Garden Route Competition

On arrival at Cape Town International airport, you will be welcomed by one of Finding Africa's representatives who will provide you with all the documents necessary for your journey and assist you with your rental car. Drive to your accommodation Riverside Estates in Hout Bay on the Atlantic Seaboard. Depending on your arrival time you can visit the vibrant Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and enjoy your first dinner there.

In the morning, get yourself acquainted with the “Mother City” by using the Hop-on, hop-off open-top buses to explore the city. Buying a ticket gives you the freedom to set your own pace by hopping off to explore over 100 attractions, such as the Two Ocean Aquarium, Cape Town Tourism, St Georges Cathedral, South African Museum, The Castle of Good Hope and Camps Bay beaches to name a few .

Discover the magnificent Cape peninsula. Commence your journey in Hout Bay’s harbor, where you can take a ferry to Duiker Island and visit its seal colony (weather permitting, inclusive). When open to the public, drive along Chapman’s Peak Drive, which offers a spectacular scenic drive along a mountain pass above the sea cliffs. This road will take you to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point, the southern most tip of the peninsula. Continue your drive to Boulders Beach on the southern False Bay coast, which is famous for its thriving colony of 3000 Jackass penguins.

In the morning, head towards Hermanus, one of the Cape’s most popular holiday destinations and known for the best land based whale viewing in the country (July-November). Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure by relaxing on the white beaches, wander around town, visit the Old Harbor or walk along the footpaths hugging the coast with some spectacular viewing points for spotting the Southern Right Whales. Lunch at one of the popular restaurants located in the Hemel-en-Aarde Wine Valley on one of the many well known Wine Estates.

Accommodation:  Olive Tree Country House, Self-catering

Olive Tree County House is nestled at the entrance to the Hemel en Aarde Valley wine region, 10 minutes from the center of town. The lounge area with fireplace opens onto the swimming pool patio with glorious country views of the mountain and stream.  The spacious accommodation, offering privacy and security, is fully equipped with all modern conveniences.

Accommodation:  Olive Tree Country House, Self-catering

Today you will enjoy a day with White Shark Projects and have an unforgettable experience with these amazing animals. Drive to ‘White Shark Lodge’ in Kleinbaai, where you will enjoy breakfast.  The skipper of the day gives a briefing before you launch and spend 2 to 4 hours at sea. The shark cage takes 4 people at a time. Each person spends about 20 minutes in the cage. All scuba equipment, including 7mm wetsuits, is provided – you don’t need a scuba license to cage dive. Once back on dry land, you're invited for tea, coffee, biscuits or scones, before you continue your journey to the beautiful wine lands in Robertson.

Accommodation: Excelsior Manor, Standard B&B
Activity: Shark cage Diving with White Shark Projects

Excelsior Manor Guesthouse, a restored “feather palace” farmhouse, set amongst the vines of the Breede River Valley. The enormous farmhouse on Excelsior Wine Estate with the characteristic elegance of the Victorian era, embellished with impressive chimneys and Cape Dutch gables, reflects the essence of the haute couture and affluence of the Ostrich Feather boom of the early 1900s.

Excelsior Wine Estate has been in the De Wet family for five generations since 1870. The primary focus of the estate is the production of a range of high-quality red and white wines. Excelsior Manor offers nine spacious en-suite bedrooms and large garden. Other activities and places of interest worth visiting in the area include: Bled you own wine on Excelsior Estate, a river cruise at Viljoensdrift and a unique tractor trip up the mountain on a Protea farm. 

Accommodation: Excelsior Manor, Standard  B&B
Activity: Wine tasting and blending at Excelsior

In the morning, head towards Knysna, a town of exquisite beauty,nestles around a lagoon and estuary and provides an ideal habitat for the cultivation of oysters. The town offers many art shops, tantalizing restaurants and a bustling Waterfront. On route, stop and the “Ostrich Capital” of South Africa, the town of Oudtshoorn. Visit the Safari Ostrich Farm and the renowned Cango Caves, with its extensive system of tunnels and chambers which go on for over four kilometres. Afterwards, drive on to Knysna.

Accommodation:  Phantom View River Resort, Two Bedroom Ensuite Lodge, Self-catering.

Take a ferry from the Knysna Waterfront on a unique eco-experience along the lagoon and estuary, towards the western side of the Knysna Heads, where the privately owned Featherbed Nature Reserve is located. You will have the opportunity to do a 4x4 drive up the steep slopes to reach some of the most spectacular views that Knysna has to offer, the mountains and the ocean.

Accommodation:  Phantom View River Resort, Two Bedroom Ensuite Lodge, Self-catering
Activity: Boat cruise with Lightleys Holiday House Boats

After an early breakfast, continue along the N2 towards Port Elizabeth. Along the way you will be spoilt for choice as there are many activities to choose from. Visit Monkeyland approximately 20 km outside Plettenberg Bay, where you can walk through a 12 ha indigenous forest and experience numerous species of monkeys.  “Birds of Eden”, one of the biggest aviaries in the world; as the nets cover the entire forest, is just next door. Or experience the Tsitsikamma Treetop Canopy Tour.

Accommodation: Accommodation: Zuurberg Mountain Inn, Standard B&B

Explore the Addo Elephant National Park, THE sanctuary for the Cape Elephant population. Today the Park has more than 400 elephants and you may be fortunate enough to view many of the numerous species of other animal such as lion, buffalo, antelopes and of course elephants.

Accommodation: Zuurberg Mountain Inn, Standard B&B
Activity: Addo Safari Game Drive