Cape Town And The Garden Route
Cape Town And The Garden Route
Cape Town And The Garden Route
9 Days Starting and ending in Cape Town
Visiting: Cape Town, Cape Winelands, Stellenbosch, Hermanus Region, Hermanus, Swellendam, Mossel Bay, Garden Route, Knysna, Tsitsikamma, Tsitsikamma National Park and Storms River, Eastern Cape, Route 62, Oudtshoorn Ostrich Farm, Cango Caves, Oudtshoorn
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SAE1L
Recommended For:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
10 - 51
Age range:
10-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
This tour of sunny South Africa hits all the high notes. Start with a 2-night stay in iconic Cape Town. Seek out the Winelands, explore the city. Perhaps add a trip up Table Mountain or Robben Island to the list. Spot whales and sharks and stop over in southern coast hamlets like Hermanus and Mossel Bay. See the African wildlife and more in Knysna and hit the trails in Tsitsikamma. Encounter the arid beauty of the Karoo and up the ante with adrenaline activities along the way. This is RSA at her best!
If you'd like to experience South Africa's incredible wildlife in the Kruger National Park, in addition to Cape Town and the Garden Route, consider the South Africa Escape tour - click here.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Start Of Tour In Cape Town
Location: Cape Town
Meals Included: Dinner
Wamkelekile e iKapa! Welcome to Cape Town! The Mother City is South Africa's oldest city and one of three official capital cities. After meeting your tour leader at the hotel, join them and the tour group on a Cape Town City Tour! The city is a bustling metropolis with an array of sights and attractions. This exciting driving tour will reveal beautiful and important sights such as Signal Hill, District 6 and the Castle of Good Hope. Set foot in the Company's Gardens (the oldest garden in SA!) and the colourful Cape Malay Bo-Kaap region before heading back to the hotel. This evening, enjoy an included welcome dinner!
Take a driving and walking tour of Cape Town: This Cape Town city tour showcases the historic heart of the city. It’s a place with many influences that include Cape Malay and Xhosa communities, as well as a Dutch colonial heritage. The afternoon drive shows off some of Cape Town's most scenic landmarks. The Atlantic coast and Table Mountain National Park are very beautiful at this time of day.
Welcome dinner: Enjoy an included welcome dinner this evening - the perfect opportunity to get to know your Expat Explore tour leader and fellow travellers from all over the world!
Day 2: Cape Town: Free Day - Peninsula Tour
Location: Cape Town
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cape Town is yours to explore today! Choose from a variety of optional activities - Cape Town has something for every kind of interest. A popular option is to join a day trip to Cape Point and the Cape Peninsula. Here, visit the Cape Point Nature Reserve, the Cape Point Lighthouse, the most south-western point of Africa, and see beautiful landscapes filled with Cape Fynbos. Also make stops at Kalk Bay and Boulders Beach Penguin Colony. More activities include visiting the District 6 Museum, the Two Oceans Aquarium, the stunning Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and the Constantia Wine Valley - which is a short 20 minute drive from Cape Town and home to a number of award-winning wine estates!
Day 3: Cape Winelands - Stellenbosch - Hermanus Region
Location: Cape Winelands, Stellenbosch, Hermanus Region
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Today it’s off to the Cape Winelands! South Africa has 100,000+ hectares of vineyards and the wine industry is the world’s oldest outside of Europe. Top wine varieties include Chardonnay, Shiraz, and Pinotage, which is unique to SA. After breakfast, drive to Stellenbosch, a beautiful university town that is full of charm and history! Here, enjoy a special wine tasting. A wine specialist leads a tasting of local wines and tells us about South African varietals. Then, enjoy a tasty lunch in the vineyards. After lunch, explore the Cape Dutch architecture, boutiques and art galleries. Before leaving, enjoy one more wine tasting. Finally, visit the coastal town of Hermanus before heading to the hotel for the night.
Cape Winelands wine tasting: Enjoy two wine tastings including lunch at a wine farm in the famous winelands region of the Western Cape.
Explore Stellenbosch: Take some free time to explore the historical university town, admire the mix of Cape Dutch, Georgian and Victorian architecture, the tree-lined streets and relaxing coffee shops.
Visit Hermanus: Savour the stunning coastal views as the tour makes its way to Hermanus. Enjoy free time to explore this delightful town on the Cape Whale Coast Route - if you’re lucky you’ll even be able to spot whales from the beach!
Day 4: Hermanus Region - Swellendam - Mossel Bay
Location: Hermanus, Swellendam, Mossel Bay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, enjoy free time before heading for the Garden Route! Join an optional shark cage diving experience to see great white sharks up close! En route to Swellendam, enjoy a lunch stop in Riviersonderend. In Swellendam, explore the town’s incredible architecture. Outside Albertinia, visit a Cape Aloe Vera factory. Try aloe tea and body products made from this medicinal plant and learn about its many uses. Next stop, Mossel Bay, a popular coastal village. On the way to the hotel, stop at Pinnacle Caves. Fossils of 170 000+ years have been found at this ancient site. Enjoy an included dinner at the hotel tonight.
Discover Swellendam: Enjoy some free time in the third oldest town in the Republic of South Africa. Check out the incredible architecture of the Dutch Reformed Church - a striking mix of Italian Baroque and French Gothic influences, with an Eastern dome and Cape Dutch facades.
Visit an Aloe Vera farm: Stop at one of the original aloe factories in the Hessequa region. Sample various Aloe Vera products, walk around in the indigenous garden (with 17 species of aloe) and drink some Aloe tea!
Explore Pinnacle Point Caves in Mossel Bay: Visit Pinnacle Point Caves, a Provincial Heritage Site where human bones of between 40,000 and 170,000 years ago have been discovered. The discoveries have led to further studies by the Institute of Human Origins.
Day 5: Garden Route: Game Drive - Knysna - Tsitsikamma
Location: Garden Route, Knysna, Tsitsikamma
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
A South African wildlife experience awaits at Botlierskop Private Game Reserve. Here, enjoy the chance to see wildebeest, rhinos, giraffes, elephants and lions on a real-life safari with the group! Spend lunch time in Knysna, the heart of the Garden Route. Get dropped off at the harbour where you can explore or eat at a local restaurant. The local seafood, especially the famous Knysna oysters, are highly recommended! After lunch, enjoy some more animal encounters! Choose between two optional excursions: roam free with the monkeys at Monkeyland, or visit Birds of Eden, the world's largest free flight aviary and bird sanctuary.
Botlierskop Game Drive: Get to know the Garden Route wildlife on an open vehicle safari truck in Botlierskop Private Game Reserve. Sightings include buffalo, zebra, giraffe, golden wildebeest, hippos, rhinoceros, lions and more than 200 bird species!
Explore Knysna: Experience the laid-back yet stylish vibe of Knysna, a quaint town known as "the beating heart" of the Garden Route. Get off at the Knysna waterfront - an idyllic location with unique and trendy stores, water activities and the most divine dining options.
Day 6: Tsitsikamma National Park & Storms River - Eastern Cape
Location: Tsitsikamma National Park and Storms River, Eastern Cape
Meals Included: Breakfast
Get adventurous and spend time outdoors in the Garden Route National Park! The Tsitsikamma forest is filled with rivers, gorges and mountains. There are lots of exhilarating things to do in this beautiful place. Take a zipline tour through the trees or bungee jump off the Bloukrans Bridge - the highest commercial bungee jump in the world! Or, stay on the ground to learn more about the region's fauna and flora. Drive to the Storms River Mouth in Tsitsikamma National Park where you can hike through the forest, take a seaside stroll and cross the breathtaking suspension bridge. Enjoy free time this evening to relax, or grab a beer from the local microbrewery or pub in Storm’s River.
Tsitsikamma National Park and Storms River Mouth: A suspension bridge and lookout trail that meanders along the most spectacular ocean and forest landscapes. The highlight of the walk is a famous 77m long suspension bridge over the Storms River Mouth. As you walk, keep an eye out for the Knysna Loerie, Cape Clawless Otter and dolphins.
Day 7: Route 62 - Oudtshoorn Ostrich Farm - Cango Caves Experience
Location: Route 62, Oudtshoorn Ostrich Farm, Cango Caves
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A whole new landscape unfolds as the tour heads into a semi-desert area today. The Karoo is a unique place known as the 'land of the thirst'. The scenic Route 62 takes the coach through Langkloof. Here, have a look at the many fruit and vegetable farms along the road and among the foothills of the epic Kouga and Tsitsikamma mountains. In Oudtshoorn, visit a working ostrich farm to take a tour and learn more about the world’s biggest birds. Next, it’s time to take a heritage tour of the magnificent Cango Caves. These dripstone caverns are over 20 million years old! This evening brings a delicious Karoo dinner at the lodge.
Visit a Klein Karoo ostrich farm: Take a guided tractor tour which covers the history of ostrich farming, farming practices and the breeding cycle of these special Karoo ostriches. See ostriches and adorable chicks up-close! A delicious traditional lunch is also included in this experience.
Visit the Cango Caves: Enjoy a visit to the historic Cango Caves near Oudtshoorn. The caves are one of South Africa's hidden treasures and are millions of years old. See the large chambers and learn more about the caves’ cultural and historical heritage.
Karoo Dinner: Eating and drinking in the Karoo is an experience in itself! On the menu tonight are a variety of dishes prepared the traditional way: Braaivleis (BBQ), boerewors (South African sausage), potato salad, fresh seasonal veg and an iconic South African dessert. You might also get to taste true Karoo lamb. It has a distinctly herby flavour due to the fragrant shrubs and grasses sheep naturally feed on in this region. Either way, this is sure to be a sensational culinary experience!
Day 8: Oudtshoorn - Route 62 - Cape Winelands - Cape Town
Location: Oudtshoorn, Route 62, Cape Winelands, Cape Town
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, travel down Route 62 and take in the scenery along the way. After a quick comfort stop at a quirky road stall along the way, enjoy an included lunch in the Robertson area, known as the valley of wine and roses! Then, head to Paarl for another culinary adventure of cheese and wine tasting at a local vineyard. After a full day in the spectacular winelands, head back to Cape Town and settle into the hotel for the evening.
Lunch in Robertson: Experience this stunning wine-producing region. It’s known as the valley of wine and roses and sits at the heart of the Route 62 wine route.
Cheese and wine tasting in Paarl: Sample some of South Africa’s most delicious cheese and wine during a stop in Paarl in the Cape Winelands!
Day 9: End Of Tour In Cape Town
Location: Cape Town
Meals Included: Breakfast
This is the last day of this wonderful tour of Cape Town and the Garden Route. Enjoy one last breakfast with your new tour buddies at the hotel. Be sure to swap contact details so that you can stay in touch once you are back at home. Don’t forget to share your amazing tour memories with us using the hashtag #ExpatExplore!
What's Included
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Accommodation
8 nights in 2, 3 & 4* hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms
Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability) -
Transport
Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
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Meals
8 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 4 Dinners *Vegetarian options available for all meals on request
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Experiences
Take a driving and walking tour of the city of Cape Town
Enjoy a welcome dinner in Cape Town
Taste South African wine in the Cape Winelands
Explore the historic university town of Stellenbosch
Visit Hermanus on the Cape Whale Coast route
Discover Swellendam; South Africa’s third-oldest town
Visit an Aloe Vera Farm in the Hessequa region
Explore Pinnacle Point Caves in Mossel Bay
Embark on a Game Drive at Botlierskop Game Drive
Explore the beautiful Knysna Waterfront
Explore Tsitsikamma National Park and visit Storms River Mouth
Visit a Klein Karoo ostrich farm
Explore the Cango Caves
Sit down for a traditional Great Karoo meal
Enjoy lunch in the Robertson; a beautiful wine-producing destination
Taste local cheese and wine in Paarl
What's Not Included
International flights
Travel to the start point and from the endpoint is not included. We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best deals on international flights.
Travel insurance
For a relatively small price, travel insurance provides you with the peace of mind so that you can enjoy your tour without any worries.
All passengers travelling on an Expat Explore tour are required to have valid travel insurance cover and you are responsible for arranging your own insurance. Click here for more information.
Mode of Transport
- Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
Accommodation
- 8 nights in 2, 3 & 4* hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms
- Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability)
Traveller Comfort - *COACH* tours
We welcome all travellers on our tours but we would like to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. In light of this, please ensure that you are happy with the below information and level of fitness required.
Expat Explore tries to be as accommodating as possible, however, our tours are unfortunately not designed for people travelling with wheelchairs or severe mobility issues.
Our tours are fast paced because they are designed for you to see the most a destination has to offer. We also want to ensure that you explore as much as possible, which may require long periods without stops on the coach as we drive to a new destination.
We offer walking tours in most cities (up to 3 hours), and a wheelchair is not always a practical option as there are often cobbled streets and stairs on these tours.
For travellers in wheelchairs, you will only be able to store your wheelchair under the coach with the other luggage. Thus, on the long drives between cities you will not necessarily have access to your wheelchair if we make a quick bathroom stop along the way. Please note that travelling with a wheelchair could prove difficult as our coaches don't have wheelchair lifts, as such you will need to be able to board and alight the coach on your own.
With regards to our accommodation, not all hotels have lifts and this means potentially having to carry bags up and down stairs.
For more information regarding traveller fitness please see our Terms and Conditions.
Check out our Q&As
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
If you are travelling alone there is no compulsory charge - you will share a twin room with another passenger of the same gender. There is an optional single supplement/private room upgrade available for single travellers who wish to have a private room. This can be added at the time of booking or by contacting our team.
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Children on tour?
Our tours are not suitable for young children which is why we have a minimum age limit of 10 years old. However, at the discretion of Expat Explore we may consider younger children on certain tours if they meet certain criteria and a request is received in writing via email. Minors (between 10 and 18 years of age) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who accepts full responsibility for them. Unaccompanied minors will not be accepted on tour. Expat Explore reserves the right to decline any booking at our discretion. Any minor (between 10 and 18 years of age) is priced the same as an adult.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
The health and safety of our travellers and employees are our top priority. Which means, when you travel with us, our enhanced hygiene protocols will ensure you do so in a safe and responsible way - ask for details of current policies.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 2005
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
At Expat Explore we value responsible travel and are committed to exploring the world consciously and kindly. We are proud to make responsible travel possible with a number of our sustainable travel practices!
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
Relate is a South African based not-for-profit organisation that Expat Explore supports. The group aims to help those less fortunate create better lives for themselves through a variety of fundraising initiatives. On our South Africa tours, each passenger will receive an Expat Explore branded Relate bracelet. We donate the cost of these bracelets to our chosen Relate charity: the Nelson Mandela Sc
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Free Date Changes
Expat Explore Travel allows you to make 5 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 76 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Expat Explore Travel requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 45 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of expat explore travel charges.
Up to 45 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 44 days before tour starts: Forfeit 40% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.