Wine, Whales and Wildlife - Self Drive

Arrive in Cape Town
On arrival at Cape Town airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your beachfront hotel in Camps Bay. This evening, you are at your leisure and we recommend taking a stroll on the beachfront with numerous shops and restaurants.

City Tour
Your tour of Cape Town commences with a tour of Table Mountain (weather permitting; cable car fee not included). Enjoy panoramic views over the Mother City and the Atlantic Seaboard with Robben Island in the distance lying sleepily in Table Bay harbour. In the heart of the city enjoy a short walk through the Company Gardens. From squirrels to a variety of plant life, it’s just a happy place to soak up some ‘Cape Town vibes’ and enjoy the aviaries and fishponds. On the Wale Street end of the garden you will find a monument which was created to commemorate the life and work of Desmond Tutu – lovingly referred to by South Africans as “The Arch” and a tribute to the values of the South African Constitution. Arch for Arch was installed beside historic St. George's Cathedral aka “People’s Cathedral” for its role in the resistance against apartheid. Step inside the Slave Lodge which explores the history of these unwilling immigrants and how they have contributed to the richness and diversity of South African history. As you drive through the city you shall get a feel for the cultural melting pot that it is. End the tour with a stop at Truth Café a ‘steampunk inspired’ artisan coffee shop serving all hand-roasted coffees in a vintage cast-iron drum (any meals for own account). At the completion of your tour you will return to your hotel.

Winelands
Wine lovers are spoiled for choice in buzzy Stellenbosch and French-flavoured Franschhoek, with excellent wines and gourmet restaurants. You will be led by your wine guide on a fabulous day of tastings and pairings, that takes in superb mountain ranges, vineyards and Cape Dutch homesteads along two of the Cape’s famed wine routes.

Hands down, one of the most celebrated wine and food destinations in South Africa, the beautiful Franschhoek Valley, was established by French Huguenot refugees in 1688. Offering a captivating blend of European charm and spectacular verdant scenery, the town of Franschhoek is well worth a visit, with the main street dotted with exclusive boutiques, gourmet restaurants and art galleries. The Cape Dutch-style farms in the valley produce all the noble and classic cultivars - from superlative whites such as Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Semillon and Chenin Blanc, to intense Syrah, complex Pinot Noir and the famed Méthode Cap Classique sparkling wines.

The heart of the Cape winelands is the vibrant town of Stellenbosch, a wine lover’s paradise of bars and bistros. Grapes have been cultivated around Stellenbosch for more than 350 years, and the area is recognized for producing South Africa’s finest reds and is best for those curious to try South African Pinotage and Chenin Blanc.

Let us know your preference in wine and cultivar, and we can create the perfect wine tour for you, completely flexible and adjusted to your needs.

Includes: 3 x wine tastings

Self Drive to Hermanus
This morning your hired vehicle will be delivered to your hotel and you can start your drive to Hermanus, where you will spend one night. Enjoy beautiful scenery along the way. Experience the delightful local culture, small restaurants and perhaps hear the Southern Right Whales of the 'Whale Crier' signalling the arrival of a Southern Right Whale in the bay.

Self Drive to Knysna
Today you will continue your journey through the countryside and along the coast to your next destination - Knysna. Knysna is surrounded by a natural paradise of lush indigenous forests, tranquil lakes and golden beaches, making it a real natural wonderland. Spend 2 nights in a luxury Pezula Hotel, situated above Knysna lagoon and offering breathtaking mountain and ocean views.

Breakfast included.

Self Drive: Day at Leisure
Your day is at your leisure. Knysna offers a wealth of activities for visitors. The beautiful lagoon and more than eight beaches provide opportunities to swim, surf, canoe, yacht, jet-ski, boat, fish, walk on soft sand and take ferry rides. Various markets offer organic goods, delicious food, indigenous plants and a social atmosphere. Mountains, valleys, lakes, forests and streams are ready to be explored. The region isn’t known as the “Garden of Eden” for nothing! A birding route is available for avid bird watchers. World class golf courses are at your doorstep. And of course the area is famous for the Knysna Heads and delicious oysters.

Breakfast included.

Self Drive to Lalibela Game Reserve
Continue your journey today to the malaria free Eastern Cape Region for your two night stay at a Game Reserve. Explore the vast land filled with unique wildlife species and study their behaviors in the most natural habitat.This is a great chance to take out your camera and capture your amazing safari moments.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Lalibela Game Reserve
Your day is spend exploring the game reserve on morning and afternoon game drives. Lalibela is unique in the Eastern Cape in that we have no public roads running through our property. All of the animals, including the predators, are free-roaming throughout the entire game reserve. At Lalibela we are blessed to have phenomenal sightings of the Big 5 as well as the various other species that visitors so enjoy seeing.In addition to the larger, more known wild animals, Lalibela has various lesser-known species and our rangers delight in exposing our guests to these - the curious spring hare is as fascinating as the mighty African elephant!

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Self Drive to Port Elizabeth Airport
In the early morning head out for your last game drive followed by breakfast and check out. Drive yourself to Port Elizabeth airport, where you will drop off the car and depart to your next destination or home.

Breakfast included.