13 Nights Cape Town, Winelands, Garden Route & Safari ( 3 Star )

Day 01

On arrival in Cape Town, you make your way to the Avis Desk, and collect your rented car. From the airport you drive to the Leeuwenvoet Guest House, where you spend the next (3) nights on a bed and breakfast basis.

In 1892, the gracious home of Josina Florentyna Spengler, Leeuwenvoet House, was built. During the 1890's Josina's hospitality was famous throughout the city, and today Rod and Helena MacPhail maintain that tradition of hospitality in their beautifully restored home. This graciously restored Victorian House with its beautiful pressed ceilings and Oregon pine floors and doors, is one hundred and three years old. Situated close to central Cape Town, a six minute car journey takes you to the Water front or Table Mountain. There is a small swimming pool where guests can relax. The guest house consists of eleven luxury rooms, all individually decorated, with en-suite shower and toilet, tea and coffee making facilities, direct dial telephone, clock radio alarm, TV (with M-net), 100% cotton bed-linen, ceiling fans and heaters for winter.

Day 02 – 03

Days at your leisure to explore the Cape Peninsula and winelands, which could include time at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, a visit up Table Mountain, a boat cruise to Seal Island, Cape Point Nature Reserve, a visit to the colony of African Penguins at Boulders Beach or the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

Day 04

Today you take a leisurely drive to the Cape Winelands and check in at the Joie de Vivre Country House for (2) night on a bed and breakfast basis.

Situated 45 minutes from Cape Town, in the winelands town of Paarl, Joie de Vivre offers comfortable accommodation in a guesthouse with the focus on individuality and choice. Each room has been decorated and named after a nearby wine farm. Our beds are top quality to ensure a comfortable night's sleep at the guesthouse. All rooms have tea and coffee facilities on hand, with herbal teas an added touch. Reception services such as faxing and access to the internet and e-mail are available at nominal rates. Meals are served in an elegant dining room with stunning views of the mountains and surrounding winelands. We will provide you with the menus of your choice. The dining room can seat up to 40 guests at a time. The bar "Au Beaujolais" is fully stocked and closes only at your command. A full selection of wines is available at reasonable prices, with an emphasis on the local wines of the surrounding wine estates, blended with an exciting range of beers, ciders & spirits. An open fire place, creates a setting to remember with newspapers & magazines. There are a number of games to keep you entertained, including darts and table tennis. There is also a TV with SABC, E-TV, M-net and satellite. This area is open, dependant on the weather for teas, light lunches and drinks. Approximately 36 guests can be seated. The architecture of the manor house has created a quadrangular, wind-free courtyard which houses the pool, as well as the braai area and of course the conference centre. A paved al fresco outdoor eating area, leads off the pool area. Braais are a speciality and are prepared in a participative atmosphere facilitating relaxation and fun. In summer dinner (or braai's) can be eaten al fresco with a candlelit pool surround, or inside if preferred.

Day 05

Today you explore the historic Cape winelands - home to many fine examples of Cape Dutch architecture. You day could include a visit to the Stellenbosch Town Village Museum, a drive along the Helshoogte mountain pass, a visit to Franschhoek and the Huguenot Monument, to a number of wine farms for cellar tours and wine tasting, or to one of the many beautifully set restaurants on the wine farms where you can soak up the atmosphere.

Day 06

Today you start up the garden route by making your way via Swellendam, the third oldest town in South Africa and the spectacular Tradoux Pass to to the Klein Karoo town of Oudtshoorn. Here you check in at the La Plume Guest House for (1) night on a bed and breakfast basis.

La Plume Guest House is a charming Victorian-style homestead dating back to 1902. Situated in the tranquil surroundings of a working ostrich, alfalfa and vine farm, amidst the scenic Elephants River Valley with spectacular views of the Swartberg Mountain Range. La Plume offers much more than mere accommodation. High quality local materials, fine antique furniture and a hint of colonial extravangance create a warm, friendly and peaceful atmosphere. Each suite bedroom has a unique sense of style and design. Comfort boosting aids in each room such as air conditioning, bar fridge, TV, hospitality tray etc are given. The honeymoon suite and self-catering family cottage add to the accommodation diversity. Dinner is available on request, and the guest house has a swimming pool for the guests enjoyment.

Day 07

This morning you may want to visit one of the local ostrich farms – very characteristic of the area or take a guided tour of the Cango Caves. From Oudtshoorn you drive over the Outeniqua Mountains to the coast line and continue to the small by vibrant town of Knysna. Here you check into the Ashmead Resort for (2) nights on a bed and breakfast basis.

Ashmead Resort is ideally situated on the edge of Knysna's beautiful lagoon amidst tranquil gardens and magnificent indigenous trees. Ashmead Resort has a total of 66 accommodation units. The majority of units are self-catering, however the resort also offers B&B accommodation to suit tour groups, corporate or conference guests. The brick cottages are spread out along the edge of the water or tucked between tall indigenous trees. The self catering apartments and B&B units are situated in our tranquil and extensive garden. All units have TV and telephone and all bedrooms have ceiling fans and heaters. The resort has a maximum of 220 beds and has secure open parking. All units serviced daily and all linen & bedding and towels are supplied. The modern two storey apartment block is set in our beautiful gardens. The apartments are spacious, comfortable and attractively furnished in bright, boldcolours. The self-catering apartments all have fully-equipped kitchens with microwave, hob, electric frying pan and refrigerators. All crockery, cutlery, glassware and utensils are provided. The ground floor consists of: 3 one bedroom apartments / 3 two bedroom apartments / 8 B&B units / 7 self-catering bachelor units. The B&B units are double or twin en-suite rooms ideal for corporate or conference guests, or for the holiday makers who don't want the inconvenience of cooking.

Day 08

Today you have the full day to enjoy the Knysna area, by possibly going on a boat cruise on the Knysna Lagoon, taking a guided walk in the Featherbed Nature Reserve, boarding the Outeniqua Tjoe choo steam train that runs between Knysna and George, enjoy a boat cruise up the Keurbooms River, visiting Monkeyland or just spend some relaxing time at the beach.

Day 09

Today you continue east to the Tsitsikamma area, where you check in at the Misty Mountain Reserve, where you spend (2) nights on a bed and breakfast basis.

David and Val would like to welcome you to Misty Mountain Reserve we will do every thing possible to make your stay relaxing and enjoyable. Situated in the malaria free Eastern Cape 1 ½ hours from Port Elizabeth airport, is the Tsitsikamma which is the gateway to the Garden Route, (the name Tsitsikamma is the Khoisan word for the place of many waters,) The reserve is situated 230metres above sea level on the edge of the escarpment with a180 degrees view of the Indian Ocean, and the view to the north is the Tsitsikamma mountain range. The area is classified as one of the most temperate climates in the world, making this area a hikers paradise 12 months of the year Misty Mountain Reserve is the center point of the new luxury hiking trail called “The Dolphin Trail”. We boundary onto the famous Tsitsikamma National Park the largest marine reserve in South Africa. Add to this the rain forests which harbour giant Outeniqua yellowwood trees, the wetlands and the fynbos, the Tsitsikamma is a bird lovers paradise, from the majestic fish eagle to the spoonbills, and Knysna lourie. The Tsitsikamma has one of the worlds beautiful rugged coastlines. Harbouring a very delicately balanced marine eco-system, and boasts some of finest whale and dolphin viewing sites. The greater Tsitsikamma offers a very diverse bird life. From shoreline estuaries to Fynbos and wetlands, the area is rich in variety and gets the fair share of summer migratory birds. The SHORELINE, which is subject to tidal action, produces a variety of Waders, Terns, Gulls, Oystercatchers and Gannets. The Waders are mostly migratory birds, breeding in the northern hemisphere and spending the summer months in the southern hemisphere. Larger flocks of different species frequent the shoreline from September until March/April. Occasionally during the winter storms, unusual seabirds like Shearwaters and Petrels can be seen. The Tsitsikama is home to a large variety of birdlife including Terns, Cormorants, Darters, Egrets, Herons, Ibis, Spoonbills and Hamerkops. The world's land surfaces are divided into six Plant Kingdoms and Tsitsikamma lies in the heart of the famous Cape Floral Kingdom (CFK) - the smallest and most diverse plant kingdom in the world! The Cape Floral Kingdom lies in the South Western Cape and stretches from Van Rhynsdorp to Port Elizabeth, with a total size of 90 000 km (about the size of Portugal or Malawi) and covers only 0.02% of the world's land surfaces. 8 600 Plants occur in the CFK of which 5 800 - or 68% of the plants are endemic. That means these occur only in the CFK and nowhere else on earth - not even elsewhere in South Africa. (The British Isles - three times bigger - only has 1 500 plants in total. The CFK boasts a total of 1 500 bulbous plants alone!). There are five types of vegetation in the CFK, namely Fynbos (mountain, coastal and limestone), Renosterveld, Thicket, Succulent Karoo and Afromotane Forest. The fynbos element constitutes the biggest component - about 80% - of the Cape Floral Kingdom. Components of fynbos are Proteoids, Erica's, Restios and the geophytes, or bulbous plants. Characteristics of the CFK is that it evolved over million of years on nutrient poor soils. A further unique adaptation is the one of fynbos to regular fire cycles. It is no exaggeration to say that without fire there won't be any fynbos. What makes Tsitsikamma so unique is that all five vegetation types of the CFK are present in the Tsitsikamma area. Beautiful areas of Lowland Fynbos, with patches of Limestone Fynbos can be viewed. South Africa’s southern cape coast offers visitors the wonderful opportunity to watch a truly great mammal, the Southern Right Whale, during winter and spring months when these magnificent creatures come into our calm waters to calf and to protect their young. Plettenberg Bay offers outstanding whale watching facilities with ideal viewpoints along the coastline and a whale hotline for any information about the whales and their whereabouts. Other marine mammals include a permanent colony of Cape seals on the Robberg Nature Reserve and several species of dolphins are regular visitors to the Bay.

Day 10

Today you have the full day to explore this beautiful part of the garden route on foot, or just relax in the pristine setting.

Day 11

Today you continue east to the Lalibela Game Reserve situated past Port Elizabeth. Here you spend (3) nights on a fully inclusive safari at the Lentaba Lodge.

This private game lodge's location in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, means it is not only malaria free, but spans 4 ecosystems (valley bushveld, grassland, fynbos and riverine forest), resulting in a breath-taking diversity of flora and fauna. Lalibela brings you comfortable game lodge accommodation with authentic African decor and is a perfect blend of the formal and informal. The two lodges, Lentaba Lodge and Mark's Camp offer service of the highest standard and unforgettable game viewing. Traditional dishes using local ingredients are prepared by chefs. The secluded thatched chalets are placed where magnificent indigenous gardens merge into the surrounding bush. Each en-suite unit has a private observation deck to make the most of the views over the valley bushveld. Early morning and sunset game drives in an open vehicle with an experienced game ranger bring you face to face with a multitude of game species. Each outdoor dining 'boma' has a commanding view of a waterhole, which is spotlit after dark for night game viewing. Travel to South Africa and experience a malaria free African safari vacation in the Eastern Cape. Lentaba, the "lodge on the hillside", sleeps 16 people in eight secluded thatched chalets, placed where magnificent indigenous gardens merge into the surrounding bush. Each en-suite unit has a private observation deck to make the most of the views over the valley bushveld. Each chalet also has a ceiling fan. The outdoor dining 'boma' has a commanding view of a waterhole, which is spotlit after dark for night game viewing. Brunch is served al fresco on the main viewing deck.

Day 12 – 13

Days spent on safari under the guidance of the resident professional rangers of Lalibela Game Reserve.

Day 14

Today you return your rented car to the Port Elizabeth Airport.

APPROXIMATE COST:

R 9745 .00 per person sharing (June – Sep 2005)
R 11422 .00 per person sharing (Oct 2005- April 2006)

* Please note prices quoted are an indication only. For a firm quote please send an enquiry, and we will revert with an accurate quote based on your dates.

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