South Africa's Garden Route

Our tour starts today in Cape Town, South Africa's Mother City, flanked by the Atlantic Ocean and the Twelve Apostles Mountain range. This vibrant city has a lot to offer but due to its ocean-side location visits to some of the highlights, including Robben Island and Table Mountain, can be weather-dependent. If you'd like to explore the city in depth before travelling down the Garden Route, we recommend adding a pre-tour stay for some extra time in Cape Town.

For those arriving in time, either your tour leader or a representative will meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm to welcome the group and give you some local advice, including where to eat nearby. Due to different arrival times throughout the evening, the full welcome meeting with your tour leader often takes place on the morning of Day 2, after breakfast.

If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Cape Town International Airport (CPT), which is around a 40-minute drive from our hotel.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to grab a bite to eat in the relaxed Kloof Street area alongside Capetonians or explore the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront in the sunshine.

Our full-day trip to Cape Peninsula begins with a scenic drive via the white-sand beaches of Fish Hoek, stopping to explore the small but important naval base of Simon's Town. Later, we'll arrive at Cape of Good Hope, allegedly named due to the optimism once felt by arriving colonial sailors having successfully navigated the Cape and discovering a sea route to the East. We'll take an hour-long walk within the national park to Cape Point and the lighthouse, keeping an eye out for resident baboons, tortoises, otters, and seabirds along the way. The trail is well marked, slightly rocky in places, and boasts diverse flora with many colourful flowers.

We'll return to Cape Town via Hout Bay, an attractive fishing port once bordered by dense forest, hence its name, which translates as 'Wood Bay'. Here, we'll have the option of taking a short boat trip out to Seal Island - home to 1,000 Cape fur seals and guarded by the impressive, towering Sentinel Mountain. Alternatively, explore on dry land to see Hout Bay's active tuna, snoek and crayfish industry and find out why the town prides itself on offering some of the best fish and chips in the world.

Today is free for you to explore more at your own pace - there are plenty of options for you to pick from.

If you want to visit Robben Island, the former prison where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated, this morning is the best time to go - please note, you'll need to book in advance. There are departures at 9am, 11am and 1pm but the city's changeable weather often means the earlier morning departures are the most reliable. For information on how to book this, please see the optional activities section or visit www.robben-island.org.za.

Alternatively, the morning is also the best time to hike up Table Mountain. The favourable morning weather and temperatures make it a more enjoyable experience and you'll get breathtaking views over the Apostles, the Atlantic and the city below. The walk up to the viewpoint takes between three to four hours and is accompanied by our tour leader. There is also the option to take the aerial cable car to the top, which runs frequently to and from the summit, where a network of trails crisscrosses the plateau and provide a variety of vantage points.

While it's possible to visit Robben Island and take the cable car to Table Mountain in the same day, you won't have time to visit Robben Island and hike up Table Mountain. If you'd like to do both, you can book a pre-trip stay to give yourself more time.

Another option is to take a trip to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, which claims to be the most beautiful garden in Africa and is devoted to the conservation of the Cape's indigenous species. Your tour leader will be able to give further local advice and recommendations on the optional activities.

Late this afternoon, we'll leave Cape Town and head to the scenic winelands of Stellenbosch where you can relax with a sundowner. Our hotel has a restaurant and there is a small selection of eateries just a short walk away.

Please note, both Robben Island and Table Mountain are weather-dependent. Table Mountain's cableway is closed for two weeks at the end of July for maintenance.

Stellenbosch is world-famous for its wine and today is a perfect opportunity to visit one or two vineyards for a tasting. Many are set within spectacular gardens and farmland and offer the opportunity to have lunch and a stroll. There's also the option to take a guided tour of Stellenbosch Town - a great way to learn about the many cultures that have come together to make Stellenbosch what it is today. One of the oldest of the colonial settlements, this charming town is made up of wide, oak-lined streets and whitewashed, Cape Dutch architecture. There are many cafes, bars, and delis to choose from for lunch and most pride themselves on using local produce.

This morning, we'll have an earlier start as we make our way to Hermanus. A 90-minute drive takes us to the Betty's Bay area where we'll have an included visit to Stony Point Nature Reserve. This reserve sits on the site of a historic whaling station and has a quiet, undiscovered feel, offering excellent penguin viewing without the crowds. The path can be followed over the craggy outcrops to see the resident seabirds up close without disturbing them. Although humans are not allowed to wander beyond the path, it does not always stop the penguins joining the trail and setting a slow walking pace.

After a lunch break at Betty's Bay, we'll continue to our apartment-style accommodation in central Hermanus. This afternoon will be free to explore the coastal town. From July to November, Hermanus offers some of the world's best shore-based whale watching, with good opportunities to spot southern right, Bryde's and humpback whales. Although there is a good chance of seeing the whales from the water's edge in town, you may prefer to follow the coastal path to a better vantage point or join a boat trip excursion for a closer view. At other times of the year, you might like to spend the day exploring the galleries and museums in Hermanus, which are easy to discover on foot. Or if you developed a taste for South African wine while in Stellenbosch, then Hemel-en-Aarde wine valley (Heaven and Earth Valley) is just a stone's throw away and offers a selection of wineries with views over the town and coast below.

This evening will be at your leisure. There are a variety of traditional South African and seafood restaurants lining the streets.

We'll stand on the southernmost point of the African continent this morning and see where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean in a white crash of waves. Now marked by a stone plaque, the 'Cape of Needles' was once a point the site of various evidential shipwrecks and a grave point of danger for European travellers. We'll have some free time to explore the magnificent monument and get some lunch.

This afternoon, we'll continue towards Barrydale on the renowned Route 62. The Tradouw Pass (which means Women's Pass in the old Khoi language) is a 16 kilometre/10 mile-long drive via altitudes of up to 220 metres/725 feet, offering some of the most beautiful and rugged scenery in this region of South Africa. Barrydale is a small town known for its scenic beauty and tranquil atmosphere, attracting tourists and nature lovers alike.

This morning, we'll have time to explore the historic town of Barrydale. Barrydale is known for its vibrant arts and culture scene - the town hosts multiple festivals and events throughout the spring and summer months, showcasing local and regional talent in music, theatre and visual arts. The culinary scene in Barrydale is just as diverse and vibrant, with a range of smaller restaurants, cafes and farm stalls offering authentic farm-to-table dining experiences. The small town is particularly known for its locally produced wine and organic produce. Enjoy a coffee and take a walk around to soak up the stunning countryside of the Western Cape.

Later this afternoon, we'll make our way to Oudtshoorn, where we'll be staying in a delightful family-run property. Depending on our arrival time, you can use the pool and all rooms have outdoor seating to make the most of the afternoon sun. This evening you\ re free to head into town for dinner or perhaps have a barbeque in one of the outdoor eating areas.

We'll start today by exploring the huge limestone caverns of the Cango Caves. These caves are an underground network of extraordinary structures, millions of years old. The combination of dripping rainwater and limestone has led to the creation of ancient stalactites, stalagmites, and mighty rock columns. Allegedly, a local European farmer first discovered the caves late in the 18th century; however, there is research that proves the caves have been used by man as far back as the Early Stone Age.

Later this morning, we'll leave Oudtshoorn and make our way to the coastal town of Knysna. Here, we'll visit Knysna Heads Viewpoint, where two limestone cliffs emerge from the sea, side by side, protecting a peaceful lagoon that runs inland from the sea. The lagoon is popular with tourists and local residents alike and is home to fishermen, water sports enthusiasts and many birds, including herons, kingfishers, African fish eagles and Knysna warblers. This afternoon, we'll have time to enjoy lunch on the waterfront and wander around the quaint, little town before we depart on our final journey of the day to Plettenberg Bay.

Today we'll take a short drive to Robberg Nature Reserve, a World Heritage Site, where our tour leader will lead a walk along the trails. The hiking here is moderate - it's uneven underfoot in places and can be slippery so good walking shoes are advised, but rewards are abundant: brilliant bird viewing, sweeping coastal views and the possibility to spot dolphins and seals playing in the waters below. From July to December, there's also the chance to spot the southern right whales that come into the calmer and warmer waters to calve and nurse their young.

After working up an appetite, we'll stop for a well-deserved lunch in Plettenberg Bay. Afterwards, the afternoon is free with the option to relax on the beach, shop for souvenirs or join a whale-watching or kayaking excursion. We'll return to our accommodation in the late afternoon when there'll be some free time to relax before dinner, you might like to choose a water-front eatery in Plettenberg Bay and enjoy local wine alongside fresh seafood.

This morning, we'll leave on a short journey to Tsitsikamma National Park around a 45-minute drive away. Another hotspot for seasonal whale watching, the national park covers both land and sea, protecting important forest and marine areas and offering stunning coastal views. We'll be staying in the Storms River region where there are numerous well-marked walking trails of varying difficulties, as well as the opportunity to explore suspended canopy walkways and zipwires or to try river kayaking.

Tonight, we'll be staying in simple chalets set amongst the trees just minutes from the seafront. Here, you'll have the chance to try fresh seafood in the restaurant or cook up a traditional braai for dinner at one of the communal barbeque areas by the water.

We'll leave the Tsitsikamma area this morning for another of South Africa's national parks, stopping for breakfast on the way. Home to more than 600 elephants as well as lions, hyenas and Cape buffalos, Addo Elephant National Park is our last national park of the trip. On arrival, we'll swap into one of the park's safari trucks - perfect for the terrain and for capturing great wildlife shots - for a two-hour game drive with a park guide. Warthogs are abundant here, along with various species of antelope, zebra and of course elephant.

After our game drive, we'll make our way to our accommodation which is located 20 minutes outside Addo Elephant National Park. Depending on timings today, your tour leader may change the open safari vehicle game drive to tomorrow morning instead.

Our trip ends after breakfast at our accommodation near Addo Elephant National Park.

There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Addo at any time. Check-out from our accommodation is at 10am.

If you'd like a transfer today, you'll need to depart from Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is a one-hour drive from Addo.