SOUTHERN REGION TOUR ITINERARY & PLANNING SHEET – 15 Days / 14 Nights​

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SOUTHERN REGION TOUR ITINERARY & PLANNING SHEET – 15 Days / 14 Nights
[Tour Code REG/15-202101A]

Day 1 ~ ARRIVAL AT CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (CTN) 

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be welcomed by our Guide and then entertained by traditional African music & dancers (depending on time of arrival) before being transferred to your hotel.

If time permits an Afternoon Orientation drive through the City of Cape Town 

Accommodation –  Radisson Blu Hotel, Cape Town ★★★★

Day 2 ~ THE CAPE OF STORMS

Depart on a full-day tour of the Cape Peninsula driving along the Atlantic seaboard, via Hout Bay where you may opt for a cruise to Seal Island (also playground for the Great White Shark) to view these….. and smell these playful mammals, We visit the Cape Point Nature reserve and then stop to view the Penguins at Boulders Beach. Drive through the historical Naval village of Simon’s Town. 

 

Accommodation – Radisson Blu Hotel, Cape Town ★★★★ 

Day 3 ~  EXPLORE THE CITY  – SIGHTSEEING GALORE

Today everyone can explore the City with the Hop On- Hop Bus and choose their own routes and stops. With over 30 stops, and taking you to over 50 of Cape Town’s top attractions, the bus allows you to hop-on and hop-off at your leisure. (Own Account)

Optional – Experience a unique and spectacular view of the “Mother City” at sunset as we take a sunset or night cruise out on the ocean & back to Cape Town harbor.  On your return to the V&A Waterfront, enjoy a three-course dinner on board.

Accommodation – Radisson Blu Hotel, Cape Town ★★★★

Day 4 ~ THE FREEDOM ISLAND & TABLE MOUNTAIN

Step aboard the cable-car for a gently yet thrilling ride up the slopes of Table mountain for an unparalleled view of Cape Town and the azure blue seas of the Atlantic Ocean stretching as far as the eye can see.  Opt for the new “Ride-a-Dine” trip to savor not only the breathtaking views, but also either a scrumptious hot breakfast or buffet lunch from the self-service restaurant.

On return to base, we board a ferry to Robben Island for a lifetime opportunity to visit the former Robben Island Maximum Security prison where the first black & former President Nelson R Mandela “Madiba” was held captive for the latter part of his incarceration. Once again, enjoy a view of the Cape Peninsula & Table Mountain.Accommodation – Radisson RED V&A Waterfront, Cape Town ★★★★

Day  5 ~  WINELANDS WITH A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Today we set out on an exciting journey of the beautiful Cape Winelands. We take the route to Franschoek for a visit to a world-renowned Wine Cellar. We also view the Huguenot Memorial Monument dedicated to the cultural influences that Huguenots have brought to the Cape Colony after their immigration during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Lunch will be enjoyed at a local restaurant of choice.

Back over the mountain to Stellenbosch where we stop at the Wilderer Distilleries one of the most prestigious producers of Grappa, Gin and Eau de Vie worldwide (optional by arrangement for a gin and food pairing)

Accommodation –  107 Dorpstraat Boutique Hotel, Stellenbosch ★★★★

Day 6 ~ THE MOST SOUTHERN TIP OF AFRICA & THE BIG 7

We head towards the Coast to Hermanus for a Whale Watching Excursion with Southern Right Charters. Hermanus famous as a favorite breeding site of the Southern Right Whale (whale sighting are seasonal). From there we rendezvous at Cape Augulhas, the most southern tip of Africa where the Indian & Atlantic oceans meet. Then we continue to the picturesque seaside town of Mossel Bay where Bartlomeus Dias set foot on 3 February 1488. 

This gracious family-owned and privately-operated game reserve is malaria-free and home to four of the Big 5 (lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino) as well as a host of antelope, including rare black impala, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, hippo and more.

Accommodation – Botlierskop Game Reserve, Mossel Bay ★★★★

Day 7 – GARDEN ROUTE TRANQUILLITY

A late rise due to our long stretch the previous day. Late morning we check out and then depart for the Dias Museum Complex in Mossel Bay & the Mossel Bay War Memorial.

For the Adventurous, take the World’s longest Over-Ocean Zipline (Own account). The ride stretches 1.1 km across the ocean and dare devils can reach a speed of up to 80km per hour from the top of the rocky cliffs above the Point to the landing platform 1100 metres below.

We make a quick halfway stop at George Shopping Mall to top up all the necessities before following the N2 towards Knysna nestled in the heart of the Garden Route (Southern Cape Coast) for our next stay over.

Accommodation –  Protea Hotel by Marriott Knysna Quays ★★★★

Day  8 ~ A ROMANTIC VIEW

After breakfast we will do some flea market shopping before boarding “The Benn” for a cruise on the Knysna lagoon and a view of “The Heads” as it guards the ebb & flow to the Indian Ocean. Alternatively, we will visit the Featherbed Nature Reserve where we hitch a ride on a tractor-trailer up the hill and follow the footsteps of the walking trail with a view of the ocean & lagoon entrance back to the Restaurant where we will enjoy a scrumptious lunch. 

If time & weather permits, Oyster tasting (at own cost) is on the cards in the afternoon before

Accommodation –  Protea Hotel by Marriott Knysna Quays ★★★★

Day 9/10 ~ PAST THE FOREST TO A SPECIAL GENE

An early morning rise for our road trip to the Tsitsikamma indigenous forest. On route we will visit the “Monkeyland” primate & birds of Prey sanctuary at Plettenberg Bay and the Bloukrans Bridge Bungee. It is one of the world’s highest commercial bridge bungees at 216 meters (709 ft.) above the Bloukrans River.

We continue via The Windy city of Port Elizabeth to another private Game Reserve. Pumba is home to the second known free-ranging, self-sustainable population of White Lions in Southern Africa. The reserve is home to a pride of White Lions, Tawny Coloured split gene Lions, some of which are wild born.

Pumba’s White Lion project objective was to establish a sustainable self-sufficient pride of Lions comprising of pure white and split gene animals, which has now been successfully achieved and is reinforced by being one of CNN’s Top 10 Safari destinations in the world

Our 2nd day in the Park is a full day 4×4 Safari Game Drive in Open Vehicles with an Experienced Ranger. Your day will be complemented with a delectable lunch and refreshments and the evenining a Traditional Boma Braai (Barbeque)

 Accommodation –  Pumba Game Reserve – Grahamstown ★★

Day 11 ~ THE HEARTLAND OF THE KAROO

After a delectable Boma braai the previous evening, we take a light breakfast after sunrise and then depart to explore more towns which are rich in political and historical narratives. 

First we stop at the Great Karoo heartland town of Cradock. The town boasts fine architecture and a number of important monuments and museums i.e. Tuishuise, Victoria Manor & Schreiner House.

If time permits we shall visit The Egg Rock outside the town. Egg Rock is just 8 km from Cradock on the R61 (Cradock to Tarkastad gravel road).  Take the N10 south

out of the centre of Cradock and the R61 turns off to the left almost immediately. A 10m high egg-shaped dolerite rock, weighing approximately 488 tons, precariously balanced on edge, on seemingly unstable material, with a piece missing on the southern side reputedly cleaved by lightning – circa 1937. Although the rock is near Cradock, a visit to it seems to place you thousands of kilometers from civilisation in the most restful part of the Karoo.

After lunch we travel via the Owl House in Nieu Bethesda to Graaff Reinet. After check in we drive to the Valley of Desolation. If weather permits we will travel by open Safari Vehicle. This breathtaking site is a short 14 km drive from the town. Sheer cliffs and precariously balanced columns of Dolerite rise 120 metres from the valley floor, against the timeless backdrop of the vast plains of the Camdeboo. This is the product of volcanic and erosive forces of nature over 100 million years.

Accommodation –  The Drostdy Hotel Graaff Reinet ★★★★

Day 12/13 ~ THE STARS OF THE RUGGED KAROO  

Take a scrumptious breakfast and at own pace explore the places of interest and Museums of which The Graaff-Reinet Museum or “Reinet House”, formerly a Dutch Reformed Church parsonage and The Anglo-Boer War Museum is recommended. We board and travel to the Jewel of The Klein (Little) Karoo town called Oudtshoorn, world renowned for its Ostrich industry. 

Dinner at the one of the highly rated Restaurants and a stroll through town and back to the hotel nearby.

The next morning we prepare to get dirty as we visit the Cango Caves. The Cango Caves are located in Precambrian limestones at the foothills of the Swartberg range near the town of Oudtshoorn, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The principal cave is one of the country’s finest, best known, and most popular tourist caves and attracts many visitors from overseas. We enjoy lunch at the Caves Restaurant and thereafter visit a working Ostrich farm & the Black Mountain Gin distillery.  If time permits we shall visit the Wildlife Ranch. Dinner at the Hotel.

After Dinner we embark on a night under the Stars and experience the Klein Karoo Sky up close as we head up the Swartberg Mountain. This is African big sky country. One of the highlights of being in the Karoo is to gaze up and marvel at the star studded skies at night. Fewer skies could be more beautiful and awe inspiring

Accommodation –  Surval Boutique Olive Estate, Oudtshoorn ★★★★

 

Day 14 ~ ROUTE 62 – A LESSER OPTION

After lunch we follow the direction Route 62. Cape Route 62 prompts associations with the legendary byway, Route 66, connecting the urban and rural communities between Chicago and Los Angeles.

This scenic route passes through farming towns such as Calitzdorp, Ladismith and its majestic Towerkop, historic communities or Amalienstein, Zoar and the fruit growing and wine producing towns of Barrydale, and Montagu where we will overnight.

En route we will stop at the Ronnie’s Sex Shop near the town of Barrydale for a refresher. Locals like to tell the story of Ronnie’s Shop, which Ronnie was fixing up to be a farm stand. During construction Ronnie’s friends played a prank on him by painting the word “sex” on his sign. Instead of a farm stand, he left the sign as it was and opened this pub.

Farewell Dinner

Accommodation –  African Game Lodge, Montagu ★★★★

Day 15 ~ THE FINAL GOOD-BYE TEMPTING YOUR TASTE BUDS

A relaxing morning with a short hike or game drive (optional).

Late morning who continue on the last section of Route 62 before entering the town of Robertson where we will visit the Klipdrift Brandy Distillery?

Klipdrift is not only known for its hospitality and generosity, but also for the spirit in which one becomes friends – even though you’ve only just met. A visit to Klipdrift will not be complete without a bite to eat at the Klipdrift Burger in particular is famous for its unique Klipdrift twist. Tours and tastings are held daily and there is also a selection of Klipdrift cocktails to experience

Late afternoon we transfer to the Cape Town International Airport for your return flight to America

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Thank you for visiting Southern Africa. Please tell your friends, family & colleagues of Africa’s beauty in a natural unspoilt environment.

Bon voyage / Hamba gathle / Veilige reis  / Good bye

  • Routes may be changed to suit traveler’s requirements or preferences
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  • All attractions/sightseeing events as described in the itinerary are included in the tour price. ONLY additional excursions will be for the traveler’s account.
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