Holidays to Cape Town Tours Safaris in South Africa Stellenbosch Hermanus

COUNTRY HOME

South Africa

PLACES TO VISIT

Cape Town

Garden Route

Kalahari

Kruger National Park

KwaZulu Natal

Madikwe + Waterberg

FIND OUT MORE

When to go

Our hotels

Travel guide

Change Currency:

WHY CHOOSE US?

100% financial protection
Specialist knowledge
Tailor-made for you
Keen pricing & exclusive deals
24/7 emergency contact
Established for over 20 years

You are here: Home » Cape Town »

Cape Town + Garden Route (self drive holiday) + Safari, Kruger: South Africa

Cape Town + Garden Route (self drive) + Kruger Safari

15 NIGHTS FROM:

$3,213

Per person sharing

Scheduled flights + car hire quoted separately

SCK15C

• Garden Route: Self Drive Holiday

• Cape Town

• Table Mountain

• Cape Point, Penguins & Whales

• Stellenbosch Winelands

• Hermanus Whales (in season)

• Oudtshoorn (Ostriches & Caves)

• Knysna

• Safari, Kruger region, South Africa

• Big Five Game Drives

Combine the beautiful city of Cape Town with a self-drive holiday along the scenic Garden Route and a thrilling safari, staying in a lodge in the famous Kruger region of South Africa. Ascend Table Mountain, explore the stunning Cape Peninsula and the Stellenbosch winelands, then collect your hire car and drive via Hermanus & Oudtshoorn, to lovely Knysna. Then end your holiday with a thrilling Big Five safari.

Detailed itinerary ▶

Enquire Now ▶

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 for independent sightseeing in Cape Town.

To orientate yourself, we suggest you purchase a pass onboard the convenient Red Route Hop-Off Bus, which stops at all Cape Town’s key sights and attractions, including the Table Mountain cable car (discounted tickets are sold on the bus, but we recommend buying a Fast Track ticket online to avoid the queues). 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 (pay all entrance fees locally).

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.

Day 3

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 4

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 5

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 6

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 7

In season, this morning we suggest driving to Hermanus harbour for an optional Whale Watching boat ride, to get up close to these magnificent creatures of the deep (pay locally - weather permitting).

Afterwards you can explore this small town on foot, with its open-air craft market in season and coastal path with indigenous fynbos and bird life. There is a small beach at the foot of the cliffs, with steep access.

Note: If you take the optional whale watching boat ride, wear a jacket as it can get cold on the boat and take a sun hat, sun glasses, binoculars, sunscreen, camera & small towel. Take your own snacks & drinks. You will be on the water for several hours in seas that can be rough, so if you are not a good sailor remember to take preventative travel sickness tablets well in advance.

Day 8

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 9

We suggest that today you visit the famous Cango Caves – a vast series of underground halls and caverns formed over 20 million years ago in the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains. The caves, which extend for over 3 miles, contain spectacular stalagmites and stalactites and offer relatively easy access (pay entrance fee locally).

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 2-hours through the magnificent Outeniqua Pass to the oyster capital of Knysna in the heart of the scenic Garden Route. 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 10

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 11

Depart for Port Elizabeth this morning, a scenic 4-hour drive along the Garden Route.

Stop at the beautiful beaches of Plettenberg Bay and drive across the dramatic Storms River Gorge and past the Tsitsikama Forest where, time permitting, we suggest a 2-hour detour to the Storms River Mouth (pay entrance fee locally).

Continue to Port Elizabeth Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Mpumalanga Airport and transferred to your hotel situated near Hazyview on the scenic Panorama Route.

Check in and relax in this region that is famous for its beauty and wildlife.

Days 12 To 13

This morning visit a local Elephant Park to experience a very special close-up encounter, where for 1-hour you can interact with and feed one of these gentle giants.

Afterwards enjoy a private tour through the green Blyde River Canyon - the third largest on earth. Take the Graskop Gorge Lift down into the gorge, where there is a short trail across a wooden suspension bridge into the forest, with the backdrop of a pretty waterfall. Also enjoy wonderful views from God's Window, Pinnacle Rock, Wonder View and the Three Rondavels lookout.

We can also view the Lisbon Falls and the unusual Bourkes Luck Pot Holes - cylindrical holes formed from the swirling waters of the Blyde and Treur Rivers.

Days 14 To 15

Rise at dawn to take advantage of the best game viewing conditions of the day, as you enjoy a thrilling shared open-top game drive with your lodge ranger. Enjoy magnificent game viewing hoping to see some of the Big Five - lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino - as well as many other species, before returning to your lodge for breakfast.

The rest of the morning is free to relax by the swimming pool or enjoy bird watching at the lodge, before setting out again in the late afternoon for another game drive. You can hope to see cheetah, giraffe, hippo, kudu, crocodiles, sable antelope, waterbuck, warthogs, baboons and many other interesting wild animals. With over 500 different bird species including eagles, kingfishers, vultures and storks, outstanding bird watching is also guarantee. After a beautiful African sunset, enjoy dining under the stars.

Note: Children < 6 are not allowed on open top game drives.

Day 16

Enjoy a final early morning game drive, before your transfer to Hoedspruit Airport for your flight home.

Enquire Now ▶

◀ Return to Cape Town holidays