Great Adventure Trips

South Africa

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Cape and Garden Route Walking

This walking tour from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth allows you to enjoy some of the classic walks of the Cape with plenty of time to enjoy some of the scenic delights. You join a small group of like-minded walkers headed up by one of our experienced walking guides. The tour is suitable for the keen walker or the reasonably fit. The route offers a diversity of walks – from a hike on Table Mountain, to coastal walks, river gorge walks to forest walks in the indigenous forests. You begin with 3 nights in Cape Town followed by time in the Cape Winelands, the whale route of Hermanus and then along the Garden Route to Port Elizabeth.

We have four departures in March, September, October and November which aim to capture the best of the Autumn and Spring temperatures without the searing heat of summer. The group size is anything from 6 to a maximum of 15 people. If you are a small party, but unable to travel at our set departure dates, we can also run the tour on a private basis for a small supplement for 4 or more people.

Includes: Meals and accommodation as shown in text, Services of Satour Registered walking guide, all entrances & park fees, air-conditioned microbus or small sprinter coach depending on group size
Excludes: International & domestic flights, visas, items of a personal nature, meals not specified
Set departures in 2009 – 19th September, 26th October, 16th November
Minimum number: Scheduled departures have a minimum of 6 people.
Health requirements: None - sunblock essential
Accommodation: Premier – good quality 3 or 4 star hotels and country lodges

Day 1 - Arrive in Cape Town. Afternoon city walking orientation tour
On arrival in Cape Town, you are met by our experienced walking guide and transferred to the Cape Diamond Hotel where you stay for 3 nights. Our guide gives a short orientation talk prior to a light buffet lunch and check-in. After lunch there is a short orientation tour of Cape Town. You first head up to Signal Hill for a panoramic overview of the city. Then you walk through the historic old part of Cape Town, quiet on a Saturday afternoon, walking up Government Avenue, past the Company Gardens and St George’s Cathedral, de Tuynhuis – the President’s home and the famous flower sellers of Cape Town.This evening we have a welcome dinner at Cape Diamond Hotel.
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner. Accommodation: Cape Diamond Hotel

Day 2 Cape Peninsula walk
Today you enjoy a full day walking tour of the Cape Peninsula including two walks.You travel along the coastal road through the chic suburbs of Clifton, Camps Bay and onto the picturesque fishing community of Hout Bay. Next you enjoy a scenic drive along Chapman’s Peak as it hugs the cliffside and continue south to reach Cape Point in the Cape Peninsula National Park. Sir Francis Drake, the famous explorer, once called it "the fairest Cape that we saw in the whole circumference of the Globe.". You enjoy a two hour circular walk in the morning, where we can easily examine the park’s unique flora and fauna, and then you continue to the lighthouse area for lunch. After lunch you can walk up to the old Lighthouse (or take the funicular train if you prefer). Time permitting, we’ll also take either the steeper walk down to the New Lighthouse or the gentler walk to the Cape of Good Hope, depending on the group’s inclination. (Both walks are approx 45 minutes long). Leaving the park to head back to the city, you stop en route at Boulder's Beach to visit the African penguin colony. You return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner is at a local restaurant.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Light Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 - Table Mountain Hike
This morning you head up Table Mountain by cable car to enjoy a scenic walk along the edge of the mountain (1½ hours) to Maclear’s Beacon, the summit of Table Mountain. A early picnic lunch is enjoyed on top of Table Mountain before returning by cable car to the city.

Note: If you are an experienced walking group, we can hike up Table Mountain via Plattekloof Gorge. However this is a steep climb and not to be tackled by the inexperienced or unfit, and preferably not in the hot summer months of January and February.

The afternoon is at leisure for you to enjoy some of the sights of Cape Town. If you opt for the shorter Table Mountain walk, there would be sufficient time to visit Robben Island (small supplement) by boat. Dinner is at a local restaurant.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Cape Diamond Hotel

Day 4 Morning walk in Kirstenbosch. Afternoon wine tasting & cellar tour
This morning you enjoy a walking tour of Kirstenbosch Gardens and the Contour Path.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are one of the finest gardens in Africa, nestling on the lower slopes of Table Mountain. There are many paths winding through the gardens, where staff cultivate 6,000 of the 22,000 species of Southern African flowering plants in a setting of mountain streams, pools and rolling lawns. After a tour of the garden, you leave the Gardens and head up to the Contour path (at 400m/1400ft) through the trees. Here you enjoy panoramic views of the city.

You return to the Gardens and then leave Cape Town and head to the Winelands for lunch. A combination of the favourable effects of the two major ocean currents meeting off the Cape makes the climate in the Winelands perfect for acres of vineyards. You visit a wine estate for a fascinating tour of the winemaking process and some wine-tasting. You continue to Stellenbosch, which is one of the finest towns in South Africa. It is easy to see why Simon Van Der Stel decided to build a town in such a charming spot. The backdrop of the Hottentots Holland mountains, the white gabled Cape Dutch Homesteads and the oak-lined streets all blend in to give this place a charm that will not be quickly forgotten. We enjoy a walking tour of the town. This evening we enjoy dinner at Moyo’s, an alfresco Restaurant on a wine estate.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Spier Hotel or Soverby Country Estate

Day 5 - Morning Vineyard walk. Afternoon visit to Harold Porter Botanical Gardens
This morning we enjoy a circular vineyard walk of approx 2½ hours. Afterwards you continue to Hermanus, the Whale Capital of South Africa via the scenic coastal route. Time permitting we’ll visit the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens en route. In the late afternoon we enjoy an optional one hour walk along the coastal path at Hermanus. The path undulates up and down past a series of sandy beaches. Along the way we can enjoy spectacular views of Walker Bay. In season (July to November), this is also a fantastic opportunity to spot the whales (in season) that are often visible from the coast path. (September/ to November departures only). Binoculars can be useful if they are further out to sea. The most commonly sighted species are the Southern Right whales but we may be lucky enough to spot one of the other nine species that pass by South Africa's shores. Dinner is at a local restaurant.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Accommodation: Auberge Burgundy

Day 6 - Full walk in Fernkloof Nature Reserve
Today you enjoy a wonderful full day walk in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve. You first visit the Fernkloof Visitor’s Centre. A guide from the Hermanus Botanical society will accompany you to explain the unique flora and fauna of the area, particularly good in September and October. After the visitor centre, you walk up through the reserve via the Adder Ladder to join the jeep track to the Galpin Hut, enjoying glorious views of the surrounding country (4 to 5 hours) with a packed lunch on the walk. You return to the guest lodge in the mid afternoon. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure with time for whale-watching in season, from the coastal path or the Old Harbour, or shopping in the interesting arts and craft shops of Hermanus. Dinner is at a local restaurant.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner. Accommodation: Auberge Burgundy

Day 7 - Drive to the Garden Route. Afternoon Gorge walk
Today you set off early to drive from Hermanus to Wilderness at the western side of the Garden Route. We stop for our picnic lunch en route. Arriving in the early afternoon, you enjoy a two hour walk up one of Wilderness’s many pretty river gorges. Dinner is at a local restaurant.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner. Accommodation: Wilderness Manor

Day 8 - Morning boat cruise. Afternoon Robberg Nature Reserve walk
Today you travel via the scenic lakes road to Knysna. The quaint town of Knysna is set between the majestic Outeniqua Mountains and the rugged Southern Cape coastline. Built on the banks of a lagoon, the town is surrounded by indigenous forests. You enjoy a one hour boat cruise on the lagoon before continuing to Robberg Nature Reserve for a picnic lunch and a stunning coastal walk.

The Robberg Nature Reserve protects the 4km peninsula and combines spectacular coastal scenery together with a wide variety of bird and animal life (dassies, grysbok, duiker and bushbuck). Seals, whales and dolphins can sometimes be spotted in the sea (especially during September). The coastline is spectacular due to the sheer cliffs and the expansive views of the long white beaches of Plettenberg Bay. Depending on the group’s walking abilities, we will either opt for the full 4-5 hour coastal walk or the shorter two hour walk. In the late afternoon we continue to Tsitsikamma Lodge for two nights. Tsitsikamma Lodge also offers a swimming pool, games room, restaurant, barbeque and bar area. There are a variety of self guided short way-marked trails starting from the lodge or you can simply relax by the swimming pool or enjoy a drink on the veranda of your lodge. Dinner is at the lodge.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner. Accommodation: Tsitsikamma Lodge

Day 9 - Morning Storms River Walk. Afternoon sightseeing
Today you head to the Tsitsikamma National Park. Established in 1964, Tsitsikamma was South Africa's first marine reserve and extends 5.5km out to sea. The Tsitsikamma is a kaleidoscope of sheer cliffs interspersed with secluded bays and deeply gorged ravines. You enjoy the Loerie Trail walk through the indigenous forest before continuing to the famous Storms River Suspension Bridge with the extra option of the Lookout Point for the seriously keen. After our picnic lunch we return to the lodge, for some time at leisure. Alternatively we offer an afternoon visit to the Birds of Eden at The Crags and the Bramon Wine Estate. Dinner is a traditional South African braai at the lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner. Accommodation: Tsitsikamma Lodge

Day 10 Transfer to Port Elizabeth for onward arrangements
Today we have an early transfer through to Port Elizabeth Airport for those people taking the late morning flight to Durban to continue the walking tour in the Drakensberg Mountains. Alternatively you can continue onto an Eastern Cape safari for a couple of nights on safari. We can arrange road transfers to the game lodge of your choice from Port Elizabeth Airport.

Price per person, double occupancy: 01 Sep 2009 - 30 Sep 2009 = $1885.00 01 Oct 2009 - 31 Oct 2009 = $1984.00

Prices subject to currency fluctuation