Cape Town, Kruger and Garden Route, Self-Drive

Embark on a 12-day self-drive adventure through South Africa, one of the world’s most diverse and exhilarating destinations. Starting in the vibrant city of Johannesburg, journey to the wild heart of the African safari at Kapama Private Game Reserve. Experience thrilling game drives to spot the Big Five, enjoy a playful meerkat encounter, greet penguins on Boulders Beach, and tour an ostrich farm. Marvel at the country’s stunning coastline, breathtaking views, and explore the continent’s southwestern tip. Delight in South Africa’s flavors on a culinary walk in Stellenbosch. This unforgettable journey promises to awaken your senses and satisfy your curiosity about this incredible country.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS 

Kapama Private Game Reserve: This exclusive reserve borders the renowned Kruger National Park, offering exceptional opportunities to spot the Big Five in their natural habitat. With diverse landscapes and expert-guided game drives, Kapama provides an unforgettable safari experience for wildlife enthusiasts

Western Cape: Perhaps the most beautiful province of South Africa, the Western Cape is the most mountainous area in the country and offers a charming wine region, stunning vistas and impactful coastlines

Cape Town: Located between the Blue Sea and imposing mountains, Cape Town is a cultural and economic hub with a rich history and dynamic arts and culinary scene

Day 1: ARRIVAL JOHANNESBURG – KAPAMA GAME RESERVE (445km – 6hrs)

Upon arrival at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport, follow the signs to Europcar to collect your rental car and drive to Kapama Private Game Reserve. Arrive at the lodge, check-in and freshen up before your afternoon safari game drive will take place, conducted in open safari lodge vehicles in Kapama Private Game Reserve. The Kapama Private Game Reserve lies west of Kruger National Park on 13,000 hectares of open savannah, grassland and riverine bush along the river. Excellent trained and experienced rangers and trackers guarantee a unique African safari experience in the home of the Big Five - lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino. After your game drive, return to the lodge for dinner.

Overnight in Kapama. 

Day 2: KAPAMA GAME RESERVE

At the break of dawn, a gentle tap on the door will awaken you. Meet your ranger to discuss your expectations for this morning’s safari. The game drive takes place in an open 4x4 vehicle, enabling you to experience close encounters and unforgettable moments with various animals, each lasting around three hours. During the outing, your ranger informs you about the flora and fauna of the bush and how the park’s animals live and survive. Enjoy a tasty cup of coffee during a break out in the bush at one of the scenic spots. Upon your return to the lodge, feast on a substantial breakfast. Relax at the pool and enjoy the lodge facilities until it is time for your afternoon game drive.

Overnight in Kapama. 

Day 3: KAPAMA GAME RESERVE – HAZYVIEW (85km – 1.5hrs)

After your early morning game drive and breakfast depart to Hazyview via the Panorama Route. The Panorama Route offers a spectacular variety of scenery, including deep canyons, rugged mountains, misty waterfalls, and tranquil lakes. The route passes Ohrigstad and leads into the Blyde River Canyon. The 26-kilometre-long valley is one of the most important natural wonders of South Africa. North of the route lies the Three Rondavels, the Blyde River Canyon’s most striking feature. Huge rocks resemble mushrooms growing out of the mountain and are similar in appearance to traditional African round huts, namely rondavels. Bourke’s Luck Potholes are a complex of smooth, cylindrical potholes and natural rock sculptures that have been hollowed out by water erosion through the Blyde River over millions of years. South of the route you find another spectacular viewpoint named God’s Window (weather permitting). Please note: No entrance fees included. Arrive at the hotel, check-in and freshen up before dinner. 

Overnight in Hazyview.

Day 4: HAZYVIEW – PRETORIA – JOHANNESBURG (440km – 5 hrs)

After breakfast, make your way to South Africa’s capital city, Pretoria. Pretoria is affectionately known as ‘Jacaranda City’ as a result of the many purple blossoms lining the streets when these bright purple trees are in full bloom, normally between the months of September to November. Pretoria has approximately one million inhabitants and being the capital, it serves as the centre for government, and its fascinating history has crafted a city with a rich cultural heritage, featured in a variety of museums, buildings and art centres. Explore Pretoria on your own during a city tour visiting the Union Buildings and the Voortrekker Monument, then travel to Johannesburg where you will spend the night.

Overnight in Johannesburg. 

Day 5: JOHANNESBURG – GEORGE – KNYSNA (2hrs by flight, not included)

After breakfast check out from the hotel. Travel to O.R. Tambo International Airport where you will drop off your rental car and catch your flight to George Airport (flight not included). Upon arrival at George Airport, proceed to the marked Europcar counter where you will collect another rental car and drive to your accommodation in Knysna. Knysna is a small seaside town on the banks of a protected lagoon. The name is derived from the Khoi language and is believed to mean ‘straight down’, referencing the Knysna Heads. Knysna is well known for its oysters, nature reserves and various activities. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure. 

Overnight in Knysna. 

Day 6: KNYSNA

Start the day with a leisurely breakfast at the hotel. Then, make your way to the Knysna Lagoon for a Featherbed Nature Reserve eco-experience (you will receive a voucher for this service, the tour departs at 10 am from the Knysna Waterfront). The Featherbed Nature Reserve is a 150-hectare private reserve that is only accessible via ferry across the Knysna Lagoon. From the jetty, you will be taken on an excursion aboard 4x4 vehicles onto Knysna’s Western Head. Stop at one of the viewpoints where your guide will inform you about the reserve and the Heads. A two-kilometre trail takes you through the coastal forest and fynbos down to the coast and back to the restaurant. The outing ends with a buffet lunch under a canopy of Milkwood trees. Afterwards, the ferry takes you back to Knysna. This eco-excursion lasts around four hours. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure at the Knysna Waterfront.

Overnight in Knysna.

Day 7: KNYSNA – GEORGE – OUDTSHOORN (130km – 2 hrs)

After a delectable breakfast, make your way to the town of George and then to Oudtshoorn, today´s final destination. Pass the village of Sedgefield en route to Wilderness, a small seaside village, located on an almost endless white beach and offering fantastic views of the Outeniqua Mountains. The road now turns inland heading to George, the capital of the eastern part of the Western Cape Province. The town has over 120,000 inhabitants and is an important industrial centre of the region. It is also a popular golfing retreat offering enthusiasts the George and the world-renowned Fancourt golf courses. Shortly after, the road starts to climb over the Outeniqua Mountains. This 12-kilometre-long pass road was constructed by Italian Prisoners of War who were captured during World War II. On the other side of this mountain range, you pass through hop fields and enter the Little Karoo, a dry and semi-arid area. Oudtshoorn is the capital of the Little Karoo and is also known as the 'ostrich capital'. Some gracious so-called ‘feather palaces’ still show the wealth created during the boom of the ostrich feather industry during the early 20th century. Enjoy a visit to Safari Ostrich Farm and indulge in a tasty dinner.

Overnight in Oudtshoorn.

Day 8: OUDTSHOORN – CANGO CAVES – MONTAGU (250km – 3.5 hrs)

Wake up early to get ready for an exciting Meerkat encounter. This fantastic experience starts at sunrise and depends on fair weather. A knowledgeable guide will introduce you to these interesting personalities on the plains of the African outback (the tour depends on the weather and lasts between two to three hours). Afterwards, return to the farm for a delicious breakfast and collect your luggage before you make your way to your next activity, the amazing Cango Caves. These caves are situated in the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains, just 30 kilometres outside of Oudtshoorn. Originally discovered by the indigenous San people almost 10,000 years ago, the cave system features more than 80 caverns and extends five kilometres into the mountain but only a 1.2-kilometre stretch is open to visitors. Explore the Great Hall, which is more than 107 metres in diameter and has a height of 16 metres, and catch sight of the multitude of stalagmites and stalactites. 

After the cave tour, travel from Oudtshoorn, taking the inland route, leading along the Langeberg mountain range to Calitzdorp, the capital of the local South African port wine industry. Continue through the Little Karoo and drive over the Huisrivier pass to Ladismith. Towering above the town is the landmark Towerkop. It is said that the top was split by the broom of an angry witch as she fled over the mountain peak. Past the small town of Barrydale, the route leads to Montagu, a quaint little town with many national monuments. It is an ideal stop for a stroll and some refreshments. Montagu is also a centre for apricot and peach industries and is well known for its sweet muscatel wines.

Overnight in Montagu. 

Day 9: MONTAGU – STELLENBOSCH – CAPE TOWN (250km – 3 hrs)

After breakfast at the hotel, depart Montagu and make your way to Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South Africa and a vibrant university town. Your culinary walking tour will start at 2 pm and you will meet your guide at the Information office across the road from Oude Werf Hotel. Your expert local guide will lead you on a tasty discovery of the historic heart of Stellenbosch with its elegant oak-lined streets, architectural diversity and inspiring outdoor art. Embark on a classic Cape cuisine walk which includes a guided walking tour of the old town centre with entertaining stories about Stellenbosch history and culture, and a visit to the oldest townhouse in South Africa, which forms part of the Village Museum. Sampling indigenous teas and home-style rusks, traditional snacks such as biltong (dried beef) and droewors (dried sausage) from a family-run butchery. Then savour a heritage lunch platter at the oldest hotel in South Africa and nostalgic sweets when we visit the legendary Oom Samie se Winkel – the oldest shop in town. Finish the tour with a trilogy of Cape desserts (tour duration 3.5 hours).

Then, proceed to Cape Town, South Africa’s ‘Mother City’. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the town is contained in a bowl created by Table Mountain, Devil’s Peak, Lion’s Head, Signal Hill and Table Bay. It is, therefore, no surprise that it is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Overnight in Cape Town.

Day 10: CAPE TOWN

Begin the day with breakfast at the hotel. We recommend you drive today through an ever-changing landscape of majestic mountains, vast oceans, rugged cliffs and indigenous fynbos vegetation. The route follows the Atlantic Seaboard to the fishing harbour of Hout Bay where you can stop to take a boat trip to Duiker Island, home to a colony of Cape Fur Seals. The route over scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive leads through the rural villages of Noordhoek, Oceanview, Kommetjie and Scarborough to the entrance of the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Here, the landscape is rugged and it is no wonder that the Portuguese seafarers called the cape “Cabo Tormentoso”, meaning the Cape of Storms. Visit the Cape of Good Hope, the most south-western tip of the African Continent. The Old Lighthouse at Cape Point offers a spectacular viewing platform over False Bay. It takes approx. 30 minutes to walk from the visitor’s car park to the Lighthouse summit, or a few minutes on the funicular railway. The next stop is Boulder’s Beach, where a colony of African Penguins settled in the early 1980’s. Access to the Penguin Colony is managed by the National Parks Board. The Penguin Colony can be safely viewed from elevated boardwalks, overlooking their nesting grounds and beach. The journey continues through Simonstown where the South African Naval Headquarters are located. The seaside towns of Fishhoek and Muizenberg border the False Bay coastline and are popular for their swimming beaches in summer, and the viewing of Southern Right Whales in winter. Return to Cape Town in the afternoon where you can enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Cape Town.

Day 11: CAPE TOWN

Today you will spend the entire day at leisure to do what you please. Enjoy the city and all it has to offer! A highlight of Cape Town is the visit to Table Mountain. A rotating cable car only takes a few minutes to reach the 1086-high mountain. The circular walk on the plateau rewards visitors with breathtaking views of Cape Town, the neighbouring peaks, the endless ocean and the vast inland. This unique mountain is a World Heritage Site and one of the new 7 World Wonders. With its unique Fynbos vegetation it forms a part of the Table Mountain National Park.

Overnight in Cape Town.

Day 12: DEPARTURE CAPE TOWN

After breakfast at the hotel, bid farewell to this beautiful city and make your way to Cape Town International Airport to drop off your vehicle and continue with your travelling arrangements.

Comfortable and light clothing is the most suitable for travelling in South Africa. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or skimpy clothing when visiting temples, religious or official buildings. Sun protection, sunglasses, a hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.