CAPE ESCAPADE

Day 1
Depart London and fly via Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth.

Day 2
Those on land only arrangements will meet us at the hotel. During the afternoon we have the option to explore Port Elizabeth and the surrounding area - there are some lovely beaches and parks to relax in.

Day 3
After a leisurely morning we leave our guest house at around 11am and drive to the Addo Elephant National Park and our guest house on the banks of the Sunday's River. Established in 1931 with 11 elephants, this park now offers protection to over 450 elephants, just remnants of the huge herds that once roamed the Eastern Cape. Plus it is home to the flightless dung beetle! There is time to settle in and relax by the pool. In the afternoon you can choose an optional game drive into Addo Elephant Park (own expense) or optional visit to Schotia Private Game Reserve for a game drive and dinner (paid locally).

Day 4
We start the day with an early morning game drive in Addo. As well as a huge elephant population, Addo is also home to many kudu, buffalo, red hartebeest, warthog & springbok, lion and Black rhino. After brunch we have time to relax by the pool and waterhole. There is also the opportunity to take an optional horseback safari through the reserve. In the late afternoon we'll go on another game drive and following this we'll have time to sit around the floodlit waterhole. This is an excellent way to observe some of the nocturnal animals and if we are lucky we may sight lion & hyena.

Day 5
Leaving in the early morning we drive directly to Storms River Mouth in the Tsitsikamma National Park. This national park protects 82 km of coast and indigenous forests as well as the marine life 5 km out to sea. Look out for the cute dassies, a small mammal species which often graze near the beach. After lunch there is time to do the boardwalk to the suspension bridge at the river mouth. We leave Tsitsikamma in the late afternoon and drive to Knysna where we spend the night.

Day 6
We have a full day to enjoy the area. We can visit the beach at Plettenberg Bay or a local elephant sanctuary. Alternatively, you may want to take an optional tour to explore the indigenous forest at Monkey Land, where around 200 primates are being rehabilitated after being in zoos or private houses. Keep your eyes peeled for different primate species as we take a fun walking safari through a dense forest and across a 120m long rope bridge.

Day 7
After breakfast we drive to Knysna and visit the Knysna Heads, two sandstone cliffs at the mouth of the lagoon that provide an impressive lookout point. The Feather Bed Nature Reserve is accessible by ferry from the Western Head and those that wish to can take an optional cruise here and explore Feather Bed Reserve. We have lunch in George before heading over the Outeniqua Mountains into the Small Karoo and the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn.

Day 8
On the outskirts of the Afrikaans town of Oudtshoorn we pay a visit to an Ostrich Farm where we'll learn more about our intriguing feathered friends. There's also an optional visit to the Cango Wildlife Ranch, well known for its cheetah breeding efforts. Here we'll have the opportunity to interact with some of the hand reared cheetahs (The age limit of the children allowed to interact is determined by the age of the Cheetahs currently reared by the ranch at the time of your visit). In the afternoon we enjoy a tour through the impressive stalactites & stalagmites of the Cango Caves.

Day 9
Leaving Oudtshoorn in the early morning we drive back to the coast and on to Hermanus. Arriving in Hermanus at lunchtime we have the afternoon for whale watching (Aug - early Nov) or to enjoy a walk along the coastline or in the surrounding rocky hills. During season Hermanus is one of the best land-based whale watching sites in the world. The annual Whale Festival takes place in September and during this time southern right whales can be seen breaching in the bay. Overnight in Hermanus.

Day 10
Today we have an exciting full day tour around the beautiful Cape Peninsula. We drive through Muizenburg, Fish Hoek and the naval town of Simonstown where we'll visit Boulders Beach, home to approximately 3000 African penguins. In the Cape Point Nature Reserve we will walk to the lighthouse for spectacular views, or alternatively you could take the funicular railway. Watch out for the cheeky baboons! There is a spectacular hour's walk to the Cape of Good Hope. On our return we drive along the Ou Kaap Se Weg and into Cape Town. The impressive location of Cape Town offers something for everyone from nature lovers to city lovers.

Day 11
After breakfast, weather permitting we take the cable car up to the top of the world famous Table Mountain (own expense). We have time to enjoy the spectacular views before taking the scenic drive to Chapman's Peak via Hout Bay. On our return we drive along the coastal road past Llandudno and Camps Bay to the Victoria and Albert Waterfront. Free afternoon for optional activities near the Waterfront such as a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium or a short harbour cruise. An optional trip to Robben Island, site of Nelson Mandela's incarceration during the apartheid period, is highly recommended.

Day 12
Free day in Cape Town for further explorations such as an optional wine tour, Ratanga Junction amusement park, the planetarium, a boat trip to the aromatic seal islands in Hout Bay or to relax on one of the many beaches such as beautiful Camps Bay or Clifton Beach. Alternatively Sea Point family swimming pool is usually warmer than the ocean and tends to be a hit with children!

Day 13
We have a free morning to explore Cape Town by foot or enjoy some last minute shopping at one of the excellent African craft markets. Alternatively, join an optional township tour to see how a vast percentage of the population live - a very different side to Cape Town.

Day 14
Arrive London.