4 Day Route 62 and Garden Route Scheduled Tour

Day 1: Cape Town to Oudtshoorn via Route 62 (±420km)

Destination: Oudtshoorn
Accomodation: De Opstal Country Lodge
Meals included: Dinner
Attractions include: Oudtshoorn , Oudtshoorn ostrich farms , Route 62 .

Your driver-guide will collect you from your Cape Town area hotel in the morning. Depart Cape Town northwards on the N1 highway, passing through the picturesque Cape Winelands before entering the Huguenot Tunnel. At 4km’s the tunnel is the longest of its kind in South Africa. As you exit the tunnel you enter the magnificent Du Toit’s Kloof - flanked by mountain peaks on both sides.

At Worcester you turn onto the R62 or Route 62. Connecting Worcester in the west with Oudtshoorn in the east the route is a firm favourite with travellers. It passes through scenic valleys, as well as including numerous mountain passes. Enroute, in the Tradouw Valley, you make a stop for a tasting of traditional Mampoer. It’s a potent spirit mostly stoked and distilled from peaches.

In the afternoon you arrive in Oudtshoorn. With more than 400 ostrich farms the region is also referred to as the Ostrich Capital of the World. Two boom periods in international demand for ostrich feathers (1865-1870 and 1900-1914) created instant wealth for many in town. The inevitable bust periods that followed instantly ruined a good number of them as well. Sandstone ‘ostrich feather palaces’ in town attest to this period. Visit an ostrich show farm in the Cango Valley before retiring to your quaint overnight location on a farm in the same Valley.

Optional: You may opt for an evening game drive (own account) at the nearby Buffelsdrift Game Lodge.

Day 2: Oudtshoorn to Knysna (±125km)

Destination: Knysna
Accomodation: Protea Hotel Knysna Quays
Meals included: Breakfast
Attractions include: Knysna , Cango Caves , Buffelsdrift Game Lodge , Knysna Estuary , Garden Route , Knysna Heads .

After breakfast you head to nearby Buffelsdrift Game Lodge where you have the unique opportunity of interacting with African Elephants. You’ll get up close and personal with the elephants and participate in feeding them while receiving information on their status in the wild, their habits, biology, etc. Truly a special and educational experience.

Next is the Cango Caves in the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains, formed roughly 20 million years ago. It features huge natural caverns, linked by narrow natural passages and smaller spaces. Take a guided tour of part of the cave system.

From the Caves you head towards the coast over the rugged Outeniqua Mountains via the scenic Outeniqua Pass. Taking the main coastal road to Knysna you make a photo stop above the town of Wilderness (weather permitting). Enjoy expansive views of the ocean and sandy beaches stretching into the distance. Travelling onwards pass by a number of lakes and small communities before entering Knysna.

Your hotel is located right on the edge of the Knysna Estuary. Board a ferry for a sunset cruise out towards the Knysna Heads (headlands framing the estuary mouth). This evening you head into the small Knysna Waterfront, right next to your hotel, where you may dine (own account) at one of the various restaurants.

Day 3: Knysna to Plettenberg Bay and back (±60km)

Destination: Knysna
Accomodation: Protea Hotel Knysna Quays
Meals included: Breakfast
Attractions include: Plettenberg Bay , Robberg and Robberg Nature Reserve .

After breakfast, depart for nearby Plettenberg Bay. Two companies operate ocean cruises that launch right from the main beach, a short way from the demarcated swimming area. The actual launching procedure is quite unique and exhilarating. But it’s the time you spend on the beautiful bay that really makes it worthwhile. You cruise out behind the breakers towards the magnificent Robberg Peninsula, where a large colony of Cape Fur Seals reside. There’s a very good chance of encountering dolphins along the way and in season - July to November - Southern Right Whales. While having a lot of fun you’ll also get close to marine life and will learn a lot as well. A very memorable experience.

Back on shore you have time to enjoy a relaxing lunch in town (own account) before heading to Plettenberg Bay’s Qolweni Township for a tour. You also visit a school / crèche. The latter is supported by a charity and the income generated from the tours go towards the school. If you want you may take stationery and/or books along to donate to the school.

You have some leisure time available on your return to Knysna. Dinner is once again at your own leisure and for your own account - at the Knysna Waterfront or in town if you prefer.

Day 4: Knysna to Port Elizabeth (±265km)

Destination: Port Elizabeth
Meals included: Breakfast
Attractions include: Tsitsikamma , Storm’s River Mouth , Storm's River Mouth suspension bridge , Garden Route , Tsitsikamma Mountains .

Your last tour day starts by retracing yesterday's route to Plettenberg Bay. Along the way you pass through indigenous forests. From ‘Plett’, heading inland, you drive into the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park, framed by the Tsitsikamma Mountains in the interior and the ocean opposite.

Turn off to Storms River Mouth, enter the Storms River Reserve - part of the National Park - and drive along a scenic stretch of rugged coastline to the rest camp’s restaurant where you disembark the coach. You have lots of time to take the 700m boardwalk to the nearby River Mouth. Enroute you’ll pass through dense coastal forest. The final section of the hike is a real treat as you encounter three connected pedestrian suspension bridges. The first two stretches between rocky points above the waves breaking onto the rocky shoreline. The third spans the river mouth and provide a peek upstream of the river that flows through a deep gorge lined with cliffs.

From Storms River you travel further to Port Elizabeth with an opportunity to enjoy lunch enroute (own account). On arrival in the coastal city of Port Elizabeth you will be dropped at your hotel or the Airport.

Note: No touring or accommodation is included in Port Elizabeth. If called upon we’ll gladly assist with the arrangements of extra days prior to, or after the tour, in Cape town and/or Port Elizabeth. This may include accommodation, touring and/or flights.