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6 DAY GARDEN ROUTE SELF DRIVE

Route 62 is the tourist route in the Western Cape, South Africa, that meanders between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn, the Garden Route and Port Elizabeth, offering the shorter, scenic alternative to the N2 highway.

The Garden Route is an area of magnificent landscapes and towering cliffs, crystal clear streams and the abundance of trees and indigenous flora. The Garden Route is considered to be one of the world’s greatest drives.

Includes

• 5 nights Standard or Superior accommodation
• Daily breakfast
• Europcar Group B car hire for 6 days
• Meet and greet at Cape Town Airport
• Information pack with maps and detailed itinerary

Day 1 Cape Town to Oudtshoorn
263 miles 4.15 hours
Met on arrival at Cape Town Airport by our representative. Assistance will be given with collecting your Europcar vehicle and a full briefing will be provided by the representative including answering any queries you may have and giving some useful tips for your itinerary. Should you wish to stay in Cape Town for a few days before starting this itinerary your Travelmood consultant can arrange car hire to be booked from your accommodation or downtown depot. Our representative would come to see you at the hotel for the briefing. Depart Cape Town via Route 1. Perhaps your first stop will be the wineland town of Paarl, just a 40 minute drive from Cape Town. Set below the second largest granite outcrop in the world, historic Paarl offers a wide range of vineyards in beautiful settings. Continue on to Worcester and the Breede Valley. We recommend a stop in quaint Montagu, considered to be the scenic heart of Route 62. Entering starkly different scenery you’ll travel through the towns of Ladismith and Callitzdorp before arriving in Oudtshoorn, via a dramatically picturesque mountain pass.
Standard: De Opstal
Superior: Buffelsdrift Game Lodge
 
 Ostrich farm tour from £17


Day 2 Oudtshoorn to Knysna
87 miles 1.25 hours
Morning at leisure in Oudtshoorn; Ostrich capital of the world. Here Ostriches are found in great numbers and the region produces the best feathers, leather product and Ostrich meat worldwide. Travelmood recommends prebooking a half day tour to Highgate Ostrich Farm including lunch, from £17. In the afternoon head south on spectacular but twisting roads through the Outeniqua Mountains to the town of George and then the coast at Wilderness. Following the N2 you’ll have glimpses of the Indian Ocean to your right as you pass through lush forests and arrive in Knysna. Located on the edge of a peaceful lagoon Knysna is one of the Southern Cape’s best known holiday destinations. The most well known attraction in Knysna is Knysna Heads – two great sandstone cliffs guarding the mouth of the lagoon which connects the estuary with the sea. A lookout has been erected on the Eastern Head, commanding spectacular views of the lagoon, Leisure Isle and Knysna.
Standard: The Graywood Hotel
Superior: Knysna Log Inn


Day 3 Knysna to Plettenberg Bay
25 miles 35 minutes
Morning at leisure in Knysna. Travelmood recommends pre-booking a cruise on the John Benn – Knysna's only luxury pleasure cruiser. She is beautifully appointed with her upper and lower decks constructed from Yellowwood sourced from the Knysna Forest. This unique vessel has carried many local and international travellers on the Lagoon over the years and offers daily cruises to the Knysna Heads. This legendary floating restaurant is for eating, drinking and having fun! From £17. After lunch continue along the Garden Route to nearby Plettenberg Bay. ‘Plett’ is one of South Africa’s favourite holiday playgrounds and for good reason. The gorgeous bay is home to two incredible beaches, namely Robberg and Lookout Beaches.
Standard: Tarn Country House
Superior: NH Plettenberg Bay

 Cruise Knysna Lagoon from £17


Day 4 Plettenberg Bay to Tsitsikamma
38 miles 45 minutes
Enter Tsitsikamma National Park, an 80 kilometre long coastal strip between Nature's Valley and the mouth of the Storms River. In the park the visitor finds an almost untouched natural landscape – a magical place of deep ravines, cool rivers, misty forests and a magnificent rugged coastline. Short walking paths lead through the coastal rainforests to the hanging bridge at the mouth of the Storms River and to the famous Schietklip, a rock in the sea which causes thundering giant waves.
Standard: Tsitsikamma Lodge
Superior: Tsitsikamma Lodge (Luxury room)

DAY 5 Tsitsikamma to Port Elizabeth
174 miles 2.45 hours
The final leg of your self-drive leaves the Garden Route behind as you continue east on the N2. Consider a detour to the upmarket St Francis Bay for superb surfing beaches, or perhaps a walk to the impressive lighthouse for great coastal views. From July to November you may be lucky and see whales offshore. Nearby is Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa’s surfing centre. At Port Elizabeth check in to your accommodation and take in some of the sights and shopping of the city.
Standard: The Kelway Hotel
Superior: The Paxton Hotel


Day 6 Port Elizabeth
Morning at leisure before returning your vehicle to Europcar at Port Elizabeth Airport to complete your self-drive itinerary. If you have an evening flight arranged then we would recommend a drive to Addo Elephant Park, some 70kms from Port Elizabeth. Addo is considered to be one of the best places in the world for viewing huge elephant herds. You can drive around the park yourself and park at waterholes for optimum viewing.

BOOK IT NOW
Throughout this itinerary we feature some exciting day tour options. If these appeal to you we recommend that you pre-book with your Travelmood consultant as soon as possible.
 
 Private Game Reserve from £103 a night.  

Travelmood highly recommends a 3 day 2 night add-on to your Garden Route itinerary with a stay at one of the Eastern Cape Private Game Reserves shown on pages 34 to 35. From just £114 per person per night you can stay in a malaria-free reserve including all meals and two game drives daily. A game drive through spectacular scenery and the chance to see ‘Big Five’ wildlife is not to be missed! You can extend your car hire for the drive to Sibuya, Kariega or Amakhala Private Game Reserves – all are within a 90 minute drive of Port Elizabeth. Contact your Travelmood consultant to pre-book your Safari extension.

ACCOMMODATION IN PEAK SEASON Please note that South Africa is very popular during their summer months from November to March. Therefore the accommodation shown on this itinerary is subject to availability at the time of booking. If the accommodation listed is full we will endeavour to book a comparable alternative.

 

Price in £ per person
01 Nov 07 - 31 Oct 08	Single	Twin
Standard	438	259
Superior	528	344