Eindrucksvolle Garden Route

Day 1 - Arrive Cape Town
The first day of your tour is simply an arrival day with no pre-organised activities. In order to allow time to relax and see some of the sights you may wish to add pre-tour accommodation.

Situated on the south western tip of Africa and set between the Atlantic Ocean and the iconic Table Mountain, Cape Town is recognised as one of the most beautiful cities on Earth.

There are dozens of amazing sightseeing opportunities to enjoy in Cape Town and in the surrounding area. You can tackle a trek up Table Mountain or take the cable car to the top for spectacular views of the city. If you have a good head for heights you can enjoy the scenery looking over Camps Bay then rather than taking the cable car, abseil 112 metres down again, but obviously this option is not one for the faint hearted!

The V&A Waterfront is the very epitome of African chic and offers a unique shopping and entertainment environment where you can soak up the cosmopolitan vibe of the city. Be sure to sample some of South Africa's famous wines with dinner and sit back with a hot cup of rooibos herbal tea afterwards.

From Cape Town, you can visit Robben Island where former South African President and Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela was incarcerated among other political prisoners. Once a blight on the nation's history, the island is now seen as a national symbol of triumph over adversity and has been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. If you want to arrange this activity, it is advised that you book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Just 60 kilometres away from the centre of Cape Town you can visit Cape Point, which is part of the Table Mountain National Park. The peninsula is a largely unspoilt wilderness and home to several species of antelope, including the eland, as well as many beautiful plants species. There are two lighthouses on Cape Point which can be reached by a funicular known affectionately as the Flying Dutchman.

Optional Excursions:
Table Mountain – From US$20
Wine Tasting Tour – From US$60
Robben Island (Weather dependent) – US$30

Accommodation:
1 night in a hostel at Big Blue Backpackers or similar. No single room upgrade available.

Day 2 to 3 - Tsitsikamma
We stay near to Tsitsikamma National Park. Located on the garden route, it is situated on the hilltop overlooking the point where the Storms River and Indian Ocean meet in a turbulent crashing of surf. The park encompasses a marine reserve made up of coastline, including scenic walks, a small beach and the famous Storms River suspension bridge which spans the river mouth. The park is known for its abundance of indigenous plants as well as prolific birdlife. Keep an eye out for dolphins in the surf and the southern right whale. You can stretch your legs on a short hike to a viewpoint or a nearby waterfall, so remember to take your swimming suit on a hot day.

Approximate Travel Time: Seven hours

Accommodation:
2 night(s) camping at Tube 'N' Axe or similar. No single room upgrade available.

Meals:
2 Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch

Day 4 - Addo Elephant National Park
Addo Elephant National Park is an elephant reserve situated close to Port Elizabeth in South Africa and features some of the most beautiful dunes on the country's coastline. The original elephant section of the park was designated in 1931, when only eleven elephants remained in the area. Today this finely tuned ecosystem is sanctuary to over 450 elephants, Cape buffalo, endangered black rhino, a variety of antelope species, Burchell's zebra and warthog. Depending on our travel times we should get the chance to do an afternoon and an early morning game drive before heading on.

Approximate Travel Time: Five hours

Included Excursions:
Game drive through Addo Elephant National Park

Accommodation:
1 night camping. No single room upgrade available.

Meals:
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Day 5 - Hogsback
Located in the Eastern Cape the village of Hogsback sits on the slopes of the Amatole Mountains above the Tyume Valley in a region dominated by three peaks, one of which is suggested to resemble a hog's back from a certain angle. We have some time to explore the surrounding forest where there is a rich variety of birdlife to see. You may also hear the chattering of samango monkeys in the canopy overhead. Several rivers flow out of the mountains and create small but spectacular waterfalls such as Madonna and Child, Swallowtail and Kettlespout.

Approximate Travel Time: Seven hours

Accommodation:
1 night camping at Away with the Fairies or similar. No single room upgrade available.

Meals:
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Day 6 to 7 - Lesotho
Entering the kingdom of Lesotho, we make our way through this mountainous country to Malealea, breathtaking in its beauty. This is a chance to experience the traditional Basotho way of life in the 'Kingdom in the Sky', the only country in the world to be entirely 1,000 metres above sea level. No visit to Lesotho would be complete without a pony trek and from our base at the lodge in Malealea there are ample opportunities to explore the landscape on the back of a sturdy pony. There is also the option to walk to get to know the rolling valleys and mountain trails on foot. During your stay you'll no doubt come to understand the resilience and friendliness of the Basotho people and enjoy the tranquillity of their lands.

Although rare, it can snow in these parts and during the winter months it is always cold so please remember to pack your winter best if you're travelling during this season.

Approximate Travel Time: Eight hours depending on the border

Accommodation:
2 night(s) camping at Malealea Lodge or similar. No single room upgrade available.

Meals:
2 Breakfast(s), 2 Lunch(es), 2 Dinner(s)

Day 8 to 9 - Drakensberg
Today we will pass through some spectacular mountain scenery. Leaving the lodge we drive through small farm holdings and towns with dramatic peaks in the background. Making our way back into South Africa and into the province of Freestate we drive through the stunning Golden Gate National Park, with its orange and yellow sandstone cliffs and grasses, and the chance to spot eland, zebra and wildebeest. The Drakensberg Park of South Africa, or uKhahlamba (the Barrier of Spears), is a mountainous wonderland and World Heritage site. The mountains also form a barrier separating KwaZulu-Natal province and Lesotho. We will have two nights camping in this picturesque landscape with the famous Amphitheatre in the distance on our way to Johannesburg. During a free day in Drakensburg you can explore the area on foot or on rented mountain bikes from the campsite. The campsite also organises an excursion up to the Amphitheatre, which is a long and tough but rewarding hike.

Approximate Travel Time: Seven hours depending on the border

Included Excursions:
Drive through Golden Gate National Park

Accommodation:
2 night(s) camping at Amphitheatre Backpackers or similar. No single room upgrade available.

Meals:
2 Breakfast(s), 2 Lunch(es), 2 Dinner(s)

Day 10 - Pretoria
Today we drive from Drakensburg to Pretoria.

From our accommodation in Pretoria, you can take day trips into Johannesburg and the surrounding areas. Why not visit some of the fascinating museums devoted to subjects as diverse as apartheid, Nelson Mandela, gold, beer and traditional African medicine. There are also plenty of other options, including the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, or you could meet the healers at the Mai Mai market, You may also choose to visit the Soweto Township on a professional guided tour.

Approximate Travel Time: Seven hours

Optional Excursions:
Johannesburg, Apartheid Museum & Soweto full day tour – US$60
Cullinan Diamond Mine – From US$50
Cradle of Humankind and Maropeng – US$65

Accommodation:
1 night camping at Twana Lodge or similar. No single room upgrade available.

Meals:
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Day 11 - Depart Pretoria
Your adventure of a lifetime comes to an end today. If you have a late flight or have lengthened your stay by adding post tour accommodation you will have more time to explore the sights.

Meals:
1 Breakfast