Cape Town, Garden Route and Eastern Cape Safari Tour
Day 1 – Arrival in Cape Town
This morning you will arrive at Cape Town International Airport, and you will make your way to your car hire company to collect your group D Toyota Corolla for the duration of your stay in South Africa. With your directions folder, leave the airport and continue to your hotel either in the trendy suburb of Tamboerskloof, or in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront for 3 nights' accommodation on B&B basis. This afternoon we suggest you take a drive to the city sights of Cape Town. Cape Town is one of the world's most beautiful cities, and you should visit the historic Castle and Bo-Kaap Malay Quarter with its narrow cobbled streets and colourful mosques. Continue to the Houses of Parliament and then, weather-permitting, ride the cable car up Table Mountain to enjoy the view over Cape Town and across Table Bay to Robben Island.
Accommodation:
Option 1: The Mount Nelson -more info
Mount Nelson
Built in 1899, The Mount Nelson Hotel is undoubtedly Cape Town’s oldest and most distinguished hotel, occupying a breathtaking site on the lower slopes of Table Mountain. From the days when visitors to Cape Town sailed in on the mail ships, the hotel has retained a reputation for elegance, luxury and service. This is where the Queen chooses to stay when she visits Cape Town! The hotel is renowned for its superb cuisine and beautiful 9-acre gardens. The rooms are all individually decorated and many are situated in four individual wings, separated from the main hotel, each with its own unique character, private gardens and facilities. Within the hotel grounds, guests can avail themselves of a fully equipped gymnasium, a floodlit tennis court, swimming pool and health spa.
The location of the Mount Nelson means that the hotel is only 5 minutes away from the city centre, and 10 minutes from the world-famous V&A Waterfront, for which a complimentary shuttle is available for its guests.
The Mount Nelson is graded 5-star.
Option 2: The Cape Milner -Cape Milner Hotel
Cradled beneath majestic Table Mountain in Cape Town’s trendy suburb of Tamboerskloof, the Cape Milner offers a sophisticated and contemporary ambience with the highest standards in style and luxury. The Cape Milner was voted one of South Africa's best boutique hotels by acclaimed local magazine House and Leisure.
All of the 57 luxurious rooms offer spectacular views of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head, and mixes old style elegance with modern comfort. The Cape Milner has an in-house gym and outdoor swimming pool and is a five-minute drive from the V&A Waterfront and within close proximity of the pristine white beaches of Camps Bay and Clifton.
Cape Milner Hotel is graded 4 star.
Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Day 2 – Full day Cape Point self drive
This morning make your way towards the peninsula by following the coastline southwards, travelling via the quaint seaside village of Hout Bay and the famous cliffside Chapman's Peak Drive. The highlight is a visit to Cape Point. Looking at this dramatic promontory jutting into the sea gives us an idea why early sailors nicknamed it the Cape of Storms. Continue along the coastline northwards via Simonstown, where you should visit the penguin colony of Boulders Beach. When you arrive back in the city, take a stroll through the glorious Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, devoted almost exclusively to the indigenous flora of the Cape Floral Kingdom. A leisurely drive through the leafy southern suburbs brings you back to your hotel in the late afternoon.
Accommodation:
Option 1: The Mount Nelson -
Built in 1899, The Mount Nelson Hotel is undoubtedly Cape Town’s oldest and most distinguished hotel, occupying a breathtaking site on the lower slopes of Table Mountain. From the days when visitors to Cape Town sailed in on the mail ships, the hotel has retained a reputation for elegance, luxury and service. This is where the Queen chooses to stay when she visits Cape Town! The hotel is renowned for its superb cuisine and beautiful 9-acre gardens. The rooms are all individually decorated and many are situated in four individual wings, separated from the main hotel, each with its own unique character, private gardens and facilities. Within the hotel grounds, guests can avail themselves of a fully equipped gymnasium, a floodlit tennis court, swimming pool and health spa.
The location of the Mount Nelson means that the hotel is only 5 minutes away from the city centre, and 10 minutes from the world-famous V&A Waterfront, for which a complimentary shuttle is available for its guests.
The Mount Nelson is graded 5-star.
Option 2: The Cape Milner -
Cradled beneath majestic Table Mountain in Cape Town’s trendy suburb of Tamboerskloof, the Cape Milner offers a sophisticated and contemporary ambience with the highest standards in style and luxury. The Cape Milner was voted one of South Africa's best boutique hotels by acclaimed local magazine House and Leisure.
All of the 57 luxurious rooms offer spectacular views of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head, and mixes old style elegance with modern comfort. The Cape Milner has an in-house gym and outdoor swimming pool and is a five-minute drive from the V&A Waterfront and within close proximity of the pristine white beaches of Camps Bay and Clifton.
Cape Milner Hotel is graded 4 star.
Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Day 3 – Full day Winelands self drive
Set today aside to drive to the Cape Winelands with its backdrop of majestic mountain ranges and lush valleys. Stop for tastings at a few of the various wineries, and here you have the chance to purchase some of the wines you have tasted. Drive to Stellenbosch, the "town of oaks" for a leisurely drive through South Africa's second oldest town. A scenic drive over the Helshoogte Pass (Hell's Heights) takes you to the Franschoek Valley where you can visit the memorial to the French Huguenots, who sought refuge from religious persecution in Europe and settled here in the late seventeenth century. Return to Cape Town via Paarl, with its three imposing granite domes.
Accommodation:
Option 1: The Mount Nelson -
Built in 1899, The Mount Nelson Hotel is undoubtedly Cape Town’s oldest and most distinguished hotel, occupying a breathtaking site on the lower slopes of Table Mountain. From the days when visitors to Cape Town sailed in on the mail ships, the hotel has retained a reputation for elegance, luxury and service. This is where the Queen chooses to stay when she visits Cape Town! The hotel is renowned for its superb cuisine and beautiful 9-acre gardens. The rooms are all individually decorated and many are situated in four individual wings, separated from the main hotel, each with its own unique character, private gardens and facilities. Within the hotel grounds, guests can avail themselves of a fully equipped gymnasium, a floodlit tennis court, swimming pool and health spa.
The location of the Mount Nelson means that the hotel is only 5 minutes away from the city centre, and 10 minutes from the world-famous V&A Waterfront, for which a complimentary shuttle is available for its guests.
The Mount Nelson is graded 5-star.
Option 2: The Cape Milner -
Cradled beneath majestic Table Mountain in Cape Town’s trendy suburb of Tamboerskloof, the Cape Milner offers a sophisticated and contemporary ambience with the highest standards in style and luxury. The Cape Milner was voted one of South Africa's best boutique hotels by acclaimed local magazine House and Leisure.
All of the 57 luxurious rooms offer spectacular views of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head, and mixes old style elegance with modern comfort. The Cape Milner has an in-house gym and outdoor swimming pool and is a five-minute drive from the V&A Waterfront and within close proximity of the pristine white beaches of Camps Bay and Clifton.
Cape Milner Hotel is graded 4 star.
Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Day 4 – Cape Town to Hermanus
You have the morning at leisure to visit the fashionable shopping precinct of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, where you can book a ferry trip to Robben Island. An ex-prisoner takes you on an extensive tour of the prison, which includes a visit to Nelson Mandela's cell, the limestone quarry and the old leper colony. Check out of your hotel and make your way to the quaint seaside village of Hermanus, site of some of the best land-based whale watching in the world. Check in to your hotel found at the edge of the sea and spend the rest of the afternoon on the cliff path watching whales.
Accommodation:
Option 1: The Marine, Hermanus -The Marine, Hermanus
The Marine is situated in the quaint seaside village of Hermanus, famous for whale-watching and dolphin viewing. Perched on the edge of the cliffs, The Marine enjoys unbroken views of the ocean. Built in 1902, the hotel has been given a modern look and boasts 45 luxury rooms and suites which have been designed in understated luxury and sophistication.
Whether you stay in a sea-facing or mountain-facing room, the views are spectacular. The award-winning cuisine at The Marine’s two restaurants is thoroughly contemporary. Hermanus is an hour and a half away from Cape Town and is a good stopover at the start or finish of your trip along the Garden Route.
The Marine is graded 5-star.
Option 2: The Windsor Hotel -Windsor Hotel
The Windsor Hotel is situated on the cliff edge of Hermanus with spectacular panoramic views of the Indian Ocean, visible from many of the rooms. This privately owned hotel comprises of 60 tastefully decorated rooms and which are en-suite with tea & coffee facilities, television and sleeper couches for parents travelling with children. The hotel is perfect for a relaxing seaside break, and the frolicking whales will add to your enjoyment!
The Windsor Hotel is graded 3 star.
Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Day 5 – At leisure in Hermanus
From July to November, Southern Right whales travel from Antarctica to the sheltered bays and coves of the South African coast. Here, close to shore they give birth and tend their young until they are strong enough to swim back to Antarctica. Enjoy the day on the beach watching the visiting whales, or you can view them from the comfort of your hotel.
Accommodation:
Option 1: The Marine, Hermanus -
The Marine is situated in the quaint seaside village of Hermanus, famous for whale-watching and dolphin viewing. Perched on the edge of the cliffs, The Marine enjoys unbroken views of the ocean. Built in 1902, the hotel has been given a modern look and boasts 45 luxury rooms and suites which have been designed in understated luxury and sophistication.
Whether you stay in a sea-facing or mountain-facing room, the views are spectacular. The award-winning cuisine at The Marine’s two restaurants is thoroughly contemporary. Hermanus is an hour and a half away from Cape Town and is a good stopover at the start or finish of your trip along the Garden Route.
The Marine is graded 5-star.
Option 2: The Windsor Hotel -
The Windsor Hotel is situated on the cliff edge of Hermanus with spectacular panoramic views of the Indian Ocean, visible from many of the rooms. This privately owned hotel comprises of 60 tastefully decorated rooms and which are en-suite with tea & coffee facilities, television and sleeper couches for parents travelling with children. The hotel is perfect for a relaxing seaside break, and the frolicking whales will add to your enjoyment!
The Windsor Hotel is graded 3 star.
Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Day 6 – Hermanus to Oudtshoorn
After some early morning whale watching, you will check out of your hotel and start your self drive of the Garden Route. Travel over undulating wheat and sheep farmland to Swellendam. This small village nestling at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains has many beautiful historical buildings and we suggest you stop here to stretch your legs. Continue via the Tradouw and Huis Rivier Passes through sandstone mountain ranges and experience the unique landscape of the arid Little Karoo. After passing through the towns of Barrydale and Calitzdorp, you arrive in the "ostrich capital" Oudtshoorn. Visit an ostrich farm before checking in at your accommodation. There is time to cool off in the pool before trying ostrich steak or Karoo mutton for dinner (not included in rate).
Accommodation:
Option 1: Rosenhof Country Lodge -Rosenhof Country House
Rosenhof Country House is situated on the outskirts of Oudtshoorn en route to the world famous Cango Caves. The Victorian homestead has recently been renovated and refurbished, and the well-established rose and herb gardens are meticulously manicured.
All bedrooms are individually decorated and open onto an outdoor swimming pool. Relax in any one of the luxury lounges, or on the wide veranda after a day in the sun. Rosenhof offers superb cordon bleu dinners on request in its gracious dining room.
Rosenhof is graded 5-star.
Option 2: De Opstal Country House -De Opstal Country Lodge
De Opstal is on a working ostrich farm, a mere 12 kilometres from the famous Cango Caves and also within easy reach of other tourist attractions such as the Safari Ostrich Show Farm.
The lodge consists of a group of historical Karoo farm buildings, beautifully restored and fitted with modern conveniences and en-suite bathrooms. You can relax beside the swimming pool or in the lush, tranquil garden surroundings. The entire complex has an old world ambience with subtle modern touches to ensure a luxurious stay.
De Opstal is graded 4-star..
Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Day 7 – Oudtshoorn to Knysna
After breakfast, drive to the Cango Caves, where you can embark on a magical journey through massive caverns and fascinating limestone formations. You will then leave the Little Karoo behind and drive through the protea-covered Outeniqua Mountains to George. Reach Knysna in time for a drive along the shores of the Knysna Lagoon to the quaint village of Belvidere. Restaurants in Knysna specialise in locally-caught fresh fish and this evening you should visit one of Knysna's trendy waterfront restaurants to sample the catch of the day (not included in rate).
Accommodation:
Option 1: Augusta Bay -Augusta Bay
This unique and beautiful guest house is nestled against the Eastern Head of the Knysna lagoon, where the famous sea Captain John Benn II cottage once stood. The suites are luxuriously appointed and tastefully furnished. Guests enjoy the understated luxury of the bar, sipping a cocktail while getting to know other guests.
There is also a separate lounge area for those guests who want peace and quiet. The pool deck is conveniently situated on the same level and the guests can take a break and sip a cocktail, and if the conditions are right, watch dolphins swimming in the lagoon.
Augusta Bay is graded 5-star.
Option 2: Knysna Log Inn -Knysna Log Inn
As the largest known timber structure found in the Southern Hemisphere, the Knysna Log Inn provides its guests with a unique accommodation experience in the heart of the town of Knysna. Beautiful yellowwood interiors and massive stain glass windows creates a setting of timeless beauty and style.
The stylish en-suite rooms provide comfortable accommodation. Hearty breakfasts and sumptuous dinners are served at the in-house restaurant. There is an outdoor swimming pool.
Knysna Log Inn is graded 4-star.
Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Day 8 – Knysna to Tsitsikamma
This morning spend some time browsing through the best of Knysna's arty-crafty shops. Drive along the coast to nearby Plettenberg Bay where you can set off on a gentle "eco-stroll" along the Robberg Peninsula, a rocky headland which presents a fine example of how plants and animals adapt to the interacting influences of land and sea. Robberg affords excellent views of any whales and dolphins that may be visiting Plettenberg Bay. You are in the heart of the Garden Route and we recommend you take a scenic drive along the Old Passes road, stopping for a swim at the unspoilt beaches of Natures Valley. Stop at the Bloukrans Bridge to witness the world's highest commercial bungi jump, before reaching your overnight accommodation near or in the Tsitsikamma Forest. This evening you can enjoy country hospitality and typical South African cuisine at your accommodation's in-house restaurant (not included in rate).
Accommodation:
Option 1: Hog Hollow -Hog Hollow
Set in a private nature reserve and framed by the Tsitsikamma mountains, verdant indigenous forests and lush gardens, Hog Hollow Country Lodge is the perfect place to explore the Garden Route or unwind, lazing in the warmth of the African sun.
Accommodation is in unique African-styled suites with private wooden decks, hammocks, king-sized beds and cosy fireplaces. Superb cuisine is served around the convivial dining room table. There is an outdoor swimming pool and a sauna.
Hog Hollow is graded 4-star.
Option 2: Tsitsikamma Lodge -Tsitsikamma Lodge
This award-winning country-style lodge, built entirely of timber-logs, offers cosy accommodation and typical South African fare in their quaint restaurant. Spectacular mountain and forest views are enjoyed from each log cabin, which are set in lush gardens.
The cabins all have their own spa bath, as well as a private deck with barbeque facilities. There is a large outdoor swimming pool and a games room. Gentle river and forest walks are offered in the surrounding Tsitsikamma forest. The in-house restaurant provides excellent home-cooked meals.
Tsitsikamma Lodge is graded 3-star.
Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Day 9 – Tsitsikamma to Port Elizabeth
Today should be spent in the Tsitsikamma Forest, an indigenous primeval forest with towering ancient yellowwood trees, lush vegetation and deep gorges. Drive down a steep pass to the aptly-named Storms River Mouth, where there are numerous short walking trails into the forest. Book an adventure in the forest with a reputable adventure company offering tractor rides, tree swinging, snorkelling etc. After your fun filled day in the forest, a short walk brings you to the 800-year old "Big Tree". Leave the Garden Route behind and reach Port Elizabeth in the late afternoon, for a 2 night stay.
Accommodation:
Option 1: The Protea Marine -Protea Hotel Marine
This luxury hotel is located on Port Elizabeth’s beachfront, overlooking the sun-drenched sands of Pollock Beach. With sweeping views of Algoa Bay, the hotel is renowned for its quality facilities, personal service and luxurious atmosphere. There is an outdoor swimming pool to laze at, or you can relax on the sandy beaches across from the hotel.
The 64 recently renovated rooms in the Tower Block all have air-conditioning, satellite television and 24 hour room service, and the 34 executive rooms, suites and loft apartments are also fitted with electronic safes, mini kitchenettes and lounge areas.
Valet, laundry and dry cleaning facilities are available to guests and baby sitting services can also be arranged.
Protea Hotel Marine is graded 4 star.
Option 2: 5th Avenue Beach House -Fifth Aavenue Beach House
Fifth Avenue Beach House is an elegant modern guest house situated less than a block away from Port Elizabeth’s pristine beachfront.
Beautifully decorated en-suite bedrooms and a swimming pool set in lush gardens make for a comfortable stay in this up market suburb. The guest house is located within minutes from good restaurants, pubs and the Boardwalk Casino.
Fifth Avenue Beach House is graded 3-star
Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Day 10 – Port Elizabeth
This morning you should explore the city of Port Elizabeth, which will take you through the historic central where you can visit Fort Frederick, Donkin Reserve and the Settler Cottages. You should also visit the Horse memorial and Settlers Park. Take a drive back to your hotel along the beautiful beaches of Kings Beach and Shark Rock Pier. You have the afternoon at leisure to visit The Boardwalk Entertainment and Casino Complex or take a stroll along the beautiful beachfront. The Boardwalk Complex has some wonderful restaurants specializing in locally caught fresh seafood, Mediterranean meals and genuine steak ranches.
Accommodation:
Option 1: The Protea Marine -
This luxury hotel is located on Port Elizabeth’s beachfront, overlooking the sun-drenched sands of Pollock Beach. With sweeping views of Algoa Bay, the hotel is renowned for its quality facilities, personal service and luxurious atmosphere. There is an outdoor swimming pool to laze at, or you can relax on the sandy beaches across from the hotel.
The 64 recently renovated rooms in the Tower Block all have air-conditioning, satellite television and 24 hour room service, and the 34 executive rooms, suites and loft apartments are also fitted with electronic safes, mini kitchenettes and lounge areas.
Valet, laundry and dry cleaning facilities are available to guests and baby sitting services can also be arranged.
Protea Hotel Marine is graded 4 star.
Option 2: 5th Avenue Beach House -
Fifth Avenue Beach House is an elegant modern guest house situated less than a block away from Port Elizabeth’s pristine beachfront.
Beautifully decorated en-suite bedrooms and a swimming pool set in lush gardens make for a comfortable stay in this up market suburb. The guest house is located within minutes from good restaurants, pubs and the Boardwalk Casino.
Fifth Avenue Beach House is graded 3-star
Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Day 11 - Port Elizabeth to Eastern Cape Game Reserve
This morning you are at leisure to visit the beachfront. At 11h30 check out of your hotel and drive to one of the Eastern Cape's malaria-free Big 5 game reserves and check in between 13h00 and 14h30. Enjoy a delicious lunch at the day centre or at your lodge on the game reserve. Here you will stay for 3 nights on full board basis (all meals, accommodation, two game drives a day and all drinks). High tea is served at 16h00, before you embark on your first game drive, which extends into the evening. Dinner is a grand affair either outside if it is a glorious evening, or if the weather is inclement, indoors. After dinner, you are at leisure to have another drink at the bar, or you can retire to your chalet for the evening.
Accommodation:
Option 1: Kwandwe Private Game Reserve -Kwandwe Game Reserve
This malaria-free private game reserve offers an exceptional safari experience in a region steeped in history and culture. It is home to the Big 5, as well as cheetah, giraffe and many species of antelope. Kwandwe is a biodiversity ‘hotspot’ with six of South Africa’s seven biomes converging in this region of the Eastern Cape. Experienced CC Africa rangers and Xhosa trackers will lead you on interpretive, twice-daily game-drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles, bringing you close to Africa’s Big Five.
Accommodation at Kwandwe Lodge is in unobtrusive thatched stone and glass luxury chalets, each with its own plunge pool and a timber deck with views across Great Fish River. The chalets feature floor-to-ceiling doors which fold back to reveal uninterrupted wilderness vistas. Ecca Lodge is Kwandwe’s child-friendly lodge and embodies a “funk meets futuristic farmhouse” ambience. At both lodges, delicious Pan-African cuisine is served on the private decks, in the candlelit dining room, or enjoyed in the boma (outdoor dining area).
Kwandwe is graded 5-star.
Option 2: Lalibela Private Game Reserve -Lalibela Game Reserve
Lalibela Game Reserve, a Big Five game reserve near Port Elizabeth, is not only malaria-free, but spans 5 ecosystems, resulting in a breath-taking diversity of flora and fauna. Lalibela is unique in the Eastern Cape in that they have no public roads running through their property. All of the animals, including the predators, are free-roaming throughout the entire reserve. They currently have Three lodges to offer their clients - Lentaba Lodge, Mark's Camp and Tree Tops.
The décor at all the lodges are infused with the essence of Africa, as well as warm and friendly service and unforgettable game viewing. At each lodge, thatched chalets are placed where indigenous gardens merge with the surrounding bush. Each lodge has an outdoor dining area with views over a waterhole. At Lalibela, food is true safari cuisine with an emphasis on local specialities, ranging from centuries-old recipes to exciting contemporary African dishes.
Mark’s Camp is Lalibela’s child-friendly lodge and offers family suites, a children’s programme with special children’s game drives, child minders and children’s meals.
All the lodges at Lalibela are graded 4-star..
Basis:
Full Board (accommodation, meals, local beverages and game activities included).
Day 12 – Eastern Cape Game Reserve
This morning you are woken for tea and rusks, before you set off on your early morning game drive. After the drive you enjoy a hearty brunch. You have a few hours to relax by the pool, enjoy a guided walk with an experienced ranger or rest in your chalet. A light snack is provided around noon. At 16h00 high tea is served with sweet and savoury delights, before you depart on your afternoon / evening game drive. Dinner is enjoyed once again in your boma or dining area, before retiring to your chalets for the evening.
Accommodation:
Option 1: Kwandwe Private Game Reserve -
This malaria-free private game reserve offers an exceptional safari experience in a region steeped in history and culture. It is home to the Big 5, as well as cheetah, giraffe and many species of antelope. Kwandwe is a biodiversity ‘hotspot’ with six of South Africa’s seven biomes converging in this region of the Eastern Cape. Experienced CC Africa rangers and Xhosa trackers will lead you on interpretive, twice-daily game-drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles, bringing you close to Africa’s Big Five.
Accommodation at Kwandwe Lodge is in unobtrusive thatched stone and glass luxury chalets, each with its own plunge pool and a timber deck with views across Great Fish River. The chalets feature floor-to-ceiling doors which fold back to reveal uninterrupted wilderness vistas. Ecca Lodge is Kwandwe’s child-friendly lodge and embodies a “funk meets futuristic farmhouse” ambience. At both lodges, delicious Pan-African cuisine is served on the private decks, in the candlelit dining room, or enjoyed in the boma (outdoor dining area).
Kwandwe is graded 5-star.
Option 2: Lalibela Private Game Reserve -
Lalibela Game Reserve, a Big Five game reserve near Port Elizabeth, is not only malaria-free, but spans 5 ecosystems, resulting in a breath-taking diversity of flora and fauna. Lalibela is unique in the Eastern Cape in that they have no public roads running through their property. All of the animals, including the predators, are free-roaming throughout the entire reserve. They currently have Three lodges to offer their clients - Lentaba Lodge, Mark's Camp and Tree Tops.
The décor at all the lodges are infused with the essence of Africa, as well as warm and friendly service and unforgettable game viewing. At each lodge, thatched chalets are placed where indigenous gardens merge with the surrounding bush. Each lodge has an outdoor dining area with views over a waterhole. At Lalibela, food is true safari cuisine with an emphasis on local specialities, ranging from centuries-old recipes to exciting contemporary African dishes.
Mark’s Camp is Lalibela’s child-friendly lodge and offers family suites, a children’s programme with special children’s game drives, child minders and children’s meals.
All the lodges at Lalibela are graded 4-star..
Basis:
Full Board (accommodation, meals, local beverages and game activities included).
Day 13 – Eastern Cape Game Reserve
This morning you are woken for tea and rusks, before you set off on your early morning game drive. After the drive you enjoy a hearty brunch. You have a few hours to relax by the pool, enjoy a guided walk with an experienced ranger or rest in your chalet. A light snack is provided around noon. At 16h00 high tea is served with sweet and savoury delights, before you depart on your afternoon / evening game drive. Dinner is enjoyed once again in the boma or dining area, before retiring to your chalets for the evening.
Accommodation:
Option 1: Kwandwe Private Game Reserve -
This malaria-free private game reserve offers an exceptional safari experience in a region steeped in history and culture. It is home to the Big 5, as well as cheetah, giraffe and many species of antelope. Kwandwe is a biodiversity ‘hotspot’ with six of South Africa’s seven biomes converging in this region of the Eastern Cape. Experienced CC Africa rangers and Xhosa trackers will lead you on interpretive, twice-daily game-drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles, bringing you close to Africa’s Big Five.
Accommodation at Kwandwe Lodge is in unobtrusive thatched stone and glass luxury chalets, each with its own plunge pool and a timber deck with views across Great Fish River. The chalets feature floor-to-ceiling doors which fold back to reveal uninterrupted wilderness vistas. Ecca Lodge is Kwandwe’s child-friendly lodge and embodies a “funk meets futuristic farmhouse” ambience. At both lodges, delicious Pan-African cuisine is served on the private decks, in the candlelit dining room, or enjoyed in the boma (outdoor dining area).
Kwandwe is graded 5-star.
Option 2: Lalibela Private Game Reserve -
Lalibela Game Reserve, a Big Five game reserve near Port Elizabeth, is not only malaria-free, but spans 5 ecosystems, resulting in a breath-taking diversity of flora and fauna. Lalibela is unique in the Eastern Cape in that they have no public roads running through their property. All of the animals, including the predators, are free-roaming throughout the entire reserve. They currently have Three lodges to offer their clients - Lentaba Lodge, Mark's Camp and Tree Tops.
The décor at all the lodges are infused with the essence of Africa, as well as warm and friendly service and unforgettable game viewing. At each lodge, thatched chalets are placed where indigenous gardens merge with the surrounding bush. Each lodge has an outdoor dining area with views over a waterhole. At Lalibela, food is true safari cuisine with an emphasis on local specialities, ranging from centuries-old recipes to exciting contemporary African dishes.
Mark’s Camp is Lalibela’s child-friendly lodge and offers family suites, a children’s programme with special children’s game drives, child minders and children’s meals.
All the lodges at Lalibela are graded 4-star..
Basis:
Full Board (accommodation, meals, local beverages and game activities included).
Day 14 – Eastern Cape Game Reserve, on to Cape Town
This morning is your last game drive, after which you will have brunch and then check out of your game reserve. Drive back to Port Elizabeth, hand in your hire car at PE Airport and check in for your flight back to Cape Town. On arrival in Cape Town, you will be met by a professional driver and transferred to your hotel for one night on B&B basis.
Accommodation:
Option 1: The Mount Nelson -
Built in 1899, The Mount Nelson Hotel is undoubtedly Cape Town’s oldest and most distinguished hotel, occupying a breathtaking site on the lower slopes of Table Mountain. From the days when visitors to Cape Town sailed in on the mail ships, the hotel has retained a reputation for elegance, luxury and service. This is where the Queen chooses to stay when she visits Cape Town! The hotel is renowned for its superb cuisine and beautiful 9-acre gardens. The rooms are all individually decorated and many are situated in four individual wings, separated from the main hotel, each with its own unique character, private gardens and facilities. Within the hotel grounds, guests can avail themselves of a fully equipped gymnasium, a floodlit tennis court, swimming pool and health spa.
The location of the Mount Nelson means that the hotel is only 5 minutes away from the city centre, and 10 minutes from the world-famous V&A Waterfront, for which a complimentary shuttle is available for its guests.
The Mount Nelson is graded 5-star.
Option 2: The Cape Milner -
Cradled beneath majestic Table Mountain in Cape Town’s trendy suburb of Tamboerskloof, the Cape Milner offers a sophisticated and contemporary ambience with the highest standards in style and luxury. The Cape Milner was voted one of South Africa's best boutique hotels by acclaimed local magazine House and Leisure.
All of the 57 luxurious rooms offer spectacular views of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head, and mixes old style elegance with modern comfort. The Cape Milner has an in-house gym and outdoor swimming pool and is a five-minute drive from the V&A Waterfront and within close proximity of the pristine white beaches of Camps Bay and Clifton.
Cape Milner Hotel is graded 4 star.
Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Day 15 – Cape Town and home
Today you are at leisure to visit the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront one last time, shopping for last minute gifts and souvenirs to take home. Your professional driver will collect you in the afternoon and transfer you to Cape Town International Airport for your flights home.