Suggested Holiday Itinerary
Summary Of The Route and Costs
This 14 night trip has all the ingredients of a classic South Africa adventure. Enjoy the endless sights of Cape Town and the magnificent views of the Franschhoek mountains. Watch whales frolic in the bay and explore the Garden Route. And end your holiday relaxing and sipping sundowners on evening safaris as the sun sinks over the Kruger National Park.
You start with 2 relaxing nights the Winelands. Mont d'Or is situated in the main village centre of Franschhoek with world-renowned restaurants, charming gift shops, cafes and magnificent historical buildings and museums. On your full day here, why not take the Franschhoek Tram and trundle from vineyard to vineyard enjoying lunch and wine tastings on the way.
Your hire car will be delivered on the day you depart Franschhoek, and your next stop is Auberge Burgundy which is set above the picturesque Old Harbour in the historic heart of Hermanus - the hub of the famous Whale Route. It is a charming Provencal style guesthouse with fragrant courtyards and stone terraces. The cool blue sea of Walker Bay is within 50m of the front door.
Then it's a drive to the Garden Route and onto the vibrant town of Knysna. The Turbine Boutique Hotel and Spa is situated on Thesen Islands and intuitive architecture pays homage to the old power station it once was. Thesen Islands offers a central location with a number of activties right on the doorstep - from lagoon cruises, kayaking and bicycle hire to hikes in the renowned Knysna forests and excursions to Featherbed Nature Reserve - there is something for everyone.
You then drive back to Cape Town for 4 nights. The PortsWood is a stylish hotel that offers travellers easy access to most of Cape Town's venues and is within easy walking distance to the world-renowned V&A Waterfront. You will still have your hire car during your time here, so you can explore further afield too, such as taking a trip down to the Cape Peninsula.
Your amazing holiday ends with 3 nights at Simbavati River Lodge in Kruger's renowed Timbavati Game Reserve - an authentic and unforgettable African safari experience. The focus of the lodge is on the excellent Big 5 game viewing, accompanied by breathtaking views and friendly, knowledgeable staff who make guests feel comfortable and relaxed from the moment they arrive.
Summary Of The Itinerary
Holiday Title: Classic Kruger and the Western Cape
Countries Visited: South Africa
Arrive into Cape Town Airport. Go through Immigration, collect your luggage and clear Customs, then make your way into the Arrivals Hall where your driver will be waiting for you, holding a sign board with your name on it. You will then be transferred to your hotel.
Franschhoek is nestled at the bottom of a valley surrounded by rolling mountains and is arguably one of the prettiest villages in South Africa. There are over 20 wine estates in the region and one suggestion during your stay here is to take a hop-on/hop-off tour on the Franschhoek Wine Tram - a totally unique and leisurely way to see the Franschhoek Valley as you trundle in an open-side tram bus through vineyards and stunning scenery, stopping at wine estates along the way. The main street in Franschhoek is home to many excellent restaurants, quite deservedly earning the village the reputation of being South Africa's 'Food and Wine Capital'.
The Cape Winelands
Your hire car will be delivered at 09:00 this morning.
9 Day Car Rental: Group M - Toyota Urban Cruiser or Similar (Contracted Classic Plus Early Booker)
Allow about 2 hours to drive to Hermanus. Hermanus is amongst the world's leading destinations for both land-based and boat-based whale watching. From June to November each year, whales can be seen as close as 20m from the shore and can come right up to the side of the whale watching boats. If you don't have sea legs, good whale watching vantage points from dry land are from the Old Harbour wall or from the 12 km cliff path. Another great spot to watch the whales is at Bientang's Cave restaurant, where from your table you can watch the whales frolic not more than 100m away in the Old Harbour. The town also has several fine beaches and restaurants.
Hermanus
Allow about 4.5 hours to drive to Knysna. Beautiful coastlines, breathtaking mountains and valleys, tall forests, deep blue lakes and lagoons - these are the reasons why the Garden Route is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Africa.
The Garden Route
Set off early after breakfast and allow about 5 hours to drive back to Cape Town. Nestled at the foot of the majestic Table Mountain and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Town is consistently voted among the top cities in the world to visit and it is no surprise that this wonderful city is one of the highlights of a holiday to South Africa. The PortsWood Hotel offers a unique and personal approach to service and is ideally located just a few minutes walk from the vibrant V&A Waterfront.
Cape Town
Drive to Cape Town Airport, return your hire car and check in for your flight to Kruger's Hoedspruit Airport.
Airlink 4Z657 (Economy Class): Fly from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) departing at 10:15 to Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport (HDS), arriving at 12:45
Your driver will meet you outside the airport buildings and once you have collected your luggage you will be transferred to your lodge.
Simbavati is situated within the world renowned and beautiful Timbavati Private Game Reserve, which forms part of the Greater Kruger Park and guarantees an exclusive, authentic and unforgettable African safari experience. Game activities take place in the early morning and evening when the wildlife are most active, and game drives are conducted by experienced field guides and Shangaan trackers in open 4x4 vehicles, offering excellent photographic opportunities. Lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo as well as other species such as kudu, zebra, warthog, giraffe and monkey to name a few are spotted regularly. Bird viewing is spectacular, with over 360 recorded species including various eagles, vultures, kingfishers, woodpeckers, buzzards, herons, egrets, owls and weavers.
Timbavati Game Reserve
After you return from your morning game drive you will have time to enjoy breakfast before you are collected and transferred back to the airport where you will check in for your flight to Johannesburg.
Airlink 4Z874 (Economy Class): Fly from Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport (HDS) departing at 14:30 to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), arriving at 15:30
Example Cost
Holiday Title: Classic Kruger and the Western Cape
Holiday Destination: Holiday to South Africa for 14 nights
Passengers: 2 Adults
Example Cost for 2 Adults: * per person sharing.
*Excludes international flights from your home country - please ask us if you would like us to include these for you.
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