Our tour starts at 08h00 in Sea Point, at the Greenfire Lodge Cape Town. After a few formalities and a briefing, we make our way to the world-renowned Kirstenbosch Gardens, for an introduction to the unique flora found along the Garden Route. The Cape Floral Kingdom contains over 9000 species, nearly 70% of which are endemic, and includes over a third of all plant species found in South Africa.
We then cross the Cape Flats, via Stellenbosch to Franschhoek, and then over Franschhoek Pass. Using roads less travelled, we cross the Breede River, before stopping to enjoy wine tasting at a vineyard in the Robertson area. We overnight in comfortable accommodation in Robertson and enjoy a catered meal.

Meals: D
Included Highlights/Activity:
– Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
– Visit to Stellenbosch and Franschhoek
– Wine tasting
Optional Activities:
– None, all included

After a relaxed breakfast we depart for Montagu, famous for its dried fruit, where we join the famous Route 62 to travel east through the heart of the Klein Karoo. This scenic road passes through small towns like Barrydale, Ladismith and Calitzdorp, strung out along the valley between the Langeberg and Swartberg mountain ranges. We enjoy a picnic lunch today, with beautiful views of the Swartberg Mountains.

After lunch we make our way toward the ostrich capital of South Africa, Oudtshoorn, where we spend the night in comfortable accommodation, just outside the town. This evening a local expert will give a talk explaining the breathtaking southern the night sky (weather permitting). The clear, dry Karoo air is perfect for stargazing.

Meals: B L D
Included Highlights/Activity:
– Route 62
– Montagu
– Swartberg Mountains
– Star gazing (weather permitting)
Optional Activities:
– Visit to local ostrich farm

Today we rise before the sun and make our way to a local meerkat manor. Seated comfortably around their burrows, we watch as they come out to greet the day, while a local guide tells us about these fascinating creatures and their social behaviour. Then, after breakfast, we drive over the spectacular Outeniqua Mountains, before descending to the coastal town of Knysna. We have the afternoon free to explore the town, or to partake in an optional activity.

Tonight we can eat at one of the local restaurants (own expense), but you may also take the opportunity to help prepare an authentic African meal, and have dinner, with members of the local community. This is a unique dining experience. Your Drifters guide can make the arrangements if you would like to do this (own expense).

Meals: B
Included Highlights/Activity:
– Meerkat encounter (weather permitting)
– Outeniqua Mountains
– Knysna
Optional Activities:
– Local dining experience

After breakfast at our lodge, we head for the indigenous Knysna forest, where we enjoy a guided walk with a local expert, who will share his insight to the area, its history and the fascinating plant life that gives the Garden Route its name.

We return to town in time for lunch at a local restaurant, and again have the afternoon free to enjoy some of the optional activities on offer. Tonight we’ll eat at one of the many restaurants in town.

Meals: B
Included Highlights/Activity:
– Guided forest walk
Optional Activities:
– Boat cruise
– Mountain biking

Today we follow the coastline to George, and from there make our way to one of the Big 5 game reserves located on the Garden Route. After checking into our accommodation, we enjoy an afternoon open-vehicle game drive, with the chance to see many of the same species you could see in the Kruger Park, and a few that are unique to this area. These lodges have pioneered the re-introduction of wildlife in an area that was previously rich in game species, but where, for many years, human activity reduced the area of suitable habitat to such an extent that many species became locally extinct. It is good to have them back.

We enjoy a relaxed evening and a catered meal at the lodge.

Meals: B L D
Included Highlights/Activity:
– Scenic drive along coast
– Private game reserve
– Afternoon game drive
Optional Activities:
– None, all included

We spend our day at the reserve, with morning and afternoon game drives included, and enough time between to relax and enjoy the views. Local guides will share their in-depth knowledge of the area and its history, and of the social webs and behaviour of the various animals on the reserve.

Meals: B D
Included Highlights/Activity:
– Two game drives
– Private reserve
Optional Activities:
– Mountain biking

Our last morning, we depart after breakfast and make our way to the southernmost tip of Africa – Cape Agulhas. We spend some time here, before continuing to Hermanus, famous around the world for its shore-based whale watching. We enjoy an own expense lunch at a local restaurant, before following the coastal route back to Cape Town. This is one of the most scenic drives in South Africa, and a late afternoon stop, time permitting, to visit the penguins at Betty’s Bay is recommended. The tour ends on arrival at the Greenfire Cape Town Lodge in Sea Point.

Meals: B
Included Highlights/Activity:
– Cape Agulhas
– Hermanus
– Betty’s bay
– Scenic drive along False Bay
Optional Activities:
– None, all included