Whales - Winelands - Wildflowers Self-Drive Tour

Package Overview

From mid-August to mid-September, this seasonal self-drive holiday in South africa explores the Cape West Coast & its spectacular wildflowers that form a carpet of many colours. Starting in Cape Town, view whales in Hermanus & enjoy wine tasting in Stellenbosch, before driving through the Cederberg Mountains to Namaqualand. End with Augrabies Falls & a safari in the Kalahari.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Table Mountain • Cape of Good Hope • Stellenbosch Winelands • Whale Watching
• Paternoster • West Coast National Park • Cederberg Mountains • Namaqualand Wild Flowers
• Augrabies Falls • Kgalagadi National Park

Day wise Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrival

  Arrive Cape Town Airport, collect your hire car and drive to your hotel in this beautiful city, within sight of Table Mountain.
  
  Check in and relax in your magnificent surroundings.
• Day 2 : Table Mountain

  Today we recommend ascending Table Mountain by cable car (weather permitting) to enjoy one of the world’s most famous views.
  
  Continue to Camps Bay beach, before visiting the shops and many other attractions of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.

  • Hotspots Camps Bay
• Day 3 : Hout Bay

  Today we recommend a full day exploring the beautiful Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve peninsula.
  
  Start with an optional short boat trip from Hout Bay to view Cape Fur seals at Seal Island and continue via Chapman’s Peak Drive to spectacular Cape Point where you may see baboons, ostrich and perhaps even dolphins or whales in season (July/November).
  
  On the return journey we recommend driving through naval Simons Town and visit the resident penguin colony at Boulders Beach. You can also make a short stop at the world famous Kirstenbosch Gardens, before returning to your hotel in the late afternoon.
• Day 4 : Hermanus

  Today drive 2-hours to the small seaside town of Hermanus, travelling via the scenic Gordon’s Bay and False Bay coastal route.
  
  From July to November, southern right and humpback whales come here to breed and this is considered the best location for land-based Whale Watching in the world. Once severely endangered, these magnificent creatures of the deep are now breeding successfully in the area due to a major international conservation effort. Weather permitting, take an optional boat ride to get closer views (pre-booking recommended, as boats have limited capacity).
  
  Enjoy whale watching from the cliffs before returning to Cape Town, travelling through the apple orchids of Elgin and Sir Lowry's Pass.
• Day 5 : Franschhoek Valley

  Today we recommend a full day exploring the renowned Stellenbosch Winelands, travelling through the scenic Franschhoek Valley where a handful of French Huguenot refugees started South Africa’s now famous wine industry.
  
  Visit the historic university town of Stellenbosch and several different wine estates of your choice. In the afternoon we recommend lunch at a good restaurant or wine estate, and a visit to the Cheetah Outreach project in Somerset West on the way home (pay locally).
• Day 6 : Paternoster

  Today you will be introduced to the stunning scenery of the West Coast, as you drive 2-hours from Cape Town to Paternoster.
  
  Along the way we suggest a visit to Langebaan Lagoon - a Ramsar Wetland of international importance. In this area, depending upon the rainfall, from mid August to mid September you may see spectacular fields of wild flowers in Postberg Nature Reserve in West Coast National Park that surrounds the lagoon. Whale watching is possible from August to November and you can see antelope in the park all year round (pay entrance fee locally).
  
  As thousands of seabirds roost here, we suggest a stop at the Geelbek Hide for some bird watching before continuing to Cape Columbine Nature Reserve and Paternoster - a peaceful fishing village that has sustained a local community for many decades.
• Day 7 : Namaqualand

  Today leave Paternoster and drive 5-hours northwards into the heart of Namaqualand, passing through several small towns.
  
  Clanwilliam is the gateway to the magnificent Cederberg Mountains and Vanrhynsdorp is home to the world’s largest collection of succulent plants. Bitterfontein produces and exports green granite and Garies produces kaolin, which is an essential element in the production of paper and fine porcelain.
  
  As you approach Springbok, you can expect to see miles and miles of brightly coloured wildflowers that bloom here each year during August and September – carpeting what is normally an arid semi-desert landscape. This spectacular natural phenomenon occurs for only a few weeks, with the quality and timing of the floral displays depending upon the mid-year rainfall. Check into your hotel in the heart of the wildflower region.
• Day 8 : Goegap Nature Reserve

  During wildflower season, we suggest visiting Goegap Nature Reserve, as well as more remote regions such as Kamieskroon depending upon where the wildflowers are at their best. Enjoy photographing these colourful blooms, which are a truly remarkable sight (pay entrance fees locally).
  
  At other times of the year there is much to photograph in these quaint rural towns in this far-flung part of South Africa, where the Bushmen once roamed. Learn more about their culture or adapt your itinerary to explore areas such as Riemvasmaak Canyon, the mountainous Richtersveld or the beautiful coastline at Port Nolloth instead.
  
  In the evening marvel at the glorious night skies overhead, offering some of the best star gazing opportunities in the world.
  
  Note: The wildflower areas only open at 11am.
• Day 9 : Goegap Nature Reserve

  During wildflower season, we suggest visiting Goegap Nature Reserve, as well as more remote regions such as Kamieskroon depending upon where the wildflowers are at their best. Enjoy photographing these colourful blooms, which are a truly remarkable sight (pay entrance fees locally).
  
  At other times of the year there is much to photograph in these quaint rural towns in this far-flung part of South Africa, where the Bushmen once roamed. Learn more about their culture or adapt your itinerary to explore areas such as Riemvasmaak Canyon, the mountainous Richtersveld or the beautiful coastline at Port Nolloth instead.
  
  In the evening marvel at the glorious night skies overhead, offering some of the best star gazing opportunities in the world.
  
  Note: The wildflower areas only open at 11am.
• Day 10 : Augrabies

  This morning depart from Namaqualand and drive 3-hours through the Kalahari to Augrabies.
  
  At Augrabies Falls - “The Place of Great Noise” - the mighty Orange River dramatically crashes over the rim of a granite canyon during the summer flood, to plunge 270 ft into the gorge below, forming South Africa’s largest waterfall and the sixth largest in the world.
  
  Check in and and view Augrabies Falls, where conditions for photography are excellent. Accommodation is in simple but comfortable self-catering air-conditioned chalets. In the late afternoon we suggest a short game drive in the park, where you may see giraffe, eland, and other smaller antelope.
• Day 11 : Kalahari

  This morning drive 4-hours through the vast and arid Kalahari, one of the world’s last unspoilt ecosystems and one of Africa’s greatest wilderness areas. In this land of far horizons, marvel at the gigantic nests of the sociable weaver birds set high in camel thorn trees and stop to examine some of the amazing succulent desert plants which have adapted to survive in such harsh conditions.
  
  The malaria-free Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a visionary 3.7-million hectare joint venture between South African and Botswana. Check into your self-catering rest camp, with accommodation in simple but comfortable air-conditioned chalets and tents.
• Day 12 : Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

  Today is devoted to self-drive game viewing in the vast Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. We recommend setting off early each morning as the camp gates open (05h30 to 06h00 depending on the season), to take advantage of the best game viewing conditions of the day.
  
  Wildlife is plentiful in the red sand dunes and semi-desert of this vast game sanctuary, which is twice the size of the Kruger National Park. Of the many species of mammals and reptiles that have successfully adapted to the harsh desert conditions, the most famous is the black-maned Kalahari lion. Kgalagadi is also renowned for the magnificent oryx, cheetah and leopards - which are more easily seen in the sparse vegetation. You will see some of Africa’s most unusual animals in the Kalahari and many of the “great cats” – lion, cheetah and leopard – but the vegetation does not support elephants, rhino or buffalo.
  
  You should see large herds of antelope including springbok, eland and blue wildebeest. You can also hope to see the brown and spotted hyena, black-backed jackals, curious meerkats, yellow mongoose, porcupines, honey badgers, bat-eared foxes, Cape foxes, African wild cats and many other interesting animals. Bird life is also prolific, with over 260 species, including 20 different raptors.
  
  You can spend the full day on the road, or return to your rest camp for breakfast and some relaxation, before setting out again in the late afternoon for another game drive.
  
  Note: Vehicles are not allowed to drive off-road in any national park in South Africa.
• Day 13 : Departure

  Enjoy some final game viewing in Kgalagadi National Park before your 3-hour drive to Upington Airport for your flight home.

Inclusions

• Hotel
• Sightseeing

Price & Rates

Package Start From

• Cape Town, South Africa, Africa

Terms & Conditions

This Tour is Offered by

• Ancient Olympia Ilias, 270 65, OlympiaGreece
• XXXXXX9527 View Contact
• XXXXXXXXXX@gmail.com View Mail ID

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