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For other destinations and types of holiday, visit Kuoni
For other destinations and types of holiday, visit Kuoni 
Discover remarkable South African sights like this beautiful view of the 12 Apostles mountain range when you take a tailor-made holiday with Alfred&.

Route 62 Cape Gourmet Self-drive

By Becky Souissi
Alfred& Tailormade Expert

Cross the Cape from coast to coast on an indulgent two-week road trip that takes in the cosmopolitan foodie delights of Cape Town, the celebrated wine region’s headline acts and lesser-known gems along Route 62, and a host of other gourmet experiences from oyster lunches by the sea to high tea and sundowners in a private game reserve.

Places

Length
15 days
Guide price range
£5,375 - £5,895pp
including international flights
Best months to go
January to May, September to December

Top Experiences
Itinerary Highlights

Franschhoek

By vintage-style tram through Franschhoek’s Wine Valley

On our glorious old-style trams, you’re right in the heart of the beautiful vineyards, surrounded by mountains...

Cape Town

Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa: views from mountain to sea, sunrise to sunset

The world-renowned Cape Floral Kingdom is right on our doorstep, with marked paths leading through the hotel’s indigenous gardens...

Eastern Cape Game Reserves

Visit the Born Free Big Cat Sanctuaries at Shamwari Private Game Reserve

The rescued lions and leopards at our sanctuaries have grown up in appalling conditions of captivity...

Day by day
Itinerary in detail

1

Arrival in Cape Town

On arrival in Cape Town, you’ll collect your hire car and make the 40-minute journey – straightforward thanks to the fact they drive on the left here, too – to your accommodation for the next three nights. With the hotel perfectly located at the foot of iconic Table Mountain, you could follow the trail from the gardens into the National Park for a post-flight leg stretch complete with ocean views and exotic indigenous plants. Or you could take advantage of the hotel shuttle to spend your afternoon exploring the V&A Waterfront with its cafés and shops, rounding it off with an optional sunset cruise on a vintage sailboat. Overnight at The Twelve Apostles.

Things to do:

2

Cape Town

Cape Town’s vibrant mix of cultures, a legacy of its position on what was once a major trade route, has left its mark on everything from its buildings to its culinary scene. Spend your first full day exploring this laidback coastal city however you choose, whether that means diving into microbreweries and foodie markets, checking out the local galleries and museums, or learning some recent history on a boat trip to the infamous Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was a prisoner. End the day, perhaps, with superb seafood – fine dining-style or fresh from the braai – in one of your hotel’s highly rated restaurants. Overnight at The Twelve Apostles.

Things to do:

3

Cape Town

After breakfast, al fresco overlooking the sea, you have another day to discover more of Cape Town’s natural and manmade delights. With your own set of wheels, you could go in search of the perfect beach for swimming, surfing or African penguin-spotting, explore the rugged scenery of the Cape Peninsula or head to one of the city’s oldest and classiest suburbs, Constantia, for your first winery visit. Keen photographers will also find plenty to capture closer to home, from the pastel-painted houses of Bo-Kaap on the slopes of Signal Hill to the panoramic vistas from the top of Table Mountain, reached by a five-minute cable-car ride. Overnight at The Twelve Apostles.

Things to do:

4

Cape Town & Franschhoek

Today you’ll leave Cape Town and head inland to Franschhoek, a drive of just over 1-hour. This historic town is the gourmet capital of South Africa and offers centuries-old vineyards and fine examples of Cape Dutch architecture. You can get an overview of the landscape from the trails of Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve and of the history at the Huguenot Memorial Museum, but the main act is definitely the superb culinary scene. Indulge your senses with multi-course tasting menus complete with wine pairings at a highly regarded local restaurant – there’s no shortage to choose from – or dine à la carte if you’d prefer. Overnight at Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa.

Things to do:

5

Franschhoek

Make the most of your second day in Franschhoek with some leisurely exploration. The French Protestant refugees who arrived here in the late 17th century brought the secrets of viticulture with them, and many of the farms they established are now celebrated wineries that welcome visitors. Whichever you choose to stop at, you’ll have an experience to remember, with tastings and cellar tours complemented by all manner of other attractions, from shady gardens to an artistic pig. If you’re planning to stop at several wine estates and would rather not drive, there are alternatives to a taxi, such as a relaxed guided bike tour or a vintage-style double-decker tram that will take you to several different estates. Overnight at Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa.

Things to do:

6

Franschhoek & Robertson

It’s time to take to the road again for a relaxed 90-minute journey to your next destination, Robertson, pausing at manmade lakes and natural beauty spots along the way. This quaint little country town on South Africa’s famous wine route, Route 62, may often be overshadowed by more headline-grabbing Cape Winelands, but it’s no less appealing for being a little under the radar. Just before arriving in town, it’s well worth visiting the Graham Beck vineyard, home to some of South Africa’s best-known sparkling wines. Robertson is a place for strolling - along the banks of the Breede River and down streets lined with ornate Victorian houses and purple-flowered jacaranda trees - before returning to your hotel for delectable farm-to-fork cuisine. Overnight at The Robertson Small Hotel.

Things to do:

7

Robertson & Oudsthoorn

After a farm-fresh breakfast, set off on the longest drive of your trip so far: 3.5-hours eastward along Route 62 to Oudtshoorn. This charming rural town in the Klein Karoo grew rich on the profits of ostrich farming in the 19th century, and it’s still known as ‘the ostrich capital of the world’. You can encounter the giant birds at several local farms that offer tours, or you may prefer to drop in at a boutique olive estate for a tasting with a difference. With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, a refreshing dip at a beautiful local waterfall or in the hotel pool is almost certain to be on the cards. Overnight at Rosenhof Country House.

Things to do:

8

Oudsthoorn

Today, you’ll be glad to have your own car to take you into the heart of Oudtshoorn’s super-scenic surroundings, where extraordinary landscapes are home to some fascinating plant and animal life. If you’ve begun the day with a sunrise ‘meet the meerkats’ encounter, you could follow that with anything from a memorable road trip into the UNESCO-listed Swartberg Mountains to a journey underground into a vast complex of limestone caves formed more than 20 million years ago. For the energetic, there are also several nature reserves complete with well-signposted hiking trails where you can work off the effects of some of those gourmet meals. Overnight at Rosenhof Country House.

Things to do:

9

Oudsthoorn & Plettenberg Bay

Swap the semi-arid Klein Karoo for the sea as you make your way to Plettenberg Bay this morning. It takes about 2.5-hours by the most direct road, but once you hit the coast you’ll find plenty of reasons to stop and linger, from scenic viewpoints to roadside craft shops. Break for lunch in Knysna, where you can feast on superb local oysters overlooking a lagoon framed by mountains, or even enjoy an optional oyster cruise. Another 30-minutes driving brings you to the holiday playground of Plettenberg Bay – ‘Plett’ to the locals – with its sweeping golden Blue Flag beaches and laidback vibe, your base for the next three nights. Overnight at Laird’s Lodge.

Things to do:

10

Plettenberg Bay

Your first full day in Plettenberg Bay is the perfect occasion to explore the area’s natural beauties and get a spot of gentle exercise at the same time. You could enjoy a pre-breakfast dip in the Indian Ocean if that’s your thing, take to the water in a host of different ways, from whale and dolphin-spotting trips to kayaking adventures, or walk the scenic trails of Robberg Nature Reserve, a World Heritage Site and a National Monument in one. After that, you’ll no doubt be keen to check out the excellent local food scene, where anywhere from casual beachfront seafood grills and rustic cafes to fine-dining country restaurants are guaranteed to provide a meal to savour. Overnight at Laird’s Lodge.

Things to do:

11

Plettenberg Bay

There’s more to Plettenberg Bay than its beaches, wildlife and landscapes. Plett is also the smallest – and one of the newest – of South Africa’s Wine of Origin regions, and discovering some of the 18 wine farms on and around the highway between Harkerville and the Crags is a fabulous way to spend a day. Thanks to the cooler climate, the grapes that thrive here are different from the ones you’ll find further west: think Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Semillon. Visit selected farms and estates to taste excellent sparkling wines made using the traditional Champagne method, eat lunch in a vineyard or even have a tour by horse-drawn carriage. Alternatively, follow paths used by migrating elephants on an optional guided tour through the majestic Tsitsikamma Forest, a 35-minute drive east of Plett. Overnight at Laird’s Lodge.

Things to do:

12

Plettenberg Bay & Eastern Cape Game Reserve

Leaving Plettenberg Bay behind this morning, you’ll make the 3.5-hour drive to Shamwari Private Game Reserve for a three-night safari adventure. You should have time for a late brunch and a cool-down in the pool overlooking the waterhole before high tea, the prelude to your first late-afternoon game drive. Thanks to 25 years of diligent conservation work, Shamwari has a thriving population of everything from big cats to elephants and hippos, not to mention a wealth of spectacular birdlife. That means you’re all but certain to have lots to discuss over dinner, whether that’s indoors or under the stars. Overnight at Long Lee Manor.

Things to do:

13

Eastern Cape Game Reserve

Brace yourself for an early start, made easier by a wake-up call and freshly brewed coffee. Your first of two game drives in the company of a skilled local ranger will give you an insight into the morning routines of many of the reserve’s wild inhabitants and is a perfect way to begin the day. After a hearty breakfast, you’ll pay a call to the Born Free Big Cat Sanctuary and Education Centre, where you’ll hear about some of the animals that they’ve rescued from captivity, and which remain in their care, and their goals for the future. After lunch, you could laze by the pool or treat yourself to a spa treatment before heading out for your second game drive of the day as the air cools and the sun dips in the sky. Overnight at Long Lee Manor.

Things to do:

14

Eastern Cape Game Reserve

You’ll have more opportunities to spot everything from lions, leopards and cheetahs to secretary birds on today’s early-morning and late-afternoon forays into the reserve’s five biomes, as well as learning about habitats, tracking and the history of the area from your expert ranger. In between, you’ll drop in at Shamwari’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, where injured and orphaned animals are cared for until they can be returned to the wild; it’s a fascinating insight into the challenges that they face in this modern world. All too soon, it will be time for a final delicious evening meal and a chance to trade not-to-be-forgotten wildlife encounters with your fellow guests. Overnight at Long Lee Manor.

Things to do:

15

Eastern Cape Game Reserve & Departure

After breakfast, make the one-hour drive to Port Elizabeth International Airport where you’ll return your hire car before flying to either Cape Town or Johannesburg for your return flight to the UK or onward travel.

Holiday Budget
Guide price information

Low Season

01 May - 30 Sep

£5,375

High Season

01 Jan - 30 Apr, 01 Oct - 31 Dec

£5,895

Alfred & Becky Souissi

With over 20 years of experience, Becky’s passion for travel has taken her across the globe from the patterned promenades of Rio de Janeiro to the lakes of Vietnam. You’ll most likely find her in Africa where she travelled the continent trying and testing over 40 game drives. One of her favourite places in the world is the picturesque Maasai Mara for its early morning balloon rides and exceptional game viewing. It’s when among the local communities though where she feels most inspired.
Becky Souissi

Plan your holiday withAlfred&

Your journey will start with one of our UK team – someone like Laura, who's travelled extensively in South Africa. They’ll shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. But they won't do it alone. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember - ex banker who can show you the hottest foodie spots in Cape Town, the award-winning young sommelier who can introduce you to Stellenbosch's finest wines and the walking safari ranger who can guide you to the best game.

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