lush landscape surrounded by majestic mountains.
Our journey continues to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. The area has largely been untouched and unexplored, with its rugged coastline being the graveyard for many a ship. The historic Cape Agulhas Lighthouse is considered the icon that signifies the tip of Africa and creates unforgettable memories. After this thrilling experience, we continue via historic Swellendam, the third oldest town in South Africa, to Mossel Bay, from where the Garden Route extends to the Storms River in the east. Overnight in Mossel Bay.
Day Two: Mossel Bay - Oudtshoorn
After breakfast, we continue our journey to Oudtshoorn, the world's ostrich capital and home to the spectacular limestone caverns of the Cango Caves. Visit an ostrich farm for a guided tour. Enjoy a wine tasting at a local wine estate before taking a tour of the Cango Caves, one of the world's great natural wonders, sculpted by nature through the ages. Overnight in Oudtshoorn. [Breakfast & Dinner]
Day Three: Oudtshoorn - Knysna
After breakfast, travel over the Outeniqua Pass to George, the sixth oldest town in South Africa, with many historical landmarks like the Slave Tree and the King Edward VII Library building, the best example of Edwardian architecture in the town. The tour travels via Wilderness, an attractive holiday resort, to Knysna, known as the oyster box of South Africa, nestling on the banks of a beautiful lagoon in the heart of the Garden Route. Enjoy a lagoon cruise to the Featherbed Nature Reserve (weather permitting), where you can take a trailer ride to the top of the Western Head to enjoy panoramic views of the town and lagoon, returning for lunch. The afternoon is at leisure to further explore this charming town set around a natural harbour lagoon. Overnight in Knysna. [Breakfast & Lunch]
Day Four: Knysna
Today, you'll have the opportunity to explore the natural beauty of the Knysna area. Visit the Forest Legends Museum, which exhibits tools and household items used by the woodcutters, the colourful Old Suzie steam engine that was used to generate power, and the stately Old Forester's House, home of forester David Ernest Hutchins, who was the first person to manage the indigenous forest sustainably.
Afterwards, you'll have the opportunity to visit Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary, where you can see a variety of primates roaming free in the forest. This award-winning sanctuary is well known for its efforts to rehabilitate and free previously caged primates. A portion of the trip price of this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience goes towards ensuring that these already endangered species can survive and reproduce for a future reintroduction into the wild. The experience directly advances UN Global Goal 15: Life on Land.
The tour continues to the famous Eastern Head, where you will enjoy spectacular views of the Knysna Heads (weather permitting). Afterwards, you'll travel to Brenton on Sea, a breathtaking holiday location and a nature lover's paradise with its unspoilt beaches and peaceful surroundings. The remainder of the afternoon will be at leisure. Overnight in Knysna. [Breakfast]
Day Five: Knysna - Tsitsikamma
Travel to Plettenberg Bay, the jewel of the Garden Route, before visiting Birds of Eden sanctuary, the world's largest single free-flight aviary. The sanctuary was developed to create a safe environment to release an extensive collection of free-flight African birds.
Our journey continues to Bloukrans Bridge, the highest single-span arch bridge in the world, currently offering the highest commercially operated bungy jump. Visit the Tsitsikamma National Park and Storms River Mouth (weather permitting). Tsitsikamma National Park incorporates 80 km of rocky coastline with spectacular sea and landscapes, a remote mountainous region with secluded valleys covered in mountain fynbos, and high temperate forests with deep river gorges leading down to the sea. Overnight in the Tsitsikamma area. [Breakfast]
Day Six: Tsitsikamma - Port Elizabeth
Head eastwards along the Tsitsikamma Forest to Port Elizabeth, known as the "friendly city" with a beautiful climate. Enjoy a city orientation tour of Port Elizabeth, where the tour ends on arrival. [Breakfast]
Guests may disembark, on request, at Port Elizabeth Airport.
