Cape Town – Route 62 – Oudtshoorn

Boplaas - Start your journey along Route 62, the world’s longest wine route, with a tasting of some of the country’s finest port. As you travel to Oudtshoorn, watch the winelands transform into dusty country roads. Marvel at the stunning formations in the Cango Caves and enjoy a night sky filled with twinkling stars.

Continuing up the East Coast, you’ll enter the Garden Route countryside, where views are filled with lush green forests and the deep blue ocean. The mild climate and relaxed atmosphere make it easy to unwind and enjoy the peaceful scenery. Only the allure of a safari and African-style fine dining will tempt you away from your luxury tent at Botlierskop Game Reserve. Look out for the “Big 5” during two 3-hour 4x4 game drives.

Spend your final day absorbing the cultural influences in Mossel Bay, where the wild ocean’s beauty is rivaled only by the majestic Outeniqua Mountain Range.

Please note: A minimum of two people per booking is required, but this tour is exclusively for you. The itinerary is flexible and can be customized to spend more time at the highlights that interest you most. All listed accommodations are subject to availability, and the itinerary may run in reverse to match available options. Alternative accommodations of similar quality will be offered if preferred options are fully booked.

Itinerary

You’ll be picked up from your accommodation in the morning to begin your journey along Route 62, South Africa’s longest and most renowned wine route. A brief stop in the charming town of Barrydale offers a chance to stretch your legs and enjoy lunch (own expense). Continue to Calitzdorp to taste some of South Africa’s finest port at a renowned winery known for its premium wine production and world-class port.

Travel through a landscape of rugged plains and towering cliffs to reach Oudtshoorn by the afternoon. Visit the impressive Cango Caves, located in a limestone ridge parallel to the scenic Swartberg Mountains. During the Heritage Tour, explore the subterranean wonderland with its colorful stalactites hanging like ancient chandeliers.

Oudtshoorn - Arrive at Mooiplaas Guesthouse, a family-run, working ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn, once known as the ‘feather capital of the world’. Find peace and tranquility in the wide-open spaces of the farmland and its ever-changing purple backdrop of the Outeniqua Mountains. This is African “big sky” country, and the star-filled heavens make this off-the-grid location perfect for stargazing. Dine at the main house with the owner’s set menu, with the option to try local delicacies including delicious and healthy ostrich filet (own expense). After dinner, your knowledgeable guide will point out the spectacular constellations above.

Oudtshoorn – Wilderness

Wilderness National Park - Your next stop is Wilderness National Park, about a 90-minute drive away. The famous Garden Route National Park unfolds against lush forests and towering mountains. The many lagoons and shimmering lakes inspire a sense of tranquil wonderment and invite exploration. Choose to paddle up the calm waters of the Touw River, with its abundant birdlife, or follow shady footpaths winding through an enchanting world of giant Yellow Wood trees.

Arrive at your accommodation in Wilderness, your retreat for the night, with elegant rooms and close proximity to the pristine beach. Spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beachfront, with unparalleled sea views and the perfect spot for dolphin watching. Stroll along the wide sandy beach as the sunset paints the sky in a kaleidoscope of colors. Your guide can suggest the best seafood or other dining options (own expense) nearby.

Wilderness – Knysna – Botlierskop Game Reserve

Knysna Lagoon - Travel to Knysna and board the John Benn luxury ferry for a cruise on the Knysna Lagoon.

Knysna Heads - The estuary is home to the massive sandstone Knysna ‘Heads’, which seem to guard the vast expanse of water as it flows into the ocean. The estuary also hosts many endangered water species, as well as the famous Knysna oyster, which you’ll sample along with sparkling wine onboard.

Botlierskop Private Game Reserve - Venture just an hour inland to Botlierskop, set on an expansive 8,600-acre (3,500-hectare) malaria-free private game reserve. Local fauna and flora abound: the reserve is home to over 26 different free-roaming species of animals and more than 200 bird species.

Tonight, you’ll get close to nature without sacrificing comfort. Your 4-star graded, air-conditioned tent suite is perched on a private wooden deck, carefully integrated into the surrounding bushveld and under a canopy of trees along the riverbed. Each lavishly furnished tent features a 4-poster bed draped in mosquito nets, comfy wingback chairs, a deep oval bath, and an outdoor nature shower: pure luxury in the wild.

Before you become completely immersed in the luxury of your tent, embark on a 3-hour sundowner game drive to spot members of the Big 5 and other wildlife. Possible sightings include Rhino, Lion, Buffalo, Giraffe, Black Impala, Golden Wildebeest, Mountain Zebra, Hippo, and many more. From the safety of a specially-adapted vehicle, an experienced game ranger will point out sightings and share knowledge of the local wildlife. After returning from the safari, you’ll have time to relax and settle in before dinner at the lodge.

The lodge’s restaurant is situated on a hilly outcrop with uninterrupted views of the incredible African bush. Choose to sit cozily inside by the fireplace, or dine al fresco under the starry night sky (own expense) while enjoying a mix of various local culinary favorites with a South African twist.

Botlierskop Game Reserve – Mossel Bay – Cape Town

Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex - Wake up early for a pre-dawn sunrise game drive to witness the bush awakening. After breakfast, travel to Mossel Bay, a bustling holiday town and port set on the sun-washed slopes of the Cape St. Blaiz peninsula. A visit to the Dias Museum Complex will illuminate the town’s fascinating maritime history through various displays. The main feature is a to-scale model of the vessel that first brought European explorers to South African shores when Dias anchored in 1488. As a unique souvenir, send a postcard to loved ones from the country’s oldest post office, located in a “sailor’s boot” under a large indigenous Milkwood tree.

From Mossel Bay, the journey back to Cape Town begins. The 4-hour drive is broken up midway for a relaxed stop at the quaint town of Swellendam, nestled among the foothills of the Langeberg Mountains. The tour concludes with a farewell lunch of Cape Fusion-inspired cuisine at one of the region’s top farm-to-table restaurants (own expense). Expect to arrive back in Cape Town in the early evening.

Throughout your journey, your guide will provide informative commentary and can recommend places to eat or visit.

• The exact itinerary is subject to change and may occasionally run in a different order.
• This private tour is exclusively for you. The itinerary is flexible and can be customized to spend more time at the tour’s highlights that interest you most or swap for alternative options. Contact us after booking to let us know if you prefer any changes, and we can suggest an updated itinerary and cost estimate if changes incur additional charges.

Africa Select Journeys - This private tour is exclusively for you. The itinerary is flexible and can be customized to spend more time at the tour’s highlights that interest you most or swap for alternative options. This is a private tour running exclusively for you or your group. Contact us during or after the booking process to let us know if you prefer any changes to the tour, and we can suggest an updated itinerary and cost estimate if there are any additional charges.

• Accommodation for 3 nights
• Stargazing in the Karoo
• Ostrich Farm tour
• 4x4 Open-vehicle Game Drive on Private Game Reserve
• Wilderness canoe hire
• Cango Caves tour
• Hotel pickup & drop-off within 5km of Cape Town central or Stellenbosch
• Breakfast
• Knysna Lagoon Cruise
• Unique beach, bush and farmland luxury stays
• Round-trip private transfer by air-conditioned, private vehicle
• Port Tasting
• Led by an English-speaking professional tour guide

• Lunch, Dinner and drinks, unless specified

Submerge yourself in the enchanting Garden Route, a perfect harmony of farmland, wilderness, and coastline experiences, with a touch of opulence! The uniqueness and appeal of this specific area in South Africa are amplified by the vibrant towns of Oudtshoorn, Wilderness, Knysna, and Mossel Bay. Enjoy a luxury camping and safari encounter to witness wildlife up close at Botlierskop Private Game Reserve; stay overnight by the sea in Wilderness and indulge in a special farm lodging experience in the semi-desert region of Klein Karoo. Along your journey, savour some of the nation’s top-quality port; marvel at the grandeur of the Cango Caves and the local flora and fauna of the Wilderness National Park.

• According to availability at time of booking, accommodation will be in the mentioned accommodation or in one of a similar standard and star rating.
• Children under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
• Adult pricing applies to all travelers above 12 years of age.
• Child rates can be quoted on special request, but do keep in mind that some accommodation options do not allow young children.
• The exact itinerary is subject to change and may, on occasion, run in a different order.
• This private tour will run exclusively run for you. The itinerary is flexible and can be tailored to spend more time at the tour’s highlights that interest you the most or swop for alternative options. Do contact us after booking the tour to let us know if you would prefer any changes of the tour and we can suggest an updated itinerary and cost estimate if the changes need to be charged extra.
• Rates (per person) are calculated on 2 people per room sharing. If a single or uneven number of people book, the package rate will add a single supplement fee for the extra person that will overnight in a separate private ensuite room.
• Personal comprehensive travel insurance is excluded and recommended
• Game drive or bush safari drives are shared with other people on especially adopted open-roof converted vehicle or truck.

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.