The Garden Route, Whale Coast and Cape of Good Hope Full Itinerary

Day 0 - Flights from the UK
 

A number of overnight flights leave the UK late in the evening to arrive in Port Elizabeth the next day. A one-stop flight via Johannesburg, Cape Town or Dubai is very easy to do. We are more than happy to help you find the correct flight choice.

Day 1 - Arrive in Port Elizabeth
 

You'll arrive at Port Elizabeth airport at midday where you will meet the guides. We then transfer to Kudu Ridge Lodge (1hr 55km) and relax at our leisure with an optional stroll around the farm. 

We'll give you a time to meet for a tour briefing, which is a great opportunity to getting to know the rest of the group. Dinner will be a relaxed affair around the fire. Accommodation is in Safari style tents with en-suite bathroom. 

Accommodation: Kudu Ridge Lodge
Included Activities: Briefing about the trip
Meals Included: Dinner  

 
Cycling: None

Day 2 - Addo Elephant National Park
 

Today we visit the Addo Elephant National Park, home to the Big 5 animals of Africa, namely Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhino. Addo is famous for large herds of African Elephant as well as Kudu and a number of different types of antelope.

A picnic lunch at Jack’s Camp will be enjoyed before heading to Schotia Safaris. At Schotia we will embark on an open safari vehicle game drive of this small but beautiful private reserve, followed by a boma dinner and a night game drive. 

Accommodation: Kudu Ridge Lodge
Included Activities: Morning game drive in the Addo National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch and Dinner

 
Cycling: None

 

• Breakfast at Kudu Ridge
• Morning game drive in the Addo National Park - Elephant, Kudu, Warthog, Red Hartebeest, Buffalo, Lion, Eland etc.
• Picnic lunch at Jack’s Picnic Site in Addo Elephant Park.
• Transfer to Schotia Safaris for afternoon game drive. (Drive 50km/1.5hrs)
• Afternoon game drive at Schotia Safaris.
• Dinner at Schotia. (Included)
• 8 to 9pm: Night game drive at Schotia Safaris - Elephant, Kudu, Rhino, Buffalo, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Hippo etc.
• Transfer back to Kudu Ridge. (Drive 60km/1hr).

Day 3 - Addo to Storms River, Tsitsikamma
 

After an early breakfast, we will drive to the Tsitsikamma area where we will start the actual cycling part of our trip. A ride through some farmland will find us at Fynboshoek Cheese Farm for lunch.

After lunch, we will ride the old Storms River Pass into the village where we will end off with a beer tasting. A short transfer on the bus will take us to our overnight huts at the beautiful Storms River Mouth, right on the edge of the Indian Ocean.

Accommodation: Storms River Mouth 
Included Activities: Beer tasting at Tsitsikamma Micro Brewery
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch  

 
Cycling: 48km. 321m ascent. 327m descent. Incl Storms River Pass 3km 153m ascent

 

Day 4 - Storms River to Nature’s Valley and Plettenberg Bay
 

This morning we have an option of an early morning walk to the suspension bridge over the beautiful Storms River Mouth before breakfast. There are also a number of options for kayaking up river or a fast and fun boat ride. After breakfast, we will head towards Plettenberg Bay. Enroute we will experience some spectacular Afro-Montaine forest as well as the Bloukrans and Groot River Passes. We will have a short stop at Nature’s Valley before our last spin up the pass to Nature’s Way Farm Stall for lunch.

Time permitting there could be a chance of a wine-tasting at the Crags on the way to our hotel. Tonight we will dine Enrico’s Ristorante, very famous in this area for excellent fresh fish, awesome pizza and pasta and exceptional views of Plettenberg Bay.

Accommodation: The Dunes Resort Keurboomstrand
Included Activities: Suspension Bridge Walk
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

 
Cycling: 48km. 560m ascent. 515m descent

 

• Breakfast at Cattle Baron.
• Optional Activities: Suspension Bridge Walk. 3.5km. Kayaking up the Storms River Mouth. Boat Ride up the Storms River Mouth.
• Cycle Storms River Mouth to Nature’s Valley via the old pass. (Cycle 39km)
• Cycle Nature’s Valley to Nature’s Way Farm Stall. (Cycle 9km)
• Lunch at Nature’s Way
• Transfer to The Dunes Resort Keurboomstrand. (Drive 16km)
• Check in to accommodation
• Dinner at Enrico’s Ristorante

 

Day 5 - Plettenberg Bay and Knysna Forests
 

Today we have a leisurely breakfast and head for the Harkerville Forest. Here we will cycle through beautiful indigenous forest, plantations and coastal fynbos. The views from some of the clifftops are simply stunning.

Our bus will take us back to Plettenberg for lunch at a beachside restaurant, and we can enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, either relaxing on the beach, taking in a Whale watching trip (In Season) or maybe a walk in Robberg Nature Reserve for the more energetic.

Lemongrass is our venue for dinner tonight which is slightly more formal than we have become accustomed to so far on the trip.

Accommodation: The Dunes Resort
Optional Activities: Whale Watching Boat Trip. Sea Kayaking. Beach
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

 
Cycling: 11 to 22km. Good gravel/Rough sections

 

Day 6 - Plettenberg Bay to Knysna to George to Oudtshoorn
 

This morning we have an early start with a short drive to the beautiful town of Knysna. We will start with a short walk around the spectacular viewpoints of the Knysna Heads. (2 fabled sandstone cliffs that guard the entrance to the estuary).

 

From here we will have a leisurely cycle around Leisure Island before getting back in the bus to head for Montague Pass. The old pass over the Outeniqua mountain, built-in 1848, is the oldest unaltered pass in South Africa. At 8km long we have our work cut out for us. The rewards though, are beautiful views and lunch at Over the Mountain Guest Farm at Herold.

After lunch, we will have an easier cycle through the Paardepoort Pass and on towards Oudtshoorn where will spend the night. Dinner is a short walk up the road to the Black Swan.

Accommodation: Kleinplaas Resort Oudtshoorn
Included Activities: Cycle Montague and Perdepoort Passes
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch 

 
Cycling: 43km. 732m ascent. 529m descent

 

Day 7 - Oudtshoorn to Swartberg Pass to Swellendam
 

A visit to Cango Ostrich Farm and Cango Caves after breakfast make for a relaxing start to this very long day.

Accommodation: Kleinplaas Resort Oudtshoorn
Included Activities: Tour of Cango Ostrich Farm. Tour of Cango Caves
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Cycling: 40km. 3hrs. 485m ascent. 966m descent

Day 8 - Swellendan to Malgas to De Hoop Nature Reserve
 

Today sees us heading South towards the coast. A short drive will find us at Malgas where a hand-drawn point will take us across the Breede River. From here we will cycle through farmland to De Hoop Nature Reserve.

A picnic lunch, a swim at the beach or a stroll along the beautiful coastline is on the cards for the afternoon. An optional bird-watching boat cruise is also available for those that are interested.

Dinner is a traditional South African Braai (barbeque) under the stars. 

Accommodation: Roosje van de Kaap
Included Activities: Beach walks and/or swim at Koppie Alleen. Lake birding Cruise. De Hoop Nature Reserve
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 
Cycling: 53km. 548m ascent. 466m descent

Day 9 - De Hoop to Cape Agulhas to Hermanus
 

After a great breakfast, we again take a short drive to the start of our cycle. We will cycle from the Bredasdorp area through farmland to Cape Agulhas, the Southern Tip of Africa. After some photo opportunities, we then drive by bus to Zoetendal Wine Farm for lunch and a wine or beer tasting.

From Zoetendal we drive to Hermanus for our overnight stop. Hopefully, there will still be time to take a stroll along the cliff-top path to see Whales (in season), or just enjoy the scenery. We can walk to dinner at Fabio’s just around the corner. 

Accommodation: Windsor Hotel Hermanus
Included Activities: Southern Tip of Africa. Southern Right Whales in Season
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch 

 
Cycling: 38km. 41m ascent. 68m descent

This morning we have another opportunity to take a stroll along the cliff path before or after breakfast. We then drive along the coast before cycling the scenic Clarence Drive with majestic views over False Bay. We then load up the bikes and drive to Peregrine Farm Stall for lunch.

From here we drive to the top of the Franschoek Pass and cycle down through Franschoek to Boschendal Wine Estate for a well-deserved wine tasting. From Boschendal we drive over Helshoogte Pass to our overnight accommodation in Stellenbosch. Dinner tonight is at Oppie Dorp in Stellenbosch. 

Accommodation: Stellenbosch
Included Activities: Cycle Clarence Drive & Franschoek Pass. Wine tasting at Boschendal
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

 
Cycling: 53km.  378m ascent. 893m descent

Day 11 - Stellenbosch and Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
 

This morning we will have an early start before breakfast and cycle through the historic town of Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch is the 2nd oldest town in South Africa and the wine capital of the country. We will ride through the town experiencing some of the old historic buildings and end up at the Ride Inn in the Jonkershoek Valley for breakfast.

After breakfast, we will do a cycle into the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve which is surrounded by picturesque mountains. On our return, we stop at Lanzerac Wine Estate, one of the oldest in the region with it’s beautiful old Cape Dutch architecture.

After lunch, we will cycle up the mountains above Stellenbosch and end with a wine-tasting and Chocolate and Wine Pairing at Waterford Estate. Our bus will take us on the short drive back to the hotel. Dinner tonight will be at Terroir for a more fine dining experience.

Accommodation: De Zalze Golf Club
Included Activities: Jonkershoek Nature Reserve and Stellenbosch. Wine tasting at Waterford
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch 

 
Cycling: 45km.  628ascent. 467 descent

Day 12 - Stellenbosch to Muizenberg, St James, Kalk Bay and Simonstown
 

This morning will be our 10th day of cycling so it will be a bit easier on the bike. We will depart after breakfast to the shores of beautiful False Bay. We will start a leisurely cycle at Muizenburg famous for Surfer’s Corner and make our way along the scenic coastline past St James, Kalk Bay, Fishoek and Glencairn to Simonstown. There will be time to stop in Kalk Bay and brown the shops and galleries as well as enjoy a Fish n Chips lunch at Kalkies in the small fishing harbour.

An early arrival in Simonstown will take us to Boulders African Penguin Colony and afterwards should give us some time to stroll through this historic Naval town or take in an optional Sea Kayaking trip to the African Penguin colony or even have a swim. Dinner this evening is at Saveur.

Accommodation: The Quayside Hotel
Included Activities: False Bay. Kalk Bay. Simonstown. African Penguins
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

 
Cycling: 22km. 357 ascent. 274 descent 

Day 13 - Simonstown and Cape Point Nature Reserve
 

After breakfast, we will cycle from the hotel to Cape Point Nature Reserve and all the way to Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope. There will be time for a stroll up to the old lighthouse to take in the views of dramatic cliffs, beaches and the full extent of False Bay and the Atlantic ocean. Cape Point has been called the Fairest Cape in all the world as well as the Cape of Storms.

Lunch will be enjoyed at the Two Oceans restaurant with sweeping views over False Bay. After lunch, we will cycle some more around the reserve before driving by bus back to Simonstown. Dinner tonight is at Neptune's. 

Accommodation: The Quayside Hotel
Included Activities: Cycle Cape Point Nature Reserve and Cape of Good Hope
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

 
Cycling: 44km. 443m ascent. 446m descent

 

Day 14 - Simonstown, Noordhoek, Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Oranjezicht Market
 

After an early breakfast, we start our last cycle of the trip. Backtracking from Simonstown we leave the False Bay coast and head over the mountain past Glencairn to Noordhoek Farm Village. Time permitting we can enjoy a quick cup of coffee before we tackle Chapman’s Peak Drive. This spectacular pass has 114 curves and is 10km long. We will experience majestic ocean and mountain views as we traverse this stretch of road before arriving in Hout Bay.

From Hout Bay, we climb the infamous Suikerbossie hill before enjoying some more spectacular views and some easier riding on our way to Camps Bay. From Camps Bay, we pass the affluent suburbs of Clifton and Bantry Bay making our way past Sea Point and Green Point and finishing at the Oranjezicht City Farm Market for a well-deserved lunch.

After lunch, we check into our hotel, have a shower and change and head off to Table Mountain. After a breathtaking ride up the cableway, we can have a leisurely stroll around on top of the mountain enjoying the spectacular views of Cape Town. Robben Island, Lion’s Head, Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles before a sundowner at the restaurant. From Table Mountain, we will go straight to dinner at The Africa Café.

Accommodation: Cape Town City Centre
Included Activities: Cycle Chapman’s Peak & Victoria Drive. Oranjezicht Farm Market. Table Mountain
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 

 
Cycling: 7km. 776m ascent. 864m descent

 

Day 15 - Kirstenbosch - Depart
 

Today is departure day and we have to say our sad goodbyes, but before that, there is one final twist in the tail. Time permitting we can visit the Kirstenbosch botanical gardens as well as the Cape Town City Centre. And finally, it is off to Cape Town Airport.