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Madiba Coast and Magical Garden Route Tour - Detailed Information

DAY 1

Depart Durban and drive along the spectacular coastal road to Ramsgate before we cross the Mtamvuna River into the beautiful and scenic Eastern Cape region and home of the Xhosa people, endless hillsides of traditional huts and villages, en route to Port St Johns situated at the mouth of the Umzimvubu River - surrounded by towering cliffs, pristine beaches and indigenous forest. The afternoon drive continues inland via lush valleys and forests to an overnight stop in Umtata for dinner and overnight. Garden Court Umtata dinner, bed and breakfast basis

DAY 2

Experience a typical African city with its street markets and traders. Visit the Nelson Mandela Museum and his home village of Qunu. Crossing the Fish River, we leave this homeland, visiting East London en route to Kariega Game Reserve where one can view many indigenous animal species of the area including Africa's 'Big Five'. Kariega Game Reserve or similar dinner, bed and breakfast basis + 1 game viewing activity

DAY 3

Enjoy an early morning game drive in an open safari vehicle. After breakfast, depart from the lodge and visit a pineapple plantation and Grahamstown, 'the city of churches' which boasts a wide variety of interesting sites including schools, Rhodes University, historical early settler architecture and monuments. Here we also visit the fascinating Camera Obscura, giving you a bird's-eye view of the city. The afternoon is spent game viewing at Addo National Elephant Park. Late afternoon departure to Port Elizabeth. The day ends at your beachfront hotel. Freshen up for a delectable dinner featuring Cape Country cuisine at a local restaurant or the hotel's elegant dining room. Protea Hotel Marine Port Elizabeth or similar dinner, bed and breakfast basis

DAY 4

Departing Port Elizabeth, enter the Garden Route via the high forests of the Tsitsikama Mountains and the Bloukrans and Groot River Passes. Attractions to be visited through the Tsitsikama Forest area include the Big Tree and the Garden of Eden. Gaze in awe at the scenery whilst crossing the bridge over the Storms River where photographic opportunities abound. After lunch a the scenic Storms River mouth (not included), continue via the 'millionaires playground' of Plettenberg Bay to South Africa's 'oyster capital', Knysna. After a short refreshment stop at Knysna's East Head we continue via Sedgefield to the quaint seaside village of Wilderness. Protea Hotel Wilderness Resort or similar bed and breakfast basis

DAY 5

From our hotel in Wilderness, we board the famous Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe and travel to Knysna. On arrival at the Knysna Waterfront, we embark on the Featherbed Nature Reserve's ferry, nature trail and lunch. After the ferry returns to the Featherbed Ferry Terminus, the day's adventure ends with a scenic drive back to Wilderness for drop off at your hotel. Protea Wilderness Resort or similar - bed and breakfast basis including lunch

DAY 6

The day's adventure begins as we depart Wilderness to the historic town Mossel Bay. Our tour continues via the Robertson Pass and on to the town of Oudtshoorn. Here we visit the Safari Ostrich Show Farm and enjoy a traditional lunch. The day continues with a fully guided tour of the Cango Caves as well as the Cango Wildlife Ranch and Valley of Ancients endangered species breeding facility. The day concludes with a scenic drive over the Outeniqua Pass into George and onward to Wilderness where you will be dropped off at your hotel. Protea Hotel Wilderness Resort or similar - bed and breakfast basis including lunch

DAY 7

After a sumptuous breakfast, our journey to Cape Town begins. Driving through Mossel Bay, we travel over the majestic Tradouw's Pass toward Barrydale. On arrival in the Tradouw valley, take a nostalgic trip on a vintage tractor through the vineyards of the Joubert Tradouw Cellars where we enjoy a cellar tour and wine tasting. Continuing through the Little Karoo, we arrive in Montague in time for a delectable country luncheon at Mimosa Lodge reputed as a place of fine hospitality and superb cuisine. After lunch we traverse Kogmanskloof Pass through to the town of Robertson and over the Franschhoek Pass to Franschhoek. After a short visit to the town's 17th century Huguenot Memorial, we travel over the Helshoogte Pass into the town of Stellenbosch. Take a fascinating stroll through 'Oom Samie se Winkel' Stellenbosch's first trading store, and admire the historical beauty of the heart of the winelands. With Table Mountain in sight, the tour ends with drop off at your hotel or Cape Town International Airport.