A sample itinerary from the Andrew Harper Travel Office. Viewed by some simply as a jumping off point for safaris, South Africa provides points of interest aside from or to accompany safari adventures.
Fly from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth and meet your driver-guide. Head to one of the Garden Route’s most spectacular highlights, Storms River Mouth in Tsitsikamma National Park. From here, you can walk the easy Waterfall Trail, the first segment of the renowned Otter Trail. Continue on to Plettenberg Bay, where the hazy blue Tsitsikamma Mountains provide a dramatic backdrop for miles of white-sand beaches.
From your base in Plettenberg Bay, get up close to the world’s largest mammals on a whale-watching excursion, golf one of the memorably scenic courses nearby, explore Tsitsikamma National Park more deeply, take a South African cooking class in Beachyhead Villa (on Plettenberg Bay’s “Millionaires’ Mile”) or relax and enjoy the amenities at a world-class resort.
The drive from Plettenberg Bay to Hermanus may be fairly long, but it’s rich in remarkable scenery. Pause in the town of Knysna, set on a lagoon dotted with forested islands. Further on, some of the Wilderness National Parks’ Lakes District boasts some of the Garden District’s most beautiful coastline. Turning inland, take a break in historic Swellendam, South Africa’s third-oldest white settlement and the gateway to the country’s smallest national park, home to the rare Bontebok. Overnight in the lovely coastal town of Hermanus where, in spring and autumn, visitors can observe migrating whales from the comfort of a hotel’s clifftop terrace.
Take an unforgettable whale-watching cruise around Dyer Island, hike the area’s lush mountain trails or visit some of the local vineyards for a tasting. More adventurous sorts can go sea kayaking or even brave a shark cage dive.
It’s just a 90-minute drive from Hermanus to Franschhoek, arguably the loveliest town in the famous Winelands district. After settling into your hotel, enjoy a wine-tasting and take a romantic horse and carriage ride through the town and surrounding vineyards.
Devote a full day to touring the historic wine estates and the Cape Dutch architecture of nearby Stellenbosch, dating back to the 17th century. Enhance the experience by motoring in a vintage car.
Make the short drive into Cape Town and, after checking into your hotel, explore the lively Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, where you can shop and tour the fascinating Two Oceans Aquarium.
Spend some time exploring the pleasantly compact city center as well as the adjacent suburb of Bo-Kaap, home to a large segment of the Cape’s Muslim community. The colorful 19th-century houses, charming mosques and intimate cobbled lanes combine to make this one of the city’s most atmospheric quarters. Weather permitting, ascend nearby Table Mountain for a stupendous view of the sunset. This evening, instead of dining in a restaurant, have dinner in the home of local Cape Town resident Morag De Jong, who has been hosting international tourists for more than 20 years.
Take a private motorboat to infamous Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for many years. Enjoy a sumptuous picnic lunch while cruising. Take the afternoon on your own to do any final shopping, sightseeing or spa treatments.
Depart Cape Town and connect to your flight home.
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