Self-drive Garden Route Tour

Day 1
At 09h00 a Group C vehicle (Nissan Almera 1.6 or similar – automatic with air-conditioning, power steering & radio/tape) will be delivered to your hotel in Cape Town. Depart Cape Town and drive along the N2 highway to Oudtshoorn and Rosenhof Country Lodge.

Rosenhof Country Lodge is a magnificently restored Victorian House, furnished with handpicked antiques and original South African paintings - surrounded by an abundance of flowers, shrubs and plants. The beauty, comforts and attention to detail are surpassed only by the personal service. This elegant Guesthouse caters for the discerning traveller.

The secluded and immaculately maintained shady pool is the perfect place to spend some time on a hot Klein Karoo summers day. Relax in one of our comfortable lounge areas.

Overnight for one night at Rosenhof Country Lodge on a bed and breakfast basis.

Day 2
Drive along the Garden Route to Knysna and Parkes Manor.

Parkes Manor offers charm and elegance in tranquil surroundings overlooking the well known Knysna Lagoon and Heads. Peacefully situated on a leafy estate of large trees and park like gardens, the discerning traveller will discover this once magnificent home, now restored to its full glory as Parkes Manor, a stylish country house and National Monument.

Only 70 km drive from George Airport and only 30km from the airport at Plettenberg Bay, Parkes Manor offers guests an unforgettable experience on the beautiful Knysna Lagoon.

Overnight for two nights at Parkes Manor on a bed and breakfast basis.

Day 3
Day spent at your own leisure exploring the Garden Route.

Various passes link the Garden Route coastal strip and the Karoo. This area is above all known for its indigenous forests and nature reserves, long stretches of white beaches, fynbos and hospitable people. The area has something special to offer each and every taste.

In Oudtshoorn you can visit the Ostrich Farms, Cango Caves and the Crocodile Farm and Cheetahland. There is also an Angora Rabbit Farm nearby.

Mossel Bay is popular with its historic value. The Maritime Museum houses a replica of Dias’s Caravel, displays maritime instruments and highlights aspects of maritime history of the early Portuguese, Dutch and English Navigators. The Shell Museum houses an extensive shell exhibition and portrays the history of man’s use of shells. The Cultural Museum and the unique locally quarried stone buildings are worth a visit, as is The Point, with its natural tidal/rock pool, a focal point with spectacular views of waves crushing against the rocky shoreline.

George is the capital of the Garden Route and the main sports centre. The ‘Drostdy’ is a graceful old building which houses the museum with the Timber Industry of the area as its main theme. The Slave Tree is a huge oak tree, 186 years old with an old chain embedded in its trunk. From George you can take the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe Steam Train to Knysna. The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe, South Africa’s only scheduled steam train service, has been declared a National Monument. It operates between George and Knysna and passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in the country.

Wilderness is surrounded by a National Park. The Wilderness Lakes Art Route is home to a variety of interesting crafters taking in magnificent scenery. The Touws River offers excellent bird watching, either on a guided tour or in a canoe rented from the National Park.

From Knysna there are daily cruises on the lagoon with the John Benn, Knysna Ferries or Rivercats. You can visit a colourful variety of craft centres and local art galleries. Taste the famous Knysna oysters at The Oyster Tavern, which is open 7 days a week. Wash them down with a beer produced locally by Mitchell’s Brewery. The picturesque old stone churches, i.e. St George’s in the main road, the Belvidere Church with its stained-glass windows, are interesting historic buildings. The Angling Museum in the Old Goal Complex, houses a large female specimen of the famous coelacanth, while Millwood House Museum gives a glimpse into the town’s history. Noetzie Bay with its old castles, the Buffalo Valley Game Farm and the Featherbed Nature Reserve are other attractions. Visit Buffalo Bay beach for the best swimming and surfing conditions. A visit to the King Edward VII, a giant yellowwood found deep in the Knysna Forests, is an experience not to be missed.

Plettenberg Bay also has an Arts and Crafts Route. Keurboomstrand, with its natural long beach surrounded by fynbos and indigenous forest, is beautifully positioned alongside private coastal nature reserves, only 10kms from Plettenberg Bay. Here one will find Arch Rock and the Majiesfontein Cave. The Robberg Nature Reserve has its own plethora of land, marine, geological and archaeological wealth. This peninsula has three circular trails, an information Centre and the famous Nelson’s Bay Caves.

The Tsitsikamma National Park stretches from Nature’s Valley to the Eerste River – some 80kms of coastal beauty. The Park has indigenous forests, fynbos and many rivers, making it a paradise of bird and marine life.

The Southern Right Whales usually visit the Southern Cape coast from early June to mid-November to calve and raise their young. Whale watching is indeed an experience with tremendous impact.

Day 4
Drive along the N2 highway to Port Elizabeth Airport where you drop off the hired car before connecting with your onward flight. (The scheduled flight PLZ / CPT is not included in the rate)

COSTS: Available on request – please contact the Symposium organizers at deidre@iafrica.com for more information on this and other tour options.

IMPORTANT TRAVEL NOTES
An International driver’s license or a valid, unendorsed English drivers licence is required.
Fuel cannot be paid by credit card whilst travelling in South Africa. Cards are only accepted for the fuel deposit.

Please note that it is essential to take anti-Malaria precautions when visiting Mpumalanga and the Kruger National Park area. If you are on any medication, please check with your doctor as certain drugs are incompatible with malaria prophylaxis.

ITINERARIES COMPILED BY RESERVATIONS AFRICA.