Road Trip: South Africa's Western and Eastern Cape

Discover all that Cape Point has to offer on this enjoyable day excursion. Following an early breakfast at your hotel, drive out to the Atlantic Seaboard Coastal Road with your local guide. Enjoy your drive along this scenic stretch of road, passing by white sandy beaches and the ocean by Clifton and Camps Bay. Take in the bracing sea breeze as the wind catches your hair. Watch the sudden appearance of the Twelve Apostles Peaks to one side of the road, while the dramatic cliffs and rocky outcrops of the Cape Peninsula rise above the Atlantic on your other side. Make a pit stop at the pretty little fishing village of Hout Bay with its famous Sentinel. If you wish, you can take a boat ride to Seal Island, or browse through colorful stalls by the harbor piled high with handicrafts and local artifacts. Drive up to the Cape’s famed Chapman’s Peak and make the most of its photo opportunities. Continue up to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve before dropping by the spectacular Cape Point. Look out for the feathery ‘fynbos’ swaying in the heathland along with the region’s endemic birds and wildlife, particularly the Cape Mountain Zebra and the baboons. Gaze out at False Bay, or if you wish, you can ride the funicular to the old lighthouse for taking in the twin oceans of the South Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. Take a refreshing lunch break (optional), before visiting the colony of African penguins at Boulders Beach. (Duration: Full Day; Time of Day: Morning; Private Activity & Transfer; Fitness Level: Easy; Lunch not included. Entrance fees for Seal Island, Boulders Beach, Colony, Cape Point Nature Reserve, Funicular included; Please bring comfortable walking shoes).

Rise and shine before the sun does, to gather at the designated meeting point within the expansive alfalfa farm, De Zeekoe. Settle down at the viewing area close to the burrows within this meerkats' conservation site. Sipping on hot beverages, soak up the fynbos landscape as you wait to encounter one among Africa's 'Shy Five'. Just after sunrise, expect to see gangs of meerkats venture out and peek at their surroundings. Over the course of the next couple of hours, observe the meerkats go about their daily routine, foraging and marking territories. Learn about their habitat and behavior as your guide shares wildlife facts. After this unique experience in the Little Karoo wilderness, get a glimpse of the working farm before returning to your accommodations for breakfast. (Half Day; Shared Activity; Fitness level: Easy; Please note this tour is weather dependent)

Interact with elephants at the Plettenberg Bay Sanctuary on this fascinating tour. Choose from either morning or afternoon sessions to get up close with African elephants in their natural habitat. Get to an early start and relish a morning snack with tea or coffee at the sanctuary. After a brief orientation, enjoy observing the pachyderms exercise. Walk in the footsteps of an elephant-keeper as you brush down the gentle giants and help feed them. From your knowledgeable guide, learn about the unique features that distinguish each member of the herd. Delight in a trunk-in-hand walk before you watch a video presentation of your experience. Alternatively, opt for the afternoon session that focuses on elephant behavior and associations. Watch the interactions between members of the herd as your knowledgeable guide points out associated behaviors. Enjoy close encounters with the herd and help brush them down for the night. Watch a video presentation of your experience, participate in a Q & A session, and enjoy afternoon tea before you wind up your tour. (Only possible from Mon-Fri; Duration: half day; Time: morning/afternoon; Shared activity; Max Pax: 10; Transfers not included; Meals included: beverage and snack; Min age: 8; Please inform us of any food allergies in advance; Please bring flat walking shoes, sun hats and a camera; Certificate of attendance included; You have the option of purchasing a DVD of your elephant experience at an additional cost)

Start with a leisurely ferry boat ride across the tranquil Knysna Estuary that is fed by rivers from the Outeniqua Mountains. Reaching the Western Head of Knysna Heads that houses the private Featherbed Nature Reserve, hop on a 4x4 trailer and drive up to the viewpoint of this natural heritage site. Following your specialist guides along the scenic walking trail, learn about the region’s history, recent fires and forest rejuvenation, plus its fascinating natural treasures. Traversing the coastal boardwalks under a canopy of Milkwood forests, spot exotic birdlife including the rare and resident Black African OysterCatcher, and a variety of indigenous flora, as the aroma of fynbos fills the air. Enjoy the azure seascape dotted with local sailboats and houseboats from various panoramic lookouts while dramatic sandstone cliffs add to the scenery. Walk into ancient Khoi-Khoi sea caves that protect fascinating stories, and visit the rocky beaches that are home to myriad marine life, before calling it a day. (Half Day; Time: Morning or Afternoon; Duration: 3-4 hrs; Shared Activity; Fitness level: Moderate)

The thrill of watching wild animals doing their thing in their natural habitat is hard to surpass. Watch as an elephant comes into view where there was only a tree before, or a lion feasting on its night’s prey, or a crocodile sunning itself near a waterhole. These guided game drives through the Amakhala Game Reserve can well turn out to be the highlight of your African holiday. Venture into the wild in open Land Rovers to see the biodiversity of this malaria-free reserve. The scenic beauty of the Eastern Cape, with plentiful species of birdlife and vegetation, is sure to leave its mark on you.