South Africa Self-Drive & Safari

Fly overnight from the UK to Cape Town.

On arrival into Cape Town you will collect your hire car and drive into the city, enjoying the fantastic views of Table Mountain, to spend 3 nights at Derwent House. Nestled in the heart of Cape Town’s Tamboerskloof neighbourhood, Derwent House offers a blend of contemporary comfort and personal warmth. With views of Table Mountain, a heated pool, and easy access to the city’s cultural gems, it’s the perfect place to unwind.

If you’d prefer to start your holiday with a private transfer into Cape Town, let us know. Or if you’d like to spend a little longer in Cape Town, we can create an itinerary around that and give you some ideas of what to see & do. Ask us to create a Cape, Garden Route and Safari holiday tailored to you.

Enjoy two full days to explore Cape Town and its spectacular surrounds. Ride the cable car to the top of Table Mountain for sweeping views, or hike Lion’s Head at sunrise. Meander through the Bo-Kaap with its colourful facades and spicy Cape Malay aromas, then stop at the V&A Waterfront for shopping or lunch with a view. Choose a guided city tour or delve into history with a Robben Island visit. Day trip down the Cape Peninsula for Chapman’s Peak Drive, the Cape of Good Hope, and the penguins at Boulders Beach. Or relax with a picnic in Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens followed by wine tasting in Constantia. We’ll help you match the days to your energy levels and interests.

Leaving the Mother City this morning you will drive 1 hour into the stunning valleys of the Cape Winelands, heading to the village of Franschhoek to spend 2 nights at the Maison Chablis, another owner-run gem in walking distance of Franschhoeks’s award-winning restaurants.

If you would prefer to stay on a vineyard in the Franschhoek Valley, just let us know. This is just an idea of what we can design for you. 

Free day to explore at your own pace. Hop aboard the Franschhoek Wine Tram to visit elegant estates for tastings, cellar tours and gourmet lunches. If you’re feeling active, consider vineyard hikes, horse-riding, or even e-biking between farms. For something slower, settle into a shaded spot with a glass of bubbly and views for days.

Add-on ideas include private food & wine pairings, a private wine tour or a heritage walk through the village.

Today you will drive over the stunning Franschhoek Pass and join Route 60 to enjoy spectacular landscapes, passing through the semi-desert of Karoo, rugged mountains, orchard farms and vineyards. It is relatively quiet allowing you to just take everything in without worrying about traffic, have your cameras at the ready! You will be heading to the Galenia Estate where you will be staying for 2 nights.

Or, if it’s whale season, why not add-in a couple of nights in Hermanus for some of the best land-based whale watching in the world. Ask us to tweak this holiday so that it is perfect for you. 

Today is all about slowing down and soaking up the serenity of Galenia Estate. Wake early to join the complimentary guided estate walk, a gentle introduction to the estate’s unique flora, birdlife and olive-growing traditions.

After breakfast, spend the day however you choose — wandering one of the self-guided trails, reading on your stoep, or relaxing by the pool with its panoramic mountain views. Later, enjoy a tasting of Galenia’s award-winning olive oils, followed by a quiet sunset and a seasonal dinner on the terrace.

This is South African country living at its most peaceful and restorative.

Leave the Winelands behind and follow the open road as Route 62 winds through the Langeberg Mountains and into the Little Karoo, where wide horizons, rocky peaks and ostrich-dotted plains unfold before you. It’s one of South Africa’s most scenic drives — quiet, spacious and perfect for stopping whenever the views demand it.

Your destination is La Plume, a charming owner-managed Victorian homestead on a working ostrich and alfalfa farm. Settle in for 2 nights and enjoy sweeping views over the Swartberg Mountains and the Olifants River Valley, warm Karoo hospitality and big-country sunsets that seem to last forever.

This morning starts with something truly special — an early departure (weather permitting) to watch meerkats emerge at sunrise, a gentle and unforgettable wildlife encounter as they warm themselves in the first light of day.

After breakfast back at La Plume, explore the best of Oudtshoorn. Visit a local ostrich farm to learn about the region’s feathered icons, or head into the dramatic underground chambers of the Cango Caves, one of the oldest tourist attractions in the country. Spend your afternoon relaxing on the farm, swimming in the pool or enjoying the stillness of the Karoo from the veranda.

If you’d like more ideas — from scenic passes to wildlife encounters — we’d be delighted to suggest them.

Driving south to the coast today you will hit the beautiful Garden Route and pass Wilderness Beach, heading to Knysna.

The road takes you past the lakes of Wilderness before reaching Knysna, where forest meets lagoon in one of South Africa’s most picturesque towns.

Your home for the next three nights is Amanzi Island Lodge, surrounded by tranquil lagoon waters and spectacular views towards the Knysna Heads. Take the afternoon to settle in — borrow a bike to explore the island, take a kayak onto the lagoon, or simply enjoy a swim and a drink by the pool.

There are plenty of lovely places to stay along the Garden Route. Talk to us about the type of hotel or lodge you would like to experience and we will give you some ideas to swap in. 

With two full days on the Garden Route, you’ll have time to enjoy the region’s natural beauty and easy-going coastal lifestyle. Knysna offers dramatic viewpoints at the Heads, peaceful lagoon cruises, forest trails shaded by ancient trees, and relaxed cafés overlooking the water. Just along the coast, Plettenberg Bay is packed with memorable experiences: seal snorkelling with playful colonies around Robberg, marine safaris to spot dolphins, and long, quiet beaches perfect for strolling. The Robberg Nature Reserve is a highlight, with cliffside paths, sweeping ocean views and seals basking on the rocks below.

For wildlife lovers, nearby sanctuaries such as Monkeyland, Birds of Eden, and the Knysna Elephant Park offer gentle, ethical encounters. Whether you want soft adventure, coastal scenery, wildlife experiences or simply fresh sea air and slow coastal drives, this stretch of the Garden Route delivers days you’ll remember long after the holiday ends.

Call 01273 923100 to start planning your holiday

Following a final morning in Knysna you will drive the final 3 hr section of the Garden Route to the Eastern Cape, heading to Amakhala Game Reserve where you will spend your final 3 nights at Woodbury Tented Camp (STAY 3, PAY 2 from May to June).

Woodbury is another highly rated independent property set in our favourite part of Amakhala on the Eastern side of the reserve near the river tucked into the embracing hillside thicket with breathtaking views, overlooking the ancient floodplain of the Bushman’s River. There are a number of lovely safari options in the Eastern Cape to suit a wide range of budgets – call us to discuss the options.

Two full days to enjoy tracking game on morning and afternoon Big Five safari drives in Amakhala Game Reserve. You will be woken early to head out on safari for approx. 3 hours and head out again after brunch, a spot of relaxing by the pool and a freshly baked high tea. The animals prefer the cool of the morning or late afternoon. Within Amakhala’s 18,000 acres you are likely to encounter lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, monkeys, tortoise and plenty of antelope species!

Included in your stay:

After a final morning and hearty breakfast, you will drive 1hr to Port Elizabeth Airport, drop off your hire car and fly back to the UK (via Johannesburg).

Welcome home….(how many photos!) If you don’t have 17 days, ask us to re-design this holiday to your requirements.

Call 01273 923100 to start planning your holiday