Travel Butlers Ltd
Astra House
The Common, Cranleigh
Surrey GU6 8RZ, United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0)1483 266725


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Garden Route, Safari and Winelands Wonder

Example holiday

Garden Route, Safari and Winelands Wonder

We hope that this example holiday will give you give some inspiration to help you begin to plan your own dream holiday to Africa.

The next couple of pages show a summary of the itinerary, followed by a detailed page on each destination.

Important travel information for visitors to South Africa is included at the back of this document.

All the holidays we offer to our clients are tailor-made so we can adjust this trip to fit in with your travel dates, interests, preferred accommodation...and of course your budget.

All our travel consultants have extensive knowledge of travel throughout Southern and East Africa, and our strong relationships with suppliers mean that our rates to you will always be competitive.

Let us take the hard work out of planning your trip: you can get in touch either by giving us a call on +44 (0) 1483 266725, completing the Enquiry Form on our website or emailing us at info@travelbutlers.com.

We look forward to hearing from you!

The Travel Butlers Team

Travel Butlers Ltd
Astra House
The Common, Cranleigh
Surrey GU6 8RZ, United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0)1483 266725


Page 

Garden Route, Safari and Winelands Wonder

Example Itinerary

TB-1826-1 / 30159

Example Cost

Holiday Title: Garden Route, Safari and Winelands Wonder

Holiday Destination: Holiday to South Africa for 5 nights

Passengers: 2 Adults

Example Cost for 2 Adults: * per person sharing.

*Excludes international flights from your home country - please ask us if you would like us to include these for you.

ABTOT provides protection for your booking as set out in Section 6 of our booking conditions.

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About Us

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Travel Butlers Ltd
Astra House
The Common, Cranleigh
Surrey GU6 8RZ, United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0)1483 266725


Page 

Summary Of The Itinerary

Printable Version

Holiday Title: Garden Route, Safari and Winelands Wonder

Passengers: 2 Adults

Day 1

This morning, you will be collected from your Cape Town hotel by your tour group and depart Cape Town, travelling through the Little Karoo and Montagu, a picturesque and historic spa town. Along the way, you will stop off in the town of Barrydale, where you will have the opportunity to visit a local farm school, interact with the children and teachers, spending time with them in the classroom learning more about the local farming community, before continuing onto Oudtshoorn - the 'ostrich feather capital' and centre of the world's ostrich farming industry.

La Plume is a family-owned 1902 Victorian homestead on a working ostrich, alfalfa and vine farm outside the town of Oudtshoorn offering warm country hospitality and accommodations in refined style. Enjoy relaxing on the cool veranda with its sweeping view across the Olifant's River Valley to the Swartberg Mountains. The spacious en-suite rooms are tastefully furnished with gracious antiques and offer all modern conveniences.


Day 2

After breakfast, you will take a tour of the spectacular limestone caverns of the Cango Caves, one of the world's great natural wonders, sculpted by nature through the ages. After this, you will return to Oudtshoorn for a guided tour and light lunch (included) at an Ostrich Farm. The journey continues over the scenic Outeniqua Pass to George, the administrative hub of the Garden Route area and then onto Knysna, known as the oyster box of South Africa, nestling on the banks of a beautiful lagoon in the heart of the Garden Route. You will then be taken to your accommodation in Knysna where you will overnight.

The Rex Hotel is renowned for its chic urban style and impeccable service. Located in the vibrant seaside town of Knysna and surrounded by beaches, forests and lakes, this elegant retreat is the perfect base from which to explore all the attractions of the world-famous Garden Route. Accommodation at the Rex is inspired by a mix of contemporary and classic decor, featuring calming colours and plush fabrics.


Day 3

After a leisurely breakfast, enjoy a lagoon cruise to the Featherbed Nature Reserve, where you can take a trailer ride to the top of the Western Head to enjoy panoramic views of the town and lagoon, returning for lunch (included). In the afternoon, explore and discover more of this charming town at your leisure.


Day 4

After a leisurely breakfast, travel via George and Mossel Bay to Albertinia, a town set against the backdrop of the majestic Langeberg Mountain Range, and onto the Garden Route Game Lodge. The lodge is set on a family-owned and operated malaria-free private game reserve and offers beautifully appointed lodge rooms and luxury thatched chalets, all equipped with the essential amenities expected of a luxury lodge. There are a number of superb dining options on offer, from a boma to on-site restaurant, ensuring a memorable dining experience. Guests can also enjoy wide range of activities, including open vehicle guided game drives, bird watching, reptile encounters as well as relaxing spa treatments at the spa.

Enjoy an afternoon open vehicle game drive - you may hopefully spot an abundance of animal and birdlife, including the Big Five.

continues on next page...
Travel Butlers Ltd
Astra House
The Common, Cranleigh
Surrey GU6 8RZ, United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0)1483 266725


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...continued from previous page.

Day 5

The day starts with an early morning game drive in an open safari vehicle. Your expert guide will endeavour to spoil you with sightings of the Big Five, general game and prolific bird life. After this, you will then be taken to the seaside resort of Hermanus, known as the heart of the whale route, offering the best land based whale watching (Aug-Nov) in the world. You will then be taken to your overnight accommodation in Hermanus.

Misty Waves is a boutique-styled hotel, ideally positioned, just metres away from the cliff paths of Walker Bay that offers some of the best land-based whale-watching in the world. Enjoy an attentive stay in fine accommodation with easy access to town and the beach. Spacious sea-facing rooms have en-suite facilities, fantastic views and all necessary modern amenities. You can dine at the Pakistani-themed restaurant on site as easily as you explore the excellent options in town. There is a sparkling swimming pool in a tranquil setting that is ideal for relaxation.


Day 6

After a leisurely breakfast you will depart Hermanus and travel to Franschhoek, a picturesque village surrounded by spectacular vineyards, where French Huguenots settled more than 300 years ago, bringing with them their age-old French wine and food culture. Enjoy a guided tour of Franschhoek with your storytelling guide sharing with you the fascinating history of the French Huguenots and the Huguenot Memorial Museum, finishing with a wine tasting, before finally heading back to Cape Town where the tour comes to an end.

 
Travel Butlers Ltd
Astra House
The Common, Cranleigh
Surrey GU6 8RZ, United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0)1483 266725


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La Plume Guest House

The Klein Karoo: 1 Night

La Plume is a boutique Guest House on a working ostrich, alfalfa and cattle farm with spectacular views of the Swartberg Mountains and the Olifants River Valley. A warm welcome awaits you at this charming 1902 Victorian homestead with its tranquil surroundings where old-world charm has been combined with modern comforts to ensure extraordinary service and personal attention.

Guests can join an informative tour of the farm (on request and additional cost - booking essential) to learn about the day to day activities in the life of a full-time farmer, as well as the giant birds and the trials and tribulations of farming with them from one of the few experts on the ostrich industry.

The English Breakfast buffet is the perfect start to a busy day with fresh fruit platters, a bread and cereal selection, cold meats and cheeses, as well as hot breakfast with special requests made to order. The restaurant also offers a daily lunch menu or picnic baskets for guests exploring the wonders of Klein Karoo. For dinner enjoy exceptional local wine and traditional home-cooked cuisine meticulously prepared by the chef and served in the spacious, candlelit dining room.

La Plume offers stylish luxury with a diverse range of accommodation. The 5 Superior Suites and the Luxury Rooms all have private entrances that open onto sunny verandas overlooking the gardens, and the 2 Honeymoon Suites embody a feeling of romance and cosiness. The Luxury Junior Suite is ideal for 3 adults travelling together or family with an older child wishing sleep in a separate room, as the suite consists of a queen master bedroom with full en-suite bathroom and lounge with single bed for the third person.

The Plume Cottage consists of 2 interconnecting suites each with its own bedroom, full bathroom and lounge sharing a kitchenette.  The Private Farm Villa has 2 bedrooms each with its own full en-suite bathroom, a large open plan living and dining room and a fully equipped kitchen. This typical South African farm house is off the main property nestled among alfalfa fields overlooking ostrich enclosures and a mere 100 meters from the main homestead.

Example Details For La Plume Guest House

Nights: 1 Night
Adults: 2 Children: 0
Room: 1 x Standard Room
Includes: Breakfast and dinner are included.

Location

La Plume Guest House Location Map
Travel Butlers Ltd
Astra House
The Common, Cranleigh
Surrey GU6 8RZ, United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0)1483 266725


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The Rex Hotel

Knysna: 2 Nights

Situated right in the heart of the Garden Route and set on the shores of a beautiful lagoon, Knysna (pronounced 'Nysna') is a bustling little holiday town with a lively Waterfront area.

The excellent selection of accommodation and restaurants, coupled with the many activities on offer, makes this a superb holiday destination and a perfect base from which to explore the many attractions of the Garden Route. The annual Knysna Oyster Festival takes place mid-year in Knysna and is one of the area’s annual highlights, boasting amazing food, great music and friendly people.

The Knysna Lagoon is sheltered from the ocean by a coral reef and the Knysna Heads - 2 large cliff formations which form a natural narrow opening into the ocean. Several operators offer relaxing catamaran trips and sunset champagne cruises out to the Heads and into the open sea, which is a great way to escape the busy streets for a while.

The surrounding forests and nature reserves provide ample opportunity for leisurely walks or picnics, short hikes or more strenuous day walks, plus a number of biking trails. Nearby Brenton-on-Sea beach is a magnificent 7 km stretch of uninterrupted white sands around a half heart-shaped bay.

The Rex Hotel promises its guests superior service and exceptional comfort. This impeccably appointed hotel offers guests a gateway to world-class restaurants, lush forests and the shores of the peaceful Knysna Lagoon.

The Rex Hotel offers the choice of Standard Rooms, Luxury Studios and two bedroom Apartments that reflect an urban chic ambiance and mixes contemporary and classic décor with cool colours and rich fabrics. The studios and the apartments have an open-plan lounge, dining area and kitchenette.

The O Bar & Eatery at The Rex offers excellent service, superb cuisine and exciting specialities. The outdoor terrace area is the perfect spot to bask in the sunshine and indulge in coffee or light snacks.

Example Details For The Rex Hotel

Nights: 2 Nights
Adults: 2 Children: 0
Room: 1 x Standard Room
Includes: Breakfast is included.

Location

The Rex Hotel Location Map
Travel Butlers Ltd
Astra House
The Common, Cranleigh
Surrey GU6 8RZ, United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0)1483 266725


Page 

Garden Route Game Lodge

The Garden Route: 1 Night

Set against the backdrop of the majestic Langeberg mountain Range, the Garden Route Game Lodge guards the entrance to South Africa's world famous Garden Route Coast. Only 3.5 scenic hours drive from Cape Town, this malaria-free 2,000 hectare private game reserve is ideal for families wanting a short safari experience.

Enjoy sunset and sunrise game drives in an open Land Rover with your experienced game ranger who will bring you sightings of lion, elephant, white rhino, buffalo and cheetah. The reserve is also home to giraffe, zebra and numerous antelope species such as bontebok, red hartebeest, kudu, eland, impala, springbuck and many more. Game drives will take between 2 and 3 hours depending on how much time is spent at each sighting. There will be a coffee stop on the morning drive and a sundowner stop on the evening drive.

Children of all ages are welcome to join the morning and evening drives when accompanied by an adult. Families are either accommodated on their own game vehicle or with other families which gives the kids a chance to make new friends while on holiday. Child minders are available to assist should you wish to enjoy a child free safari during your stay. Kids will also love the interactive tours of the Reptile Centre, home to numerous snakes and crocodiles.

Guests can choose from a wide range of accommodation options, including luxury suites, lodge rooms and private chalets.

The luxury suites have a private deck overlooking the game reserve, a freestanding bath and an outside bath and shower set in the African bush for the more adventurous! There are also 2 luxury family suites, both of which have plunge pools, and are perfectly positioned with 2 bedrooms and a spacious main room. The lodge rooms all have private patios overlooking the landscaped gardens and are conveniently located for quick access to the swimming pools. The chalets have private viewing decks and are linked to the main lodge area via a wooden walkway.

Example Details For Garden Route Game Lodge

Nights: 1 Night
Adults: 2 Children: 0
Room: 1 x Standard Room
Includes: Breakfast; dinner; one daily morning and one daily evening game drive; and a guided tour of the Reptile Centre are included.

Please Note: As the animals are wild, it is not possible to guarantee what you will see during your safari.

Location

Garden Route Game Lodge Location Map
Travel Butlers Ltd
Astra House
The Common, Cranleigh
Surrey GU6 8RZ, United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0)1483 266725


Page 

Misty Waves Hotel

Hermanus: 1 Night

Located on the south coast and within a 2 hour drive of Cape Town, Hermanus and Gansbaai are amongst the world's leading destinations for both land-based and boat-based whale watching. From June to December each year, whales can be seen as close as 20m from the shore and can come right up to the side of the whale watching boats.

With excellent accommodation options, fine restaurants and a glorious coastline in addition to the attraction of getting within a few metres of some of the largest animals ever to have lived on this planet, this is a place that every visitor to South Africa should try to see.

Hermanus is a pretty town and the local 'Whale Crier' walks the streets during the whaling season, informing visitors when the whales are present with a blast on his kelp horn. At the Old Harbour Museum, an underwater microphone transmits the whale songs and calls into the museum hall for everyone to hear. Don't miss Bientang's Cave restaurant, where you can watch whales less than 100m away whilst eating an excellent seafood lunch. Other good vantage points are from the Old Harbour wall or the cliff path.

Gansbaai, 50 km from Hermanus, is the starting point for more boat-based whale watching, as well as cage diving with great white sharks, as well as trips to the Dyer Island seal colony.

The Misty Waves 4* boutique hotel is only a short stroll away from the town centre, ocean and the famous whale watching sites along the cliff paths.

The hotel offers luxury suites and rooms, many of which have ocean views. There is a pleasant garden area with a swimming pool and sun deck, plus a restaurant, well-stocked bar and guest lounge area.

Example Details For Misty Waves Hotel

Nights: 1 Night
Adults: 2 Children: 0
Room: 1 x Standard Room
Includes: Breakfast and dinner are included.

Location

Misty Waves Hotel Location Map
Travel Butlers Ltd
Astra House
The Common, Cranleigh
Surrey GU6 8RZ, United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0)1483 266725


Page 

Important Travel Information For South Africa

Passport, Visa and Entry Requirements

Latest Travel Updates

For up-to-date travel information from the UK government, please check:

UK Government Advice: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa

 

Normally, holders of the following passports do not require a visa to enter South Africa when travelling as a tourist for stays up to 90 days: United Kingdom; United States of America; Canada; Australia; Ireland; Belgium; Netherlands; Italy; France; Germany; Spain, Switzerland.

If you are a passport holder from another country, please contact your local South Africa High Commission or Embassy for up-to-date visa requirements, as citizens of certain countries (including New Zealand) are required to obtain visas before travelling. Please note that if you are applying to the Embassy for your visa, some visas can take a long time to be processed so please do take this into consideration, as it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa in place before you travel.

Children under 18 years of age who require a visa to enter South Africa may be required to provide additional information when applying for the visa including an unabridged birth certificate and affidavit if travelling with only one parent.  There are also additional rules for unaccompanied minors and/or South African children - details available on request or via the SA Department of Home Affairs at http://www.dha.gov.za.

Please note that anyone travelling to South Africa should have a valid return ticket and a valid passport. Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 30 days from the date of exit from South Africa. However, some immigration officials still request that a passport should have at least 6 months validity from the date of entry to South Africa so to avoid problems on arrival, we advise that your passport meets this requirement instead. The passport must also have sufficient pages for entry/exit stamps - AT LEAST 2 BLANK PAGES.

South Africa has implemented biometric capturing at all ports of entry. This may result in some delays at land borders so you should allow additional time for border crossings.

PLEASE NOTE: Countries can change their entry requirements at any time. Travel Butlers try to ensure that the information displayed here is correct, but the onus remains with the traveller to verify the information with the relevant High Commission or Embassy and ensure that they can comply with the applicable entry requirements.

Medical

You are advised to contact your doctor or clinic around 4-8 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations and to get their professional medical advice regarding travel to South Africa.

To help avoid heatstroke, drink plenty of bottled water/fluids, and keep out of the midday sun.

Tap water is purified and safe to drink in major cities and towns, however, we do advise that you do not drink the water in more remote places such as the camps in the National Parks - the water may be safe to drink, but it simply is not worth the risk, as bottled water is widely available.

Whatever you do, do not drink water from any river lake without firstly purifying the water. Always take water with you when you go on a hike, and have a bottle in the car on a long journey to avoid dehydration.

There is a risk of malaria in and around the Kruger National Park/Mpumalanga Province, the Limpopo (Northern) Province, and the north-eastern part of KwaZulu-Natal - check with your doctor about suitable antimalarial tablets. Try to avoid mosquito bites wherever possible - wear loose long-sleeved clothing and trousers, and use a repellent on clothing and exposed skin.

There is no risk of yellow fever in South Africa, so a yellow fever vaccination is NOT required for travellers whose sole destination is South Africa. However, in accordance with International Health Reguations, South Africa requires all travellers over one year of age arriving from a yellow fever risk country, or having transited through a yellow fever risk country, to have a yellow fever certificate. These countries include Kenya and Uganda but it is up to the traveller to check the full list here https://nathnacyfzone.org.uk/factsheet/60/yellow-fever-maps

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 10177 and ask for an ambulance.

Travel Butlers Ltd
Astra House
The Common, Cranleigh
Surrey GU6 8RZ, United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0)1483 266725


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Important Travel Information For South Africa

Continued

Languages And Culture

The 11 official languages are Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana, Sotho, Tsonga, Swati, Venda and Ndebele. Whilst many visitors will hear at least a couple of the tribal languages during the course of their stay, it is possible to travel extensively and comfortably with just English as a language.

The South African society is quite liberal, as gay marriage was legalised in 2006 nationwide and everyone’s rights are protected under the constitution. In some more rural areas, however, the local people may not be quite as liberal thinking, so whilst everyone is of course entitled to their own sexual preferences and gender identity, we would advise all clients of the LGBT+ community to refrain from public displays of affection (including kissing and holding hands) and to be as discrete as possible about their relationship if travelling to a rural/remote area.

Travel Butlers Ltd
Astra House
The Common, Cranleigh
Surrey GU6 8RZ, United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0)1483 266725


Page 

Book With Confidence

Travel Butlers have 20 years experience of booking travel to Africa and the Indian Ocean for clients from all around the world.  In this time we have supported clients through disruptions caused by numerous unexpected events including natural disasters, localised disease outbreaks and airline cancellations. Nobody can be certain exactly what will happen in the future, however Travel Butlers can offer you peace of mind and flexibility to ensure that you feel confident booking a holiday with us.

Flexibility and peace of mind before you travel

Our team are specialists in travel to Africa and the Indian Ocean, and we are constantly monitoring the changing situation regarding travel to the region. If your trip cannot go ahead due to specific travel restrictions related to Covid-19 then we will get in touch to offer you the choice of the following:

The specific Covid-19 travel restrictions are defined as follows:

We would not normally be able to confirm that your trip cannot proceed due to travel restrictions until a couple of weeks before the start of your trip, however should you want to look at postponing or altering your trip before then we would aim to be as flexible as possible.

If we confirm that your trip is unable to proceed due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, then we will not charge you an amendment fee if you choose to postpone your trip or move it to another destination. We may need to adjust the cost of your trip to reflect the new dates, particularly if those coincide with a more expensive season of travel or higher grade of accommodation. Equally, if the cost of your postponed trip is less, we will reduce the cost accordingly.

You should still take out travel insurance that includes Covid-19  to cover you in the event that your trip can go ahead but you are unable to travel due to illness or a change in your personal circumstances. If there are no travel restrictions in place that mean your trip could not go ahead but you need to cancel due to illness or a change in your personal circumstances then our normal terms and conditions would apply. You should ensure that your travel insurance provides adequate cover for cancelling due to illness, including Covid-19, and you may be able to make a claim against your travel insurance depending on the cover offered by your policy.

Support whilst you are away

We offer 24/7 telephone assistance to all our clients whilst they are away, and also have partners in each country that are able to assist with any PCR tests or other issues that might arise during your trip.

If you fall ill whilst you are away, or if your trip is disrupted due to Covid-19 whilst you are travelling, then our experienced team will be on hand to assist you in whatever way you need.  You would need to pay any additional costs incurred due to illness or travel disruption whilst you are away, however you may be able reclaim these expenses on your travel insurance depending on the cover offered by your policy.  Travel Butlers will be able to assist by providing supporting documentation for your claim.

Financial protection for your Travel Butlers holiday

All of the holidays we sell are 100% financially protected through our ATOL and ABTOT bonding so your money is in safe hands when you book a Travel Butlers holiday. Furthermore, our business is well positioned to navigate through the challenges which the travel industry is currently facing.

Please read our Terms and Conditions for more information.

Finding suitable travel insurance that covers Covid-19

You can now get insurance that offers cover for disruption related to Covid-19, and these policies could include cover for:

Not all policies offer this kind of cover, not necessarily even all policies from the same provider, so you should ensure you check the policy details carefully before buying your insurance. 

You can read more about choosing suitable travel insurance in the FCDO guide to travel insurance.