Safari to Sea

Overview

The Safari to Sea Tour is packed with opportunities and options to see, experience and indulge! We start in the Eastern Cape Game Reserve territory , home to the Addo Elephant National Park, whereafter we will traverse picturesque and sometimes dramatic coastlines, Afromontane forests, shrublands and subtropical thicket, the pristine fynbos of the Garden Route and Overberg, contrasting with the arid and sparse Little Karoo Area, visiting historical and sometimes quaint little towns. A South African holiday would not be complete without a visit to the lush Winelands of Stellenbosch, Franschoek & Paarl, as we make our way to the beautiful Mother City of Cape Town, and the iconic 8th Wonder of the world, Table Mountain.

14 days
Tour Group size 2 – 8
Western Cape & Western Cape

Tour Highlights

Safari experience & Addo Elephant National Park
Storms River Mouth & Tsitsikamma National Park
The Garden Route including Plettenberg Bay and Knysna
Oudtshoorn, The Karoo, Ostriches and Cango Caves
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Cape Aghulhas, the southern most tip of Africa
Hermanus and the Cape Whale Coast including scenic Clarence Drive
Cape Winelands including Franschoek & Stellenbosch
Historic Simonstown and Boulder’s beach African Penguins
Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point Nature Reserve
Iconic Chapman’s Peak Drive
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
End of tour Dinner at The Africa Café

Included:

14 nights accommodation & All breakfasts, 4 dinners as per itinerary
African Themed farewell dinner & Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
All Entrance fees to the National Park as per itinerary & 3 wine tastings as per itinerary
All group transportation & Group airport transfers

Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Overnight: Addo

Arrival Day in Port Elizabeth. Transfer from Port Elizabeth Airport to accommodation in Addo. Relax, acclimatise and take a stroll around the farm

Day 2

Overnight: Addo

Visit to Addo Elephant National Park. In the afternoon we go to Schotia Safaris Private Game Reserve for game viewing and a Boma Dinner

Day 3

Overnight Storms River Mouth

Transfer to Storms River Mouth. Afternoon at leisure with a few options to keep you busy – Zipline Canopy Tour, Suspension bridge walk, Boat Trip up the Storms River Gorge & out to see, Sea Kayaking, Scuba diving & snorkeling Waterfall Walk, or just relax in the Tsitsikamma National Park and enjoy the views

Day 4

Overnight Plettenberg Bay

Today we make our way to Plettenberg Bay, via Natures Valley. En route we have a number of optional activities such as Mountain biking, the 216 m high Bloukrans Bungi jump, a visit to Monkeyland & Birds of Eden, Tenikwa Wild Cat Awareness Centre, an Elephant Sanctuary and wine tasting in the Crags, South Africas newest wine route. We have the afternoon in Plettenberg Bay to enjoy what the early Portuguese explorers called Baia Formosa, meaning “the beautiful bay”. Sea kayaking, whale (in season) & dolphin watching, visit the spectacular Robberg Peninsula, soak up the sun, relax & enjoy the renowned blue flag beaches or play a round of golf

Day 5

Overnight: Knysna

Day 5 takes us to Knysna. Again, we have a number of possible activities to enjoy along the way – visit the indigenous Knysna forests, witness the spectacular cliff top views at Kranshoek, meet some of the Knysna Elephants at the Knysna Elephant Park. Knysna itself is home to the fabled Knysna Heads, which guard the entrance to the Knysna Lagoon (estuary), and from where some of the most magnificent views can be enjoyed both out to see, and across to Leisure Island and the town of Knysna. Knysna boasts some wonderful waterside restaurants at the Waterfront Knysna Quays and Thesen Island. Add to the mix the Featherbed Eco Experience, the championship Pezula & Simola Golf courses, Brenton-on-Sea and Buffalo Bay Beaches, and we are spoilt for choice in this little hub on the Garden Route

Day 6

Overnight: Oudtshoorn

Making a brief inland detour, after passing through Sedgefield and Wilderness, we leave the Garden Route and go to Oudtshoorn, famous in South Africa for the Cango Caves located at the foothills of the Swartberg Range of Mountains , a spectacular underground wonder of the Little Karoo, Oudtshoorn is also in the heart of Ostrich Country, and there are a number of Ostrich Farms that can be visited

Day 7

Overnight: De Hoop Nature Reserve

We travel to De Hoop Nature Reserve today via Route 62, including Calitzdorp and Ladysmith along the Karoo Wine Route, well known for their full bodied red wines and especially fortified wines and ports. Also enroute is Barrydale, home to many artists and local and international escapees, Tradouw Pass (meaning “Womens Path” in the old Khoi language) and picturesque little town of Swellendam. De Hoop , with its spectacular white sanddunes and vivid turquoise blue ocean, is better known as the Southern Right Whale nursery of South Africa. At De Hoop we have the option of a guided eco boat trip on the De Hoop vlei, an interpretive marine walk down at the rock pools, a nature drive experience, vulture experience, birdwatching, mountain biking and hiking

Day 8

Overnight: Hermanus

Leaving De Hoop behind, we go to Cape Agulhas, the southern most tip of Africa, where the Indian & the Atlantic Oceans meet, and then on to Hermanus, another one of the best shore based whale viewing spots (in season) Between Agulhas and Hermanus we have the opportunity to visit Zoetendal Wine Farm near Elim, where we can enjoy a beer and /or wine tasting and some delectable food

Day 9

Overnight: Franschhoek

After a stroll along the cliff path in Hermanus , a mosey around the town or through Fernkloof Nature Reserve, we travel via the scenic Clarence Drive, through Bettys Bay and Gordons Bay, on to Peregrine Farm Stall, past Theewaterskloof Dam, the Western Cape’s largest water supply, up and down the Franschoek Pass to Franschoek and Boschendal Wine Estate for a wine tasting. Thereafter we have the option of some wonderful wine and / or beer tasting, including some some unique pairings such as Champagne & Nougat , You could visit a Motor Museum, or simply take a meander through the town and enjoy a cup of coffee at one of the sidewalk cafes in Franschoek.

Day 10

Overnight: Stellenbosch

We explore the Paarl Winelands area, visiting popular places such as Babylonstoren, Fairview Wine & Cheese, Spice Route and many others

Day 11

Overnight: Stellenbosch

We start the morning with a stroll through the university town of Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South Africa., surrounded by the vineyards of the Cape Winelands and the mountainous nature reserves of Jonkershoek and Simonsberg, The Cape Dutch architecture is complimented by oak lined streets with cafes, boutiques and art galleries. As the Wine Capital of South Africa, Stellenbosch is home to a host of wine estates, some of which are the oldest and most renowned in the country. We end the afternoon with a Wine & Chocolate pairing at Waterford Wine Estate

Day 12

Overnight: Simonstown

Moving on from the Winelands, we will head back towards the False Bay coast, through St James, Kalk Bay and the old naval town of Simonstown to Boulders Beach where we will see the African Penguin Colony

Day 13

Overnight: Cape Town

We head out first thing this morning for Cape Point Nature Reserve and the Cape of Good Hope. Take a walk or funicular up to the old lighthouse to take in the views of dramatic cliffs, beaches and the full extent of False Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Thereafter we make our way over the iconic 10 km Chapmans Peak Drive, with its 114 curves, via Hout Bay ,Camps Bay, Clifton, Sea Point and Green Point to the city centre of Cape Town, and weather permitting, a trip up the majestic Table Mountain

Day 14

Overnight: Cape Town

As we near the end of the tour, today offers a few options. For those who would like to visit Robben Island, today may be a good day. Alternatively, or as well, we can visit the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens , Groot Constantia Estate, or possibly a Cape Town City Tour or a visit to the V & A Waterfront . Our final dinner of the tour will be at the Africa Cafe, where we will experience an African communal feast.