This private tour focuses on the highlights of South Africa's Western and Eastern Cape Provinces. It starts in Cape Town and includes visits to the Winelands, the De Hoop Nature Reserve in the Overberg, and the Garden Route. A big five safari at Shamwari Private Reserve is last on the agenda. Only the finest top-end accommodations are included throughout.
Price Per Person Sharing From:
From: POAThe price can be reduced by substituting accommodations
What influences prices?
Tour Ref. Code
Starting Date
Starting Point
Ending Point
Customizable
Type
Accommodation Level
Countries Visited
DistanceUpon arrival at Cape Town International Airport, guests are met and transferred to their boutique hotel above Bantry Bay on Cape Town's famous Atlantic Seaboard. The rest of the day is spent resting and relaxing before the activities of your African adventure commence.
Distance
Itinerary The day is spent exploring three of Cape Town's iconic highlights: Table Mountain, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Guests are met after breakfast, and the tour leads to the Cable Car base station at the foot of Table Mountain for a scenic ascent to the top. Here, you will walk along well-maintained paths meandering through rocky outcrops to appreciate splendid views of Cape Town, the Cape Peninsula, and fynbos.
Upon descending the mountain, we explore the bustling V&A Waterfront before time is allowed for lunch. Then, it is on to Kirstenbosch, on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. During the visit, we wander through parts of the famous 528-hectare gardens, depicting the rich plant life of South Africa, with a focus on the Cape Floristic Region. Two impressive features include the Boomslang canopy walkway and the protea gardens. The tour returns to your overnight destination during the late afternoon.
Distance
ItineraryToday, you will explore the scenic delights and attractions of the Cape Peninsula as your tour traverses Chapmans Peak Drive, one of the world's most impressive cliffside roads. This road offers stunning views of the Atlantic en route to Cape Point within the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. This point marks the southwestern tip of the African continent. Here, you will take the funicular to the old lighthouse for rugged coastal views and to admire the rich biodiversity at this iconic spot.
Some time for lunch at the Two Oceans restaurant is followed by a short journey to Boulders Beach in Simon's Town, where the antics of a colony of endangered African Penguins are admired as they shuffle between boulders on the beach and swim in clear ocean waters. The tour then returns to Cape Town via Boyes Drive, which overlooks False Bay.
Distance Itinerary The history of South Africa's oldest city comes under the spotlight as your guide accompanies you to the District Six Museum after breakfast. It offers an informative look at the impact of Apartheid on the city's residents with personal stories, photos, and artifacts. A visit is then made to the Castle of Good Hope, a key Dutch Military Site in the 17th century, where we explore ramparts, dungeons, and exhibitions. A short stroll through the colorful Bo-Kaap, originally known as the Malay Quarter, precedes time for lunch.
In the afternoon, a short ferry ride from the Waterfront brings you to Robben Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site where Nelson Mandela and other prisoners were incarcerated during Apartheid. A tour of the island includes visiting the prison and Mandela's cell, the limestone quarry where prisoners were forced to work, and other sites of historical significance. You return to the Waterfront, where a short drive leads to the overnight destination.
Distance ItineraryShortly after breakfast, the tour makes its way inland to Stellenbosch, the second-oldest town in South Africa. Some time is devoted to strolling through its historic heart on Dorp Street, where fine examples of Cape Dutch, Georgian, and Victorian architecture can be admired amongst ancient oak trees. Then, the tour visits Lanzerac Wine Estate for a tasting and introduction to winemaking in South Africa.
Some time for lunch in Stellenbosch precedes a short journey to L'Ormarins, one of the most impressive wine estates in the region, where the Franschhoek Motor Museum, with its collection of over 220 vehicles, is explored. It showcases over a century of motoring history, from vintage cars to modern supercars. From here, a short scenic drive through the Winelands brings guests to their overnight accommodations in Franschhoek.
Distance Itinerary During the morning, we explore Franschhoek, one of South Africa's most enchanting towns. It owes its existence to the French Huguenotes, who settled here in the late 17th century and brought their knowledge of wine-making to the valley. We visit the Huguenot Memorial and Museum before strolling through the quaint streets lined by galleries, boutique shops, and cafes.
The afternoon is spent at leisure.
Distance ItineraryToday, we visit a few fine wine estates in the Franschhoek Valley with the Franschhoek Wine Tram, a unique way to enjoy panoramic views of the Winelands and surrounding mountains. Your guide will discuss your preferences to determine the estates and boutique wineries you wish to visit. We use the hop-on, hop-off service offered by the tram, which provides flexibility in the duration and the number of wine farms visited.
The region has a rich viticultural heritage and produces some of South Africa's finest wines. It is also revered for its gastronomic delights. At boutique winemakers and established estates, you will experience an introduction to the wine-making process and sample some of South Africa's finest.
Distance Itinerary We leave behind the Winelands and make our way over the Franschhoek Pass, which winds through rugged Mountain Terrain. En route, we stop at viewpoints to admire stunning landscapes. The tour then travels through farmland to Swellendam, South Africa's fourth-oldest town at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains. Here, we visit the Drostdy Museum Complex, which offers a fascinating look into the town's colonial past. Some time is devoted to lunch and exploring the historic town before venturing to De Hoop Nature Reserve.
De Hoop is one of South Africa's most stunning, ecologically diverse protected areas with breathtaking coastal landscapes. It is home to abundant wildlife, including the bontebok and Cape Mountain zebra. Check-in at your lodge is followed by some relaxation time.
ItineraryAt Lekkerwater Beach Lodge, you can enjoy a variety of natural pursuits and outdoor activities led by knowledgeable local guides. From June to November, Southern Right Whales can be spotted from the lodge and on coastal walks in whale season. Activities include guided nature walks through seaside dunes, fynbos-covered hills, and pristine beaches.
All walks are informative, providing insight into intertidal zones and the rich marine life. You can also learn about the biodiversity of the Cape Floristic Region or go on accompanied birdwatching excursions that focus on the two hundred and sixty bird species that occur here, notably the Cape vulture. Animals you are likely to encounter are Cape mountain zebra, eland, grey rhebok, ostrich, and baboon.
Distance Itinerary Breakfast in De Hoop is followed by a journey to the Garden Route via Riversdale and Albertinia. Around lunchtime, we reach the prestigious Fancourt Estate, located in the beautiful town of George. Some time is set aside for lunch, after which guests are assisted with check-in, and some time for relaxing; guests are welcome to stroll around the Fancourt Estate before choosing one of the available restaurants for dinner.
Distance ItineraryThe beauty of the Garden Route is apparent as we pass through Wilderness and Sedgefield on our way to the splendidly displayed town of Knysna, where coffee and tea are enjoyed at the Waterfront before crossing the Knysna Lagoon by ferry to Featherbed Nature Reserve, a pristine natural sanctuary on the Western Head of Knysna. After arriving at the reserve, you will board a 4x4 vehicle to the top of the head. Guides share insights into the ecology and geology of the reserve, and you will enjoy grand views of the lagoon and Indian Ocean.
Following the visit to Featherbed, lunch is enjoyed before visiting the Eastern Head, one of the two towering sandstone cliffs that frame the entrance to the Knysna Lagoon, in the company of your African Sky guide. A few short walks are enjoyed here before returning to the overnight destination in George.
Distance Itinerary After breakfast, we cross the Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo, where we visit the Cango Caves, the most extensive cave system in South Africa. This breathtaking underground wonder has vast limestone chambers with stunning stalactites, stalagmites, and intricate rock formations sculpted over millions of years. After enjoying the heritage tour, we cross the imposing Swartberg Pass (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to the Karoo town of Prince Albert.
Lunch is followed by exploring this quaint town with its many historic buildings. You will also visit the Prince Albert Museum, which depicts the town's history and has a few fascinating exhibits on local culture and heritage. In the mid-afternoon, the tour returns to the overnight destination via Meiringspoort and Oudtshoorn.
Distance ItineraryThe day's journey is north-easterly as the tour travels to Shamwari, the premier private Big Five game reserve in southern South Africa. En route, we stop at Storms River Mouth in the Tsitsikamma National Park section of the Garden Route National Park, where guests can walk across the Storms River suspension bridge, accessed via a short trail that winds through the coastal forest.
Lunch is enjoyed in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), and the Reserve is reached roughly an hour later. Here, guests are assisted with check-in, and there will be some time for relaxation before embarking on the first open 4X4 safari in this unique wildlife haven.
Itinerary Shamwari's expansive and varied landscapes include savanna, bushveld, riverine forest, and grassland, a rich mix of habitats that support a variety of wildlife. It is one of South Africa's finest safari destinations. You can encounter the Big Five (elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard, and lion). Zebras and giraffes are frequently encountered, and many antelope species include springbok, kudu, eland, impala, wildebeest, and more.
While staying at Shamwari, you will enjoy two informative game drives daily, one in the early morning and one in the afternoon, extending into the early evening. The drives last two and a half to three hours each, are conducted on open 4x4 vehicles, and are accompanied by experienced rangers and trackers. There will also be a daily option to walk in the wild accompanied by an armed ranger.
Flights
TransfersA last-morning game drive is followed by breakfast, and guests are then transferred to the airport in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) for a flight to Cape Town. There, a memorable tour of some of the most impressive areas in South Africa ends.
Plan 
