This adventure combines coastal grandeur, a Big Five wilderness area, and first-rate luxury lodgings.
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ItineraryGuests will be met by their guide at any location of their choice in Cape Town. It is essential to get an early start, as the day's journey will be extensive. However, it is preferable to travel overland as opposed to flying directly to the Garden Route because the route takes us through a beautiful part of South Africa. There are enough stops to make the journey quite enjoyable.
The tour travels northeasterly, crossing Sir Lowry's Pass before passing Caledon and Riviersonderend on the way to Swellendam. Some time is devoted to exploring South Africa's third-oldest town at the foot of the Langeberg. From here, the tour continues to Riversdale and past Albertinia to Mosselbay, where some time is allowed for a late lunch before a short visit to the Diaz Museum. The tour then continues first to George before traversing Sedgefield and reaching Knysna, the 'Crown Jewel of the Garden Route.' We reach our overnight destination between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay during the late afternoon. It is one of the unique and luxurious properties on the Garden Route.
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Itinerary On this day of your tour, we explore Knysna. The town is primarily on the northern shore of a large warm-water estuary fed by the Knysna River. The estuary opens to the ocean after passing between 'the heads.' The entrance to the lagoon became infamous in times past due to the loss of boats and fishermen passing through its treacherous and unpredictable waters. In the morning, we board a ferry that crosses the lagoon to the Featherbed Nature Reserve. The Reserve is a prime example of the contribution ecotourism can make to conserve unique habitats. Upon reaching Featherbed, guests enjoy a 4x4 excursion to the top of the headland, stopping at various locations to enjoy the glorious views. A hike of just over two kilometers brings the region's fauna, flora, and rich history to life. Before returning to the Waterfront via Ferry, lunch is enjoyed under a canopy of Milkwood trees.
Your guide will then visit other areas of interest, which include the Eastern Head, Leisure, and Thesen Island, before returning you to your overnight accommodation.
Distance ItineraryAfter breakfast, a short drive leads to Plettenberg Bay, where Robberg Nature Reserve is first on the agenda. The reserve, located on a peninsula adjacent to the town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers visitors rugged cliffs, dunes, sandy beaches, and marine biodiversity. Depending on the client's preferences, we enjoy one of three hikes, ranging from 2 to 9.2 km. A resident seal colony, dolphins, and whales (in season) can often be spotted and heard on these hikes. The area is rich in birdlife, with commonly spotted seabirds, including cormorants, kelp gulls, and African black oystercatchers. Abundant coastal and Fynbos Birds can also potentially be spotted. The visit to Robberg will be about four hours, after which we head into town for lunch.
We then visit the Keurbooms River Nature Reserve, a stone's throw from town. This protected area features indigenous forests and a beautiful riverine environment. We take a short boat ride five kilometers upriver to enjoy the natural splendor of the towering forested cliffs separated by the serene river. Birdlife is abundant, and the cry of the Fish Eagle is normally heard. A stop is made at a natural riverbank to disembark and admire yellowwood and other giant trees or to relax at the water's edge. We return to Knysna in the late afternoon.
Distance Itinerary An early morning start has us going through the Tsitsikamma National Park, where we stop at the Paul Sauer Bridge, which spans the impressive Storms River Gorge. The bridge is a marvel of architectural engineering designed by Italian Riccardo Morandi. A short distance away, we stop at the 'Big Tree,' a yellowwood giant standing 36.6 meters high and estimated to be about eight hundred years old, before heading to Storms River Mouth in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park, where some time is devoted to exploring this beautiful stretch of rugged coastline, the river that flows into it and the forests that surround it. It is done by crossing the suspension bridge and taking one of the many short hikes available in the area.
From here, we travel to the "Friendly City," Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth); the road turns inland for about an hour to Shamwari Private Game Reserve. Shamwari – 'my friend' in the Shona language of northern Zimbabwe, was established in the early 1990s by Adrian Gardiner and is today a 'Big Five' reserve. Time for a late lunch and relaxation is followed by the first open 4X4 safari in this area of unique ecology, home to no less than seven ecosystems. The drive extends into the early evening after which dinner is enjoyed.
ItineraryDuring your stay at Shamwari, you'll participate in two guided game drives and a bush walk daily. These drives are conducted in the early morning and late afternoon. They are led by experienced rangers and trackers passionate about wildlife and conservation, which will enhance your understanding of the natural world in this part of Africa. Close encounters with the mighty Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino—will invariably be among the highlights, but there is so much more to see and savor at Shamwari.
Today, over 5,000 head of game range feely in Shamwari, now a large reserve covering 25,000 hectares (71 776 acres) with six luxury lodges. Habitats include Albany thickets, grasslands, riverine forests, savanna, wetlands, rocky outcrops, and Fynbos. Different species favor these varied ecological areas and add to the magic in this wilderness area.
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TransfersA last morning game drive at Shamwari and breakfast are followed by a transfer to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), where guests will board a flight departing for Cape Town after a memorable holiday.
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