South Africa offers an unparalleled touring experience: Following a route that has been specifically chosen to encompass some of the most stunning and diverse landscapes, we shall be visiting the most scenic parts of southern Africa, including Cape Town and its surrounding area, the glorious Winelands, the Little Karoo, the beautiful Garden Route, and Addo Elephant Park.
Accommodation
The tour will mainly stay in small, privately-owned hotels, guesthouses and lodges. The delightful accommodation includes elegant Cape Dutch farmsteads, a converted missionary station, stylish game lodges, sophisticated town houses, and African Colonial-style homesteads. All the hotels have wonderful character and individuality, whilst being of a very good standard - all 3, 4 & 5 star, or equivalent. Due to the nature and age of many of the buildings, all the rooms are different, and will vary from charmingly comfortable to the utmost luxury.
All the accommodation is hand-picked and, wherever possible, we have visited the hotels and guesthouses to ensure they have an enchanting atmosphere, as well as suitable parking for your car. All the accommodation is en-suite, and breakfast is included each morning.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive at Cape Town International Airport in the morning, where you will be met and taken to collect your car. Just a short 20 minute drive to the hotel will be followed by a free afternoon to settle in. The first four nights of the tour will be based at this highly acclaimed hotel, set amongst the vineyards of a private wine estate, in the exclusive garden suburb of Constantia, just ten minutes from central Cape Town.
Day 2
Spend the day exploring the exciting ‘Mother City’ of Cape Town. Visit the renowned V&A Waterfront and take a boat trip to Robben Island. Wander around Bo-Kaap, the city’s oldest residential area with colourful Cape Dutch and Georgian architecture.
Day 3
Drive the fabulous circular route to Cape Point. Visit the penguins at Boulders Beach, and then head onto the Cape Point Nature Reserve. The Cape of Good Hope makes for a good photo stop. Return via the sensational Chapmans Peak Drive to Hout Bay and wind your way back over the mountains to Constantia.
Day 4
Another day to explore Cape Town and the surrounding area. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, at the foot of Table Mountain, are well worth a visit. The view from the top of the iconic Mountain must be experienced, and you can either hike up or take the revolving cable car. Afternoon tea at the Mount Nelson Hotel would finish off a perfect day.
Day 5
Head out to the Winelands and Stellenbosch, about an hour away. There will be a vineyard and cellar tour with wine tasting, followed by a picnic lunch. Spend the afternoon at your leisure exploring the numerous vineyards (there are over 100) in the area. Dinner will be an unforgettable outdoor dining experience that captures the essence of the unique Cape African culture at a local wine estate. Stay overnight in Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South Africa, in a lovely central small hotel.
Day 6
For thrill seekers, there will be the opportunity to fly over the vineyards in a Tiger Moth. Visit the Winelands Auto Museum, with the country’s largest collection of classic cars or treat yourself to more vineyard tours. It is a short drive to Franschhoek, where you will stay for the next two nights in an exquisite converted chapel, now a wonderful guesthouse with gastronomic restaurant.
Day 7
A free day in Franschhoek to explore the delightful town, discover more vineyards, or take part in one of the many activities available, such as hiking or horse riding.
Day 8
Head over the Franschhoek Pass to Grabouw and Cape apple growing country, with its acres of orchards. Drive over Sir Lowry’s Pass and take the stunning coastal road to Betty’s Bay and onto Hermanus to stay at a very stylish guesthouse on the coast. Hermanus is on Walker Bay, venue of the best land-based whale watching in the world. A very relaxing afternoon can be spent watching the Southern Right Whales in the bay. (June to November only)
Day 9
After a morning’s whale watching, drive to the fetching little town of Swellendam, South Africa’s third oldest settlement. Journey either via Cape Argulhus, the southern-most point of the African continent, or over the Caledon. Spend the afternoon exploring Swellendam and its pleasant museums. Stay in a beautiful manor house.
Day 10
Leave early to drive north over the Tradouws Pass in into the Klein Karoo. Visit Calitzdorp, which is renowned for its production of Port. Head onto the Cango Caves, fantastic cavernous spaces with dripping rocks and columns, for a guided tour. Drive over the Swartberg Pass, which is a sensational untarred mountain pass, considered one of the best in the world, with amazing rock formations and beautiful scenery, to Prince Albert in the Karoo. Stay in a gorgeous guesthouse on the edge of town.
Day 11
Leave Prince Albert and drive through stunning Meiringspoort, leave the Karoo and head down to the coast. Travel along the coast and the Garden Route from Wilderness to stay for three nights in a wonderful guesthouse between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.
Day 12
Take a ride on the Outeniqua Steam Train and then lunch in Knysna on the quay. Spend the afternoon exploring the town, the Heads and the Featherbed Nature Reserve.
Day 13
Another free day to relax. Plettenberg Bay is an endearing town with beautiful beaches and great restaurants, or drive out to Nature’s Valley for the scenery.
Day 14
Drive along the Tsitsikamma Coast to Port Elizabeth, and onto Addo Elephant Park. For those daring enough the route passes the world’s highest bungee jump! Stay for two nights at a fabulous guesthouse, on a citrus estate, and renowned for its good food.
Day 15
Addo is home to the densest elephant population on Earth. Take an open truck safari drive to see these magnificent creatures. There will also be an opportunity to take a tour of the citrus farms in the surrounding area.
Day 16
Drop your hire car at Port Elizabeth airport and either fly back to Cape Town, or to Johannesburg, for the international flight home
Details
Dates
Duration: 15 nights. This trip can be taken at any time.
£1,995 per person - based on two people sharing a twin or double room. This price does not include car hire. We can arrange either modern, classic or sports car hire for your journey, and the price varies with the type of car.
We can also arrange shipping of your own vehicle to and from South Africa, if you require.
What’s included
- Full Tour participation
- All accommodation (based on two people sharing a twin or double room)
- Breakfast every morning
- Tour book for each car - includes a brief history of South Africa and Swaziland, basic Afrikaans dictionary, emergency details, maps and directions, accommodation information, and a very detailed account of sights and visits for each day. The book effectively eliminates the need for any other guide books.
What’s not included
- Flights or travel to South Africa and the start of the tour
Car hire, if applicable- Fuel
- Road tolls
- All lunches
- Entry into attractions and activities
- South African comprehensive motor insurance for the duration of the trip (for foreign, shipped vehicles only) will be arranged, but not included, as each car will be quoted for individually
- All drinks are extra to accommodate individual preferences
Requirements
- Each person must have a passport (and any necessary visas for non-EU passport holders) valid for South Africa to participate on the tour.
- All passports must be valid for six months after the end of the tour.
- You will also need your vehicle registration documents and an international insurance green card if you are shipping your own car.
- A driving licence (a photo-card licence or international permit is best) for each driver.
- Please check with your travel insurers that you are covered for travel in the required countries.
Car hire
Classic Travelling can arrange the hire of a suitable classic or sports car on your behalf in South Africa. We have teamed up with Motor Classic of Cape Town to offer you a superb variety of classic and sports cars, all at very favourable rates for this tour.
Please have a look at www.motorclassic.co.za for further information and the range of vehicles available.
Booking
Apart from our scheduled, escorted group tours, none of our itineraries are set in stone - after all, this is your holiday - so we can fine-tune any aspect of these tours to meet your wishes. Any of our escorted tours may also be taken as a private, independent tour, at a time to suit you.
We work closely with a number of classic and spots car hire companies across the UK, Europe, and beyond, so we can arrange your car hire for you , too. Please contact us for futher details and the cars we have available.
