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14 Day Luxury Self Drive
CAPE TOWN, WINELANDS, HERMANUS, GARDEN ROUTE & SAFARI
Day 1
Welcome to Cape Town! On arrival in Cape Town you are met and welcomed by Paradise Touring. The guide will hand over your welcome pack (set of travel documents incl. map book, directions, vouchers, area information, etc) and assist you to the Avis Car rental desk.
Collect
Group B rental car (includes unlimited mileage and maximum insurance
cover / VW Polo Hatchback or similar / aircon / radio /manual)
and make your way to Alta Bay Guest House on the slopes of Table
Mountain, overlooking the city and the harbour. Spend 3 nights
at Alta Bay Luxury Boutique Hotel. Standard double room [BB]
Alta Bay Boutique Hotel:
Situated high on the slopes of Table Mountain, with stunning views
over Table Bay and the City, Alta Bay is a boutique guesthouse
of exquisite style and a harmonious hideaway in the centre of
Cape Town. Cascading down several levels and surrounded by a lush
garden, the villa's smartly designed interior combines the tranquility
of a relaxed setting with the cosmopolitan atmosphere of a metropolis.Alta
Bay was designed in a contemporary style with bespoke furniture
handcrafted locally. Bedrooms are air-conditioned and include
extra-length king-size/twin beds, TV with integrated DVD/CD player,
telephone and private safe. Each opens onto a private, tranquil
courtyard or deck.
Cape
Town:
Cape Town is one of the most beautifully situated cities in the
world. Cradled by Table Mountain, it has immense charm and historical
interest whilst its unique cultural blend; part African, part
European and part Asian, makes for a cosmopolitan experience.
Take the cable car up Table Mountain, visit the colourful Malay
quarter or meander through the wonderful Kirstenbosch Botanical
Gardens. Browse through the vibrant Greenmarket Square, take a
boat trip to Robben Island or simply relax on one of the beaches.
The Cape Peninsula offers one of the finest coastal drives in
Africa to the Cape of Good Hope. Here you might see whales breeching
just off the bay or quirky jackass penguins on Boulder’s
Beach.
Day 4
Today, after a relaxed breakfast you continue to Stellenbosch (approx 40 mins drive) for your 2-night stay at River Manor Country House & Spa. Classic Room [BB]
River
Manor:
River Manor, in Stellenbosch, has a quiet riverside location
in a peaceful avenue of oaks, yet it is within two minutes
walk of the museums, street cafes, restaurants and art
galleries of the town centre. In this owner-run lodge,
bedrooms are carefully furnished in a colonial style with
antique pieces and homely touches. Facilities include
telephone, television, minibar, overhead ceiling fan and
air-conditioned rooms on request. Enjoy leisurely breakfasts
and pre-dinner drinks at the poolside or in the pretty
first floor conservatory. The two swimming pools and the
health and beauty spa in the gardens completes the restful
ambience. |
Winelands:
The Cape Winelands lie less than an hour from Cape Town, an area
of exquisite beauty with rocky mountains overlooking green vineyards.
Oak avenues lead to elegant Cape Dutch wine estates and some of
the most charming towns and villages in South Africa. The main
pleasure of this region is the enjoyment of the good life: appreciating
the wine and the unique architecture; savouring long, lazy meals
at one of the many excellent restaurants or browsing in the craft
studios and art galleries.
Touring
the Winelands:
Stellenbosch is a historic university city with charming Cape
Dutch streets, shady oaks, and water furrows whilst the Huguenot
settlement of Franschhoek is brimming with ‘joie de vivre’
and rural charm. Granite domes above the lovely old town of Paarl
glisten in the sunlike pearls, hence the town’s name. The
active can enjoy mountain biking, hiking and kloofing in the mountains.
Canoeing, horse-riding and excellent championship golf are all
available. More gentle pursuits include gliding over the vineyards
in hot air balloon ride as the sun rises or ambling along a wine
route.
Day
6
Today
you leave for the coast. Stay at On The Cliff Guest House for
2 nights. Approx. 1 hr 30 mins drive from Stellenbosch to Hermanus.
First floor room [BB]
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On the Cliff Guest House (4 star) in Hermanus provides awesome whale watching opportunities. This unique Hermanus accommodation, where you can watch whales (Aug to Dec) from your bed or private patio, has 4 stars and is a luxury guest house with magnificent sea views.Shark cage diving or shark based activities can be arranged and is an easy drive from Hermanus.
All rooms are en suite with king-size beds, private balconies or patios, luxury fittings and have panoramic sea views for whalewatching.
Hermanus
and the Overberg:
Hermanus and the southern coast boast some of the finest
land-based whale-watching in the world between August
and December, when the Southern Right Whales come into
the bay to give birth. But all year round this charming,
cosmopolitan fishing village offers stunning coastal scenery.
Secluded sandy beaches are backed by velvety mountains
covered with exceptional fynbos vegetation. The more adventurous
can even experience cage diving amongst the sharks at
Gansbaai. More relaxing pursuits include exploring the
numerous arts and craft shops in Hermanus and enjoying
the panoramic views of Walker Bay whilst dining alfresco. |
Day 8
Today you head for the Garden Route. Approx. 4 hrs drive from Stellenbosch to Wilderness. Stay at the beautiful Wilderness Manor in Wilderness for 2 nights. Luxury suite with Lagoon View [BB]
Wilderness
Manor:
Wilderness Manor has a stunning setting overlooking Wilderness
Lagoon, yet within walking distance of the beach. Oriental
rugs, antiques and original art give the décor
an Afro-oriental style, which is particularly pleasant.
Relax in a spacious guest lounge, the billiard and reading
room or in one of the four charming en suite bedrooms
each with TV, telephone and minibar. Dine out at one of
many local favourites, including nearby Palms restaurant.
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Wilderness:
The quiet village of Wilderness nestles among the tranquil lakes
and rivers of the Wilderness National Park. This is a wetlands
paradise, which boasts a variety of bird life from the colourful
Knysna Loerie to large waders. From here, you can take the nostalgic
Outeniqua steam train to Knysna, or follow backroads through mysterious
primeval forests, erstwhile haunt of 19th century gold diggers.
It is this juxtaposition of the ancient and the picturesque that
is part of the Garden Route’s charm.
Garden
Route:
The Garden Route thoroughly deserves its reputation for
enchanting beauty. This region, between Mossel Bay and
the Storms River, offers a spectacular coastline of dramatic
headlands giving way to white sandy beaches. Behind the
sand dunes lie placid lagoons and wetland lakes, bordered
by indigenous rainforest and soaring mountains. The Garden
Route is perfect for those wanting to relax in beautiful
surroundings and for those wishing to be more active.
There are walking and hiking trails by the lakes, along
the coast and in the mountains. Horse-riding, canoeing,
boating and excellent golfing are readily arranged.
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Day 10
Today, you head further up the coast en-route to the Eastern Cape. The drive from Wilderness to Plettenberg Bay will take you approx. an hour. Stay at Hog Hollow Country House for 2 nights. Suite [BB]
Hog
Hollow Country Lodge:
Hog Hollow lies in its own private nature reserve with breathtaking
views over the indigenous forest valleys to the Tsitsikamma Mountains.
This is essentially a rural retreat for lovers of good food, walking
and scenery. While the décor is stylishly simple, with
much use of local woods, African crafts and fabrics, the cuisine
is lavish and imaginative. Sumptuous candlelit dinners at Hog
Hollow are convivial affairs around a communal table (with separate
tables available if you prefer) whilst farmhouse breakfasts are
served on the wooden deck overlooking the forest.
Decorated in African style, with handcrafted furniture, each room
has a king size bed, private wooden deck (with hammock) and bathroom
with bath and shower. Loft suites, with a downstairs sitting room,
can accommodate one or two children Relax at the pool and sauna
deck overlooking the Matjies River gorge. There are walking trails
(steep) down to the river below.
Plettenberg
Bay:
'Plett';, as referred to by the locals, is a chic resort town
with wide sandy beaches and a panoramic view of the sweeping bay,
backed by the Tsitsikamma Mountains. Visit the Robberg Nature
Reserve with its many coastal walking trails, enjoy a boat ride
out to view the whales and dolphins, cruise up the Keurbooms River
through the forest, or simply enjoy an alfresco lunch at the beach.
Day 12
This morning you continue to Hlosi Game Lodge for your 2-night stay and safari experience. Suite [FBG]
Hlosi
Game Lodge:
Hlosi Game Lodge invites you to share understated luxury,
to warm to true African hospitality and find restful intimacy
in the Eastern Cape bushveld.
The reserve is 6000Ha in size and encompasses some of
the most breathtaking topographical diversity found in
the region. The Bushmans River meanders through the reserve
and is fed by numerous densely vegetated valleys. The
large intermittent plains provide ideal game viewing and
is home to rhino, buffalo, elephant, cheetah and many
other including over 14 species of antelope. This intimate
lodge redefines exclusivity with four luxury suites enjoying
uninterrupted views of active plains. Suites feature a
mini-bar, air-conditioning, under floor heating, a fire
place and a full en-suite bathroom. Each bathroom has
a spa bath overlooking spectacular vistas and private
courtyard for starlit showers. The reserve is home to
the Big Five and many other animal species. Sightings
of the leopard are rare but the cheetah is to be seen
all around! |
Eastern Cape:
The Eastern Cape’s attractive white beaches are backed by
undulating rolling pastures, bushveld and forested dunes. However,
this gentle beauty belies both the drama of its interior, with
the grand vistas of the Great Karoo, and the region’s bloody
frontier history. The legacy is a fascinating cultural mix of
seaside towns next to former battle sites; colonial towns alongside
Xhosa villages.
Day 14
After
your last morning drive and another big breakfast you drive back
to Port Elizabeth (approx 45 mins drive) and return your rental
car at Port Elizabeth Airport. Check in for your domestic flight
to Johannesburg or Cape Town and connect with your international
flight home. This flight is not included in the price below.
END OF SERVICES
PRICE FROM:
R16 875.00 per person sharing
(valid Sep 2007 - Oct 2008)
The above Price Includes:
The above Price Excludes:
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