Garden Route Luxury Adventure Safari

July 13, 2017July 13, 2017admin

Summary of this Budget Safari Package

An authentic, well-priced Garden Route adventure offering added comfort and luxury. Travel in a custom-built 4×4 overland vehicle with air-conditioning, an onboard toilet, reclining leather seats, extra space and other luxury features.

A maximum of 12 guests journey through the Garden Route of South Africa together, on this small group overland safari. Accommodation is in en-suite rooms at unique and charming lodges, dinner and breakfast included. A well curated selection of activities are included on the itinerary, from game viewing in Addo Elephant National Park and hiking in Tsitsikamma National Park to relaxing on Natures Valley beach and exploring Cango Caves.

Itinerary for this Tour

Day 1: Greater Addo Elephant National Park – South Africa

This morning you are collected from the selected hotel in Port Elizabeth, a major coastal city in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

Leaving the port city we head to Addo Elephant Park, one of South Africa’s leading national parks in terms of big game viewing. As its name suggests Addo Elephnat National Park is famous for its high concentration of elephants, hosting over 550 of these giant mammals.

Today the park incorporates both terrestrial and marine ecosystems covering about 1 640km² of unspoilt wilderness. We embark on an afternoon game drive, searching out big game and experiencing the wild African bushveld. The Big Five are found in Addo (elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo and leopard), along with cheetahs, endangered African wild dogs and spotted hyenas. Antelopes are also plentiful, including springbok, red hartebeest, eland, gemsbok, kudu and bushbuck, and zebras.

Tonight we stay at a restored colonial estate in the countryside near Addo Park.

Included Highlight: Afternoon game drive in Addo National Park (in tour vehicle)
Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Tsitsikamma National Park & Garden Route – South Africa

An early stat today as we drive west to Jeffrey’s Bay. Nicknamed J’Bay, this coastal town is a world-famous surfing destination, drawing surfers from across the planet. We stop briefly in J’Bay, popping into the small Surfing Museum or simply watching the waves break.

Then we drive into the Garden Route area of South Africa. This incredibly scenic stretch of the southern coast is an outdoor enthusiast’s playground, with tranquil lagoons, lazy rivers, stunning beaches, forests, fynbos and majestic mountains.

Our next stop is Tsitsikamma. The Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area is one of the largest marine protected areas and the first marine national park in Africa, forming part of the Garden Route National Park. We spend two nights in the hamlet of Storms River, on the fringes of Tsitsikamma Forest. This afternoon we enjoy some locally brewed craft beer in Storms River.

Included Highlight: Beer tasting
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3: Tsitsikamma National Park – South Africa

Into Tsitsikamma National Park we go. This morning we walk the first leg of the famous Otter Trail, one of the most popular hikes in South Africa.

We hike from the Storms River Mouth area along the rocky coastline to a beautiful waterfall. The waterfall plunges into natural pools right next to the crashing waves – an ideal spot for an invigorating swim.

For those wanting a less strenuous morning, there are shorter and easier walks in the area. Take a stroll along the boardwalk at Storms River Mouth, bird watching and taking in the ocean views, even crossing the suspension bridge over Storms River.

Later in the day you can do a zip-line tour in the indigenous coastal forests. This exciting optional activity offers lovely aerial views of the lush forests as you zip between the tall treetops of the canopy.

Included Highlight: Tsitsikamma National Park entry and hike with your guide
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4: Tsitsikamma to Knysna (Garden Route) – South Africa

A whole day for exploring the nature lover’s haven of the Garden Route.

Spend time in the evergreen forests and unique fynbos vegetation indigenous to South Africa. Lie on a pretty sandy beach, swim in the Indian Ocean and choose from a host of exciting activities. For the biggest adrenalin boost, go bungee jumping off the Bloukrans Bridge – one of the highest commercial jumps in the world! Less hair-raising options include visiting the Birds of Eden and Monkey Town sanctuary to get a close look at various exotic birds, primates and other animals.

We start the day at Natures Valley where you can hike in the coastal forests or relax on the unspoilt beach. From there the tour vehicle travels to various attractions on a set schedule, enabling you to move between destinations. Your guide can help you to plan activities for the day to ensure you get the most out of your time on the Garden Route.

Spend time relaxing on the scenic Keurbooms Lagoon beach in Plettenberg Bay, where we meet up later this afternoon. Tonight we have dinner at a local restaurant (own account) on the Garden Route.

Included Highlight: Morning visit to Natures Valley and afternoon at Keurbooms Beach
Optional Activity: Bungee Jumping, Birds of Eden, Monkey Town
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Knysna to Oudtshoorn – South Africa

Wake up beside the tranquil Knysna Lagoon in the heart of the Garden Route. The morning is set aside for enjoying activities in the area and exploring on your own.

Options include embarking on an ocean safari to view whales and other marine life along the coast. Whale watching is especially rewarding here during winter (July to November), when migrating whales grace the shores of South Africa. Sea kayaking is another great way to get out into nature and potentially see marine animals up close. Alternatively you can hire a surf board or simply laze on one of the sandy beaches. Land-based activities include hiking, township tours and visiting the charming towns of Knysna or Plettenberg Bay for coffee, sightseeing and shopping.

This afternoon we say goodbye to the scenic coastline, travelling over the lofty Outeniqua Mountains into the Klein Karoo. We head to Oudtshoorn, in the Klein Karoo, which translates from Afrikaans to ‘Little Karoo’. The Karoo town of Oudtshoorn is famous for two main things – the large number of ostriches found here and the Cango Caves. Today we stop at one of the ostrich farms to see these large, flightless birds up close.

Included Highlight : Ostrich farm visit
Optional Activities: Ocean safari, township tour, sea kayaking and whale watching (in season)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6: Oudtshoorn to Paarl – South Africa

Today we get to experience the underground wonders of the Karoo on a guided tour of Cango Caves. This extensive cave system dates back about 20 million years providing a fascinating geological journey through limestone caverns and subterranean passageways.

After exploring the magnificent Cango Caves, we head west along the Route 62. This road takes us through the arid Klein Karoo and on into the Boland Region of the Cape Winelands. Along the way we stop at a farm stall or two, where you can try homemade treats, baked goods and preserves the region is famous for producing.

We spend our last night at an elegant lodge in the Drakenstein Mountains near Paarl. This evening we celebrate our adventure together with a Cape Malay in authentic South African style.

Activity Package: Cango Caves Heritage Tour / Cape Malay experience and dinner
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Paarl to Cape Town – South Africa

The last morning of our Garden Route Luxury Adventure is spent soaking up the idyllic scenery of the Cape Winelands and indulging our senses.

We drive to Stellenbosch, a charming old town with numerous historical sights (monuments, colonial era buildings and museums) and delightful cafes, shops and art galleries. The town features one of the top universities in South Africa and is located in the heart of the Cape Winelands, with renowned wine farms in the vicinity. After walking through the oak-lined streets of Stellenbosch we do a wine tasting on one of the established farms in the area.

After tasting some of the fine wines of the Western Cape we travel to our last stop – Cape Town. Late this afternoon we arrive in the picturesque and vibrant city of Cape Town, where our magical journey comes to an end.

Included Highlight: Self-Guided walk through Stellenbosch / wine tasting

This itinerary has been written with the Activity Package items included. If you wish to participate in all the activities listed, you will need to purchase the Activity Package.

Luxury Adventure Transport

This Luxury Namibia Adventure is conducted in a new state-of-the-art, custom built 4×4 vehicle. The luxury overland vehicles comfortably accommodate a maximum of 12 guests, keeping the group size on safari small. These purpose-designed vehicles provide extra space and amenities, offering a more luxurious safari experience with all the adventure, but in added style and comfort.

Features include an onboard toilet and a water filtration system for purified drinking water throughout the journey. The vehicle has reclining leather seats that rotate 180 degrees, lock into your desired direction (windows, front etc). Each seat has overhead air-conditioning vents that can be independently operated for individual control of air flow and temperature.

Every seat also features a USB port panel for charging your electronic devices and there is a reading light above each seat. Each seat has a safety deposit unit with individual key code access, for storing your passports, phones and smaller valuables.