Garden Route by Private Label Guide

Duration: 13 Nights

Highlights: Garden Route by Private Label Guide (Fly and Overland Guided) Kariega Game Reserve, Knysna, Oudtshoorn, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve and Cape Town

Itinerary

Day 1 - Kariega Game Reserve

Meet your guide at Port Elizabeth Airport and transfer to Kariega Game Reserve.

Located in a remote and untouched part of the Kariega wilderness, Settlers Drift is a five star luxury tented lodge located in the Big 5, malaria-free Kariega Game Reserve. The lodge consists of nine spacious tented suites, each with stunning views and secluded viewing decks which provide stunning views of the Busman's River and the passing wildlife. Refresh in the lodge swimming pool or lounge on the spacious deck as you read a book from the onsite library. Dine at the prestigious restaurant or around the boma, or allow yourself to be pampered at the luxurious spa.

The remainder of your day is at leisure to enjoy a game viewing activity.

Overnight: Settlers Drift - Luxury Tent

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 2 & 3 - Kariega Game Reserve

Enjoy the game viewing activities on offer at Kariega with your Private and local Label Guide.

Game drives: The Kariega Game Reserve safari experience is centered around twice daily game drives. Guests will be delighted with close up viewing of a diversity of wild African game including lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, hippo, giraffe, zebra, a host of antelope species, and much more including a myriad of exquisite birdlife. Skilled and knowledgeable game rangers will spend time unraveling some of the secrets of the African bush, will see to any specific requests, and ensure that all your questions are answered.

Guided safari walks: At Kariega Game Reserve there are a number of walking trails that guests can enjoy with their ranger. Guided safari walks allow guests to experience the feel of the African bush and enjoy watching wildlife and birds on foot.

Fishing: Settlers Drift is located on the Bushman's River and is a great place for fishing.

River safari trips: The Bushman's River provides a great river safari option. Guests can enjoy exquisite scenery and enchanting birdlife including the Crowned, Martial and African Fish Eagles. Guests to Settlers Drift can choose to arrive and depart by boat too.

Overnight: Settlers Drift - Luxury Tent

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 4 - Kariega Game Reserve to Knysna

The Garden Route, situated in the Western Cape Province, features modern golf courses, ancient forests, secluded artists' communities, modern malls, craft centres, mountain hideaways and beautiful beaches. The area is famous for its fynbos floral kingdom, secluded little bays and year-round holiday frame of mind. The Garden Route National Park, which weaves together the existing Tsitsikamma National Park's ancient forests and wild coastline with the Wilderness National Park through a chain of lakes and sections of fynbos, is a fascinating mix of ecosystems. It’s not uncommon to catch sight of southern right and humpback whales, bottlenose and common dolphins, and even killer whales that frolic close to shore, especially near Plettenberg Bay. Other surrounding towns well worth visiting include Calitzdorp, Sedgefield, The Wilderness, George and Mosselbay.

Drive from Kariga Game Reserve to Knysna with your Private Label Guide exploring the garden route heading towards Knysna.

Positioned at the top of Kanonkop Hill in private indigenous forest, overlooking the iconic Knysna Lagoon with breath-taking views that stretch all the way to the famous Knysna Heads and Indian Ocean, Kanonkop House combines service and relaxed luxury in an intimate and unique guest experience.

On arrival you will be hosted in a refined family home while enjoying the service and excellence of five-star boutique accommodation. The tranquil setting just outside of the main town centre allows you the relaxed enjoyment of the natural beauty that the Garden Route is famous for, while the restaurants, activities and shops of the town of Knysna are just a five minute drive away. Knysna is an eco-wonderland offering you magnificent beaches, hiking, walking, cycling and water activities.

Overnight: Kanonkop House - Standard Suite

Meal Plan: B

Day 5 & 6 - Knysna

Explore the garden route with your Private Label Guide.

Overnight: Kanonkop House - Standard Suite

Meal Plan: B

Day 7 - Knysna to Oudtshoorn

Situated on the outskirts of Oudtshoorn en route to the Cango Caves and Ostrich farms, Rosenhof Country House is a carefully renovated homestead (circa 1852), with its yellowwood beams and ceilings and antique furniture exudes an aura of authenticity. Luxuriate in the stylishly decorated bedrooms, each individually furnished in Victorian Style with patios opening onto the courtyard and boasts unspoilt and tranquil views of the Swartberg Mountain. Each suite has its own private lounge with a cosy fireplace and a refreshing swimming pool in which to cool off.

Indulge in The Wellness Centre that offers a fully equipped gym, jacuzzi, sauna and beauty clinic where you can relax with stimulating treatments.

Dine in traditional country cuisine with a cordon bleu touch and an extensive wine collection which make dining here an unforgettable experience. Rosenhof's luxury and comfort is surpassed only by its staff's commitment to individual care and service.

Overnight: Rosenhof Country House - Standard Room

Meal Plan: B

Day 8 - Garden Route to Cape Whale Coast & Hermanus

The Cape Whale Route offers so much when it comes to exploring the Western Cape beyond Cape Town. There is far more to this route than just whales, with enough variety to keep families occupied. The road trip from Betty’s Bay along the coast toward the other towns on the Cape Whale Route is a peaceful experience, with the Atlantic Ocean on the one side and mountainous, fynbos terrain on the other. Travellers will pass through several quaint villages in between the more established towns.

Hermanus is the largest town along the Cape Whale Route and famous for its whale-watching and the annual Hermanus Whale Festival. Adventure activity options along the route include hiking, shark cage-diving, sea kayaking, quad biking, parasailing, horse riding and, of course, whale-watching boat tours.

Transfer from Oudtshoon to George Airport for your charter flight to Cape Town. Upon arrival at Cape Town Airport depart by road to Grootbos Private Nature Reserve. The transfer time is approximately two hours.

Overlooking Walker Bay and falling within the Cape Floristic Kingdom, Grootbos Nature Reserve, nestled between mountain and sea, is an eco-paradise that showcases the incredible Flora and Marine life of the Southern Tip of Africa. Revel in the 'Marine Big 5' (whales, sharks, dolphins, seals and penguins) and in the unparalleled floral diversity of the luxury African experience Grootbos offers you.

Overnight: Grootbos Private Nature Reserve - Luxury Suite

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 9 & 10 - Cape Whale Coast

Explore the reserve and the region with your Private Label Guide.

Horse Riding on the Reserve - There’s something special about seeing a place on horseback. Take a slow trot as you appreciate the views or ride down the sweeping sand dunes, the fresh air filling your lungs and exhilaration pumping through your veins. Horse riding at Grootbos is suitable for anyone, whether you’re a complete novice or a more experienced rider. Go for a relaxed ride through the fynbos or ride one of the special horses that are specifically trained for the beach.

Land-based Whale Watching (June- December) - The Southern Right whales visit Walker Bay each year and being witness to them in action whilst they breach and blow is a very special experience to observe. These peaceful giants of the deep come to Walker Bay to mate and calf in the sanctuary of the Bay. The Walker Bay rocky outcrops offer close viewing points from elevated positions. The Grootbos guides know all the best spots and this guided experience is an experience of a lifetime.

4x4 Flower Safari - Keep still, listen intently and you’ll be amazed at the things you learn on a botanical safari. With the richest temperate flora in the world and six completely new species never discovered by science before, your time at Grootbos will mean that you’ll never look at plants and flowers in quite the same way again. The 800 recorded plant species in our 2500 hectares of pristine wilderness will bring the fascinating story of fynbos and forest to life as you touch, smell and see the natural miracles that surround you. Learn how a sunbird’s beak fits perfectly into a flower, why the honey the bees produce is completely unique and how important ravaging fires are for bringing forth new life.

Beach Excursion - As a guest at Grootbos, there are so many different ways to enjoy the beach. You can take a long, relaxing walk on a solitary shore; laze in the sun on the luxurious white sand; or explore the unique coastal ecosystem while looking out for frolicking whales. The guides know exactly where to take you for the best swimming, tanning, walking, whale watching, angling and several other oceanic experiences on offer. You will be transported to and from the beach and provided with a picnic lunch and all the beach accessories you need to enjoy your day in the sun. Grootbos also offers guided beach tours where you can learn about the unique intertidal ecosystem; the abundant marine life; the coastal vegetation; and the geological forces that gave this coast its dramatic form.

Bird Watching - Birding is akin to stargazing. On cloudless days, you see a myriad of these jewels flickering and floating in the sky, and once you know where and what to look for, you are transfixed by the ethereal pattern and order in their endless motion. The Grootbos reserve and surrounding areas are a magnet to a wide variety of rare and endemic bird species feeding and breeding in the rich and diverse habitats.

Klipgat Cave - an echo of early man - The Klipgat Cave outside De Kelders evokes vivid images of pre-historic times when modern man lived haply in symbiotic harmony with nature off the bounty of land and sea when the coastline was still kilometres away. This historical site in the Walker Bay was home to Middle Stone Age peoples some 70 000 to 80 000 years ago when large antelope such as black wildebeest and the extinct “blaauwbok” still abounded in the bay where dolphins, seals and whales now flourish.

Walks and Hikes - Enjoy an entrancing stroll through the Milkwood forest or a more revitalising hike up  fynbos-clad mountains, as you begin to understand what makes Grootbos quite so special. From a sunbird sipping from a flower to an ocean vista that leaves you breathless, surprises await you around every corner. Trails are all well marked and you can choose between self-guided walks or guided walks, to learn more about these fascinating and secretive eco-systems. Gaze into the petals of a King Protea, breathe in the blackcurrant scent of buchu or simply listen to the exquisite silence that surrounds you.

Living the Future Tour - Take a tour with heart as you discover how the entire Grootbos experience has been designed around benefitting the community and environment around you. Learn and connect as you witness how various projects are changing lives and conserving this protected wilderness. The Reserve also offers activities that are not part of the standard, complimentary Grootbos activities. Please enquire at time of reservation.

Overnight: Grootbos Private Nature Reserve - Luxury Suite

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 11 - Cape Whale Coast -Cape Town

Transfer from the Cape Whale Coast to Cape Town. The driving time is approximately two hours and 30 minutes.

Cape Town is a cosmopolitan city at the centre of South Africa’s rich, multi-stranded history and heritage. The city offers a wealth of culinary experiences, unique shopping and adventures second to none. Colloquially named the Mother City, it is known for its harbour, natural setting in the Cape Floristic Region and for landmarks such as Table Mountain and Cape Point.

Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town is possibly the most famous of South Africa's hotels. At the forefront of hospitality, it's regarded as the epitome of elegance, opulence and luxury. It's situated in the heart of Cape Town, with a wide range of attractions within walking distance.

Set among seven acres of lush landscaped gardens, it has long been regarded as the jewel of the Mother City. In a city dedicated to hospitality and entertainment, this is no small accolade.

Overnight: Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel - Superior Room

Meal Plan: B

Day 12 & 13 - Cape Town

Spend the days exploring Cape Town city and Cape Peninsula with your Private Label Guide.

Overnight: Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel - Superior Room

Meal Plan: B

Day 14 - Cape Town

On arrival at Cape Town International Airport, a Menzies representative will meet you at the check-in counter and assist you to the boarding gate of your onward flight.

Meal Plan: B