Garden Route & Wildlife Explorer

Pass glorious vineyards and beautiful coastal retreats on South Africa’s wonderfully scenic Garden Route before seeking out the Big Five at Kariega or Shamwari Game Reserves in the Eastern Cape.

ACCOMMODATION → Four or five star accommodation as detailed. Alternatives to those listed may be used on occasion according to local availability.

MEAL PLAN → Breakfast throughout, plus lunch on Day 11 and dinner on Days 10-11.

CAR HIRE → Europcar Group B vehicle from Day 4-10 including 'co-pilot' kit (please call for further details).

EXCURSIONS → Morning and afternoon open vehicle game drives at Kariega Game Reserve and Shamwari Game Reserve are included. A variety of optional excursions are available at extra cost.

DAY 1 → South African Airways overnight flight from Heathrow to Cape Town.

DAY 2 → Arrive in Cape Town and transfer to your hotel. Spend two nights at the Strand Tower Hotel in a Standard room (standard option) or Cape Cadogan in a Standard room (superior option), Enjoy two days at leisure or prebook an optional excursion (extra cost), please call for some great options.

DAY 4 → This morning your Europcar Group B car will be delivered to your hotel. Leave Cape Town and drive approx. 45 minutes to the Cape Winelands and charming Stellenbosch. Stay one night at the d’Ouwe Werf in a Classic room (standard) or the Lanzerac Hotel & Spa in a Classic room (superior), (approx. 30 miles).

DAY 5 → Leave the Cape Winelands and travel to coastal Hermanus, famed for its remarkable whale watching (June – December). Spend one night at Abalone Guest Lodge in a Standard garden facing room (standard) or The Marine in a Standard room (superior), (approx. 50 miles).

DAY 6 → Travel along the coast to the towns of Mossel Bay and George. Drive over the Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn, the world’s ‘feather capital’ with its many ostrich farms. Spend tonight at Hlangana Lodge in a Standard room (standard) or Rosenhof Country House in a Standard room (superior), (approx. 215 miles).

DAY 7 → Journey back over the Outeniqua Pass to George and along the coast to the lagoon town of Knysna. Remain in Knysna or continue along the coast to Plettenberg Bay. Spend three days at leisure to explore the area. In Knysna, choose to stay for three nights at Protea Hotel Knysna Quays in a Standard non-lagoon facing room (standard) or Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa in a Studio suite (superior), or in Plettenberg Bay spend three nights at Trogon House Forest & Spa in a Deluxe room (standard) or The Plettenberg in a Standard room (superior), (approx. 90 miles).

DAY 10 → Leave Knysna or Plettenberg Bay and continue to your chosen Eastern Cape private game reserve. Depending on your arrival time, embark on an afternoon game drive with an English speaking ranger. Stay two nights at Kariega Main Lodge in a Standard chalet (standard) or Shamwari Long Lee Manor in a Luxury room (superior), (approx. 215 miles).

DAY 11 → Spend the day at your lodge, enjoying complimentary morning and afternoon game drives and other optional activities (at extra cost).

DAY 12 → Enjoy a morning open vehicle game drive. Afterwards, drive to Port Elizabeth Airport to drop off your hire car in time for your South African Airways flight via Johannesburg to Heathrow, arriving the following day.