Suggested Holiday Itinerary
Summary Of The Route and Costs
Stay in 5* accommodation throughout your holiday, ending in a small, intimate safari lodge with your own private plunge pool and viewing deck overlooking a waterhole. Depending on when you travel, there are some Stay/Pay deals that you can also take advantage of at a couple of the properties, which will really make your budget stretch further!
You begin with 4 nights in the Mother City, Cape Town. Each of the chic rooms at The Dock House Boutique Hotel & Spa have been individually decorated and have an understated Victorian elegance combined with contemporary style and comfort. The hotel's prime V&A Waterfront location means that guests only have a short walk to the vibrant harbour area and upmarket shopping malls, the excellent restaurants and the sunset cruise boats.
Then you head to the Winelands to the gorgeous village of Franschhoek for 2 nights. One suggestion for your full day here is to take a hop-on/hop-off tour on the Franschhoek Wine Tram - a totally unique and leisurely way to see the Franschhoek Valley as you trundle in an open-side tram bus through vineyards and stunning scenery, stopping at wine estates along the way.
Next stop...Knysna. The St. James of Knysna is an exclusive 5* star country house hotel situated directly on the shores of the famous Knysna Lagoon. The luxuriously appointed suites and rooms offer spectacular views across this peaceful lagoon to the dramatic Knysna Heads or over the magnificent 3 acre gardens.
Finally, you end with a 3 night safari at Amakhala Bush Lodge in the Big 5 Amakhala Game Reserve. Your tented and thatched suite has a secluded private viewing deck overlooking a waterhole and also has a private plunge pool. You will be guided on the morning and afternoon daily game drives by informative, professional rangers through the reserve in open Land Rovers. Here you can return to nature and explore the abundant wildlife, the diverse vegetation and the dramatic landscape of the Eastern Cape.
Summary Of The Itinerary
Holiday Title: Cape Town, Garden Route and Big 5 Safari
Countries Visited: South Africa
Arrive into Cape Town Airport. Collect your luggage then make your way into the Arrivals Hall. Here, you will be met by your driver who will be holding a signboard with your name on it. You will then be transferred to the vibrant V&A Waterfront area, your 'home' for the next 4 nights.
Exclusive accommodation and personalised yet unobtrusive butler-style service at The Dock House will make your stay in the Mother City an unforgettable experience.
Cape Town
Your hire car will be delivered at 09:00 this morning. With a hire car, you can explore slightly further afield - maybe taking a day trip down to the Cape Peninsula, stopping en-route there or back at Boulders Beach which is home to one of only 2 mainland nesting colonies of African penguins in South Africa.
11 Day Car Rental: Group F Standard Sedan - Toyota Corolla Quest Automatic or similar (Classic Plus Cover GPS PACKAGE)
Drive to Franschhoek (about an hours drive). Franschhoek is nestled at the bottom of a valley surrounded by rolling mountains and is arguably one of the most prettiest villages in South Africa. There are over 20 wine estates in the region and staying in the area will give you the chance to either search out the labels you are familiar with from home or to go on a voyage of discovery and find new favourites. The main street in Franschhoek is home to many excellent restaurants, quite deservedly earning the town the reputation of being South Africa's 'Food and Wine Capital'.
The Cape Winelands
Drive to Knysna (approx 440 km / 4 h 30 mins). 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 Garden Route
Allow about 3.5 hours to drive to the Amakhala Game Reserve. Amakhala Bush Lodge is a picturesque 5* lodge and transports guests to another world. In addition to the lodge’s sumptuous lounge, bar and elevated outdoor boma, private plunge pools, on-site therapists and alfresco double showers set the tone for a focus on comfort. Experience a Big 5 safari adventure here on daily morning and evening game drives. Wildlife likely to be encountered during the game drives in the reserve are lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard as well as cheetah, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and plenty of antelope species.
Amakhala Game Reserve
Example Cost
Holiday Title: Cape Town, Garden Route and Big 5 Safari
Holiday Destination: Holiday to South Africa for 12 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.
Interactive Map
Cape Town, Garden Route and Big 5 Safari.
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