Winelands and Garden Route Tour - 7 Days (Code T25)

Detailed Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Winelands - Franschhoek
Guests are met at any location of their choice in Cape Town from where we travel to the winelands. Before reaching Stellenbosch we visit the Vergelegen Wine Estate. The estate was laid out in 1700 by Willem Adriaan van der Stel. Vergelegen's Cape Dutch house, gardens and winery offers a unique look back into the 18th century.  Interesting features of a visit can include a trip up the mountain to the winery plant and a walk under the vast Camphor laurels planted by Willem van der Stel in about 1705. The winery is uniquely shaped in an octagon form that is mirrored on the vineyard's labels.

Stellenbosch became known as The City of Oaks due to the large number of oak trees that were planted to line the street. The Dutch immigrants that settled in the town were skilled in hydraulic engineering and they devised a system of furrows to direct water from the Eerste River in the vicinity of Thibault Street through the town along van Riebeeck Street to Mill Street where a mill was erected. Soon after the first settlers arrived, especially the French Huguenots, grapes were planted in the fertile valleys around Stellenbosch and soon it became the center of the South African wine industry. Guests will visit the Bergkelder where they will be taken on a tour of the cellar carved inside the mountain and will taste some white and red wines. From Stellenbosch a short drive takes guests to Franschhoek.

Day 2: Winelands - Franschhoek
The day is devoted to exploring the town of Franschhoek and to visiting three of the finest wine estates in the area. Nestled between two towering mountains in the beautiful Cape Winelands, lies the magnificent Franschhoek Valley.  The valley was originally settled in 1688 by French Huguenot refugees in a valley called Olifantshoek so named because of the vast herds of elephants that roamed the area. The name of the area soon changed to Franschhoek, with many of the settlers naming their new farms after the areas in France from which they came. La Motte, La Cotte, Cabrière, Provence, Chamonix, Dieu Donné and La Dauphine. Most of these farms retained their original farm houses and have grown into renowned wineries. Guests will sample wines at some of these wine estates.

Franschhoek is known for some of the top restaurants in the country and this, together with the strong wine culture and pristine natural and architectural beauty has made Franschhoek into what many describe as the "food and wine capital" of South Africa.

Day 4: Little Karoo
A two hour drive will brings the tour to the turn-off to Gamkaskloof (“the Hell”). Guests will marvel at the mountain vistas, the rock formations, the clear mountain air as well as the vegetation ranging from fynbos to Karoo succulents as we descend into the valley. The valley floor is covered with dense riverine shrubs, thorn trees and the spectacular "Klapperbos". At the bottom of the Kloof the road winds through the dense riverine bush, passing charming historical houses, the only kiosk and restaurant, until one reaches the Gamkas River crossing. Nomadic farmers ended their wandering in the valley and originally 16 small farms were occupied, and the owners, shut in by the mountains became self-dependent, living entirely on the produce of their farms, making their own clothes and indulging in their one luxury – a potent alcoholic beverage made from wild honey. In 1962 a hair-raising road was built into the valley, opening up this once lost valley to the outside world. All the original families left the valley in recent years and plans are there to establish the area as a National Park. Guests will return to Oudtshoorn via Prince Albert and the Meiring’s Poort Pass..

Day 5: Garden Route - Knysna
The tour visits a local Ostrich Farm before leaving the Little Karoo behind as the Outeniqua Mountains are crossed reaching the town of George. The visit to the Ostrich Farm will provide insight into the industry that once boomed in the early 20th century. From George an hour or so drive will bring guests to the coastal town of Knysna. The road between George and Knysna will offers spectacular scenery as the road travels through Wilderness and Sedgefield crossing various rivers flowing out into the ocean. The afternoon will be spent exploring the town of Knysna with a sunset cruise on the Johan Benn, Knysna's only luxury pleasure cruise offering guests an experience to be remembered. Share the stories of the legendary pilot of a by-gone shipping era on a relaxing and comfortable trip to the Knysna Heads.

Day 6: Garden Route - Knysna
After breakfast the tour makes its way to Plettenberg Bay. At Plettenberg Bay we visit Monkeyland and the Birds of Eden Sanctuary. Monkeyland is the world’s first free roaming multi-specie primate sanctuary and aims to create awareness about the plight of primates and to show with a greater understanding of our primate cousins, we can all live in harmony. The Birds of Eden is the world’s largest dome spanning two hectares over a gorge of indigenous forest. The sanctuary has its own mysterious ruin, which incorporates a walk-behind waterfall and the sanctuary’s dome incorporates the ability to synthesize thunder and create short spells of rain from an irrigation system in the dome structure. Roofed viewpoints within the gorge have been erected for use during these brief rain storms. Like Monkeyland, Birds of Eden boasts its own canopy walk. The afternoon will be spent relaxing at one of the areas fine beaches.