Cape Town, the Garden Route, Blue Train and Big Game






















Soak up the atmosphere of Cape Town and Pretoria, enjoy the thrill of a game drive, experience the luxury of the Blue Train and admire the magnificent scenery as you travel along the Garden Route on this memorable 17-day tour.

Days 1-2 Sunday - Fly to Cape Town
We depart from London Heathrow on the overnight flight to Cape Town (flying via Johannesburg on our holiday departing 1 October). On arrival, we transfer to the Cullinan Hotel for a three-night stay. Choose to unwind by the hotel pool or stroll to the nearby waterfront, an area busy with shops and restaurants.

Day 3 - Table mountain and the city
Our sightseeing tour of Cape Town includes a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain for sweeping views of the city and ocean.

Day 4 - The Cape of Good Hope
Today's excursion explores the Cape's Atlantic coast, taking in Chapman's Peak Drive and the maritime port of Simons Town.

Day 5 - The Garden Route
We leave Cape Town by coach and head northwards, climbing over the spectacular Du Toit's Kloof mountain pass to Worcester. We enjoy a wine tasting at the Joubert Troudoux farm near Barrydale, followed by a delicious home-cooked lunch. Our journey continues through the ever-changing scenery of Little Karoo to Oudtshoorn, for an overnight stay at the Riempies Hotel.

Day 6 - To Knysna
Today we begin by visiting the world famous Cango Caves, and then continue to the Cango Wildlife ranch to learn more about their resident crocodiles and cheetahs. After a short drive, we arrive at the Highgate ostrich farm where we enjoy a lunch of ostrich delicacies and a tour of the farm, with the opportunity to ride one of the birds. Our journey continues over the Outeniqua mountain pass through the landscape of lush, green vegetation that gives the Garden Route its name. We make our way via George to Knysna where our hotel for two nights is the Knysna Quays, situated on the banks of the famous Knysna Lagoon.

Day 7 - Featherbed Nature Reserve
We depart by ferry to the Featherbed Nature Reserve, located on the Knysna Heads. We enjoy a cruise round the lagoon and a tour of the nature reserve, which ends with lunch. On our return to Knysna, you are free to enjoy the delights of this seaside town.

Day 8 - The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe
This morning we visit the fascinating Knysna Elephant Park and then travel to Plettenberg Bay for a walk on the beach. After lunch we return to Knysna to join the steam-hauled Outeniqua Choo Tjoe for a picturesque journey along the coast of the Indian Ocean to George, where we visit the Railway Museum. Our journey continues along a scenic coastal route to Mossel Bay for an overnight stay at the Point Hotel with its fabulous ocean views.

Day 9 - Return to Cape Town
Our drive continues through the rolling hills to Swellendam, where we stop at La Belle Alliance for lunch under the trees. We return to Cape Town, arriving late afternoon for another two nights at the Cullinan Hotel.

Day 10 -Free time in Cape Town
Your day is free to see the sights and explore the V&A Waterfront with its many shops and cafés housed in renovated Victorian warehouses. Take a cruise around the docks or out to Robben Island, the World Heritage Site where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his 27-year sentence in the island's infamous prison.

Day 11 -The Blue Train
Today is perhaps the highlight of your holiday as we join the Blue Train to experience one of the greatest rail journeys in the world. Relax as we travel in unashamed luxury to Pretoria with fabulous meals and fine wines.

Day 12 - Pretoria
The Blue Train arrives in Pretoria early afternoon. Here we leave the train and enjoy a brief sightseeing tour of the city before transferring to the Courtyard Inn for an overnight stay.

Day 13 -To Pilanesberg Game Park
We leave Pretoria by coach and travel to Lesedi Cultural Village, a fascinating experience and an excellent opportunity to learn more about the history, origin and colourful traditions of the native tribes people. Enjoy a guided tour of tribal homesteads, an enthralling display of traditional song and dance and a lunch including delicacies from around the African continent. We continue to Pilanesberg Game Park for a three-night stay in Kwa-Maritane Lodge, deep in the veld. This special place is a magnet for wildlife, enabling you to see up close some of Africa's 'big five'.

Day 14-15 - Game viewing
During our stay we enjoy a game drive in an open safari truck - look out for elephant, hippo, giraffe, lion and colourful birds. On our return we dine under the stars at a bush barbeque. You have a free day to relax by the pool, take another game drive, a hot air balloon ride over the veld or an excursion to Sun City.

Day 16 - Soweto tour and flight home
We leave the bush for Soweto. A guided tour introduces us to this vibrant township where much of the long struggle against apartheid was fought. After a lunch of local specialities at the Sowetan restaurant, Wandies, you have free time for shopping in Sandton before we leave for Johannesburg Airport. We return on the overnight flight, arriving in London on the morning of Day 17 (Tuesday).

The Blue Train
One of the great trains of the world, the Blue Train is the way to travel in style. Accommodation is in luxurious air-conditioned twin bedded sleepers with shower and WC, converting to seats by day. There is a comfortable lounge and club car with a well stocked complimentary bar. You can expect some of the finest cuisine on board the train with sumptuous meals accompanied by the finest wines. All meals and drinks, as well as a sightseeing tour of the beautiful village of Matjiesfontein, are included. A journey on the Blue Train is one of life's pleasures!

Outeniqua Choo Tjoe
We travel from Knysna to George by steam train along the Indian Ocean coastline, passing the town of Wilderness with its vast beaches, across Kaimans Bridge and then up the steep gorge to George where the loco works hard. This route is operated by Transnet, the heritage arm of South African Railways.