Cape Town – Route 62 – Oudtshoorn

Boplaas - Start your journey along the world’s longest wine route, Route 62, with a tasting of some of the finest port in the country. Watch as the winelands transform into dusty country roads upon your arrival in Oudtshoorn. Marvel at the incredible formations in the Cango Caves and a night sky brimming with twinkling stars.

Traveling further up the East Coast, you’ll venture into the Garden Route countryside, where views are filled with lush green indigenous forests and the deep blues of the ocean. The mild climate and relaxed atmosphere make it easy to unwind and enjoy the peaceful scenery. Only the allure of a safari and an African-style fine dining experience will tempt you to leave your luxury tent at Botlierskop Game Reserve. Look out for members of the “Big 5” during two 3-hour 4x4 game drives.

Spend your final day soaking in the cultural influences in Mossel Bay, where the wild ocean’s beauty is matched only by the imposing majesty of the Outeniqua Mountain Range.

Please note: A minimum of two people per booking is required, but this tour is run exclusively for you. The itinerary is flexible and can be customized to spend more time at the tour highlights that interest you the most. All listed accommodations are subject to availability, and the itinerary may run in reverse to match available options. Alternative accommodation options of similar quality will be offered if preferred options are fully booked.

Itinerary

You’ll be picked up from your accommodation in the morning to begin your journey along Route 62, South Africa’s longest and most renowned wine route. A brief stop in the charming town of Barrydale allows you to stretch your legs and have lunch (own expense). Continue to Calitzdorp to taste some of South Africa’s finest port. Tastings are conducted at a renowned winery known for its premium wine production and world-class port.

Travel through a landscape of rugged plains and towering cliffs to reach Oudtshoorn by the afternoon. Visit the impressive Cango Caves, located in a limestone ridge parallel to the picturesque Swartberg Mountains. During the Heritage Tour, explore the subterranean wonderland with its colorful stalactites hanging from the roof like ancient chandeliers.

Oudtshoorn - Arrive at Mooiplaas Guesthouse, a family-run, working ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn, a town once known as the ‘feather capital of the world’. Find peace and tranquility in the wide-open spaces of the farmland and its ever-changing purple backdrop of the Outeniqua Mountains. This is African “big sky” country, and the star-studded heavens make this off-the-grid location perfect for stargazing. Dine at the main house with the owner’s set menu, with the option to try local treats including delicious and healthy ostrich filet (own expense). After dinner, your knowledgeable guide will point out the spectacular constellations above.

Oudtshoorn – Wilderness

Wilderness National Park - Your next stop is Wilderness National Park, approximately a 90-minute drive away. The famous Garden Route National Park gently unfolds against lush forests and lofty mountains. The many lagoons and shimmering lakes instill a sense of tranquil wonder and beg to be explored. Choose to paddle up the calm waters of the Touw River, with its abundant birdlife, or follow shady footpaths that wind through an enchanting world of giant Yellow Wood trees.

Arrive at your accommodation in Wilderness, your retreat for the night, with its elegant rooms and close proximity to the pristine beach. Spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beachfront, with unparalleled sea views and the perfect vantage point for dolphin spotting. Stroll along this wide sandy beach as the sunset transforms the sky into a kaleidoscope of colors. Your guide can suggest the best seafood or other dining options (own expense) nearby.

Wilderness – Knysna – Botlierskop Game Reserve

Knysna Lagoon - Travel to Knysna and embark on the John Benn luxury ferry for a cruise on the Knysna Lagoon.

Knysna Heads - The estuary is home to the massive sandstone Knysna ‘Heads’, which seem to guard the vast expanse of water as it flows into the ocean. The estuary is also filled with many endangered water species, as well as the famed Knysna oyster, which you’ll get to sample along with sparkling wine onboard.

Botlierskop Private Game Reserve - Venture an hour inland to Botlierskop, set on a sprawling 8,600-acre (3,500-hectare) malaria-free private game reserve. Local fauna and flora abound: the reserve is home to over 26 different free-roaming species of animals and more than 200 bird species.

Tonight you’ll get close to nature without sacrificing any creature comforts. Your 4-star graded, air-conditioned tent suite is perched on a private wooden deck, carefully woven into the surrounding bushveld and under a canopy of trees along the riverbed. Each lavishly furnished tent has a 4-poster bed draped in mosquito nets, comfy wingback chairs, a deep oval bath, and an outdoor nature shower: pure opulence in the wild.

Before you get completely lost in the luxury of your tent, head off on a 3-hour sundowner game drive to look for members of the Big 5 and other wild animals. Possible sightings include Rhino, Lion, Buffalo, Giraffe, Black Impala, Golden Wildebeest, Mountain Zebra, Hippo, and many more. From the safety of a specially-adapted vehicle, an experienced game ranger will point out sightings and share his knowledge of the local wildlife. After returning from the safari, you’ll have some time to relax and settle in before dinner at the lodge.

The lodge’s restaurant is situated on a hilly outcrop with uninterrupted views of the incredible African bush. Opt to sit cozily inside by the fireplace, or dine al fresco under the starry night sky (own expense) while feasting on a mix of various local culinary favorites with a South African twist.

Botlierskop Game Reserve – Mossel Bay – Cape Town

Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex - Wake up early for a pre-dawn sunrise game drive to catch the bush as it awakens. After breakfast, travel to Mossel Bay, a bustling holiday town and port set on the sun-washed slopes of the Cape St. Blaiz peninsula. A visit to the Dias Museum Complex will shed light on the town’s fascinating maritime histories, brought to life through various displays. The main feature is a to-scale model of the very vessel that first brought European explorers to South African shores when Dias dropped anchor back in 1488. As a unique souvenir, send a postcard to your loved ones from the oldest post office in the country, located in a “sailor’s boot” under a big indigenous Milkwood tree.

From Mossel Bay, the journey back to Cape Town begins. The 4-hour drive is broken up midway for a relaxed stop at the quaint town of Swellendam, set among the foothills of the Langeberg Mountains. The tour ends with a farewell lunch of Cape Fusion-inspired cuisine at one of the region’s top farm-to-table restaurants (own expense). Expect to arrive back in Cape Town in the early evening.

Throughout your journey, your guide will provide informative commentary and can recommend places for you to eat or visit.

• The exact itinerary is subject to change and may, on occasion, run in a different order.
• This private tour will run exclusively for you. The itinerary is flexible and can be customized to spend more time at the tour’s highlights that interest you the most or swap for alternative options. Contact us after booking the tour to let us know if you would prefer any changes, and we can suggest an updated itinerary and cost estimate if the changes incur extra charges.

Africa Select Journeys - This private tour will run exclusively for you. The itinerary is flexible and can be customized to spend more time at the tour’s highlights that interest you the most or swap for alternative options. This is a private tour running exclusively for you or your group.

• Contact us during or after the booking process to let us know if you would prefer any changes to the tour, and we can suggest an updated itinerary and cost estimate if there are any additional charges.

• Panoramic Knysna Lagoon cruise with Oyster tasting experience
• Accommodation for 3 nights
• Stargazing in the Karoo
• Ostrich Farm tour
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• 4x4 Open-vehicle Game Drive on Private Game Reserve
• Wilderness canoe hire
• Cango Caves tour
• Breakfast
• Unique beach, bush and farmland luxury stays
• Round-trip private transfer by air-conditioned, private vehicle
• Port Tasting
• Led by a English-speaking professional tour guide

• Lunch, Dinner and drinks, unless specified