5 Day Garden Route Tour

Day 1: Cape Town – Cape Agulhas - Swellendam

From Cape Town, we'll head to Hermanus, and then to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of Africa. Geographically, Cape Agulhas is situated about 170km East of Cape Town and 53 km farther South than Cape Point. The whale watching season takes place in the months between June and December: During this period, the Southern Right whales give birth on the shores of Hermanus. A great opportunity to spot them is by taking a boat ride or a walk along the coastal cliff path. From Hermanus we'll carry on to Swellendam, the third oldest town in South Africa.

To conclude the first day, you may choose to be taken to the V&A Waterfront or head home to wind down at the hotel.

B/ Swellendam

• Hermanus
• Cape Agulhas

Day 2: Swellendam - Oudtshoorn

We'll start off with visiting the Drostdy Museum in Swellendam before we take the Tradouw Pass through Barrydale, Ladismith and Calitzdorp to Oudtshoorn. The Drostdy Museum offers us a view into the life of the landdrost (magistrate) during the 18th and 19th century. After this we are off to Calitzdorp to visit a wine farm.

B/B/D Oudtshoorn

• Drostdy museum in Swellendam
• Wine tasting in Calitzdorp

Day 3: Oudtshoorn – Knysna

First we'll have a guided tour of the spectacular Cango Caves, famous for its inter-connected tunnels decorated with stalagtites and stalagmites; later we'll visit an ostrich farm and learn all about these large, flightless birds. Afterwards we head to Knysna via the Outeniqua-Pass and George. To end our day we'll have dinner at the Knysna Waterfront.

B/B/D Knysna

• Cango Caves
• Ostrich farm Safari
• Knysna Waterfront

Day 4: Knysna - Tsitsikamma - Knysna

On our agenda today is a visit to the Tsitsikamma National Park and a walk to Storms River Mouth. That afternoon, we'll have lunch at a small but fabulous wine farm, after which we'll pass through Plettenberg Bay and enjoy the beautiful view over the Bay known as "Baia Formosa". Returning to Knysna, we head to a lookout point to marvel at the famous "Knysna Heads". The "Heads" are two rocky promontories which protect the lagoon from the powerful flow of the ocean. The view from their summits is breathtaking. The oyster festival is another event Knysna is renowned for. Perhaps one of the guests would like to give it a try?

B/B/L Knysna

• Tsitsikamma National Park
• Storms River Mouth Bridge
• Lunch at Bramon wine farm
• Plettenberg Bay
• Knysna Heads

Day 5: Knysna - Mossel Bay- Cape Town

En route back to Cape Town, we'll make a stop in Mossel Bay for a visit to the Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex. The museum houses a life-size replica of the Dias Caravel – the ship on which Dias sailed to the Cape in 1488. The other attractions worth seeing in Mossel Bay include an interesting Shell Museum and the 500 year old Post Office Tree. We'll take Sir Lowry's Pass to carry on towards Cape Town and make a stop in Elgin. Here, we'll visit a wine farm for a lovely wine tasting.

B/B Knysna

• Dias museum complex
• Mossel Bay
• Elgin Valley wine tasting
• Cape Town
• End of tour