7-Day Cape and Karoo Highlights Tour:
Cape Town to Cape Town
Day 1 – Cape Town - Matjiesfontein
(Breakfast, Dinner)
From Cape Town we travel to Paarl where we stop at the KWV, South Africa’s leading exporter of premium products of the vine, where you'll be treated to an extraordinary experience. The KWV Wine Emporium is the perfect place to discover these wines and brandies, including Cathedral Cellar, Roodeberg, Perold, and Imoya. Guides with an in-depth knowledge will host you on a journey through the world of wine and brandy as you tour the KWV cellar complex, one of the worlds largest. From here we make our way to the historical village of Matjiesfontein where we overnight at the Lord Milner Hotel. Matjiesfontein was founded in 1884 by the legendary James Douglas Logan. It has become well known for its splendid historical buildings and is a testament that the entire Village was restored in 1970 and declared a National Historic Monument. On the fringe of the Great Karoo, the Lord Milner Hotel, the last authentic vestige of Victoriana, sits in all its past glory as a "must" stop on the N1 national highway linking Cape Town to Johannesburg and the northern part of South Africa. The Lord Milner's guest rooms have been well maintained over the years and a high standard of service upheld.
The esprit de corps of the courteous staff, the clean crisp air and the warmth of the atmosphere surrounding the hotel, makes for a relaxing and revitalising stay. A pond, fountains, a riverbed and beautiful lush gardens can be seen around the hotel and guest rooms. Along with the blood-red sunsets, remarkable fauna and flora and its age-old traditions, Matjiesfontein and the Lord Milner Hotel lend itself to the ultimate tranquil escape.
Day 2 – Matjiesfontein - Sutherland
(Breakfast)
Today we set off after breakfast for the Northern Cape town of Sutherland, which is situated at a height of 1450m above sea level on the southwest escarpment of the inland Plateau. At this height the area is exposed to all the cold air coming from the southwest. Due to the low moisture levels and thin air, heat radiation at night is high. The heavy cold air flows down to the lower valley where Sutherland is situated. Sutherland is seen to be the coldest place in South Africa. The lowest temperature in 33 years of -16.4 oC was experienced on 12 July 2003.
This afternoon we visit the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), which is the national centre for optical and infrared astronomy in South Africa. It is a facility of the National Research Foundation under the Department of Science and Technology. Its prime function is to conduct fundamental research in astronomy and astrophysics by providing a world-class facility and by promoting astronomy and astrophysics in Southern Africa. The main telescopes used for research are located at the SAAO observing station near Sutherland in the Northern Cape, one of them being SALT – the Southern Africa Large Telescope. A little over five years after groundbreaking, President Thabo Mbeki had officially opened the SALT – the largest optical telescope in the southern hemisphere, and equal to the largest in the world. Gathering more than 25 times as much light as any existing African telescope, SALT can detect objects a billion times too faint to be seen by the naked eye – as faint as a candle flame on the moon.
2005 has been the year when SALT began to reach its potential. In May, technicians installed the last of the 91 1-metre mirrors. On September 1 the SALT team released the first colour images from SALT's imaging camera, SALTICAM. Then, on October 11, the Robert Stobie Spectrograph was installed, the main tool SALT astronomers will use to analyse the light of distant stars and galaxies. At the same time, the final active optics for SALT’s primary mirrors was installed, and the final testing started. We will overnight at a Luxury Bed & Breakfast establishment in the town.
Day 3 – Sutherland - Prince Albert
(Breakfast)
Today we travel through the wide-open Great Karoo to the town of Prince Albert, a village in the Karoo. Prince Albert enjoys a superb climate, with a high sunshine index and spectacular night skies. The village is a small gem, with beautifully preserved Cape Dutch, Karoo and Victorian buildings. Prince Albert is known for its sun-ripened fresh and dried fruit, especially figs and apricots, olives, olive oil and cheese. Overnight at the Swartberg Hotel (or similar) which is a haven of character and atmosphere from the stylish rooms in the hotel and the cottage accommodation in the restful garden to the true South African delights of the dining room?
The Swartberg Hotel, a magnificent Victorian-style hotel with tasteful original decor, has comfortable and stylish decorated rooms and spacious cottages set in the garden. In summer lunches and teas are served on the veranda, at the swimming pool or in the air-conditioned coffee shop. Evening meals are served in the gracious dining room. During a chilly Karoo winter’s evening, when the mountains are capped with snow, log fires blaze in the lounge, dining room and ladies bar.
Day 4 – Oudtshoorn
(Breakfast)
Today we cross the scenic Swartberg Pass, considered to be one of the most spectacular mountain passes in the world: an untarred road winds to the summit 1583 metres above sea level in steep zigzags and sudden switchbacks, with breath-taking views at every turn. As you drive on you gain your first sight of the valleys and peaks of the Swartberg Pass. The natural characteristics of the Pass are magnificent – as are the man-made features. This was Thomas Bain's last engineering masterpiece.
We visit the Cango Caves near Oudtshoorn, which are among the biggest stalagmite formations in the world. Some of the sandstone formations are even colourfully illuminated. The bizarre shapes in the caves are mainly composed of calcium carbonate. They develop as limewater drips from the stones and evaporate. The structures growing down from the cave ceiling are called stalactites, while those that grow from the ground to the top are called stalagmites.
This afternoon we visit a working ostrich farm where one can learn more about these fascinating birds. Commercial ostrich farming started during the late 1880's in South Africa; this was also the start of the ostrich industry worldwide. The fashion demand in Europe for ostrich feathers inspired the growth of the industry, with the Oudtshoorn district quickly being established as the “ostrich capital of the world”. During the first decade of the previous century, ostrich feathers gained record prices on foreign markets, ranking 4th on the list of South African exports, after gold, diamonds and wool. The consequence of this newly found opulence meant that ostrich farmers were able to build beautiful sandstone mansions. A unique feature of the farm experience is a visit to the Ostrich Palace "Welgeluk" which was built at the height of the feather boom in 1910. The homestead is a National Monument and is a superb example of the type of architecture that was used at the time. Safari Ostrich Show Farm was established more than 40 years ago.
We will overnight at the Oudtshoorn Hotel & Resort (or similar). This 4-storey hotel boasts a spa which offers a full range of therapies, massages and beauty treatments. Most of their well-appointed air-conditioned rooms provide a wonderful view overlooking the swimming pool. Outside activities include tennis, jungle gym and miniature golf.
Day 5 - Knysna
(Breakfast)
This morning we depart to Knysna, and then onto Plettenberg Bay. From here we travel to the Bloukrantz Bridge where you have the opportunity to bungee jump at this, the highest commercial bungee jump in the world at 216-metres! Please note that this is for your own account. We then visit the Tsitsikamma National Park and walk to the suspension bridge over the Storms River, the round trip taking about an hour and a half and from here we make our way back to Knysna.
Day 6 – Knysna – Mossel Bay
(Breakfast, Lunch)
This morning after breakfast we visit the “Featherbed Nature Reserve”. Featherbed gives visitors to the Garden Route an unforgettable experience on the Knysna Lagoon. The Lagoon, more accurately defined as an estuary, has five fresh water rivers flowing in from the surrounding Outeniqua Mountains meeting with the surge of sea water from the Indian Ocean through the mighty headlands – known as the 'Knysna Heads' - the grand sandstone cliffs towering above the entrance to the Knysna Lagoon. Featherbed is a privately-owned, registered Nature Reserve and a South African Heritage Site, No.59. It is a pristine piece of paradise situated on the Western Head of Knysna and is accessible by ferry only. After driving through the reserve to the top of the Western Head, you can take the optional, 2.2 kilometre guided walk, passing through Milkwood forests onto the steep sandstone cliffs, into ancient Khoi Khoi sea caves and along a scenic coastal path fringed with aromatic fynbos. Your guide will inform you on the ecology, fauna, flora, bird and marine life in the reserve. On the coastal walk back, you can often spot the resident Black African Oyster Catcher, one of the rarest coastal birds in South Africa. Featherbed Nature Reserve is home to a breeding program of the rare Blue Duiker - one of the smallest antelope species in the world - the beautiful Knysna Loerie and the endangered Knysna Sea Horse. Lunch will be at The Forest Restaurant is situated on the edge of the Lagoon under a canopy of Milkwood trees.
From here we make our way to Mossel Bay, where we visit the Diaz Museum. Of the five National Monuments on the museum grounds, four are buildings dating between 1830 and 1902. The museum grounds themselves, situated on the shores of the Indian Ocean, are a magnificent historical setting. They are situated at the very site where European explorers came ashore and made contact with the indigenous people. Information about the Khoi-Khoi and explorers can be seen in the Maritime Museum.
We overnight at the Point Hotel. The property is a unique location built on rocks above a huge rock pool and overlooking the endless blue expanse of the Indian Ocean. This hotel has sea facing en-suite rooms with private balconies and offers the most exhilarating views. Rooms are equipped with direct dial telephones, international plug points, TV with DSTV, ceiling fans, panel heaters, electronic safes, internet access in every room and wi-fi hotspots located throughout the hotel building.
Day 7 – Cape Town
(Breakfast)
This morning we make our way to Cape Town. If this is during the whale season (July to November) we will travel via Hermanus, which is built along the shores of Walker Bay near the Southern most tip of Africa. Magnificent mountains watch over the town which is home of the Southern Right Whale. Nature lovers from all over the world visit Hermanus to view these magnificent creatures from the best land based whale-watching destination in the world.
We drop you off at your overnight destination in Cape Town or at the Cape Town International Airport in time for your flight.
+27 31 2074700 (Fax)
