4 day HISTORICAL garden route

[Download a brochure for this tour]

Main Attractions:

• Featherbed Nature Reserve on Knysna's West Head
• Ostrich farm visit
• Cango Wildlife Ranch, endangered species breeding facility
• Botlierskop Private Game Reserve
• Historic Mossel Bay and the Post Office Tree
• Swellendam and Hermanus

Day 1

Depart Cape Town at about 08h30 and head northwards, climbing over the spectacular Du Toit's Kloof Mountain pass en route to Worcester. From Worcester we continue on the R62 (route 62 is the longest wine route in the world) through Montague, to the Joubert – Tradauw Estate for lunch. Joubert-Tradauw is a Boutique, family-owned cellar/farm, with the focus on classic, elegant, hand-crafted wines to be enjoyed with good food.

You’ll discover the Alfresco Deli/Restaurant; once a run-down-tin-roofed dwelling that was transformed into a Mediterranean-style farm Deli. A very tasteful inside fireplace and outside tables in true Alfresco-style under the vine-covered “afdak” veranda, gives you a peaceful rest, overlooking the farm, Tradauw Valley and the Langeberge.

In the afternoon we travel through the Little Karoo. Changing scenery from lush farmland to semi-desert areas make this a day full of surprises. A warm welcome awaits us from the staff of the Riempies Estate Hotel in Oudtshoorn, where we arrive in the late afternoon for our overnight stop. Oudtshoorn is the ostrich capital of the world. Here ostriches are found in great numbers and the region produces the best feathers, leather products and ostrich meat world wide.

But the world’s biggest bird is just one of the many attractions in this area of interesting contrasts. This small, safe town is the commercial hub of the greater Klein Karoo region and is situated in a beautiful valley between the Outeniqua and Swartberg Mountains.

Accommodation: Protea Hotel Riempies Estate in Oudtshoorn or similar

Meals included: Dinner

Day 2

Awake the next day to the freshness of the Karoo air. After a good breakfast we visit the world famous Cango Caves where we take a guided tour lasting over an hour - full of fascination. From the Caves we travel to the Cango Wildlife Ranch (Crocodile and Cheetah farm) to learn more about frightening reptiles and other beautiful animals. Hear the awesome stories from the guide as we tour the farm with a chance to get close to a cheetah if requested.

A short drive to the other end of Oudtshoorn brings us to Ostrich country and lunch at the Highgate Ostrich farm. Today's lunch - yes, you guessed it, includes ostrich delicacies. We’ll listen to the restaurant staff as they serenade us during lunch.

After all this, the tour of the farm begins. We head down to the fields, where you will have the opportunity to sit on and ride an ostrich. You will also learn more about the breeding habits and of the bygone days, when Oudtshoorn was in the midsts of the 1920's ostrich feather boom.

The late afternoon takes us over the Outeniqua Mountains to Knysna. Here for the first time one can now understand why this area is known as the Garden Route. As you drive over the summit of the pass, lush green vegetation awaits you.

Accommodation: Protea Hotel Knysna Quays or similar

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3

The morning gives us some time to enjoy the village of Knysna and for the group to have a bit of free time in the Knysna Waterfront. At 10h00 we depart from the quayside to the Featherbed Nature Reserve. Featherbed is a privately-owned, registered Nature Reserve and a South African Heritage site (No.59).

It is a pristine piece of paradise situated on the Western Head of Knysna and is accessible by ferry only. This spectacular four-hour eco-experience includes a return ferry trip, nature drive and guided walk, ending with a sumptuous buffet lunch at the Food Forest Restaurant.

Featherbed Nature Reserve is a prime example of eco-tourism and in order to protect the splendour of the natural beauty, access to the Reserve is controlled. Numbers are limited and visits are only permitted in the company of the Reserve's specialist guides.

After our return by ferry to the Knysna Waterfront, we depart to Klein Brak River for a visit to Botlierskop Private Game Reserve. Situated a Malaria free area, Botlierskop is blessed with a great diversity of habitat and wildlife. Visitors have an excellent chance of experiencing close encounters with Rhinoceros, Lions, Buffalo, Giraffe, rare Black Impala and many more, in an exhilarating 3 hour guided game drive. In the late afternoon we will make our way to Mossel Bay.

Accommodation: Protea Hotel Mossel Bay or similar

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4

The next morning we visit the historic Post Office tree and Diaz Museum, where early pioneers left mail for the homebound ships to Europe. From Mossel Bay we travel via rolling hills to Swellendam.

Swellendam is full of romantic history. The town was founded by the Dutch east India Company in 1745 in order to exercise control over independent frontiersmen who migrated over the Hottentots Holland Mountains at the beginning of the 18th century.

A magistrate was appointed and a Drostdy and other building were erected – visit to the Drostdy Museum included. The district and town were named after the reigning Governor of the Cape, Hendrik Swellengrebel, and his wife, Helena Ten Damme. In time, a village was established and Swellendam became the last outpost of civilisation on the eastern frontier.

Our lunch today is at a restaurant in Swellendam. In the afternoon our route takes us through the charming town of Hermanus, a sea-side retreat of the wealthy and famous (Whale season only – July to November). We arrive back in Cape Town, either terminating at the airport at 18h00 or at the various hotels a little later, after four fabulous days!

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch