Cape Town, Garden Route & Safari

Today you will be met by your guide for an exploration of Cape Town, known affectionately as the Mother City. Your tour will take in the Houses of Parliament, the Castle (built between 1666 and 1679, this is South Africa’s oldest building), lively Greenmarket Square with its daily market, the Company Gardens and of course Table Mountain which will give you spectacular views over the city and Peninsula (cable car fee is not included as it is weather dependent). On our descent, we stop at the Bo Kaap, home to the Cape Malay community, with its cobbled streets and brightly coloured houses.

Today we embark on a full day tour of the Cape Peninsula. We take in the beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay, before crossing over to Hout Bay, where you may choose to join an optional boat cruise to Seal Island. From here we drive to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve via Chapman’s Peak, one of the world’s most breathtaking coastal drives, where you will board a funicular to the top of the Peninsula to witness the symbolic meeting of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans as well as have spectacular views over False Bay. We enjoy lunch near here (not included – own account) before continuing to Simonstown, the naval base, and visiting the African Penguin breeding colony at Boulders Beach. En route back we stop at the world renowned Kirstenbosch Gardens before returning back to your hotel.

Prepare for what is considered by many as one of the most scenic and picturesque drives in Africa.  This delightful drive begins as you depart the chic cityscape of Cape Town, winding through the heart of the Cape Winelands and onward around the superb mountain ranges, vineyards and Cape Dutch style homesteads.  You'll head off to the epically beautiful wine country via the popular N2 roadway to the epicenter of South Africa's wine industry, Stellenbosch.  Stellenbosch is world renowned for its rich wine culture, beautifully rugged mountain backdrops and ever-changing colorful vineyards.  Enjoy a walk through the canal-lined avenues, shaded by ancient oak trees which surround the historical structures and buildings.  The sheer number of wine estates in the Stellenbosch area makes for some great wine tasting experience, as you’re sure to understand during your first of many wine tastings today.  You'll then travel over the Helshoogte Pass to the town of Franschhoek.  This dainty town dates back to the 17th century and was founded by the French Huguenots who settled here.  Also billed as the "Gourmet Capital of South Africa", this charming location still to this day boasts its French inspiration through its cuisine, culture, and architecture.  Here you'll also enjoy some further wine tasting before heading to your hotel.  Please note that not all wine tastings are including, additional tastings will require payment on-site.

This morning your guide will collect you from the guesthouse and you will drive out from Franshhoek valley up into the beautiful Franschhoek Pass, before you head inland to the Klein Karoo and the ostrich capital of Oudtshoorn. Stop to from impromptu wine tours, take pictures, grab a snack or shop, or head directly to Franshhoek. The direct drive will be approximately 5 hours depending on the number of stops made along the way. Please note that entrance or tasting fees need to be paid directly.

Enjoy time at leisure or sign up for one of the many and diverse activities in Oudtshoorn: Cango Caves, Cango Ostrich Farm, zip lining, tubing, hiking and more. Sign up to wake up early and meet meerkats at 4:30am to watch the sunrise; visit the worlds big cats, White Lions, African Leopards, White and Snow Tigers, Cheetah and more at the Cango Wildlife Ranch or simply relax at your lodge.

This morning start with a short tour of the town and then go on to the Cango Caves for a tour. 29km from Oudtshoorn, at the head of the picturesque Cango Valley, lay the spectacular underground wonder of the Klein Karoo - the Cango Caves. Situated in a limestone ridge parallel to the well known Wartburg Mountains, you will find the finest dripstone caverns, with their vast halls and towering formations. Enjoy a visit to the Cango Wildlife Ranch, endangered species breeding facility extraordinaire. The oldest and biggest cheetah contact centre worldwide offers visitors the rare opportunity of interacting with the hand reared cheetahs and getting actively involved in saving this species and others from extinction. From there we continue to the Safari Ostrich Farm to see one of the world’s most peculiar birds. Enjoy a tour of the farm, a traditional ostrich lunch (own cost) and perhaps even an ostrich race. Afterward continue on to Knysna through the spectacular Outeniqua Mountain Pass. This is a full day of activities and scenic drives.

Start with a scenic drive to the top of the Heads, dramatic cliffs which overlook the Indian Ocean on our side and the town and lagoon towards the distant Outeniqua Mountains on the other side. Take a 25-minute ferry ride across Knysna's magnificent estuary to a secluded nature reserve, home to a variety of wildlife, Knysna loeries, the blue crane, and one of Africa's smallest antelope, the blue duiker. On arrival, a 4x4 trailer takes you to the summit of the Western Headland for a spectacular panorama view of the Knysna Basin and the sea. After admiring the view, take a gentle walk through a Milkwood forest, into caves and along the coastline back to the restaurant. Enjoy a spectacular lunch in the Food Forest, an outside eating area set amongst the Milkwood trees. The speciality is fish cooked over an open fire. Continue to The Elephant Sanctuary where you will join an hour long trunk in hand experience. This will involve you walking with the elephants through the forest where you will learn about these amazing animals from their habits to their anatomy. The Crags Elephant sanctuary provides a safe haven for six elephants and a platform for guest’s education and interaction.

This morning your guide will pick you up to depart Knysna and head off to Port Elizabeth. Along the way you could drive past Kruisfontein and Thornhill. Located on the South Eastern coast of Africa and set along the beautiful shores of Algoa Bay, Port Elizabeth has many historical and natural attractions. One of the most interesting historical attractions is the Historic Donkin Heritage Trail where you can follow in the footsteps of the 1820 Settlers on their journey of discovery and settlement. Aside from Port Elizabeth's famous beaches there are some beautiful parks with well landscaped gardens within the city. Close by are several game reserves which you may choose to visit for the day or extend your trip to enjoy big 5 game viewing. Sign up for activities or simply have your guide drop you off for some rest and relaxation at your hotel.

You will be picked up by private vehicle and transferred between Port Elizabeth and the Eastern Cape Reserves. Here you will have the chance to enjoy superior game viewing. The drive time is 1-4 hours depending on the location of your lodge.

This afternoon you'll meet up with others at the lodge and embark on your afternoon game drive in an open game viewing vehicle. If you have a particular interest, please mention it to your ranger; who will be happy to merge your plans with those of the group. You'll be out in the reserve for a few hours before returning back to the lodge to freshen up for dinner.

This Morning you'll meet up with others at the lodge and embark on your afternoon game drive in an open game viewing vehicle. Experienced rangers maximize every opportunity to ensure exceptional viewing during your game drive on this established 20,000 acre Big 5 game reserve in the malaria-free Eastern Cape. Excellent sightings of lion, elephant, rhino and buffalo, as well as cheetah, hippo, giraffe, hyena, zebra, warthog and numerous species of antelope are enjoyed on game drives across the open plains of the reserve.

This afternoon you'll meet up with others at the lodge and embark on your afternoon game drive in an open game viewing vehicle. The game drives will take between three and four hours, with a sundowner stop at sunset. It is always advisable to bring warm clothing along, even in summer. Please do not forget to bring your binoculars, cameras and video cameras along.

This morning you'll meet up with others at the lodge and embark on your open vehicle game drive. Try to spot the exceptionally ellusive caracal. The word caracal comes from the Turkish word "karakulak", meaning "black ear". A slender, yet muscular, cat, with long legs and a short tail; it is best known for its spectacular skill at hunting birds, able to snatch a bird in flight, sometimes more than one at a time. Caracals produce the usual range of sounds for cats, including growling, hissing, purring, and calling. Unusually, they also make a barking sound, which is possibly used as a warning. Unfortunately these beautiful cats are often viewed as vermin by farmers in Africa as they may prey on domesticated livestock such as poultry and young sheep and goats. Caracals are a rare sight as they hide extremely well, but have been spotted recently at Kichaka!

At Kichaka Lodge you can enjoy private game drives & walks, game viewing from the main lodge, bird watching, swimming, massage therapies, or just rest and relax. If you like, sign up for other activities such as a Cosmic Safari with your ranger, and view the wonders of space with our high powered telescope. With little or no light pollution, a Cosmic Safari at Kichaka is an opportunity to star gaze in wonder at the Southern Hemisphere’s Milky Way and identify Orion’s Belt, the Southern Cross and Scorpio. 

Within the immediate vicinity, the lodge can arrange additional activities including golf, hiking, horse trails and fishing. Due to its prime location, Kichaka Lodge is also well placed as a base to explore the stunning & historic Frontier Country & Sunshine Coast. Additional fees apply for excursions.

You will be picked up by private vehicle and transferred between Port Elizabeth and the Eastern Cape Reserves. Here you will have the chance to enjoy superior game viewing. The drive time is 1-4 hours depending on the location of your lodge.

Travel between Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg today.  Travel time is approximately 2 hours.