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Arrive in Port Elizabeth and meet at the airport for a one-hour transfer to Amakhala Safari Lodge. Settle in, meet the group, then take a late-afternoon game drive with a cheese-and-wine sundowner before dinner.

Meals: Dinner

Early morning and afternoon 4WD game drives in Amakhala, with time to relax at the lodge between. Enjoy a sundowner on the drive and a traditional braai for dinner (weather permitting).

Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Final game drive at Amakhala, then travel to Storms River in Tsitsikamma National Park. Walk forest trails, boardwalks and suspension bridges before continuing to Plettenberg Bay for dinner at local restaurants.

Meals: Breakfast,Lunch

Morning walk in Robberg Nature Reserve, a peninsula of cliffs, beaches and scenic trails with seals, dassies and birdlife. Afternoon free in Plettenberg Bay to relax, dine or visit the nearby beach.

Meals: Breakfast

Visit Knysna Heads and stop for lunch in Mossel Bay, home to the historic Post Office Tree. Arrive at De Hoop Nature Reserve, settle into the lodge and explore before dinner.

Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Explore De Hoop Nature Reserve, a World Heritage site with rich wildlife and the Cape Floral Kingdom. Optional eco-boat tour, marine walk, birdwatching and mountain biking; afternoon boardwalk to a whale-viewing lookout (in season).

Meals: Breakfast,Dinner

Visit Cape Agulhas, then continue to Hermanus for lunch and a cliff walk with potential whale sightings (in season). Travel inland to historic Stellenbosch.

Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Tastings with pairings at Waterford Estate (chocolate with cabernet sauvignon and shiraz) and Middelvlei Estate (Boerebraai tapas with chardonnay, merlot and pinotage). Afternoon at leisure at the lodge.

Meals: Breakfast,Dinner

Travel to Simon’s Town for lunch near Boulders Beach, then visit the protected African penguin colony via boardwalks and dunes. Short drive to the harbour-side hotel.

Meals: Breakfast,Lunch

Early coastal walk in Cape Point Nature Reserve from the Old Lighthouse to the Cape of Good Hope, with chances to see antelope, baboons and ostriches. After lunch, explore Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden and its canopy walkway; end the day in Sea Point.

Meals: Breakfast,Lunch

Ride the cable car to the summit of Table Mountain for panoramic views of Cape Town, Lion’s Head and Robben Island. Free time for the V&A Waterfront, a township tour or a visit to Robben Island.

Meals: Breakfast

Free time in Cape Town depending on flight schedules. Optional post-trip Kruger safari available.

Meals: Breakfast

What’s included

Expert tour leader throughout to enhance your adventure.
Group arrival and departure airport transfers.
All breakfasts, six lunches and six dinners included. Vegetarian and vegan options available on request.
All transport for the itinerary by private minibus.
Four game drives in Amakhala Game Reserve with classic sundowners and a traditional braai (weather permitting).
Wine tasting with food pairings at two Stellenbosch wineries (Waterford Estate chocolate pairing and Middelvlei Boerebraai tapas pairing).
Cable car ride to the summit of Table Mountain.
11 nights of handpicked accommodation: 8 Premium nights (four-star hotels and lodges), 1 Superior Comfort night (Simon's Town), and 2 Comfort nights (three-star) in De Hoop Nature Reserve. Stays include Amakhala Safari Lodge (private plunge pools), Christiana Lodge near Robberg Beach, De Hoop Collection, Cultivar Guest Lodge in Stellenbosch, Quayside Hotel in Simon’s Town, and Blackheath Lodge in Cape Town.
Guided walks and visits as per the itinerary, including Tsitsikamma National Park, Robberg Nature Reserve, Cape Point Nature Reserve, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden and the Boulders Beach penguin colony.

What’s not included

Tips for the tour leader are not included.
International flights to and from the tour are not included.
Visas (if required) and any associated fees are the traveller’s responsibility.
Travel insurance is not included and must be arranged by the traveller.
Any lunches and dinners not listed as included are at your own expense.
Optional activities at De Hoop (such as guided eco-boat tours, interpretative marine walks, birdwatching and mountain biking) are not included.
Vaccinations and any related health requirements are at your own cost.
Bottled water (safe drinking water is provided on the trip, but bottled water is at personal expense).
Single supplement for a private room if requested.

Additional information

The food you’ll encounter on this trip is very similar to the kind of food you’ll be used to at home. There may be the opportunity to try some more unusual meats such as ostrich, kudu or eland.

Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on this holiday – please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so our local team can be well prepared.

The water provided on this trip is safe and clean drinking water, normally coming from bore-holes. It is not bottled water, however. If you would rather have bottled water then this will be at your expense, though we would encourage you to make use of the safe drinking water provided as this helps reduce plastic consumption.

Explore Tsitsikamma National Park on boardwalks and forest trails that lead to the Storms River Suspension Bridges, swaying above a mist-sprayed gorge where waves collide with river current. Feel the cool air of indigenous woodland and the salt tang from the Indian Ocean.

Named the “place of abundant water”, Tsitsikamma shelters giant Outeniqua yellowwoods, sunbirds and cormorants along dramatic sea cliffs. Your walk reveals both the park’s rich biodiversity and the elemental power that carved this rugged coastline.

Walk Robberg Nature Reserve, a wild peninsula of cliff paths, wind-carved dunes and secluded beaches washed by sapphire seas. Look for Cape fur seals riding the swell offshore and shy dassies sunning on warm rocks.

Part of the World Heritage-listed Cape Floral Region, Robberg protects rare fynbos and prehistoric cave sites with traces of early coastal life. Sweeping ocean views and seabird calls accompany every step along this dramatic headland.

Visit the southernmost point of Africa at Cape Agulhas and trace the line where continent meets sea. Climb near the historic Cape Agulhas Lighthouse and contemplate the storied meeting of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans along a wind-lashed shoreline.

Mariners once feared these reefs and surging currents; today, paths and markers share the headland’s navigational lore and natural significance. It’s a geography-lover’s moment of pure, elemental drama.

Wander among African penguins on raised boardwalks threading between granite boulders and sheltered coves. Watch these endearing birds preen, waddle and plunge into the surf within a protected colony at Boulders Beach.

Part of Table Mountain National Park, this rare, close-up encounter supports conservation of an endangered species famed for its “braying” call. Clear waters, pale sand and coastal fynbos create a serene natural amphitheatre for memorable viewing.

Explore Cape Point Nature Reserve on cliff-hugging boardwalks from the Old Lighthouse to the wave-battered Cape of Good Hope. Gaze over jagged sea cliffs, hidden coves and the long arc of False Bay meeting the Atlantic.

Fynbos-clad slopes shelter eland, ostrich and chacma baboons. Your guide shares maritime legends and scientific notes on the Benguela and Agulhas currents that shape this storied peninsula.

Ascend Table Mountain by cable car in a rotating cabin for 360-degree views over Cape Town, Lion’s Head and the Twelve Apostles. Wander the sandstone summit, tracing paths to lookouts across ocean and city.

Above the bustle, endemic fynbos grips crevices while gulls ride the wind. On clear days, spot Robben Island offshore; when clouds spill over the plateau’s edge, watch the famous “tablecloth” form.

Join a guided township tour for community-led insight into daily life beyond the city center. Meet local artists and entrepreneurs, visit markets or workshops, and hear stories of resilience and creativity.

Led by accredited local guides, this respectful experience supports grassroots initiatives and fosters meaningful exchange. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour, with sites varying to benefit community partners.

Join professionally guided game drives in open 4×4 vehicles across Amakhala’s 18,000-acre reserve, home to the Big Five and five distinct biomes. Scan riverbeds and acacia thicket for elephant and lion while the golden bushveld light slides across the hills. As daylight fades, pause for a classic cheese-and-wine sundowner with the sounds of the bush all around.

Guides share tracking insights and conservation stories as giraffe, cheetah, zebra and antelope move between waterholes. The reserve protects Eastern Cape thicket and grassland, offering excellent wildlife encounters from dawn to dusk without the crowds found in larger parks.

Experience a traditional braai in the heart of the reserve, where ember-grilled specialties and fresh salads are served beneath a brilliant canopy of stars. The crackle of the fire and chorus of night sounds set the scene as you share stories with rangers and fellow travelers.

More than a meal, the braai is a South African social ritual. Look up to spot the Southern Cross while enjoying fireside storytelling about the bush, its wildlife, and local customs that bind community and land together.

Pause for photos and reflection at the Knysna Heads, twin sandstone cliffs guarding the narrow channel where lagoon meets the Indian Ocean swells. Watch white water funnel through the gap while boats navigate one of South Africa’s most storied passages.

From the eastern viewpoints, take in layered cliffs and jade waters as your guide shares tales of Knysna’s timber heritage, oysters and treacherous maritime history—an ideal scenic stop along the Garden Route.

Follow cliff-top paths and walk the coastal boardwalk above sugar-white dunes and turquoise coves. From natural viewpoints, look for southern right whales (in season) breaching astonishingly close to shore in one of Africa’s largest marine protected areas.

De Hoop lies within the Cape Floral Kingdom, the world’s smallest yet richest plant kingdom. Keep an eye out for bontebok, ostrich and prolific birdlife among fragrant fynbos as the surf booms below.

Walk the Hermanus Cliff Path from the Old Harbour, scanning crystalline bays for breaching whales (in season) just beyond the rocks. Sea spray, kelp and fynbos scent the air as the surf rolls beneath the cliffs.

Renowned for shore-based whale watching, Hermanus comes alive when southern right whales arrive to calve between late August and November. Your guide highlights vantage points and shares the town’s unique whale-calling traditions.

Sample regional wines on a day devoted to Stellenbosch’s terroir. At the Waterford Estate chocolate pairing, taste cabernet and shiraz alongside artisanal dark and milk chocolates. Continue to Middelvlei Boerebraai tapas, where chardonnay, merlot and pinotage meet flame-grilled Cape flavours.

Framed by Cape Dutch gables and mountain slopes, the Stellenbosch winelands blend heritage and innovation. Learn about local varietals—especially South Africa’s signature pinotage—while soaking in vineyard views.

Discover Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, where indigenous proteas, cycads and fynbos flourish beneath a Table Mountain backdrop. Rise into the treetops on the sinuous Boomslang canopy walkway for sweeping views of the eastern slopes.

Founded in 1913 as the first botanical garden devoted to native flora, Kirstenbosch blends conservation and artistry. Sunbirds and sugarbirds flit between blooms as sculpted lawns open to rugged mountain walls.

Join a guided eco-boat tour on the tranquil De Hoop Vlei, gliding past reedbeds alive with pelicans and waders while antelope graze the shoreline. Learn how freshwater, fynbos and dunes meet within this unique wetland system.

This gentle cruise interprets the reserve’s birdlife and geology in a vast marine protected area. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, subject to weather and availability.

Take a guided marine walk across rocky shores and tidal pools to uncover intertidal ecology: anemones, starfish and the occasional shy octopus in glassy gullies. Your specialist guide reveals delicate food webs and coastal adaptations.

Set within the De Hoop Marine Protected Area, this low-tide exploration deepens appreciation for the shoreline’s living laboratory. This activity is at additional cost and bookable on tour; tide and weather conditions apply.

Cycle De Hoop’s trails on a relaxed ride through fynbos plains, scanning for bontebok and eland amid rolling dunes and salt-scented breezes. Enjoy wide gravel and sandveld paths ideal for mixed abilities.

Bikes and helmets are provided locally, with routes chosen for scenery and wildlife. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, subject to availability and conditions.

Sail to Robben Island across Table Bay for a guided visit to the prison where Nelson Mandela’s former cell symbolizes South Africa’s long walk to freedom. Former inmates share first-hand accounts within this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Museum exhibits and coach tours reveal layers of political and natural history on the island. This poignant experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; ferry operations are weather dependent.

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