Take the road less traveled and discover 3 unique landscapes on this safari which takes you from Cape Town to the Whale Coast and the Little Karoo.
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Ker & Downey® Africa > Trips > Cape Town Safari & Whale Coast Adventure
This 11 day LuxVenture® experience takes you to South Africa’s most iconic city, Cape Town, as well as off the beaten track regions which are seldom explored. First up is Cape Town, a city brimming with jaw dropping natural wonders such as Table Mountain, Atlantic Ocean beaches and vineyards (home to some of the best wines in the world!). Soak up the buzz of the city on a food tour as your make your way through the streets of the Mother City on foot or set out on a day tour to the famous Cape Winelands. Your next stop will be the scenically beautiful Whale Coast, a region ranging from rolling wheat and canola fields, to mountain ranges and rugged coastlines. Prepare yourself for epic shark cage diving in Gansbaai, land- and sea-based whale watching as well as exploring the Grootbos Nature reserve by quad bike, game vehicle or horseback. Your last destination on your South Africa safari will be Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, located on Route 62 leading into the Little Karoo. Here you will enjoy four days secluded from the outside world while encountering big game on game drives, nature walks and boat safaris.
Touch down in the bustling city of Cape Town, the starting point of your South Africa safari. You’ll be greeted by a Ker & Downey® Africa representative who will accompany you from Cape Town International Airport to Ellerman House, a Cape Edwardian mansion set in the sought after neighbourhood of Bantry Bay. Perched on the slopes of Lion’s Head and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, this boutique hotel is the perfect base for your next four nights in Cape Town. Enjoy the hotel’s private contemporary South African art collection on display, enjoy a drink in their Brandy Bar or choose from over 7500 bottles of wine from their wine gallery. Wind down from your long day of traveling and enjoy a South African inspired dinner at the Ellerman House restaurant while overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Wake up at your own pace and enjoy breakfast on the terraced lawns while taking in panoramic views of the city and Atlantic ocean. If you are an early bird we highly recommend taking a walk along the famous Sea Point Promenade which is only 2km from your hotel. After breakfast at Ellerman House, fill the next two days with a variety of activities that Cape Town has on offer. Depending on your interests and mood you can choose to do a day tour to the Cape Peninsula (stopping off at Boulder’s Beach, Cape Point and Kalk Bay), wine taste in the winelands or take a food tour in the heart of the city. Other sites not to miss includes the Bo-Kaap, the V&A Waterfront as well as a scenic ride up Table Mountain by cable car. After a long day of venturing you will return to Ellerman House and enjoy time at leisure before heading out for the evening.
The on-site spa is the perfect option for guests who would like to unwind after a day of exploring. Your remaining 2 nights in Cape Town can be spent discovering the many fine-dining restaurants on offer or alternatively you can enjoy dinner at your hotel.
After your final breakfast at Ellerman House, your driver will meet you for your transfer to the Overberg region of South Africa, a two hour drive that will take you through the Elgin Valley and along the Whale Coast. You will be transferred to Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, your home base for the next three nights. The 2500 hectare eco-reserve is home to a diversity of botanical treasures and its coastline a playing field for Southern Right Whale for 6 months of the year. Depending on availability you will either stay at the Forest Lodge or the Garden Lodge on the reserve. The lodges both consists of free-standing suites, connected to the main lodges by wooden walkways, thus ensuring privacy and seclusion during your stay. After settling into your suite at the lodge you can choose to participate in a variety of activities on offer.
Alternatively you can reboot after your journey and spend your afternoon at the infinity pool. If you are up for adventure you can learn about the unique flora in the reserve on a botanical 4×4 tour, explore the reserve on foot with an expert guide or gallop through the fynbos on horseback. As the day draws to a close, enjoy a sunset drink on the cocktail deck followed by a world class dining experience. The restaurant at Grootbos Lodge proudly serves only the freshest ingredients, sourced locally.
Wake up at your own pace and enjoy a morning coffee on your deck while overlooking the ocean. After a hearty breakfast at the lodge you can choose from a variety of activities depending on your mood. We recommend to use this day to discover more of the surrounding area. Hermanus, a small coastal town famous for some of the best land-based whale watching in the world, is a short 30 minutes drive away. The town offers a small local market and great seafood restaurants. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can spend the morning in Gansbaai on a Shark cage diving expedition (available on request) or you can pursue a boat-based whale watching excursion. Wine farms and restaurants are also only a stone throw away so don’t hesitate to contact your Adventurist to arrange special interest tours.
Return to the lodge after your day out and depending on your schedule you can enjoy lunch at Grootbos or at a restaurant in the surrounding area. This afternoon you can take a brisk walk or hike through the reserve and discover a selection of 800 plant species en route. Return to the lodge as dusk and enjoy dinner at the lodge paired with a fine wine.
After breakfast you will check out from Grootbos and continue your journey to the Little Karoo, a scenically beautiful drive that will take you approximately 2 hours. Wave goodbye to the whales of Grootbos and get ready for four days of safari experiences. Your driver will transfer you to Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, located on Route 62 – the world’s longest wine route. On arrival at the main gate you will be welcomed by a friendly staff member who will escort you to the welcome lounge. From here you will be collected by your dedicated game driver who will transfer you to your home base for the next three nights, a luxury tented camp. Hidden within the reserve, among striking rock formations, you will find the eco-friendly Dwyka Tented Lodge. Set along the bend of a dry Karoo ravine, the 9 luxury tents reflect the nomadic lifestyle of the Khoisan who roamed the land once before.
Each tented suite is fitted with private decks and heated Jacuzzis to enjoy at leisure. You will arrive just in time for your afternoon tea followed by your first game drive of your South Africa safari. The reserve boasts herds of elephant, giraffe, lion, cheetahs and zebra and a wide variety of bird life. Spend your evening dining under the stars in a traditional boma followed by a nightcap in the communal lounge.
Hidden among striking rock formations, you will find the eco-friendly Dwyka Tented Lodge. Set along the bend of a dry Karoo ravine, the 9 luxury tents reflect the nomadic lifestyle of the Khoisan who roamed the land once before. Each tented suite is fitted with private decks and heated Jacuzzis to enjoy at leisure.
Enjoy an afternoon tea followed by a game drive through the reserve. Sanbona Game Reserve boasts herds of elephant, giraffe, lion, cheetahs and zebra and a wide variety of bird life. Spend your evening dining under the stars in a traditional boma followed by a nightcap in the communal lounge.
On your 8th and 9th day, you will receive a wake up call from your dedicated game driver for your early morning game drive. All game drives are optional giving you the choice to sleep in a little longer or continue on your search for more wildlife sightings. Before you set off you will be treated to a light breakfast and a strong cup of coffee at the communal lounge. Remember to dress warmly as mornings in the Karoo can reach very low temperatures! We recommend packing an extra beanie and gloves. Set out on a three hour game drive, stopping off for another coffee before heading back for your full English breakfast at the main camp. Spend the afternoon learning about the diverse landscape on a expert guided wilderness walk or admire the ancient Khoi-Khoi rock art sites dating back more than 3500 years.
After lunch, you can choose to hit the tracks for another game drive or take a sunset boat safari on the Bellair Dam and spot pods of hippos in the water or members of the Big 5 drinking from the banks. Enjoy a sunset drink on the water and return to the lodge for an African inspired 3 course dining experience. End the day under the stars as you search for different constellations in the sky and witness some of the best stargazing in Southern Africa.
Hidden among striking rock formations, you will find the eco-friendly Dwyka Tented Lodge. Set along the bend of a dry Karoo ravine, the 9 luxury tents reflect the nomadic lifestyle of the Khoisan who roamed the land once before. Each tented suite is fitted with private decks and heated Jacuzzis to enjoy at leisure.
End your Ker & Downey® Africa experience with an effortless check out of Sanbona Dwyka Tented Camp. You will be transferred to the main gate by game vehicle and continue your transfer to Cape Town International Airport for your onwards flight home.
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