The Ultimate Garden Route Experiencesouth africa

About The Hotel

Set off on a lifetime family holiday to discover South Africa along the outstanding Garden Route; an incredible experience to taste new flavours, see breathtaking landscapes and encounter the unique wilderness of one of the most interesting and varied places in the world. This adventure is perfect for the whole family to reconnect with nature,  learn about different cultures and traditions and create everlasting memories.

Day 1 Cape Town | Table Bay Hotel, Superior Family Room

Your Active Africa guide will meet you at the airport. After a brief tour of the city by car, you will be taken to your hotel for the night.

Day 2 Cape Town | Table Bay Hotel, Superior Family Room

In the morning you will take part in a private Table Mountain Park gentle hike where you will discover its lesser-known area: the Silvermine West. This area is famous for its caves which you will enjoy exploring before heading to Kalkybay to enjoy your lunch.  In the afternoon you will visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical gardens, one of the most famous botanic gardens in the world. After your visit, your private driver will bring you back to your hotel in Cape Town.

Day 3 Cape Town | Table Bay Hotel, Superior Family Room

Your private guide will guide you through your Cape Point tour. After entering the reserve, you will be driven to the western coast where you will follow a trail that will lead you to the ruins of the WWII submarine observation posts, to the old lighthouse and the Cape of Good Hope before heading back to your hotel via the Atlantic ocean coastal road, where you will enjoy your lunch and visit the Boulders penguin colony.

Day 4 Cape Town | Babylonstoren, 2 Bedroom Cottage

Today you will visit the top of Table Mountain, which you will reach either by adventuring on a 4-5 hours hike or by cable car followed by a scenic hike along the top and all the way to McClears Beacon. You will then descend via cable car and head to your private transport to Franschhoek. Lunch will be served along the way in a local restaurant in the Winelands.

Day 5 Cape Winelands | Babylonstoren, 2 Bedroom Cottage

In the morning, your private guide will meet you at your hotel for a tour of Franschhoek on foot. You will explore the surroundings and learn about their unique fauna, flora and wildlife, and, with a bit of luck, spot some wild Chacma baboons. You will enjoy your lunch in Franschhoek and end your day with a delicious wine tasting experience.

Day 6 Elgin Valley | Grootbos Garden Lodge, 1 Bed Suite + Sleeper Couches

You will start your morning with a 4×4 drive into the mountains towards Elgin, where you will take part in a breath-taking ziplining experience over 12 slides measuring over 300m. You will then head to Elgin valley to enjoy your lunch. Your driver will then transfer you to Grootbos Garden Lodge where you will enjoy your first afternoon activity before dinner.

Day 7 Whale Coast | Grootbos Garden Lodge, 1 Bed Suite + Sleeper Couches

You will enjoy your day at Grootbos by taking part in some of the many activities they offer, such as horse riding, guided walks, birdwatching, great white shark cage diving and whale watching.

Day 8 Plettenberg Bay | Hunter’s Country House, Family Pool Suite

Your morning will start early as your private driver will transfer you to Plettenberg Bay. The drive is around 6 hours longs along the scenic Garden Route. Lunch will be served en-route. Your trip will end a Hunter’s Country House, your stay for the next two nights.

 Day 9 Plettenberg Bay | Hunter’s Country House, Family Pool Suite

Explore the Robber Nature Reserve in the morning. This is a World Heritage Site with rocks that date back 120 million years and evidence of middle and later Stone Age inhabitation. You will then head to the Knysna Waterfront or Plettenberg for lunch and end your day with a nice walk to the Knysna Viewpoint from which you will see the opening mouth of the Knysna Lagoon.

Day 10 Plettenberg Bay | Hunter’s Country House, Family Pool Suite

Today includes a  visit some of the animal sanctuaries in Nature’s Valley. Birds of Eden, home to 3,500 birds from over 220 species; Jukani Big Cat Sanctuary, that focuses on creating awareness about the sad reality of large predators captivity, in South Africa and all over the world; and Monkeyland, the world’s first free-roaming multi-species primate sanctuary. Lunch will be served in Plettenberg. You will have some time to rest and relax in the afternoon.

Day 11 to 13 Kwandwe Game Reserve | Kwandwe Ecca Lodge, Family Room

It’s time to head towards your last destination: Grahamstown. From Plettenberg, you will head to Tsitsikamma Forest to look at the Stormsriver Bridge and walk along the hanging bridges of the Storm River Mouth, with its almost black water. Lunch will be served along the way while heading towards Grahamstown where you will check-in and get ready for your afternoon game drive, at Kwandwe Private Game Reserve. You will spend the next two days at the lodge, enjoying morning and afternoon game drives.

Day 14 Cape Town

Today you will be transferred to Port Elizabeth airport for a flight back to Johannesburg and from there to London.

 

Family Facts