Cape Town, the Garden Route & Big Five Safari

Upon arrival at Cape Town, meet your guide and journey east to Hermanus, a famous whale-watching centre from July to November and a year-round seaside resort. En route to Hermanus, you’ll call at Stony Point, home to a unique colony of African penguins.

Departures between September and November will include a whale-watching cruise. Tonight, enjoy an included dinner at La Pentola, close to your hotel

This morning you’ll have the chance to go on a whale watching cruise (included on departure dates between Sep and Nov), before you’ll continue on the scenic journey to the Garden Route Game Lodge, in the heart of a privately operated reserve where you'll spend the next two nights. During your stay here, in the shadow of the Langeberg mountains, you’ll enjoy all the wonders of safari game drives while staying in comfortable lodges and enjoying typical African dinners looking out over the reserve.

This afternoon, enjoy your first game drive before dinner.

A second day at the lodge begins with a pre-breakfast game drive. Enjoy some free time for a siesta - perhaps by the pool - before setting off on a second evening game drive and then perhaps enjoy a sun-downer beside the authentic Boma (camp fire) before enjoying another memorable dinner at the lodge's restaurant.

Join your last morning game drive, followed by a hearty breakfast, before you travel on to Oudtshoorn, the Ostrich Capital of the World, in the heart of the Little Karoo plain. The world’s strangest, largest and often most-valuable bird has been farmed here for 130 years – first for its plumage, and more recently for its high-protein, low-cholesterol meat. Enjoy a taste at your barbecue lunch, before visiting the world-renowned Cango Caves, with their caverns of stalactites and stalagmites, before transferring to Mossel Bay for a two-night stay.

This morning, you'll travel to coastal Knysna for a cruise on the beautiful lagoon, which hugs the edge of the fascinating Featherbed Nature Reserve. After the cruise, you’ll travel in a 4x4 up to the headland for some spectacular views, listening as your expert guide tells you about the local history, flora and fauna. A buffet lunch will be served at an outdoor restaurant under a picturesque canopy of milkwood trees.

This afternoon, enjoy some free time to explore Knysna’s charming waterfront. Why not cross the water to the aptly named Leisure Island, where you can soak up the sunshine on Bollards Bay Beach or go wildlife spotting in the Steenbok Nature Reserve? Tonight, you’ll enjoy an included dinner at the hotel's restaurant.

*Please note: For 2026/27 departures, this evening's included dinner will not take place on day six but, rather, will be served in Stellenbosch on day seven.

Head west into the lush, rolling hills of the Cape Winelands, where you'll discover the charming, vineyard-clad town of Franschhoek, often celebrated as the culinary capital of South Africa. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to indulge in lunch (on your own account) at one of its many world-renowned restaurants, where gourmet dining meets stunning vineyard views. After savouring the region's exceptional cuisine, enjoy a wine tasting in the fabled Franschhoek Wine Valley, known for producing some of South Africa's finest vintages.

The journey continues to Stellenbosch, nestled deep in the heart of this breathtaking landscape. With its oak-lined avenues, vibrant atmosphere, and elegant Cape Dutch architecture, Stellenbosch is an enchanting place to spend the night.

Enjoy a guided introduction of historic Stellenbosch, followed by a glass of bubbly and some local nougat. Take a scenic journey to Cape Town this afternoon, where you will spend the next three nights, after enjoying an included lunch in a local wine estate.

On arrival in Cape Town, set out on an orientation tour of the city. You'll see historical landmarks like the Castle of Good Hope, the House of Parliament, and the leafy Company’s Gardens. You’ll also enjoy a stroll past the colourful Bo Kaap colonial district and, weather permitting, ascend Table Mountain in a rotating cable car that offers a 360-degree panorama as it climbs to the 1000-metre-high summit.

*Please note: The complimentary champagne and nougat during the introductory tour of Stellenbosch will no longer be available for 2026/27 departures.

Enjoy some breakfast ahead of a captivating day on the road as you take to one of the world's most scenic routes along Hout Bay and the Cape Peninsula. Flanked on either side by vast mountains and Cape Town's wild coastline, you'll have the chance to enjoy the very best of the region's natural landscapes as you make your way along the winding roads of the Chapman's Peak route, famous for its 180-degree views and picturesque picnic spots.

Moving further south, you'll arrive at Cape Point, a verdant headland overlooking Cape Peninsula's most southerly point. Home to rolling hills and rugged bays, this area is a sight to behold and falls in the Cape Floral Region - which boasts around 20% of Africa's total flora. Take a moment to admire the native Fynbos which add vibrant splashes of colour to the surrounding greenery as you board the cable-drawn Flying Dutchman Funicular - named after the legendary ghost ship destined to sail the seas for eternity - for a gentle ride up to the summit. Here, you'll have the chance to relax in the company of the Cape's breathtaking vistas or pay a visit to the stalwart lighthouse that watches over the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans for unobstructed views of the coast.

The afternoon will continue with a stop in Simon’s Town with various options for lunch.

This evening, you'll have time at leisure to spend as you please. Perhaps explore the Mother City, with its renowned Waterfront and cultural landmarks such as the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa or vibrant Bo Kaap.

Journey to Kirstenbosch this morning, famous for its flourishing Botanical Gardens. Nestled against the eastern face of Table Mountain, the gardens here are widely acclaimed as some of the most biodiverse on the planet.

This afternoon, you're free to relax in one of the world’s most stunningly located cities with time at leisure. Perhaps take a stroll along the redeveloped Victoria and Alfred waterfront or explore the infamous Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, with a short trip across the bay. Fascinating, informative and deeply poignant, this museum is an unmissable experience.

*Please note: For 2026/27 departures, this morning's tour of the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens will no longer be an included excursion and will be replaced with time at leisure.

Spend the morning at leisure before transferring to the airport for your overnight flight home.

You'll land back home this morning, at the end of a wonderful holiday in South Africa.