Garden Route Adventure - 14 Days

Sawubona! Welcome to South Africa. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, why not get out and explore Durban – teeming with golden, sandy beaches. Maybe visit the Masjid Mosque, wander through a local art gallery or check out Mhlanga Lighthouse – a beautiful lighthouse on the Mhlanga coastline. For dinner, maybe head to Florida Road for traditional Bunny Chow or some fresh seafood with your group – your local leader will be able to recommend their favourite spots.

Leave Durban this morning and travel inland towards the Drakensberg Mountain Range. Along the way, stop at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site and learn about the history of this great man. Then, continue the journey to Drakensberg. When you arrive, maybe enjoy a drink with your group in the thatched loft lounge room or relax at the onsite pool.

Drakensberg is Southern Africa's highest range, sitting at 3482 m, and forms part of the border between South Africa and Lesotho. This morning, lace up your hiking boots and set off through an amazing array of flora and fauna. The Drakensberg range is often referred to as the Barrier of Spears or the Dragon Mountains. Today there are sure to be some beautiful views, so be sure to have your camera in hand.

This morning, head into the mountain kingdom of Lesotho – also known as the Kingdom in the Sky. Cross the border into Lesotho, then drive past the Golden Gate Highlands National Park which is famous for its sandstone rock formations. The park is also home to elands, zebras, mongooses and hundreds of bird species – keep your eyes peeled along the way.

Today you’ll have a variety of hikes to choose from. The Lesotho Highlands offer excellent hiking for all levels of fitness and skill, so depending on your experience, you should be able to choose one that allows you to get the most out of these epic landscapes. Maybe join a village and museum walk or hike along the Pitseng Canyon – a scenic gorge known for its rock pools and views of the surrounding green mountains and red rock. After, maybe explore the numerous Bushman rock art sites in the mountains on the Bushman Painting Hike.

Travel along the beautiful Wild Coast of South Africa to the little coastal town of Cintsa this morning. Cintsa and its surrounding region are home to Xhosa communities, whose lifestyle is deeply rooted in tribal traditions and customs. Arriving in the late afternoon, you'll have time to relax and freshen up before dinner.

Today is a free day to explore at your own pace. Maybe soak up the sun on the beach with a book or take a mountain bike through the hinterland. This afternoon, maybe explore the Cintsa River by canoe or book in for a surfing lesson. Be sure to check in with your group leader to get their recommendations.

This morning you'll travel to Addo Elephant National Park, which was created in 1931 to protect the region's eleven remaining elephants. A true success story in conservation – today there are over 450 elephants in the park, as well as cape buffalo, black rhinos, antelopes and the flightless dung beetle. When you arrive, you'll take an afternoon game drive with your group. As you drive, try to spot some of these resident creatures, among others, from your truck.

Wake early and set off on another game drive in Addo Elephant National Park. After, begin your journey along the Garden Route – your first stop being Tsitsikamma National Park. Here you’ll see the steep ancient forests which meet the breakers of the Indian Ocean, protecting both land and sea. When you arrive, your leader will take you to a local activity centre, where a range of activities will be on offer – some of which you may like to book for your free day tomorrow.

With another day in Tsitsikamma, you’ll have more time to explore this magnificent national park. Cape clawless otters, dolphins, tortoises and southern right whales (depending on the season) are all locals here, along with baboons, monkeys and a heap of birdlife. See how many of them you can spot on a range of hiking trails, including those to the Stormsriver Mouth and waterfalls.

After breakfast, head out across the arid Karoo region bound for Oudtshoorn. Along the way you'll stop at Knysna to stretch your legs and explore this hamlet with a gorgeous lagoon. Then, travel to the Cango Caves, where you’ll have time to explore the weird and wonderful rock formations, including the Cleopatra's Needle, which is at least 150,000 years old. Your local guide will give you all the ins-and-outs of their formation and history. Later, continue to Oudtshoorn – known as the ostrich capital of the world. At the turn of the 20th century, it was full of feather barons that grew rich from the popularity of ostrich feathers. Tonight, maybe head out with your group and find a local restaurant for dinner.

Rise early this morning to spend some time with wild meerkats. Head to their burrow, pull up a chair and sip coffee while the sun comes up and the meerkats climb out into the sunshine. Watch these cute, wild animals, who are never fed or handled by humans, as they go about their daily routine of foraging and frolicking. Then it's on to Cape Town, the seaside city you'll call home for the next two nights. Along the way, stop in Stellenbosch – one of the world’s great wine regions, set in the heart of the Cape Winelands and framed by the Cape Fold Mountains. Visit a local winery to taste and learn about some of the region’s signature vintages. Tonight, maybe head out for dinner to one of Cape Town’s hip restaurants and bars for dinner.

Today, you'll visit Boulder's Beach to see the resident penguins waddle across this beautiful beach framed by ancient granite boulders. Then, the rest of the day is yours to explore Cape Town however you like. With sweeping views across the city and the ocean below, you might like to make your way to the top of Table Mountain. Whether you choose to relax and ride the city's famous cable car to reach the top or strap on your walking shoes and get hiking - we'll leave it up to you! Tonight, maybe join your group for dinner with coastal views – a great way to spend your last night!

As there are no further activities planned today, your South African adventure comes to an end after breakfast. If you’d like to stay longer (and it’s recommended you do) just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.