Garden Route & Big 5 (7 Day Tour)

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Suggested itinerary:

Day 1: Cape Town to Oudtshoorn

Travel over the Klein Drakenstein Mountains to Worcester, nestled in the Breede River Valley, a lush fruit and wine growing region. Visit Kleinplasie, a living open air museum that depicts the lifestyle and farming methods of the early pioneers. Travel along the Breede River Valley enjoying wonderful scenery changing from lush orchards to dramatic mountain views. Continue towards the Little Karoo passing through Barrydale and Calitzdorp, well known for the quality Port it produces. Arrive in Oudtshoorn in time to explore the world famous Cango Caves with their magnificent chambers and limestone formations.

Day 2 : Oudtshoorn to Port Elizabeth

Traveling on the R62, you pass through Uniondale, home town of the famous hitchhiker ghost of South Africa. Then traveling through Uniondale gorge with its impressive rock formations before you swerve towards the Langkloof, the second biggest deciduous fruit growing region of South Africa and famous apple-country. Enjoy views of the lush fruit orchards as you travel past small villages through which the famous Apple Express transports apples for the export market to arrive in Port Elizabeth, founded by the 1820 British Settlers and the fifth largest city and harbor in SA.

Day 3 : Addo National Elephant Park and Shamwari Private Game Park - The Big 5

Leave Port Elizabeth in the early morning to reach the Addo Elephant National Park where you embark on a guided 2-hour game drive in a canvas-topped vehicle to meet the huge e elephants in this protective sanctuary, which is also home to the Black Rhino, the Cape Buffalo, and a recorded 170 bird species. After lunch set off to Shamwari, malaria-free private game reserve, for a late afternoon / evening game drive in an open-topped vehicle with an experienced tour guide in search of the Big 5; Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Rhino and Elephant. The evening ends with a feast served outdoors under the African sky. Lion sighting on the reserve is very good, cheetah sightings are fair and hyena sightings are great at night.

Day 4 : Shamwari to Knysna

The early morning game drive in Shamwari starts the day, enabling us to see some more of Africa's wildlife, including cheetah, hippo, zebra, giraffe, hyena and numerous antelope, baboons, monkeys and birds. Then a hearty breakfast before we bid farewell to this beautiful game reserve and continue our journey towards Knysna. An optional 216 meter bungi jump experience; otherwise view the brave of heart.

Day 5 : Knysna to Tsitsikamma Coastal Park and Back Plettenberg Bay, playground of the rich, where we make a spectacular detour from the main road through the Groot River and Bloukrantz Passes, traveling in the heart of ancient, mysterious and primeval indigenous forests. Visit the beautiful Tsitsikamma Coastal Park where we embark on a leisurely stroll to the suspension bridge at the Storms River mouth. See the ancient Outeniqua Yellowwood Tree that was growing when Europe was still caught in the dark ages. Return to Knysna for some leisure time.

Day 6 : Knysna Environment

Knysna Lagoon is where you catch the ferry ride to the unique Featherbed Private Nature Reserve, a South African Natural Heritage Sight, for a spectacular 4-hour eco-experience, which includes a Unimog drawn trailer and drive up to the top of the Reserve with an experienced guide. The reserve is home to, the beautifully colored Knysna Loerie, the Blue Duiker , Cape Mountain Tortoises, Blue Cranes (South Africa's National Bird), White Breasted cormorant and Bushbuck. Enjoy a fish barbeque for lunch before returning for some leisure time in which to explore the many fascinating arts and crafts shops.

Day 7 : Knysna to Cape Town

Return to Cape Town, stopping at Mossel Bay to visit the Maritime Museum where the replica of the Caravel in which the Portuguese navigator, Bartholomew Diaz, sailed around the Cape of Good Hope in 1488, is on view. We also visit the old Post Office Tree that served as a mailbox to the various Portuguese navigators in the 16th century. Traveling through rolling farmlands, arrive in Swellendam, an 18th century frontier town. As you come to the end of our journey, the open farmlands once again make way for the rugged and beautiful mountains. Travel through the lush fruit growing area of Elgin and Grabouw to finally descend the Sir Lowry's Pass with a final and dramatic view over the Hottentots Holland Mountains and Table Mountain in the far distance.