Cape Town to Addo Elephant Park 9 Day Tour
From: $2900,00 p/p sharing
An all encompassing and jam packed tour which includes both relaxing experiences for those who want to take it easy and amazing thrill experiences like Kloofing and surfing for those who would like a bit of adventure!
The tour starts in Cape Town, heading towards Hermanus, visiting the Penguins and walking to caves en-route. We head towards Knysna, getting some shark cage diving in as well as learning about the Koi-san tribe. The Addo elephant park is naturally the highlight of this tour, along with the game drive in Schotia Game reserve. Those who want to can be adventurous and join in the tree top canopy tours in the Tsitsikamma forest and if that’s not for you, this tour guarantees picturesque views all the way! The tour ends in Cape Town and of course no trip to Cape Town is complete without a leisurely lunch in the winelands.
Day One
We leave Cape Town, absorbing the coastal viewpoints from Clarence Drive towards Betty’s bay, where we visit Stony Point’s penguin Colony. We head off again to Hermanus, where we enjoy a coffee break and explore the natural beauty of the Coastline, renowned for it’s Whale watching. Heading North towards Cape Agulhas, we pass by the town of Elim, an early mission station established in 1824, recognizable for its gleaming-white fisherman’s cottages. Our passage then ventures to Cape Agulhas, the meeting point for the Indian and Atlantic oceans. Its name “Cape of Needles” is derived from its jagged and jutting rocks, a peril for early seafarers. We break for a lunch in this coastal town. Next stop is Arniston. Its signature attraction is its low-tide sea cave. This tranquil fishing village came to notoriety for the shipwreck of 1815 which claimed the lives of 378 soldiers.Today, beach lovers enjoy panoramic walks on this long stretch of which sand. This is the perfect spot for us to enjoy a swim and enjoy a short hike to the cave, known as “Waenhuiskrans”. We rest for the night here in Arniston and enjoy a local ‘Braai’ just outside of Arniston in an authentic seaside cottage.
Day Two
After a substantial breakfast we head towards Mossel bay. On our way to Mossel Bay, we stop for a short break to stretch our legs on the white sands of Vic Bay, a small cove on the coast and a surfers paradise. We head off to Mossel Bay discovered by Bartolomeu Dias’ whose first encounter with the Khoi-san inhabitants traced back in time to 1488. We take time out to visit the Bartolomeu Dias Museum and time permitting the caves of the Koi-san. We drive through the Wilderness along the coastal stretch known as the Garden Route, home to beautiful stretches of beach and the magnificent Outeniqua mountains and stop for lunch. After lunch we have a short drive to Knysna, well known for it’s delicious fresh oysters, the expansive lagoon and beautiful mountain ranges that wrap around it. Before dinner we enjoy a relaxing sunset cruise on the lagoon taking in the sights from the sea water. Dinner will be enjoyed at a local Knysna restaurant in it’s Waterfront.33
Day Three
Before leaving Knysna, we journey up to the heads, striking cliffs overlooking the sea beyond. En route to Plettenberg Bay we discover the lush coastal forests that were once inhabited by families of elephants. We then journey past the popular resort town of Plettenberg Bay and marvel at the spectacle of the Bloukrans Bridge and the highest bungee jump in the world. Next stop is Tsitsikamma National Park and a walk through the indigenous forest before crossing the lagoon-straddling suspension bridge. The next unique sight is The Big Tree, a giant yellowwood standing 36.6 metres high and dating back approximately 1000 years. We pause for lunch. The afternoon draws to a close with our arrival at the Addo Elephant National Park environs. We will overnight on a citrus farm on the banks of the Sunday’s River. Dinner is a wholesome farm-style meal.
Day Four
We spend the day in Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa’s third largest reserve. Its expansion has come to include the “Big 7” – elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, leopard, southern right whales and the great white shark. We pause at the waterholes for the best views of the elephants. A lunch break follows. The afternoon heralds a 4×4 adventure in the Schotia Private Game Reserve guided by a professional ranger. Later refreshments are served, including special wood fire baked rolls. Our next 4×4 excursion continues until dark. Dinner is served in an African boma, a one-of-a-kind experience of eating under the African night sky.
Days Five & Six
The day begins with an early morning Game Drive in Schotia, followed by a drive through to Jeffreys Bay. Locals know it as J-Bay, known to be among the top ten of surfing points in the world. Those keen to do a bit of surfing will enjoy the beautiful waters while others may indulge in a bit of shopping at the famous factory shops of Billabong & Quick Silver. We then head to the heart of the Tsitsikamma Forest. For the adventurous, there is an opportunity to glide over the treetops with the Tsitsikamma Canopy Tours. The night is spent in the seclusion of the forest, staying at the Ttsikamma Village Inn On Day 6, we journey back to Cape Town, following Route 62, a scenic alternative to the N2 motorway. This curves past Baviaanskloof, a world heritage site owing to its floral diversity and natural beauty. We stop for lunch Next up is a meander over the Outeniqua Pass with destination Oudtshoorn on our compass. We visit an ostrich farm, the predominant attraction of a town established in 1847, and the haven of early ostrich barons. We visit some of their opulent mansions, a window into a past era. We enjoy dinner in Oudtshoorn with Ostrich on the menu for a great taste experience. An overnight farm stay at De Denne offers a relaxing countryside encounter.
Days Seven, Eight & Nine
We start the morning with a tour, exploring the dripstone caverns and stalagmite formations of the Cango Caves. A knowledgeable and accredited Caves Guide will help us navigate its narrow underground tunnels. We then road trip along Route 62 to Montagu, a charming mountain-enveloped town filled with orchids & vineyards, with the Langeberg Mountain range forming its picturesque parapets. Montagu is also well known for the healing hot springs attracting visitors year round and is famous for it’s cliffs offering hikers thrilling experiences. After this very full day, we unwind at the hot springs, followed by a relaxing dinner in town at one of Montagu’s leading restaurants, 22 Church Street. Accommodation for the night is at 7 Church Street Guest House. Day Eight may begin with a choice of some exciting outings such as an energetic scenic hike or abseiling in the magnificent Kloofs. We then head towards Paarl, driving through some quaint and picturesque towns like Robertson & Worcester. Our route takes us along Route 62, one of the longest wine routes in the world! We head towards Paarl, passing by the Paarl Rock, A magnificent granite rock, otherwise known as the Paarl Pearl for how it glistens in the sun. This is followed by a leisure Wine Tasting at Fairview Wine Estate, where you can also enjoy tasting a variety of delicious local cheeses. Fairview is particularly well known for their local Goats Cheese. Following this we will enjoy a relaxing lunch at the Estate. After lunch we head to Cape Town direction Kalk Bay. Our stopover for the night is Chartfield Guest House. The evening is spent at your own leisure, enjoying the quaint town of Kalk Bay, packed with restaurants, a fish market and bohemian boutiques. Your final day begins with a light breakfast at an enchanting Guest House. Guests have a choice of spending the morning roaming the streets of Kalk Bay or, for those in the mood for something a little more adventurous, a guided surf lesson is on the cards! We meet for a hearty lunch of seafood in Kalk Bay Harbour, where trading of fresh fish is quite the spectacle. After lunch we head off down the Indian ocean coastline towards Simonstown where we visit Boulders Beach, famous for it’s African Penguins. We enjoy a casual walk along the Boulders promenade. Next we head off to Cape Point Reserve, most well known as the dramatic point of collision between Africa’s surly currents, and it’s famous lighthouse. The day ends back an enchanting Guest House and guests are able to enjoy a dinner at their own leisure and at a restaurant of your choice. The following morning we provide you with a shuttle to the airport.
Pricing
Pricing From $1 900 per person sharing
Minimum 4 persons