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Safari itinerary · Cape Town

15 Day Cape, Winelands, Whales & Garden Route Adventure

Cape Town, Winelands, Whales & The Big 5 Garden Route: South African Self-Drive Bucketlist

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From R 122 460 per person

15 Day Cape, Winelands, Whales & Garden Route Adventure
Enquire now
Duration15 days
Your stayCape Cadogan + Mont Rochelle Hotel + 2 more
From, per personR 122 460
TransfersIncluded

The journey

About this itinerary.

Cape Town, Winelands, Whales & The Big 5 Garden Route: South African Self-Drive Bucketlist

Where you'll travel: Cape Town Cape Winelands Garden Route

Overview

Enjoy this sensational 15-day self-drive tour exploring the premier attractions along South Africa’s southern coast. You will have everything in place for a carefree journey starting in Cape Town, winding along the Cape Winelands and its Whale Route, and enjoy thrilling malaria-free Big 5 game viewing in a private reserve before ending your trip in Port Elizabeth.

Enjoy Cape Town’s highlights like Table Mountain, Cape Point Nature Reserve, visiting the endangered African penguins at Boulders Beach, and sipping cocktails on Camps Bay's sunset strip. Spend three sun-drenched days sampling fine food and wine in the picturesque Franschhoek Valley. Make your way to Hermanus, a quiet seaside escape, and go whale watching between June and December. Self-drive the gorgeous Garden Route at your own pace and see the Big 5 in the exclusive Gondwana Game Reserve. Your next stop is Plettenberg Bay, a lively coastal town and South Africa's beach playground. Explore the marine environment and visit the many attractions of the beautiful surrounding forests.

This tour includes a stay at a selection of luxurious hotels and lodges that offer well-appointed rooms, exceptional cuisine, and that warm hospitality that South Africa is renowned for.

Itinerary

Days 01–03

Cape Town

Today you arrive at Cape Town International Airport where you will collect your rental vehicle. You will then make your way to the center of Cape Town where you will check into your hotel.

The next few days are yours to explore Cape Town, visiting top attractions like Table Mountain, Bo-Kaap, Robben Island, the Two Oceans Aquarium, Boulders Beach, Cape of Good Hope, and the Kirstenbosch Gardens. Chat to your travel expert about the various tour options available to you during your stay.

Accommodation: Cape Cadogan

Cape Town

Days 04–05

Franschhoek, Cape Winelands

Today you climb into your vehicle and take a scenic one-hour drive to the quaint town of Franschhoek. Franschhoek is one of the oldest towns in South Africa and is well known for its fine South African wine and French-inspired cuisine. Surrounded by a mountainous range, several vineyards, and countryside retreats, Franschhoek is a destination that offers tranquility and plenty of adventure activities.

From hiking and cycling to gift shops, art galleries, wine trams, chocolate and cheese tastings, farm-to-table dining experiences, spa treatments, and visits to the Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve, there is plenty to keep you busy during your stay. Chat to your consultant for a full list of the tours available in Franschhoek.

Accommodation: Mont Rochelle Hotel

Franschhoek, Cape Winelands

Days 06–07

Whale Watching in Hermanus

Today you travel from the countryside to the coastal city of Hermanus, a town well-known for its incredible land and water-based whale watching. The luxurious Marine Hotel is home for the next two days, offering well-appointed accommodations and the most incredible views across Walker Bay, a favorite spot for whales.

Outside of whale-watching season, Hermanus offers pristine swimming beaches, scenic hiking trails in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve, a township tour, a petting zoo, a country market, and wine tastings at surrounding vineyards. Chat to your travel expert about the various tour options available to you during your stay.

Accommodation: The Marine

Whale Watching in Hermanus

Days 08–10

Big-Five Safari at Gondwana Game Reserve

Your safari adventure begins today as you travel to the private 11,000-hectare Gondwana Game Reserve, the only fynbos reserve in the world that is malaria-free and home to the Big 5.

Enjoy early morning and late afternoon open-vehicle game drives and guided bush walks that discover the Fynbos and smaller creatures living on the reserve. From luxuriously spacious suites with fireplaces and private viewing decks to dinners served under a canopy of stars, Gondwana offers an unforgettable and exclusive safari experience.

Accommodation: Kwena Lodge

Big-Five Safari at Gondwana Game Reserve

Days 11–13

Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route

Today you bid farewell to the bushveld and travel for approximately two hours to the town of Plettenberg, a traveler favorite on the Garden Route.

Plettenberg Bay promises an adventure, offering tours of Monkeyland, Jukani Wildlife Centre, Birds of Eden, and Crags Elephant Sanctuary. One is also able to enjoy horse riding excursions, wine tastings, abseiling, kayaking, hiking, tubing, canopy tours, and ocean adventures to name but a few. Be sure to ask your consultant for more information on tours and attractions in the area.

Accommodation: Tsala Treetop Lodge

Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route

Day 14

Port Elizabeth

The next stop on your journey is the town of Port Elizabeth, known as the "friendly city" and most famous for its incredible coastline and Kragga Kamma Game Park where travelers can encounter cheetahs up-close.

You can look forward to scenic nature trails, magnificent wildlife, cultural experiences, and a number of water sport activities. Wind-surfing, fishing, and scuba diving are firm favorites amongst watersports enthusiasts.

Accommodation: The Boardwalk Hotel

Port Elizabeth

Day 15

Departure

Today your unforgettable self-drive adventure comes to an end. You will drive to Port Elizabeth Airport, return the vehicle, and connect with your onward travel arrangements.

Departure

The complete package

Everything included.

Stay

Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel

  • 3 Nights in 5-star in Cape Town
  • Breakfast daily

Mont Rochelle Hotel

  • 2 Nights in 5-star in Franschoek
  • Breakfast daily

Marine Hotel

  • 2 Nights in 5-star in Hermanus
  • Breakfast daily

Gondwana Game Reserve

  • 3 Nights in 5-star in Western Cape
  • All meals

Tsala Treetop Lodge

  • 3 Nights in Plettenberg Bay
  • Breakfast daily

Boardwalk Hotel

  • 1 Night in Port-Elizabeth
  • Breakfast daily

Experiences

Gondwana Game Reserve

  • 2 Game drives per day
  • 15 days car rental

The same as booking direct

Rates and dates.

Per person sharing for the complete package. Final pricing depends on dates, room category and party size.

Valid until 16 Dec 2026

Show prices in

Peak / migration

1 Sept 2026 – 30 Sept 2026

R 135 640

per person

International flights excluded

Shoulder

1 Oct 2026 – 31 Oct 2026

R 130 420

per person

International flights excluded

Shoulder

1 Nov 2026 – 30 Nov 2026

R 133 160

per person

International flights excluded

Festive

1 Dec 2026 – 16 Dec 2026

R 122 460

per person

International flights excluded

The rate is for the complete package, per person sharing. A single supplement may apply for solo travellers. We offer a price match guarantee, just ask your specialist.

Your specialist for this itinerary

Keith Kudzai Chideme

Keith Kudzai Chideme

Safari Specialist - Southern Africa

Knows 15 Day Cape, Winelands, Whales & Garden Route Adventure backwards. Your direct contact from first enquiry to the day you come home.

Shann ShawJolene Welsh

With Shann and Jolene across the team.

Imagery

A closer look.

+17 View all
"Jolene was simply extraordinary. She put together what became an absolutely incredible African trip for us in the space of barely three weeks, and from the outset her responsiveness, knowledge and genuine enthusiasm were exceptional. Nothing was ever too much trouble, responses were almost immediate, and she very quickly understood exactly what we were looking for, our expectations and the way we like to travel. More than simply being an expert at what she does, Jolene genuinely cared about making the trip special for us, and that came through in every aspect of her planning. What particularly impressed us was the flexibility with which she brought everything together. We already had some of our own arrangements in place, including international flights and staying with friends in Cape Town, but Jolene seamlessly incorporated those into the overall itinerary and still organised all the surrounding logistics and transfers. The safari component she designed was outstanding, taking us through Kruger, Victoria Falls, Chobe and the Okavango Delta, before finishing in Cape Town and the Stellenbosch wine region. Every part flowed beautifully and the lodges, experiences and logistics were exceptional. Just as importantly, Jolene stayed in contact throughout the trip at all the key moments, which made travelling so much easier. She would check us in for our internal flights and send through the boarding passes, confirm transfers the day before each pick-up, and make sure everything was in place before we ever had to think about it. That attention to detail, and the fact that she was always one step ahead, removed so much of the usual travel stress and allowed us simply to enjoy the trip. It was genuinely the trip of a lifetime, put together in an extraordinarily short timeframe, and Jolene deserves enormous credit for making it all happen. We could not recommend her highly enough."
August 2026 · Australia · with Jolene Welsh · Verified on Trustpilot ↗

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Included. Complimentary travel insurance, with cancellation cover of up to $5,000 per person, on bookings paid by 25th September 2026. Details

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Included

Complimentary travel insurance. Cancellation cover of up to $5,000 per person, on bookings paid by 25th September 2026.

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