This self-drive route is a great way to see South Africa’s highlights in one laidback trip. The glitz and glamour of Cape Town combines perfectly with the rugged scenery of the Garden Route, and there’s even a chance for some wildlife-watching in the Eastern Cape.
Your first few days in Cape Town will ease you into your holiday with sightseeing and plenty of wine farms to explore. Next up the picturesque Overberg region, choose between whale watching on the coast or the quaint and historic town of Swellendam, both make the perfect pit stop before you hit the road in earnest.
With your own wheels, enjoy an easy sojourn along the Garden Route to beautiful Knysna for your choice of hiking, sailing - and feasting! But leave some energy for your safari – the Eastern Cape is home to some fantastic Big Five reserves, and lodges that will make you feel like a King (or Queen).
$2K / person
Collect your hire car from Cape Town International Airport and make your own way to your next lodge.
30mins
Ever heard the phrase, “a world in one country”? Well, Cape Town is a world in one city! Surrounded by craggy mountains, ocean, plenty of lush greenery and rolling countryside, but also a bustling city scene, vivacious cultures and history, you won’t be short of things to do. We recommend starting in the city with a guided tour. Choose your focus from history, food or art (or all three), and discover the spots away from the guidebooks. If a guide isn’t your thing, wander the streets and seek out your own gems. Follow it all up with a connoisseur gin tasting and dinner in an award-winning restaurant and you have Cape Town in a nutshell.
Then there’s the great outdoors. Table Mountain dominates the landscape and with several hiking routes to choose from (guided or un-guided), and the cable car, there’s no excuse for not reaching the top. Other highlights around the city include the Southern Peninsula, home to African penguins, cliff-carved roads, lighthouses and incredible views, and the sun-kissed beaches of the Atlantic Seaboard. And we haven’t even started on the markets, paragliding activities, surfing or shopping yet…
Make your own way from your lodge to your next lodge.
2hrs
Nestled between Cape Town and the start of the Garden Route, Overberg is one of South Africa’s best kept secrets. Scenic doesn’t begin to describe the rolling hills and reserves laden with thousands of fragrant fynbos species that merge with sugar-fine beaches on the coastline. Spend quiet moments reclining at a chic guesthouse with a glass of wine in hand as you wait for pods of dolphins and whales to splash, spout or jump from the water. Between July and November, hundreds of southern right whales make their migration from Antarctica - a truly special sight.
Then, explore, explore and explore some more. Cycle, hike or ride horseback into the pretty surrounds, go on a game drive through one of the reserves, or follow the shoreline to a secluded beach for a few hours. Water-wise, there is kayaking across the lagoons, whale-watching boat trips and, for the adrenaline-seekers, cage diving with a Great White Shark.
Make your own way from your lodge to your next lodge.
3hrs
The town of Knysna is bursting with charm. It’s a place to slow down and breathe in lungfuls of salty sea air (glass of wine in hand), whilst enjoying the restaurants and cafes that line the lagoon and the pretty boutiques full of arts and crafts. For water-based activities, head to the harbour and take your pick from the numerous companies peddling their wares, including yacht or speedboat trips around the glorious Heads, catamaran cruises, kayak excursions, as well as snorkelling and diving in the lagoon.
If you haven’t quite got to grips with your sea legs, the surrounding ferns and forests offer the perfect terrain for on-foot explorations. Knysna Forest, home of giant hardwood trees and easy trails, and the Featherbed Nature Reserve on the Western Head both spring to mind, as well as beach-side Goukamma Reserve for some surf with your hiking. If none of that takes your fancy, hole up in one of the fabulous golf resorts and be treated like a king (or queen) for the day.
Make your own way from your lodge to your next lodge.
3hrs 30mins
South Africa’s Eastern Cape is wild and wonderful, from its undiscovered beaches to the collection of fantastic reserves. Depending on the lodge, you could aim to see members of the Big Five on game drives (Kwandwe’s impressive numbers of elephant and black rhino make it a firm favourite), visit a rhino or big cat sanctuary, or explore the terrain on a walking or horseback safari. Along the way, you could spot giraffe, zebra and antelope and, should the reserve offer night drives, porcupine, aardwolf and aardvark.
Just before Eastern Cape reaches KwaZulu-Natal, find yourself hiking epic mountain trails and searching for dolphins surfing the waves. For something completely different, hop over to the town of Graaff-Reinet. Nestled in the heart of the Karoo, the fantastic local food and breweries are sure to entice you.
Make your own way from your lodge to Port Elizabeth International Airport.
5hrs
$2K / person
Domestic transfers, accommodation, inclusive meals, drinks and activities where specified
International flights, visas, travel insurance, gratuities
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