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South Africa
Self-drive
/ Family / Walking
/ Romance / General
Tours / Specials
Camping Tours / Wildlife
Training Courses / Victoria Falls
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 Georges Cathedral, de Tuynhuis the Presidents 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 Chapmans
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 parks 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, well also take either the steeper walk down to
the New Lighthouse or the gentler walk to the Cape of Good Hope, depending
on the groups 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 Maclears
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 Moyos,
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 well 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 Visitors 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 Wildernesss
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 groups 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
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