Chauffeured Cape Town, Garden Route and Eastern Cape
Tour Introduction
Enjoy the manifold attractions of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa with the benefit of private transfers and local guides to provide seamless connections and give insider insights to your experiences. Visit vibrant Cape Town with its stunning position with Table Mountain behind and the spectacular Cape coastline to the fore, as well as other parts of the scenic Cape Peninsula, including Good Hope. Then enjoy the Garden Route highlights of Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Tsitsikamma Forest before heading to the exclusive Shamwari Private Game Reserve for fabulous safari drives in search of lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and more. Finally, look forward to relaxing in luxury at stunning Oceana Beach & Wildlife Reserve set along a wild coastline. A thoroughly enjoyable and entirely malaria-free itinerary, the memories of which will remain with you for evermore.
Full Itinerary
Met on arrival in Cape Town and transfer to the hotel. Private half-day city tour of Cape Town, including Table Mountain excursion by cable car (weather dependent - ticket not included).
Staying at Radisson Blu V & A Waterfront (Sea Facing Room). Includes Breakfast.
Private full day Cape Peninsula tour including Table Mountain National Park, Chapman’s Peak scenic drive, Cape Point Nature Reserve, Boulders Beach and other iconic sights.
Staying at Radisson Blu V & A Waterfront (Sea Facing Room). Includes Breakfast.
Transfer to Cape Town airport and fly to George. Met on arrival and take your private transfer to Knysna.
Staying at Kanonkop House. Includes Breakfast.
Full day to explore beautiful Knysna and its surrounds in the company of a private guide/driver with vehicle. Optional activities include: Exploring the Knysna Lagoon on a luxury sailing yacht, or crossing the Knysna Lagoon by ferry and visiting Featherbed Nature Reserve (any entrance fees and meals not included).
Staying at Kanonkop House. Includes Breakfast.
Private transfer from Knysna to Plettenburg Bay. Arrive and settle in to your fabulous hotel.
Staying at The Plettenberg (Luxury Sea View Room). Includes Breakfast.
Day at leisure at Plettenberg Bay. Optional whale-watching boat trip in season (Jun-Oct) to see the southern right whales and possibly the elusive Bryde’s and migrating humpback whales and/or walk in Robberg Nature Reserve.
Staying at The Plettenberg (Luxury Sea View Room). Includes Breakfast.
Transfer with your private driver to Storms River Mouth for a short walk to see the canyons, caves and waterfalls of the area. Then continue the drive to Shamwari Private Game Reserve. During your three nights at Shamwari you will have two shared game drives per day which include drinks and snacks while on drives.
Staying at Bayethe Tented Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Morning and afternoon open vehicle safaris in Shamwari Private Game Reserve. Shamwari protects a vast area of savannah, lowveld woodland and scrub and offers superb wildlife viewing including big cats, rhinos, elephants and some less well-known species such as the shy aardwolf can sometimes be seen.
Staying at Bayethe Tented Lodge. Includes Breakfast.
Another day on safari in Shamwari Private Game Reserve.
Staying at Bayethe Tented Lodge. Includes All Meals.
After a last morning safari, take your private transfer to the Oceana Beach & Wildlife Reserve. Your stay includes game drives and some drinks.
Staying at Oceana Ocean Suite. Includes All Meals.
Day to relax at the beach or at the comfortable lodge: you can also take game drives in the reserve as you wish. Other optional activities include water sports, horse riding, golf, and spa services.
Staying at Oceana Ocean Suite. Includes All Meals.
Another day at leisure in luxury at Oceana Beach & Wildlife Reserve.
Staying at Oceana Ocean Suite. Includes All Meals.
Transfer to Port Elizabeth and fly to Johannesburg. Depart South Africa.
Includes In-flight Meals.
Tour Accommodation
Radisson Blu Waterfront
Overview
The luxurious Radisson Blu Waterfront is perched just south of Cape Town’s V&A harbour overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.
A large five-star hotel and one of the best in Cape Town, Radisson Blue offers 177 beautifully designed, modern rooms and suites all with stylish décor and mostly having sea views. All rooms have private modern bathrooms, comfortable double beds with high quality linen, free WiFi, satellite TV, slippers and seating.
The excellent, fine dining Tobago restaurant offers a bar and an outside patio for sea view dining in good weather. Other facilities at the hotel include a spa and treatment room, outdoor infinity pool, sun terrace with loungers, and a gym.
The hotel provides 24 hour room service and reception, laundry service, currency exchange, luggage storage, safety deposit boxes, newspapers and business centres.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Restaurant, bar, lounge, swimming pool, spa, satellite TV, free Wi-Fi, gym, 24 hour room service and reception, laundry service, currency exchange, luggage storage, safety deposit boxes, newspapers and business centres.
Optional Activities
Inclusive activities at the hotel. Excursions to table mountain and city tours are also available.
Kanonkop Guest House
Overview
The family-run Kanonkop Guest House sits atop a forested hill with excellent views down to Knysna lagoon to the west of Plettenberg Bay on the Cape’s famous Garden Route. The guesthouse provides excellent personal service and a high level of comfort with its luxurious rooms and is very popular with our clients.
There are just five individually decorated suites, all with private bathrooms and balconies giving stunning views onto Knysna lagoon. All rooms have air-conditioning, ceiling fans, satellite TV, free WiFi, tea and coffee making facilities and complimentary toiletries.
Outside there is a patio with seating, and swimming pool surrounded by a lush garden where many birds can be seen. Inside there is a well-stocked bar and dining room serving hearty cooked breakfasts and a wide range of drinks.
Kanonkop Guest House is perfectly positioned for exploring Knysna town centre and lagoon, and the Featherbed Nature Reserve is only a short distance away. Activities on offer include cruises on Knysna lagoon, hiking, cycling and wildlife watching.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Private bathrooms, breakfast room, bar, lounge, patio, swimming pool, air conditioning, ceiling fan, satellite TV, tea and coffee making facilities, free Wi-Fi and laundry service.
Optional Activities
Bird watching and wildlife viewing around Knysna Lagoon. Cruises on Knysna lagoon, hiking, cycling and horse riding in the local area.
Bayethe Tented Lodge
Overview
Bayethe Tented Lodge is situated in the private Shamwari Game Reserve in the eastern Cape. The word bayethe means “I salute you” in the local African language.
Accommodation is in luxury and superior tents all with wooden flooring, large windows and highly comfortable king size double or oversized twin beds with mosquito net drapes. Each tent is equipped with international plug adaptors, international direct dial telephones, electric blankets, hair dryers, minibar and a small plunge pool. The superior rooms also offer TVs, fireplaces and a private terrace with hammocks.
The elegant main communal building has both indoor and outdoor dining areas where tasty local and international cuisine is available. There is also WiFi, a computer for guest use, TV, gift shop and an outdoor patio decking with small swimming pool.
Shamwari’s private game reserve is not as large as some others in South Africa which enables guides to locate particular species more easily. This produces some of the most reliable wildlife viewing in South Africa. The reserve also benefits from being in a malaria free zone and can be accessed easily from Port Elizabeth. Shamwari has a lot to offer families and safari enthusiasts and is home to the Born Free Foundation’s big cat rescue centre.
Shamwari also has a number of other accommodation options to suit various budgets, including a family-oriented lodge and a colonial-era manor.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Private bathrooms, restaurant, bar, communal area, gift shop, swimming pool, plunge pool, guest computer, Wi-Fi, TV, direct dial telephone, electric blanket, hairdryer, international plug adaptor and laundry service.
Local Wildlife
The reserve supports large concentrations of herbivores including springbok, gemsbok, wildebeest, kudu, tessebe, giraffe, warthog, cape buffalo, hippopotamus and zebra. Both black and white rhino are present and white rhinos are quite commonly encountered along with elephants and lions. Leopards, cheetahs and spotted hyenas can also be seen in the area but require a little more luck and there is a chance of brown hyena, African wild dog, small cats, aardvark and different mongoose and smaller mammals. Birdwatching in the reserve is particularly productive due to the varying habitats with birds of prey being particularly conspicuous.
Optional Activities
Game drives and bush walks.
Oceana Beach and Wildlife Reserve
Overview
Oceana Beach and Wildlife Reserve is nestled among surprisingly wildlife-rich coastal bush near the town of Port Alfred in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. The Oceana is unusual in Africa in providing both wildlife viewing and beach experiences. The resort is famed for its first class service and luxurious accommodation. The large central building is superbly decorated and offers guests a fine dining restaurant, gym, swimming pool and a large outdoor sun deck that gives panoramic views of the Indian Ocean and private beach below.
Accommodation at the Oceana Beach and Wildlife Reserve is split between lodge and ocean suites and the separate self-catering Ocean House. The three lodge suites adjoin the main building but still offer plenty of privacy. Each has been individually designed and decorated with warm African colours. All suites offer grand four poster king beds that lead to an open plan lounge with seating, a small dining table, satellite television and DVD player and a safety deposit box. A modern private bathroom with under floor heating, his and hers washbasins, large walk-in shower and Jacuzzi is attached to each suite. The four ocean suites are in separate thatched roof modern buildings that offer greater space and privacy, as well as minibars, tea and coffee facilities and a shower room with a sea view.
The self-catering Ocean House has a full range of facilities including extensive kitchen, lounge, private parking, plasma TV and three large bedrooms all with Jacuzzi bathrooms.
All the accommodation options include climate control, room service and free WiFi, and a full range of activities and services are available. Guests can enjoy game drives in the private reserve where sightings of giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, bontebok, Cape buffalo and even white rhino are likely and (with luck) the beautiful but rare sable antelope. The reserve also includes a private stretch of pristine beach with deck and sun loungers and also offers spa treatments and off-site adventure activities such as horse riding, archery, hydro bikes, canoeing, sea and river cruises,snorkelling and diving.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Private bathrooms, restaurant, bar, lounge, curio shop, spa, massage treatment, gym, swimming pool, satellite TV, DVD player, safety deposit box, climate control, free WiFi, private parking, laundry and room service.
Optional Activities
Game drives, beach relaxation, spa and massage treatments, horse riding, archery, hydro bikes, canoeing, sea and river cruises and snorkelling and diving.
Route Map
Departure Dates
Travel Information
Are International Flights Included?
No. Please contact us for a quote if required.
Flight Info:
Fly from London to Cape Town, return from Port Elizabeth - both ways via Johannesburg.
Best Visited:
January to January
Are you ATOL Registered?
Yes. This means we are legally able to book your international flights in conjunction with your ground arrangements so you can book with us with complete confidence. Read more about our ATOL license here.
Alan Godwin
Area Specialist
There are various safari lodges in the Eastern Cape to choose from. Alternatives to Shamwari (or additions if time and budget allow) include Kwandwe, Gorah Elephant Camp (in its private concession next to Addo Elephant National Park) and Kariega.
If you have any questions regarding this Tour, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
We thoroughly enjoyed the holiday. Leopard View was fantastic. The guide did his upmost for us and the rest of the game viewing was great. We saw everything that we wanted to see.
