SOUTH AFRICA IN EASY WAY

10 days – 9 nights
Ask for rates
Double room guest house accommodation. Self Drive tour (compact car, B segment). Minimum of 2 passengers
Recommended program for the whole year, expecially from October to April
Price could change seasonally

Cape Town, the oldest town in South Africa, rich in history, multiethnic and very different in its various manifestations, is worth a trip. But together with if the visit to this wonderful city joins we purpose to live the wild nature of the coast looking at the whales, walking along the sandy paths of the southern coast of South Africa. You can’t miss a visit to the De Hoop Nature Reserve, where you can find the Melkkamer Trail, known for the diversity of the 1,500 plant species typical of the Cape Floristic Region. You will see a large percentage of rare, endemic or threatened. You will walk through the vegetation pristine fynbos. There is also a great animal diversity – from sea creatures such as whales and dolphins to African wildlife such as zebras and Bontebok. You can spot even small predators and several species of bats, the latters in a large cave that you meet along the way. These cave systems formed in the limestone are unique and are kept in a good condition.
The De Hoop Vlei (vlei = intermittent or seasonal lake surface) is a 16 km long wetland of international ecological importance. This ecosystem is highly productive breeding ground for waterfowl and for all organisms that may feed undisturbed. Many of the 260 species of birds found in De Hoop can be seen right in the vlei, which boasts the presence of several pairs of African Fish Eagle. Their high-pitched call, known as “voice of Africa”, contributes to the charm of this wild area.
During the dry summer months, the De Hoop Vlei is also a safe haven for 12 species of waterfowl. Visitors can find as many as 13 species of migratory waders that visit this vlei in summer because at that time the water level drops and emerge the mud flats.
After this experience of flora and fauna, we suggest a short step on the beautiful beaches of Wilderness combined with a trip to Knysna, to visit the botanical garden and to have a sunset cruise on the lagoon of the famous nature reserve. After this you will visit the Cango Caves and you will overnight in Montagu a little but well known Spa town situated along the famous Garden Route.
Your tour will have a stop in Stellenbosch, centre of production of most of the South African wine.
The visit to the famous Table Mountain will end your trip.

Day 1

Arrival at Cape Town airport
Accommodation in Hotel or Guest House
Dinner and free time
Overnight stay

Day 2

Breakfast
Departure at 8.00 per Boluders Beach (50 km, 50 ‘) and visit to the penguin colony (45’)
Departure for Betty’s Bay (100 km, 1h 35 ‘) then you will reachHermanus (55 km, 50’)
Lunch
Departure for De Hoop Natural Reserve (140 km, 2.15 ‘h) – Click and Go to schedule specific
Accommodation at your hotel , beyond the Vlei and is reached by boat or a vehicle
Dinner around the fire under the trees and under the giant Milkwood stars, or in the dining room
Overnight stay

Day 3

De Hoop Trail
Start and end: De Hoop Nature Reserve
Duration: 2 days, 3 nights
Breakfast
Morning walk on the banks of the vlei, with a guide explaining local customs and history of the area. The Vlei is 19 km long
Brunch
Afternoon walk when it is not very hot
Back to the hotel
Dinner
Overnight stay in your hotel

Day 4

Breakfast
Departure by car to Koppie Alleen where you walk along the coast, climbing on the sand dunes
Packed lunch
Return to House Manhor, where you will have the baggage claim and then you will leave the Reserve De Hoop
The cost of the experience includes all meals, accommodation and the boat trip or the vehicle to and from the Manor House
Departure for Wilderness (275 Km – 3h 50‘)
Accommodation in Guest House
Dinner
Overnight stay

Day 5

Breakfast
Relax by the sea with a walk along the beach where you can watch whales (if is the right period)
Free Lunch
Departure at 15 for Knysna (46km, 36‘)
You will visit the Botanical Gardens and then you will have a Sunset Cruise
Dinner oysters and fish in Knysna
Departure for Wilderness (46Km, 36‘)
Overnight in Guest House in Wilderness

Day 6

Breakfast
Departure to the Cango Caves (105km, 1h 30‘)
Visit the Caves (1 hour and 30’)
Drive to Oudtshoorn (30Km, 20‘)
Lunch
Departure for Montagu on Route 62 (238Km, 3h 30‘)
Accommodation in Lodge
Free afternoon. If you desire you can have a hot bath in the local Spa
Overnight stay in your lodge

Day 7

Breakfast
Morning free for activities at the Spa or for hiking
Badskloof trail, is Approximately 2.2 km long and connects the hot springs with Eyssenhuis / Ou Meul at Joubertpark; Aasvoelkraans hiking trail, is 3.2km long, it’ll take more or less 1 hours to complete
Lunch
Departure to Stellenbosch at 14.00 (155 km, 2 hours)
Visit a cellar of wine production (estimated time to visit 1 hour)
Accommodation in a hotel or in a guest house
Free dinner
Overnight stay in your hotel/guest house

Day 8

Breakfast
Drive to Cape Town (50Km, 1h)
Accommodation in Hotel or Guest House.
Visit the Two Oceans Aquarium. At the V & A Waterfront you can also huge craft market and an amphitheater where local musicians perform.
Visit to Table Mountain around sunset
Dinner
Overnight stay in your hotel/guest house

Day 9

Breakfast in the Hotel or in the Guest House
Free time to take a boat to visit Robben Island, the island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. Otherwise you can reach Cape Point, the peninsula in the bottom of which the African continent ends. You can see the cold Benguela current collides with the warm currents Agulhas creating the conditions for a dangerous navigation. In the past the two currents have caused hundreds of wrecks. From here you can reach the famous lighthouse.
Return to the Hotel or the Guesthouse.
Transfer to the airport from the Hotel or the Guesthouse 3 hours before the flight. Possible Free Lunch
Return flight

In the De Hoop Natural Reserve the type of vehicles used depends on the number of pax.

In De Hoop Natural Reserve you will stay in comfortable homes with all the necessary amenities (toilets, showers and common services)
Up to 14 units per group of 12 are allowed, or seven units per group of six. Hikers pay for each container transported to the next cottage, including units used as cooler boxes on the trail.

You have to arrive in Cape Town on Thursday or Sunday as the trail in De Hoop Reserve starts on Friday or Monday afternoon.

What’s included:
accommodation and meals as in the table, car hire with windscreen and tyres insurance, detailed Itinerary Book.

What’s not included:
international flights, meals not specified, tips, entrance fees to the parks different to De Hoop Reserve, any not specified.