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Cape Town Marathon, South Africa Packages: Flights + Hotels + Car Hire + Safari

Cape Town Marathon + Garden Route + Safari

14 NIGHTS FROM:

$2,747

Per person sharing

Scheduled flights quoted separately

4SCC14C

• Cape Town Marathon, South Africa

• Table Mountain

• Cape Point

• Stellenbosch Winelands

• Hermanus

• Oudtshoorn

• Garden Route

• South Africa Packages

• East Cape Big Five Safari

• Packages: Flights, Hotels & Car Hire

Our flexible Cape Town Marathon & South Africa packages make it easy for you to run this famous marathon, that is held in late Sept/early October. The route takes in the beauty of Table Mountain & the sea, as well the many attractions of this beautiful city. Afterwards you can self-drive along the scenic Garden Route. Our packages include a choice of flights, hotels, car hire & Big Five safari, but you must enter the race yourself.

Detailed itinerary ▶

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Day 1

You will be met at Cape Town Airport and transferred to your hotel in this beautiful city, within sight of Table Mountain.

Check in and relax in your magnificent surroundings.

Day 2

Today is free to prepare for the Cape Town Marathon.

Day 3

Today register for the Cape Town Marathon, half marathon or fun run, which takes place in one of the world's most beautiful cities.

Your driver will assist you in collecting your race number, provide transport to familiarise you with the route and discuss any logistical support you may require on race day.

The rest of the day is free to relax at your hotel or on the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.

Day 4

Rise early for your transfer, arriving in good time at the starting point of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.

Along this spectacular route, you will take in the famous natural beauty of one of Africa's most visited cities, including magnificent Table Mountain and the ocean, as well as many of the city’s other great attractions. Your driver will provide your pre- and post-race transfers, as well as any other logistical support you may require.

Friendly crowds will be lining the streets cheering you on and willing you to the finish line. This is a wonderful race in a very scenic city.

Note: You are responsible for securing your own race entry.

Day 5

Today is free for independent sightseeing in Cape Town.

To orientate yourself, use your pre-paid pass for the Red Route Hop-Off Bus, which stops at all Cape Town’s key sights and attractions, including the Table Mountain (a Fast Track cable car ticket is also included). Here you can ascend and enjoy one of the world's most famous views.

Continue to trendy Camps Bay beach and the many attractions of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.

Note: Don't let the colour of the bus confuse you. All buses are red, but they run two different routes - the Red City Route and the Blue Kirstenbosch Route.

Table Mountain cable car is closed for annual maintenance from mid July to end August.

Day 6

This morning your hire car will be dropped off at your hotel.

We recommend you spend the rest of the day exploring the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve peninsula (pay all entrance fees locally).

Start with an optional short boat trip from Hout Bay to view Cape Fur seals at Seal Island and continue via Chapman’s Peak Drive to spectacular Cape Point where you may see baboons, ostrich and perhaps even dolphins or whales in season (July/November).

On the return journey we recommend driving through naval Simons Town and visit the resident penguin colony at Boulders Beach before returning to your hotel.

Day 7

Today leave Cape Town and drive 1-hour to the beautiful Stellenbosch Winelands.

Along the way you can stop at one or more wine estates along the famous Stellenbosch wine route.

On arrival check in to your hotel in this famous wine producing area, relax under the giant oak trees and savour the fine food and wines of this region.

Day 8

At leisure to relax in beautiful Stellenbosch, which is surrounded by its mountains and vineyards.

Explore this old university town with its many street markets, craft shops and museums, including the Modern & Contemporary Art Gallery, or visit Stellenbosch Botanical Gardens.

You can also self-drive the wine routes of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl with many opportunities for wine tasting at famous wine estates. Alternatively use the Vine Hopper hop-off bus to explore these winelands (advance booking online recommended) or book an optional small group tour.

In the evening there are several fine dining restaurants in the area (advance booking strongly recommended).

Note: Vine Hopper bus does not operate on Sundays.

Day 9

Drive 2-hours today from Stellenbosch to the small seaside town of Hermanus, travelling along the scenic coastal route through Gordon’s Bay and along the False Bay coast.

Along the way we suggest a detour to the Stoney Point Penguin Colony in the small coastal town of Bettys Bay. You may also want to visit Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, renowned for its fynbos flowers. The walk through the gorge and down to the waterfall is particularly rewarding (pay all entrance fees locally).

Continue to Hermanus and check into your hotel. From July to November, southern right and humpback whales come here to breed and this is considered the best location for land-based Whale Watching in the world. Once severely endangered, these magnificent creatures of the deep are now breeding successfully in the area due to a major international conservation effort.

Day 10

Today drive 4-hours along the scenic Route 62 through the dramatic Little Karoo to Oudtshoorn.

Along the way we suggest you stop at the historic town of Swellendam - the third oldest town in South Africa, with some wonderful examples of Cape Dutch architecture.

After checking in to your hotel, we suggest visiting an Ostrich Farm to see these huge flightless birds in their natural surroundings (pay locally).

Day 11

This morning drive 2-hours to the oyster capital of Knysna in the heart of the scenic Garden Route

If you are adventurous and enjoy driving on steep gravel mountain passes, you can detour via the Swartberg Pass (about 1-hour) to Prince Albert. You can return the same way, or head east along the base of the mountain and return to Oudtshoorn via the Meiringspoort Pass (about 2-hours). This detour offers spectacular views, but a 4x4 vehicle is recommended.

Then continue through the magnificent Outeniqua Pass to Knysna. Enjoy the beaches of Wilderness and the lakes of Sedgefield, before checking in to your hotel in this area of outstanding natural beauty.

Note: In season we recommend booking Knysna restaurants online in advance of your visit, to avoid disappointment.

Day 12

Today we recommend you explore the Knysna Waterfront and take the ferry to Featherbed Nature Reserve situated on the Western Head, one of two magnificent sandstone cliffs guarding the entrance to the vast Knysna Lagoon.

This spectacular nature reserve is only accessible by ferry, followed by a short trailer ride to the top of the reserve which offers panoramic views. Most visitors choose to return on foot along a 1-mile guided nature walk through natural coastal forest onto the cliffs, through caves and along a scenic coastal path, followed by an included seafood buffet lunch served under the old Milkwood trees.

The remainder of the afternoon is free to explore Knysna. This lively town is famous for its oysters, which are grown in the lagoon. It offers good shopping opportunities and many interesting craft shops.

Day 13

Today travel 5-hours from Knysna to your malaria-free private game reserve near Addo in the beautiful Eastern Cape.

Enjoy sightseeing stops as you drive past the beaches of Plettenberg Bay, across the dramatic Storms River Gorge and through the Tsitsikamma Forest to your game lodge.

On arrival enjoy an afternoon game drive with a lodge ranger. Game viewing opportunities should present themselves almost immediately and hopefully you will see several species of antelope, zebra, wildebeest and maybe even giraffe - as well as several of the Big Five - before dining in your warm African surroundings.

Note: Ensure you arrive at your lodge in good time (preferably by 2.30 pm latest) so you do not miss your afternoon game drive.

Day 14

Rise at dawn to take advantage of the best game viewing conditions of the day and enjoy a thrilling shared open-top game viewing safari with your lodge ranger in your Private Game Reserve which is home to all the Big Five - Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard and Rhino. Hope to see many interesting species before returning to your lodge for breakfast.

The rest of the morning is free to relax by the lodge swimming pool, before setting out again in the late afternoon for another game drive. Hope to see giraffe, hippo, kudu, antelope, waterbuck, warthogs, baboons and many other interesting animals. With hundreds of different bird species, outstanding bird watching is also guaranteed!

After a beautiful African sunset, enjoy the balmy evening and pristine stars of the Milky Way as you have never seen them before – as well as the spectacular Southern Cross.

Note: If travelling with a child < 6 please request a family lodge that allows young children on open top game drives.

Day 15

Enjoy some final early morning game viewing, before driving 2-hours to Port Elizabeth Airport for your flight home.

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