Itinerary

 

Day 1: Whale Route, Hermanus, Birkenhead Brewery and Cape Agulhas
Departing Cape Town at 8:30 am and Stellenbosch at 9:30 am, our exciting journey begins today as we join the world famous whale route in Gordons Bay for a stunning drive along the picturesque R44 mountain pass overlooking False Bay to the vibrant coastal town of Hermanus. After an opportunity to take some photographs and a picnic lunch on the seafront, we continue to Birkenhead Brewery to sample some fine beers before moving on to the southernmost tip of Africa in Cape Agulhas National Park. After a visit to the lookout point we make our way to the harbour where there is an option to embark on an exciting ski-boat cruise to search for dolphin and whales (June to November). After our cruise we take a walk back to our accommodation along “Die Plaat”, the longest beach in the Southern Hemisphere.

This day is designed to be a relaxing one for you to get to know your fellow travellers, to get used to travelling in our vehicle and to settle into the comfortable routine of life on tour.

Included Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Struisbaai
Included Activities: Beer tasting at Birkenhead Brewery
Optional Activities: Shark cage diving, Ski-boat cruise (possible whale viewing June – Nov)

 

Day 2: Tradouws Pass, R62, the Little Karoo and Oudtshoorn
Driving inland this morning our journey takes us north through rolling wheat fields to the Langeberg Mountains and on to the pristine semi-desert environment of the Little Karoo. Shortly after Barrydale on Route 62, we stop at Warmwaterberg Spa for lunch and a relaxing swim in 43-degree natural hot springs.

In the afternoon we drive through Ladismith and Carlitzdorp to the capital of the Little Karoo, Oudtshoorn. Known as the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn is situated in a beautiful valley between the Outeniqua and Swartberg Mountains. Here there is an option to view and ride one of these prehistoric birds on a working farm or go on a guided tour of the Cango Endangered Wildlife Ranch for an opportunity to pet cheetah, cage dive with crocodiles and view many rare and endangered animal species.

Included Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Oudtshoorn
Included Activities: Entrance to Warmwaterberg Hot Springs
Optional Activities: Cango Ostrich Farm, Cango Endangered Wildlife Ranch, Pet a hand raised cheetah, Cage diving with crocodiles

 

Day 3: Cango Caves, Knysna, Bloukrans Bungy Jump & Tsitsikamma
We begin the day with a short 20km drive to the magnificent Cango Caves. Here we’ll embark on a 1-hour guided tour of the cave system to view its massive caverns and a wonderland of stalactite and stalagmite formations, millions of years old. Cango Caves is a world heritage site and one of the great wonders of the natural world.

After our visit to the caves, we leave the Karoo and travel 60km to the coast through the magnificent Outeniqua Pass. Entering the Garden Route for the first time in George and take a leisurely drive up the coast to Knysna, rated South Africa’s most beautiful town. Here we’ll take a walk to the entrance of the lagoon to explore the captivating scenery surrounding the famous Knysna Heads. In the afternoon we drive to the highest road bridge in Africa at Bloukrans Bridge. At a height of 216m this is also the site of the highest bungy jump in the world! For those wishing to take the leap, this is your opportunity!

Included Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Storms River Village
Included Activities: Standard or adventure guided tour of Cango Caves
Optional Activities: Bloukrans bungy jump (216m), Bloukrans bridge walking tour

 

Day 4: Tsitsikamma National Park, Black Water Tubing, Waterfall Zipline & Sundays River Valley
This morning you have the opportunity to explore the Tsitsikamma National Park, either via a hike across the suspension bridge at Storms River Mouth or by means backwater tubing. Tubing is a unique, four hour fun adventure, filled with splashing, swimming, rock jumping, kloofing and hiking (seasonal). The National Park, declared in 1964, encompasses a marine reserve made up of 80km of coastline and offers magnificent scenery. Approximately 30% of the park is covered in fynbos, scattered amongst the forest vegetation, boasting a wide variety of beautiful flowers, including proteas and heath. Many species of forest, fynbos and sea birds are present.

We stop off at the fun waterfall zipline at Tsitsikamma Falls Adventures. This “foefie-slide” tour takes you on 8 cable rides over the Kruis River and down a ravine over three waterfalls.

Afterwards we make our way inland towards Addo and our accommodation for the night, in the Sundays River Valley. Set in a wild and scenic location on the banks of the Sundays River, we take the time to relax under the African sun as well as explore the river by canoe. Around the campfire tonight, this is what you’ve come to experience… Wild Africa at her enigmatic best!

Included Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Sundays River Valley
Included Activities: Canoeing on Sundays River

Optional Activities: Entrance to Tsitsikamma National Park, Tsitsikamma Blackwater Tubing, Tsitsikamma Falls Zipline

 

Day 5: Addo Elephant Park, Game Drive, Port Elizabeth & Jeffrey’s Bay
Up early this morning, we begin our Addo Park Safari along a network of winding roads stopping regularly for photographs and information on the animals we encounter along the way. On our game drive we’ll also disembark from our vehicle at the main lookout point for a spectacular view over the evergreen wilderness that is Addo. After our game drive we’ll take lunch at the park restaurant before a leisurely drive down to the coast and Port Elizabeth.

Proclaimed a National Park in 1931, this malaria free, 145 000 ha. Park, extends all the way down to the Indian Ocean and is home to the densest African Elephant population on earth, totalling over 500 elephant.

A major sea port and tourist destination, Port Elizabeth is set along the beautiful shores of Algoa Bay and is fondly referred to as the Friendly City. We then head for the pristine beaches of Jeffrey’s Bay! Renowned the world over as one of the best surfing waves on the planet, we’ll take time out to view the waves at “supertubes” before exploring the town and visiting the ever-popular surf wear factory
shops i.e.: Billabong, Rip Curl, Roxy, Quicksilver and more. You have to chance to rent a board to experience the waves for yourself or do a surf lesson.

Included Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Jeffrey’s Bay
Included Activities: Entrance fee and 3 hour game drive in Addo National Park
Optional Activities: 2 Hour game drive with 4×4 vehicle in Addo National Park, Surfboard & wetsuit rental, Surfing lessons, Beach horse ride

Day 6: The Crags Elephant Sanctuary, Monkeyland & Sedgefield
This morning we begin our relaxing journey back to Cape Town with our first stop for the day at the Crags Orphaned Elephant Sanctuary for a truly wonderful close encounter experience. Here you have an opportunity to walk, feed and ride an African elephant while receiving instruction from a knowledgeable African guide.

After the Sanctuary we continue down the Garden Route, stopping occasionally to take in anything we may have missed on our way up. We arrive at our accommodation overlooking the sea at Myoli Beach in Sedgefield. Situated right on the beach and close to the Swartvlei Lagoon, here are loads of water sports and other activities to partake in for the remainder of the afternoon before a delicious dinner.

Included Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Sedgefield
Optional Activities: Elephant Sanctuary, Monkeyland, Paragliding, Kite/Wakeboarding lessons, various board rentals at Myoli Beach

Day 7: Return to Cape Town via Sir Lowry’s Pass
After breakfast overlooking the ocean in Sedgefield, we start our journey back to Cape Town. We visit an Aloe factory in Albertinia and enjoy a wonderful scenic drive via Swellendam and Sir Lowry’s Pass. We arrive in Cape Town early Saturday afternoon.

Included Meals: Breakfast

 

Included

Accommodation: Dormitory accommodation in South Africa's leading backpackers.

Upgrades are available as follows:
For a couple sharing a double room add: (Standard) R450pp (En-suite) R650pp
For a single person private room add: (Standard) R1150 (En-suite) R1550

Max Group Size: no more than 12 passenger

Comfortable air-conditioned transport
Spacious dorm accommodation in SA's top backpacker lodges
All bedding, duvets, pillows etc.
Breakfast and dinner.
Free beer tasting at Birkenhead Breweries.
Entrance to Warmwaterberg Mineral Hot Springs.
A guided tour of Cango Caves.
A 3hr game drive in Addo Elephant Park.

Excluded

Optional Activities
Please note that these rates are subject to change without prior notice as per the service providers.

• Shark cage diving* R1550
• Ski-boat cruise (possible whale viewing Jun – Nov) R200
• Cango Ostrich Farm R50
• Cango Endangered Wildlife Ranch R105
• Pet a hand raised cheetah (including photos) R150
• Cage diving with crocodiles R285
• Bloukrans bungy jump (216m) R690
• Bloukrans bridge walking tour R100
• Entrance to Tsitsikamma National Park R100
• Tsitsikamma Blackwater Tubing (seasonal Sep – Apr) R445
• Waterfall Zip Lining R350
• 2 Hour game drive with 4×4 vehicle in Addo National Park R200
• Surfboard & wetsuit rental (1 hr – R100 / half day – R200) R200
• Surfing lessons (2 hours, plus free equipment use for rest of day) R200
• 2 Hour beach horse ride R200
• Elephant Sanctuary (1 hour educational program R325 or program + 10 min ride R435)
• Monkeyland R120
• Paragliding from R450
• Kite boarding lessons R275 per hour
• Wakeboarding from R175

 

*to be booked beforehand when making your booking, pickup very early from Cape Town with transfer to Gansbaai for shark dive, meeting up with tour after lunch on Sunday

Departures

Starts: Cape Town - Finishes: Cape Town
Departs every Sunday

Feedback

Thank you for your email. All in all, we enjoyed both our tours very much and had a great time. Let us give some details below. '

Cape to Addo' tour.

Positive things: - Nice, knowledgeable guide with a good sense of humour. - Safe and comfortable way of transportation. - We liked our accommodations, but this may be due to the fact that we paid for an upgrade so that we had our own room. - Beautiful places, nice landscape. - We met friendly people. We had a mixed group: there were people from many different countries.

Negative things: - The optional activities played a central role in the tour. They were not really optional as we expected them to be since the other option was in most cases to sit in the car and wait. It would be good to have other alternatives. In any case, people should be prepared to spend a lot of extra money on optional activities.

Finally we would like to thank you for providing us with all the necessary information and patiently answering all our questions regarding these tours.

Best wishes, Nives and Andras - Amsterdam - 12 April 09

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