Tuesday:
Depart Cape Town at about 08h15 and head northwards over the spectacular Du Toit's Kloof Mountain pass en route to Worcester. From Worcester we continue on the R62 (route 62 is the longest wine route in the world) through Montagu. We stop for a wine tasting and delicious lunch. In the afternoon we travel through the Little Karoo. Changing scenery from lush farmland to semi-desert areas make this a day full of surprises. A warm welcome awaits us from the staff of the Riempies Estate Hotel in Oudtshoorn, where we arrive in the late afternoon for our overnight stop. Oudtshoorn is the ostrich capital of the world. Here ostriches are found in great numbers and the region produces the best feathers, leather products and ostrich meat world wide. But the world’s biggest bird is just one of the many attractions in this area of interesting contrasts. This small town is the commercial hub of the greater Klein Karoo region (encompassing Prince Albert, De Rust and Calitzdorp) and is situated in a beautiful valley between the Outeniqua- and Swartberg Mountains

Wednesday:
We awake to the freshness of morning in the Karoo, and after a hearty breakfast we set off for the exciting Cango Caves. You’ll love this! An hour of magic awaits us as we follow our guide through the caves, gasping at the magnificent stalagmites and stalactites and hear the intriguing stories about how the caves were discovered.

If that’s not wild enough for you, we’re off to the Cango Wildlife Ranch (Crocodile and cheetah farm). Here we see reptiles with frightening large teeth! Theirs is not a smile you want to get too close to! Our guide will tell us all about the other magnificent animals on the farm, like jaguar, puma, tiger and lion.

Next on the tour is the Ostrich farm! This is your chance to find out everything about these enormous birds. Lunch today is at Highgate Ostrich farm, and guess what’s on the menu? Yes! Ostrich delicacies and other delicious things! The staff will entertain us during lunch, and once you’ve satisfied your appetite, we go racing! Yes, Ostrich racing, and you get the chance to be the jockey (optional)! It is interesting to find out all about their breeding habits and to learn about the ‘feather palaces’ which were the mansion homes of the estate owners in the 1900’s when the feathers fetched exorbitant prices during the ostrich feather boom.

Later in the afternoon we head for the lush vegetation of the Outeniqua Mountains as we drive towards Knysna, and the magnificent scenery will give you a greater understanding of why this area is called the Garden Route. We check into the Knysna Quays Hotel in Knysna.

Thursday:
The morning gives us some time to enjoy the quaint village of Knysna and we have a bit of free time in the Knysna Waterfront. At 11h00 we depart on a guided boat trip on the Keurbooms river where you experience the majesty of the Keurbooms River Nature Reserve, as the Ferries glide over shimmering waters, through soaring gorges. Qualified skippers and guides are on board to ensure that your 2.5hr trip is as informative as it is unforgettable, ending with a picnic lunch on the beaches of the Keurbooms River.
In the late afternoon we will make our way to Mossel Bay where we visit to the Post Office Tree and Diaz museum where early pioneers left mail for the homebound ships to Europe. We spend a leisurely afternoon at the swimming pool or stroll along the beach before enjoying dinner, and overnight at the Mossel Bay Protea hotel

Friday:
We start our day with a delicious breakfast at Botlierskop Private Game Reserve before we set off on a morning game drive. We get up close and personal with Rhinos, giraffe, lion, Black Impala, and buffalo, and many other species on and exiting three hour game drive in our open safari vehicles which offers great game viewing. Our guide will point out interesting sights and enlighten us about all sorts of interesting facts regarding the 3000 hectare reserve.

We depart after an exhilarating morning of game viewing, and follow the rolling hills to the romantic town of Swellendam. Our guide will tell us all about the fascinating history of the town which was founded by the Dutch East India Company in 1745. This was the last outpost of civilization on the Eastern frontier! Hendrik Swellengrebel was the reigning governor of the Cape after whom the town was named. We stop for lunch at La Belle Alliance and we visit a local farm stall before the last leg of the scenic drive back to Cape Town, where we return you to your hotel or the airport at 18h00.


Other Options:

Enquire about ending your trip in Port Elizabeth.
End your tour at Cape Town International Airport by 18:30 on Fridays.
For groups of four or more, enquire about alternative departure days (subject to availability).