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Garden Route Adventure 10 Days
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DAY 1 Cape Town - City Orientation Tour
Arrive at Cape Town International Airport, collect your car rental and drive to your hotel. Today you will have the option of a half day City Orientation Tour. Set against the spectacular backdrop of Table Mountain, Cape Town is rich in historical and cultural heritage and natural beauty. Some of the highlight stops on this tour will be the Company Gardens, the Castle of Good Hope and the lively Greenmarket Square - where you can purchase arts and crafts from all over Africa. You will also take a trip through the colourful Bo Kaap area, known as the home of the 'Cape Malays'. Drive to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront where the remainder of the day will be spent at leisure. The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront offers a wide variety of shops, restaurants and entertainment. In the evening enjoy a sunset champagne cruise under sail.
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DAY 2 Cape Town - Table Mountain abseil and biking
After a hearty breakfast at your hotel you will drive to an allocated meeting point. You will then be transferred to the Cableway base station to take the cable car up Table Mountain. Expert mountain guides will meet you and give a debriefing in preparation for your step over the edge! This unique abseil, 1000 metres above sea level is the world's highest commercial abseil (112m). The backdrop to your experience is the amazing views of the city, beaches and peninsula. No climbing or abseiling experience is needed. Your next adventure for the day is an off-road mountain bike exploration of Table Mountain, accompanied by an expert mountain bike instructor. The only experience you need for this tour is the ability to ride a bike; your instructor will be able to give advice on bike handling skills on the trails. 90% of the ride is downhill with only 10% uphill. In the summer months you will have the opportunity to swim and cool off in a crystal clear mountain rock pool halfway down the ride. Alternatively, for the less adventurous - a cable car up and down Table Mountain. Drive back to hotel. Dinner at Golden Restaurant with a drumming experience.
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DAY 3 Cape Town - Albertina via Gansbaai - Shark Cage Diving
After breakfast, a 2 hour drive will take you to the Great White Shark capital of the world - Gansbaai - for an eco-adventure of a life time. On arrival you will be given a safety and orientation presentation over hot coffee or tea, before heading out. The boat will take you on a short trip to the aptly named Shark Alley, between the mainland and Dyer Island. There are about 40 000 Cape Fur Seals living on the island, and this is what attracts the sharks to the waters here, seals being an important source of food for the Great Whites. Other wildlife that may be seen includes Cape Gannets and Commorants, African Penguins, whales and dolphins. Once anchored in the channel a 6-man steel cage is lowered into and floats on top of the water. Cage divers will not be deeper than 1m below the surface, and do not need scuba diving equipment or experience. Goggles and wetsuits are provided and divers only have to hold their breath to see the sharks swimming past the cage. There is also a shark-viewing deck on the boat, so those not in the cage can still watch these creatures of the deep as they swim past the boat. The shark handlers are trained to lure the sharks close to the side of the boat, where their head and jaws are clearly visible. Your experience, both above and below water, will be captured on DVD by a professional videographer and will be made available to you after the trip at a nominal fee. The DVD will be shown once back at the offices, while you enjoy a hearty snack. You will then drive through the Overberg region of the Western Cape, famous for its patchwork fields of wheat and canola. Your destination is a Big 5 game reserve just outside Albertinia. Arrive at the Garden Route Game Lodge in the late afternoon, in time for an evening game drive followed by a traditional African cultural dinner experience.
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DAY 4 Albertinia to Oudtshoorn - Ostrich Farm
Wake up early for a game drive or optional horse back safari, on return breakfast and check out. You will then drive over the scenic Robertson's Pass to the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn, situated in a dry semi arid region of South Africa called the Little Karoo. En-route to your hotel you are able to enjoy quad biking at Chandelier Ostrich Farm at an additional cost.
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DAY 5 Oudtshoorn - Knysna - Cango Wildlife Ranch, Cango Caves Adventure Tour, Sunset Cruise
This morning your first visit is to the Cango Wildlife Ranch - sanctuary to some of the most endangered species in the world. Natural Encounters with the rare White Bengal Tiger, cheetah, snakes and even a cage dive with 4m Nile crocodiles are all offered here. You then visit a working ostrich farm where you will learn more about and even get the opportunity to ride one of these flightless birds! Enjoy a lovely lunch. From here you will drive to the Cango Caves, which stretch 800m into the Swartberg Mountains. The adventure tour will have you scrambling, crawling and squeezing through the narrow limestone caverns, while admiring the impressive dripstone rock formations shaped over millions of years. The more claustrophobic can opt for the easy standard tour. Once you make your way above ground you will drive over the dramatic Outeniqua Pass to Knysna, famous for its lagoon, oysters and over 800 year old iron and stinkwood trees. Check into your centrally located hotel. This evening you will enjoy a sunset cruise on the lagoon. Today you could also take the opportunity to have a wonderful Hot Air Balloon or Tandem Sky Diving experience over this region at an additional cost.
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DAY 6 Knysna - Plettenberg Bay - Knysna Elephant Park
On departure from Knysna visit the Garden of Eden, one of the most beautiful parts of the Garden Route, and the Knysna Elephant Park. Here you will learn the story of the Knysna Elephants while having the opportunity to touch, feed and photograph these gentle giants under the expert guidance of their rangers. Head to the seaside town of Plettenberg Bay, check into your hotel and either spend the rest of the day at leisure or choose an optional excursion such as a boat based whale and dolphin encounter. There are many local restaurants in this beautiful seaside town that can offer a wonderful dining experience.
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DAY 7 Plettenberg Bay - Tsitsikamma - Tree Top Canopy Tour, bungee jump
An early morning departure for the fairytale forest village situated in the Tsitsikamma Forest, en route from Plettenberg you will visit Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre, which offers a truly unique Wildcat Experience. You will see cheetah and leopard at close range, as well as some of the lesser indigenous cats that are seldom seen in the South African wild. On arrival in Stormsriver Village, Tsitsikamma, you will be taken into the indigenous forest for a Tree Top Canopy Tour, where zip lines take you from one tree to the next through breath taking scenery, an unforgettable experience! Today you will also have the opportunity to experience the highest commercial bungee jump (216m) in the world at the Bloukrans Bridge, the highest and largest bridge in Africa. Those not wanting to take the plunge can rather take the Bridge Tour or opt for the Flying Fox - a 200m 'foofie' (cable) slide onto the bridge archway. Check into your hotel for an evening at leisure, after a fun and adrenaline filled day.
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DAY 8 Tsitsikamma - Storms River Tubing
Another exciting day is planned for today; you will experience a Storms River Tubing excursion. Drive to the meeting point, from which a scenic 4x4 drive through the forest will take you down to the river where you will suit up for your adventure down the Storms River. Enjoy a picnic at a half way point to refuel on refreshments and energy bars. Lunch will be served once back on the mainland at Dijembe Backpackers - South African braai (BBQ) with salads and freshly baked bread. Proceed to Tsitsikamma National Park, Tsitsikamma means 'place of much water' in Khoi. A combination of original forest, plantations and Fynbos, the scenery here affords wonderful photographic opportunities, showcasing crashing ocean waves, dramatic cliffs and river gorges. Enjoy an easy walk through the forest and along the suspension bridge, crossing the Stormsriver Mouth gorge. After your walk in the National Park head back to Dijembe Backpackers for your overnight.
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DAY 9 Tsitsikamma - Port Elizabeth via Jeffrey's Bay - Sand boarding
Depart for Jeffery's Bay which offers you the opportunity to enjoy a sand boarding lesson on the beach dunes. Enjoy lunch at one of the local beachfront restaurants before departing for Port Elizabeth, approximately 80km away. Port Elizabeth is known as the 'Water Sport Capital of Africa'. The combination of heavenly shores and invigorating sea breezes draw sports lovers to enjoy some of the planet's best sailing, surfing and scuba-diving. Enjoy your evening at leisure.
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DAY 10 Port Elizabeth - Onward travel
After breakfast you will travel to Port Elizabeth Airport for your onward travel.
Accommodation: None
PLEASE NOTE!!
EXCLUDES!!
Car Rental:
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Refundable deposit of R1500.00 is required at the start of a rental. Additional driver: R190 per driver per rental.
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Contract fee: R50 / rental agreement.
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One way rental charges: A one way fee of R500
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Delivery and Collection:
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Office Hours: R220
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After Hours: R420
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