Southern Splendour
Day 1: Arrival Cape Town International Airport
Arrive at Cape Town International Airport where you are met by your Fairfield Tours tourguide. Travel the breathtakingly scenic route via Lion’s Neck to Camps Bay. Then travel along the Twelve Apostles and Llandudno to the "Republic of Hout Bay". Embark on a boat trip to Duiker Island to view the seal colony frolicking in the sea around the island and various sea birds. View the sentinel from where guards watched the horizon for approaching enemy war ships in the early days of the Cape Colony. (Weather permitting; alternatively to Duiker Island is World of Birds - one of the world's largest bird sanctuaries.) Transfer to your hotel where you check in. Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Overnight: Park Inn Greeenmarket, Cape Town (BB)
Day 2: Peninsula Tour
Enjoy breakfast. Proceed to Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, forming part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, which encloses more than 4500 plant species (fynbos) (the highest concentration of different species in such a small area anywhere in the world). As the funicular take you to the Lighthouse at Cape Point, imagine for a moment what it must have been like to sail round this point in the days of Dutch and Portuguese seafarers, in their small sailing ships, bringing spices and silk to Europe from the Far East. This is where the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean supposedly meet.
The tour then takes you to Simon's Town to visit the Jackass Penguin colony (also known as African Penguins), one of the only two breeding colonies on the mainland, at Boulders. Enjoy lunch at Bertha’s Grill and Coffee House (own account).
Your next stop is at the famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, the third most popular tourist attraction in the Western Cape. Kirstenbosch is the oldest and largest botanical garden in South Africa, and was established on 01 July 1913 through an act of Parliament as a result of a bequest of Cecil Rhodes to the peoples of a unified South Africa (camphor and fig trees planted on his request are still to be seen as well as an almond hedge planted by 150 French shipwrecked people who were given food and shelter by Dutch Governor Jan Van Riebeeck some 340 years ago). Today, over 22,000 indigenous plants, and a research unit and library, attract researchers and botanists from all over the world. The gardens are magnificent, glorying in lush shrubs and exuberant blooms, which trail off into fynbos, covering a huge expanse of the rugged eastern slopes and wooded ravines of Table Mountain. The setting is quite breathtaking – this is a great place to have tea/coffee (own account) and stroll along the many paths, which meander along the eastern slopes. Opportunity to see some of the bird life of the Western Cape. Return to your hotel.
Overnight: Park Inn Greeenmarket, Cape Town (BB)
Day 3: Cape Town City Tour
First visit for today is Table Mountain (weather permitting). Take the cable car to the top of the Mountain. View what Sir Francis Drake described as “the fairest cape in all the circumference of the earth”.
Depart on a walking tour through the:
- Groote Kerk Building (oldest Dutch Reformed church in South Africa) – see the beautiful pulpit designed by Anton Anreith as well as the largest organ in the Southern Hemisphere built by the Dutch company Pels & Loon from the city Alkmaar in Holland.
- St George’s Cathedral where Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace award-winner, was Archbishop for 10 years.
- “Kompanjiestuin” – oldest garden in South Africa – est. 1652 by Jan van Riebeeck and “die Burgers” to grow fruit and vegetables to supply the ships passing from Europe to the Far East.
- SA Museum – Natural history displayed in this secret adventure destination. The display of the Bushmen and the whale skeletons are some of the many highlights.
- Green Market Square, former vegetable/fruit market. All streets on the square are declared national monuments. Browse through the stalls filled with curios, arts and crafts.
Spend the rest of the afternoon browsing the many shops at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (own account). The transformation of a section of the old Table Bay Docks area into the magnificent Waterfront has brought new life to the heart of Cape Town.
Overnight: Park Inn Greeenmarket, Cape Town (BB)
Day 4: Winelands Tour
Travel to Stellenbosch; second oldest town in South Africa in the heart of the winelands. Drive through the university and historic sections of town, including Dorp Street, which boasts the longest row of restored historic buildings in South Africa.
Continue to Paarl where you visit the “Afrikaans Taal Monument”, the only monument in the world dedicated to a language. Learn about the origin of this beautiful and dynamic young language, so dear to the hearts of the Afrikaans community. The monument is situated in the Paarl Rock Nature Reserve.
Continue via Worcester to Robertson. Visit the Klipdrift Brand Home in Robertson which promises a generous dose of South African hospitality to all who come to visit. They have mixed informative tastings and tours through the world class brandy distillery with entertaining glimpses into the history of everyone’s favourite brandy.
Travel to Montagu, well known for its hot mineral springs, muscadel wines, a rugged but scenic location and a dry, healthy climate. It lies at the western end of the Little Karoo and is filled with well-preserved early Cape buildings – 22 of them declared National Monuments. Check into your hotel where you enjoy dinner (included).
Overnight: Montagu Country Hotel, Montagu (DBB)
Day 5: Montagu to Oudtshoorn
Today you travel to Oudtshoorn on the "Route 62", one of the most beautiful travel routes in South Africa. The country road meanders through the fertile valleys of the Klein Karoo, past rugged rock formations. Time and again the road leads over steep passes, which open up to spectacular views of wide land.
Visit the Cango Caves, one of South Africa’s greatest natural attractions. Cango’s exquisite tour of dripstone, curtain-like formations hanging from cavern roofs, calcite flowers, stalactites and stalagmites takes visitors 800 meters into the mountainside.
On arrival in Oudtdshoorn check into your hotel. Visit the Cango Ostrich Farm in the afternoon for a complete and comprehensive guided tour and become familiar with ostrich farming and the life cycle of the ostrich. Visitors are introduced to the Ostrich industry - from eggs, the chicks to the mature birds and allow visitors to sit on and ride the Ostriches. Those who are not so daring can hug and feed the birds. Return to your hotel where you enjoy dinner (included).
Overnight: Oudtshoorn Inn, Oudtshoorn (DBB)
Day 6: Oudtshoorn to Knysna
Known as the ‘feather capital’ of the world, Oudtshoorn is located on the broad, dry plains of the Little Karoo between the Swartberg range to the north and the coastal mountain rampart in the south. It’s a substantial town, hub of an industry that was at its peak in the later 19th and early 20th centuries, a period when feathers were a prominent, almost overwhelming fashion accessory.
Continue through the beautiful Lake District to the heart of the Garden Route, Knysna. Nestling on the banks of a shimmering lagoon Knysna is a natural paradise of lush indigenous forests, tranquil lakes and golden beaches. Within the town, craft shops, flea-markets and cosy cafe’s beckon with small-town charm and hospitality.
Knysna is synonymous with fine indigenous timbers, and famed for the craftsmanship of its furniture and timber products. The area is a veritable Garden of Eden: home to the only forest elephant in South Africa, the unique Knysna seahorse and the Pansy shell, the brilliantly coloured Knysna Loerie, a plethora of waterfowl and forest birds, dolphins and visiting whales.
Spend the afternoon at leisure browsing around the Knysna Waterfront development. Continue to your hotel where you check in and enjoy dinner (included).
Overnight: Knysna Hollow, Knysna (DBB)
Day 7: Knysna
At 10:00 depart by boat to the Featherbed Nature Reserve (weather permitting), a private sanctuary set atop the western Head. Taken up the mountain on a tractor, you have the opportunity to walk back along a scenically charming route, shaded for much of its course by Milkwood trees, and offering magnificent views over the lagoon. After a sumptuous seafood lunch under the trees (included), you are ferried back to shore.
Spend the rest of the day browsing through the many art and craft shops lining the streets of this small town. Many artists are citizens of Knysna and their work can be found in the various shops. You can also watch the timbers at work creating masterpiece furniture and decorative pieces out of the hardwoods found in this area namely Stinkwood, Yellowwood and Blackwood. Return to your hotel for dinner (included).
Overnight: Knysna Hollow, Knysna (DBB)
Day 8: Knysna to Port Elizabeth
Today you travel along the breathtakingly beautiful Garden Route to Port Elizabeth. Visit the Tsitsikamma National Park. This park is one of the country’s longest, narrowest and loveliest parks, and encompasses nearly 80 km of the Cape’s coastal strip. Much of the fascination of this park lies in its wealth of both terrestrial and aquatic animals and plants, and their interaction. A number of rivers and streams cut through deep ravines before discharging into the Indian Ocean. Here there are cliffs, caves, golden sands and a myriad rock pools. The valleys and mountain slopes are clothed in a rich variety of forest trees and shrubs, and on the narrow coastal plains the evergreen forests give way to fields of fynbos. Roughly in the middle of the park is the mouth of the Storm’s River. A short walk takes you to the suspension bridge across the river, affording superb views of the Stormsriver Gorge and sea. Enjoy lunch at the restaurant in the reserve (own account). Continue to The Big Tree, a 36m Outeniqua yellowwood, in an indigenous forest, with trees of nearly a 1 000 years old still reaching into the sky. An interpretative trail to the Big Tree describes the trees.
Continue to Port Elizabeth, where the British Settlers were first introduced to their new land in 1820. It is a vibrant easy-going metropolis, known to locals as “The Friendly City” – a reference to its pledge to “put people first”. The good-natured ambience, the mellow atmosphere of its lazy beaches and its warm, temperate climate combine to make Port Elizabeth an engaging tourist treat. On arrival depart on an orientation city tour. Continue to your hotel where you check in. Enjoy dinner (included)
Overnight: Summerstrand Inn, Port Elizabeth (DBB)
Day 9: Port Elizabeth to Kariega Game Reserve
Enjoy a healthy breakfast before travelling to Kariega Game Reserve situated 80 minutes drive from Port Elizabeth. Set high above the spectacular Kariega River Valley, you cannot get closer to nature than in this wondrous African wilderness, in the heart of the 1820 Settler Country, with its rich historical heritage. Sanctuary to abundant game and wildlife such as lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, rhino, hippo, hyena, giraffe, zebra, eland, wildebeest, waterbuck and a variety of antelope, as well as a myriad of bird species, including nesting Martial, Crowned and Fish Eagles, this 6000 hectare private game reserve is a must, for those seeking the retreat and the thrill of the great outdoors and an African Safari vacation of a lifetime.
Arrival time at the reserve is 12:30 for lunch. Check in immediately before lunch is served. After lunch you can relax and take in the magnificent views from your chalet.
At 16:00 you are collected by an experienced Ranger in an open vehicle and you set out into the reserve for an evening safari. Kariega is home to abundant birdlife and game and you might spot Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Hippo, Hyena, Giraffe, Zebra and numerous antelope species. Sundowners are served in the tranquil surroundings of the African bushveld. Return to the lodge and freshen up before meeting in the pub for pre-dinner drinks (own account). The fireplace in the pub creates a cosy ambience, where you can relax and share your experiences of a day spent in the African Wilds. Afterwards sample the speciality, the venison of the beautifully situated restaurant in Kariega Game Reserve (included).
Overnight: Kariega Lodge, Kariega Game Reserve (Full Board)
Day 10: Kariega Game Reserve
Awaken to the beauty of Africa and depart at 06:00 for a combined game drive and river cruise meandering down the Kariega River on the “Kariega Queen”. The cruise meandering along the thickly forested river bank will provide a perfect opportunity to view a wide range of kingfishers and other bird life or listen for the cry of the Fish Eagles that nest along the river.
Enjoy a late breakfast at approximately 09:00, upon your return to the Lodge. Between breakfast and lunch you can simply relax or choose between a host of additional activities:
- Numerous Hiking Trails (guided or unguided)
- Game Viewing on Mountain Bikes
- Canoeing Safari on the Kariega River
After lunch you can enjoy a siesta and at 16:00 you once again depart on a game drive to search for the more elusive members of the “Big Five”. The term Big Five was granted by big game hunters to the five most dangerous and difficult animals to hunt.
The collection consists of the lion, the African elephant, the African Buffalo, the Leopard and the Black Rhinoceros. The 1990 release of South African Rand banknotes feature a different Big Five animal on each denomination.
Enjoy your dinner around the campfire under the stars of African night skies. Lit by lanterns, the Boma makes for an unforgettable culinary experience.
Overnight: Kariega Lodge, Kariega Game Reserve (Full Board)
Day 11: Kariega Game Reserve to Port Elizabeth
Enjoy breakfast and check out. Transfer to Port Elizabeth Airport for your connecting flight to Johannesburg.
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