Kruger NP & Garden Route

After a short stopover in Johannesburg, you will land at the airport in Hoedspruit, where a transfer will already be waiting to take you to your lodge.

After lunch and in the late afternoon, you will depart for your first game drive in the Simbavati Game Reserve, adjacent to the largest national park in South Africa. Upon your return to the lodge, enjoy the evening atmosphere and get in the mood for more safari adventures.

Today you will have two game drives in an open 4×4 vehicle: With an experienced ranger you will lie in wait in the Private Simbavati Game Reserve, the wildlife of Africa presents itself in all its glory and you can keep a lookout for the legendary “Big Five“.

Alternatively you have the possibility to participate in a Bush Walk.

After breakfast, you will make your way by transfer to Hoedspruit Airport, approx. 45 km away (travel time approx. 1.5 hrs), where you will board your onflug to Cape Town. After landing in Cape Town, a meet & greet awaits you at the airport.

Our local contact person will take care of a smooth pick-up of the rental car and you will start the rest of your trip relaxed.

In the afternoon you can stroll along the V&A Waterfront with its fashion stores, galleries and restaurants. For your dinner I recommend one of the many good restaurants with breathtaking ocean views, known for their delicious seafood.

Today is a great opportunity to explore one of the world’s most famous coastal roads with your rental car: Chapman’s Peak Drive takes you toward the Cape of Good Hope to the southwesternmost tip of Africa.

On the way back, you can stop at Boulders Beach, home to a sizable colony of Jackass Penguins.

Use the morning to pay a visit to Cape Town’s landmark. The ride up Table Mountain is spectacular as the gondola rotates 360 degrees. Once at the top, you’ll be treated to a breathtaking panorama.

Cape Town is also home to the famous red double-decker buses. My suggestion: take the “Hop on Hop off” bus to Camps Bay. Here I recommend a relaxed lunch at the beach restaurant “Paranga”.

An exclusive option for the evening: A Sunset Cruise in Table Bay – a sailing trip in a class of its own can also be booked as an option.

My personal highlight, exploring Cape Town from a bird’s eye view. During a spectacular Helicopter flight you marvel at the Mother City, Table Mountain and the waterfront promenades of Clifton and Camps Bay.

I would be happy to book this unique excursion for you as an option.

After breakfast you will drive to Stellenbosch, which is only about 50 km away (driving time approx. 45 min.). In the afternoon you will reach your accommodation in the Winelands with your rental car.

Optionally, you can then visit some of the best wineries in South Africa, for an exquisite wine tasting. My restaurant recommendation for the evening is the Delaire Graff Winery, which gets you in the mood for your stay in Stellenbosch with its outstanding cuisine and excellent wine cellar.

Today we recommend a day trip to Franschhoek. The main street of Franschhoek is full of galleries, cafes, restaurants, art and antique stores.

You can still feel the French flair. It’s best to stroll around the center of town for a while and take it all in. In the afternoon you can visit the traditional winery Haute Cabrière with a sparkling wine tasting. The winery is also known for its headstrong Chardonnay Pinot Noir and its elegant Pinot Noir wines.

In the evening, I recommend dining at “La Petite Colombe” – the sister restaurant of “La Colombe” in Constantia, one of the most awarded restaurants in South Africa.

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After breakfast, your journey continues to Hermanus, approx. 100 km away (travel time approx. 1.5 hrs.).

After your arrival in the afternoon you can take a walk along the Cliff Path. The 12 km long path leads along the roaring ocean over the cliffs of the coastal town.

It is whale season there from early July to late October. With a little luck, you can spot whales from land in the bay off Hermanus.

My tip for the evening: the exquisite Burgundy Restaurant, where you can enjoy local specialties such as springbok or ostrich.

Explore the seaside town of Hermanus, with its chic boutiques and art galleries, and stroll along picturesque Grotto Beach. If you haven’t had enough of South Africa’s fantastic wine, you’ll also find some excellent wineries around the town.

From the beginning of July to the end of October, whale watching is the highlight in Hermanus: you can take a boat out to sea to see the southern right whales and humpback whales in their natural habitat.

If not already included in your hotel, I will gladly book this excursion for you as an option.

Via the Garden Route you will drive with your rental car for approx. 360 km (driving time approx. 4 hrs.) through the picturesque landscape via Swellendam, Heidelberg to the coast to Mossel Bay and further to Wilderness.

In the afternoon, enjoy the fresh breeze on one of South Africa’s longest beaches, where you may be lucky enough to spot Delfine. A walk on the beach is just the thing to relax.

A nice option for today is an excursion to Oudtshoorn. Set off already in the morning to the town, which is about 90 km away (driving time approx. 1.5 hrs.). The destination is the Cango Ostrich Farm – here you can test how stable such a large ostrich egg really is.

Culinary delights are also on offer: you should not miss the ostrich steaks. If you feel like another excursion, you can drive to the Cango Caves, about 30 minutes away, which are among the most beautiful dripstone caves in the world.

Today you follow the Garden Route with your rental car to Knysna. In the midst of the wild and romantic landscape, small roads invite you to turn off towards the sea and explore the sandy, cliffy and stony bays.

After a drive along the Knysna Lagoon over the bridge of the Knysna River, you will reach your destination after about 50 km (driving time about 60 min.), depending on the stops along the way.

After your arrival, take a walk to Knysna’s lively waterfront. Here you will find many authentic South African restaurants.

If you want to discover the beautiful nature of South Africa today, I recommend an excursion to Tsitsikamma National Park.

This is one of the most beautiful along the Garden Route and is about 100 km away from Knysna by rental car (driving time about 1 hour). A hike along the well-developed Mouth Trail is a good option, with all kinds of things to discover along the way.

It leads you to the Storms River Bridge, a suspension bridge that is considered a masterpiece of engineering. Continuing along the trail, you will reach the Big Tree, a Yellowwood tree that is over 800 years old and 37 meters high.

If you feel like relaxing in the sun, you can take a trip to Plettenberg Bay, about 30 km away.

Here, a 12 km long sandy beach awaits you against the backdrop of the picturesque mountain landscape.

After a relaxing walk on the beach, end the day with dinner at the restaurant “Zinzi” at Tsala Treetop Lodge.

After breakfast, you will set off with your rental car to the airport in George, approx. 63 km away (driving time approx. 1 hour).

Here you return your rental car and take the flight via Johannnesburg back home – in your luggage many impressive memories of a wonderful journey through South Africa.