Cape Town, Garden Route & Safari

Welcome to South Africa and the Mother City!

You'll arrive at Cape Town International Airport where you'll collect your rental car and, using the detailed directions we provide, make your way to your centrally located hotel for your 3-night stay. Your accommodation options are all cosy yet chic and are situated right in the middle of the action, either along the bustling Atlantic Seaboard or in one of the cosmopolitan suburbs surrounding the CBD.

Described by Sir Francis Drake in 1580 as ‘the fairest cape in all the world’, the Mother City of Cape Town is one of the world’s top tourist destinations, with the iconic backdrop of Table Mountain rising like a lookout over the city. Taking the revolving cable car up to the top is a must, or if you’re feeling energetic, there are several breath-taking hiking routes to the summit.

For 3 days you'll enjoy the attractions of one of the world’s most spectacular cities, including world class shopping, a huge variety of restaurants, cafes & bars and the Two Oceans Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront. The ferry to Robben Island leaves from here and takes you to the site of Nelson Mandela’s incarceration for much of his 27 years in prison.

Just outside the city centre you’ll find the park-like botanical gardens of Kirstenbosch and the panoramic peninsula of Cape Point. You'll sample world-class cuisine, soak up the sun on famous beaches & meet friendly locals in the city's numerous bars and cafes. You'll find walks, hikes, bike trails and even paragliding right on your doorstep.

Just a 45-minute drive from Cape Town you’ll find yourself in Stellenbosch, the first town in the scenic mountains and valleys of the Winelands. 15 minutes more and you'll stumble across a little corner of France in the country town of Franschhoek (French Corner). A picturesque village in the prettiest vine-clad valley in the Cape Winelands, it is surrounded by mountains and produces some of South Africa’s most prestigious wines. Franschhoek is known as much for its gourmet delights as for its scenery, with award-winning restaurants and chic cafes on every corner. If you're a foodie, prepare to step into gastronomy heaven.

You'll enjoy the relaxed pace here, perhaps spending a leisurely day cruising along the wine route (you can take the Franschhoek tram so you don't have to worry about driving or booking cabs) and sipping cappuccinos at quaint outdoor cafés in the village. This stop is all about wining, dining and decadence. Stellenbosch & Paarl are both just a 30-minute drive away.

From the tres chic streets of Franschhoek, you’ll head of east towards the heart of South Africa, the great thirstlands of the Karoo. Your drive will take you along the scenic Route 62 – a route made for pit stops – with wineries, restaurants, museums and outdoor activities peppered along the winding road. Stop in small towns with names like Barrydale and Bonnievale, each with its own unique claim to fame. Tour a cheese factory in Ladismith, take a dip in the hot springs at Warmwaterberg and visit the renowned Ronnie's Sex Shop, which is not at all what it sounds like!

The defining landscape of the Karoo covers two thirds of South Africa. The sky is faded pale blue by the burning sun and the plains of rock and dust seem endless. In the cool stillness of morning you can see forever and a day, while at night the sky drips starlight from the milky way.

You’ll spend a couple of nights in Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of South Africa and a country town hemmed in by the Swartberg Mountains and the Olifants River Valley. It's the perfect base from which to visit the Cango Caves, the Cango Wildlife Ranch and a local ostrich farm. Take a day to drive over the Swartberg Pass, one of the most spectacular mountain passes in Africa, and stop for lunch on the other side in the town of Prince Albert.

Heading towards the coast, you'll drive through the international infatuation that is the Garden Route, starting in Mossel Bay and ending at Storm's River. The list of must-visits are endless: explore the bio-diverse mountain region of The Crags near Plett (make sure to take the dirt road to the area's lesser known wine farms) and take a walk through the breathtaking beauty of Wilderness and Nature's Valley. Stroll through the route’s famous towns - George, Sedgefield and Knysna - and see conservation efforts up close at Monkeyland, Birds of Eden and Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary, home to rescued big cats.

Enjoy a treetop canopy tour in Tsitsikamma National Park and walk across the suspension bridge that spans Storm's River Mouth. If you're brave enough, take the plunge at Bloukrans, the highest bungy jump in the world.

You’ll stay in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa’s very own South of France, but far more affordable and far less fussy! The beaches are perfect for swimming the central location makes for easy access to the rest of the region.