9-day Cape Town to Durban via Wild Coast Spectacular Adventure

Itinerary

Day 1: Robben Island cultural tour, Two Oceans Aquarium, Bo Kaap Museum

Stop At: Heart of Cape Town Museum, Main Road Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, Cape Town Central 7925 South Africa
DAY 1: MEET US AT YOUR CENTRALLY LOCATED HOTEL, OR AT THE NELSON MANDELA GATEWAY, PIAZZA LEVEL, CLOCK TOWER PRECINCT, V&A WATERFRONT FROM 08:00 AM TO BOARD FOR ROBBEN ISLAND. THIS MUST-SEE EXCURSION TAKES ABOUT 4 HOURS AND INCLUDE A FERRY TRIP TO THE ISLAND WHERE YOU WILL BE GUIDED TO SEE ALL THE HISTORICAL SITES AROUND THE ISLAND. WE ENJOY LUNCH AND BROWSE THROUGH THE AWESOME SHOPS BEFORE ENTERING THE TWO OCEANS AQUARIUM FOR A TOUR. AFTER THIS, WE VISIT THE BO-KAAP-MUSEUM AND WALK THE STEEP COBBLED STREETS TO VIEW THE COLOURFUL HOUSES. WE CHOOSE ONE OF THE NUMEROUS RESTAURANTS IN THE VICINITY TO HAVE DINNER, AND OVERNIGHT AT “ATFOREST” (OR SIMILAR).
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: “ATFOREST” (OR SIMILAR)

Day 2: Table Mountain by Aerial Cableway, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Stop At: Table Mountain National Park 8001 South Africa
DAY 2: WE LEAVE OUR HOTEL FOR CAPE TOWN'S MOST FAMOUS ICON: TABLE MOUNTAIN BY THE AERIAL CABLEWAY TO TAKE IN THE NATURAL BEAUTY AND STUNNING VIEWS. THE FIRST BOTANICAL GARDEN IN THE WORLD TO BE ESTABLISHED (IN 1913) TO PROTECT LOCAL FLORA, KIRSTENBOSCH NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDEN IN THE UNESCO-LISTED CAPE FLORAL KINGDOM FOLLOWS. LUNCH IS AT THE FAMOUS JONKERSHUIS CAPE MALAY RESTAURANT. VISITING GROOT CONSTANTIA, WE TASTE THEIR EXPORT QUALITY WINES. WE JOURNEY ALONG THE FALSE BAY COASTLINE TO KALK BAY HARBOUR AND STROLL ALONG THE QUAINT COBBLED STREETS. FROM HERE WE PASS FISH HOEK AND BOULDERS BEACH NEAR SIMON’S TOWN, HOME TO ONE OF THE FEW LAND-BASED PENGUIN COLONIES IN THE WORLD. CHOOSE ONE OF THE POPULAR RESTAURANTS IN THE AREA FOR DINNER. WE OVERNIGHT AT DE NOORDHOEK LIFESTYLE HOTEL (OR SIMILAR) (B).
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: DE NOORDHOEK LIFESTYLE HOTEL (OR SIMILAR)

Day 3: Table Mountain National Park, Flying Dutchman Funicular, Vergenoegd wine farm, Spier Wine Farm

Stop At: Cape Point Nature Reserve, Cape Town Central South Africa
DAY 3: FIRST VISIT IS CAPE POINT, PART OF THE TABLE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK AND HOME TO AN ABUNDANCE OF FLORA AND FAUNA, AND ASCEND THE VIEWPOINT WITH THE FLYING DUTCHMAN FUNICULAR. WE VISIT HOUT BAY HARBOUR AND CAMPS BAY AFRICAN CRAFT MARKET ON OUR WAY ALONG THE SCENIC CHAPMAN’S PEAK DRIVE. DRIVING IN THE DIRECTION OF STELLENBOSCH, WE VISIT THE VERGENOEGD WINE FARM FOR SOME WINE TASTING. WE GO TO THE SPIER WINE FARM FOR CHOCOLATE AND WINE TASTING ON THE BANKS OF THE SPIER DAM. EAGLE ENCOUNTERS IS A RAPTOR RESCUE, REHABILITATION AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMME THAT IS SITUATED ON THE WINE FARM. SEE OWLS, EAGLES AND VULTURES. NOW WE ARE OFF TO SEE A BIT OF THE REAL SOUTH AFRICA.(OPTIONAL) MZOLI'S PLACE IS LEGENDARY FOR GIVING VISITORS AN AUTHENTIC AFRICAN EATING EXPERIENCE. IF YOU LIKE MEAT THEN YOU'LL LOVE MZOLI'S. SITUATED IN GUGULETHU, IT'S A PRIME EXAMPLE OF SOUTH AFRICAN SHISA NYAMA (BARBEQUE). EAT, DRINK AND HAVE FUN WITH THE LOCALS! WE OVERNIGHT AT AMBERLEY SLEEP & TRAVEL SOMERSET WEST. (OR SIMILAR)(B).
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: AMBERLEY SLEEP & TRAVEL SOMERSET WEST. (OR SIMILAR)

Day 4: Route 62 – Karoo, Cango Caves Heritage Tour

Stop At: The Cango Caves, 328 Approximately 30km (19 miles) from town on the R, Oudtshoorn 6625 South Africa
DAY 4: STARTING OUR JOURNEY TO THE GARDEN ROUTE, WE VISIT SOME OF THE NUMEROUS FARM STALLS AT GRABOUW, AND THEN PUSHES ON TO THE TOWN OF OUDTSHOORN WITH ROUTE 62. THIS ROUTE DELIVERS AN UNFORGETTABLE SOUTH AFRICAN TRAVELLING EXPERIENCE, MAKING OF LIFE-LONG MEMORIES. (LUNCH EN-ROUTE) AFTER VISITING THE CANGO CAVES FOR A HERITAGE TOUR, WE HEAD DOWN THE SCENIC OUTENIQUA PASS AND ONTO THE GREEN FORESTS AND BEACHES OF THE GARDEN ROUTE. OVERNIGHT IS AT THE ACORN GUEST HOUSE GEORGE (OR SIMILAR). (B, D)
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: ACORN GUEST HOUSE GEORGE (OR SIMILAR)

Day 5: Featherbed Eco Experience, Bloukrans Bridge Bungee Jump (optional), Whale watching, Addo Elephant Park

Stop At: Knysna Heads, Coney Glen Road, Knysna 6571 South Africa
DAY 5: A SHORT DRIVE BRINGS US TO KNYSNA WHERE WE ENJOY A FEATHERBED ECO EXPERIENCE AT THE FEATHERBED NATURE RESERVE, INCLUDING A FERRY RIDE, TRAIL, NATURE WALK & BUFFET LUNCH, OR AS AN ALTERNATIVE, A PADDLE CRUISER - TO KNYSNA HEADS. WE DISCOVER THE TOWN OF KNYSNA AND VISIT SOME OF THE UNSPOILT BEACHES (AND DINNER) IN THE AREA. EXPERIENCE THE ENCHANTMENT OF UNSPOILT INDIGENOUS FOREST AT MOONSHINE ON WHISKEY CREEK FOREST CABINS, WHERE WE ALSO OVERNIGHT. (B)
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: MOONSHINE ON WHISKEY CREEK FOREST CABINS

Day 6: Addo Elephant Park game drive and night game drive

Stop At: Parque Nacional dos Elefantes Addo, Addo Elephant National Park South Africa
DAY 6: DRIVING TO THE ADDO NATIONAL PARK, WE STOP OVER AT THE ‘HIGHEST RECOGNISED BUNGEE FROM A BRIDGE’ IN THE WORLD, THE BLOUKRANS BRIDGE BUNGEE JUMP. WE LOOK OUT FOR HUMPBACK WHALES AT NELSON MANDELA BAY. (LUNCH EN-ROUTE) A WHALE WATCHING TOUR CAN BE ARRANGED IF WHALES ARE PRESENT AT THE TIME (JULY - OCTOBER) FOR YOUR OWN COST AT ALGOA BAY. FROM HERE WE GO TO THE ADDO NATIONAL PARK WHERE WE WILL HAVE DINNER AT THEIR RESTAURANT, AND A NIGHT GAME DRIVE.
Duration: 11 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: ADDO NATIONAL PARK

Day 7: Bawa Falls, Nelson Mandela Museum, “Hole in the Wall”, sleep in a rural rondawel (hut) of a traditional Xhosa village

Stop At: Morgan Bay Cliffs, Beach Rd, Morgans Bay, 5292, South Africa
DAY 7: WE LEAVE THE ADDO NATIONAL PARK (WHILE VIEWING GAME) FOR PORT ELIZABETH. WE HEAD NORTH FROM PORT ELIZABETH (NELSON MANDELA BAY) TO THE SPECTACULAR WILD COAST ALONG THE ROADS OF THE TRANSKEI, AND SEE HOW THE XHOSA PEOPLE STILL LIVE IN THEIR TRADITIONAL RONDAWEL HUTS, WITH FARM ANIMALS GRAZING BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE DRAKENSBERG IN THE DISTANCE! OUR FIRST STOP IS AT THE MAJESTIC BAWA FALLS, WITH A SINGLE DROP OF 103 METERS (338 FEET). IT WAS HERE AT “EXECUTION ROCK” WHERE WITCHES WERE EXECUTED BY THROWING THEM OFF THE CLIFF. WE VISIT THE NELSON MANDELA MUSEUM AT QUNU AND THEN VEER OFF THE N2 TO “THE HOLE IN THE WALL”, ONE OF SOUTH AFRICA'S MOST FAMOUS TOURIST ATTRACTIONS. (LUNCH EN-ROUTE NOT INCLUDED) THE LOCALS CALL THIS "IZI KHALENI" WHICH MEANS PLACE OF THUNDER. DURING CERTAIN SEASONS AND WATER CONDITIONS, THE WAVES CLAP IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE CONCUSSION CAN BE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY. WE STAY OVER AT MBOLOMPO HOMESTAY IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A REAL AUTHENTIC TRADITIONAL EXPERIENCE, SLEEP IN A RURAL RONDAWEL (HUT) OF A TRADITIONAL XHOSA VILLAGE NESTLED ABOVE AN INDIGENOUS FOREST, OVERLOOKING THE MNCWASA RIVER MOUTH. BE HUMBLED BY THE HOSPITALITY, FETCH WATER FROM THE STREAM, GO CRAZY TRYING TO COUNT THE STARS AND WAKE UP TO THE CRY OF THE FISH EAGLES... YOU ALSO HAVE THE CHOICE TO STAY AT THE HOLE-IN-THE-WALL HOTEL. (B)
Duration: 11 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: HOLE-IN-THE-WALL HOTEL

Day 8: Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve, KZN South Coast

Stop At: Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve, N2 Paddock South Africa
Day 8: After visiting some of the most beautiful and unspoiled beaches in the world, we drive to the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve, which lies snugly at the head of a spectacular river gorge lined with dense coastal bush and forests. The breath-taking scenery along the Umzimkulwana river gorge makes this a photographer’s and nature lover’s paradise. Wildlife in the Oribi Gorge consists of many antelope, although the graceful oribi (after which the gorge is named) is rarely seen. You can do an optional activity here: the Lake Eland Zip Lines, the Longest Zip Line Tour in Africa! This tour consists of 14 zip line slides starting at the top of the Oribi Gorge. We stay here for the night. We stay at the 4 star Oribi Gorge Hotel.(or similar)
Duration: 11 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: 4 star Oribi Gorge Hotel.(or similar)

Day 9: KZN South Coast-Durban

Stop At: King Shaka International Airport, King Shaka Dr, La Mercy, 4407, South Africa
Day 9: The Hibiscus coast with its inviting stretch of Indian Ocean which sometimes presents the year-round delights of frolicking dolphins and majestic, cruising whales, provide the spectacular scenery for the drive to Durban.
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.