OverviewMaximize your time in Cape Town with this 9-hour sightseeing tour. With your local guide, visit all the must-sees – Robben Island, Table Mountain and a tour of the Mother City’s streets. Weather permitting, enjoy a scenic ferry boat ride to Robben Island and spectacular aerial views during the cable car ride to the summit of Table Mountain. In the city, drive through the multicultural Bo-Kaap neighborhood and visit the Company Gardens. All entrance fees and round-trip transportation from select Cape Town hotels are included.
What to Expect
Situated below Table Mountain, Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head, Cape Town offers a rich cultural and industrial heritage. Including all the must-sees of any Cape Town day tour, this option is a geographical and cultural extravaganza, showing you Cape Town, from its historical beginnings to the dazzling modern shopping malls of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.
The tour commences with a ferry trip across the bay to Robben Island (weather permitting). From the 17th to the 20th centuries, Robben Island served as a place of banishment, isolation and imprisonment. Today it is a World Heritage Site and museum, a poignant reminder to the newly democratic South Africa and of the price paid for freedom. The excursion includes a return ferry to the island, a bus tour on the island and of the prison.
In the city itself enjoy a drive through Bo-Kaap to discover how the Malay slaves influenced the culture, food and aesthetics of this beautiful city and its people. Continue to Table Mountain where you shall reach the top by cable car (weather permitting; cable car fee not included). Enjoy the panoramic views over the city with Robben Island lying sleepily in Table Bay. Also get a bird’s eye view over the Atlantic Seaboard.
Return to the city bowl area to the Company Gardens. Enjoy a walk through the garden and a visit to the SA Museum. This is followed by a visit to the Castle of Good Hope. Built between 1666 and 1679 by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) as a maritime replenishment station, the Castle of Good Hope is the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa.
The drive through the city center will also take you past the Houses of Parliament, the Grand Parade and City Hall from where Nelson Mandela first addressed South Africans after his release in February 1990.
Important Information
Departure Point
Tour pick ups from centrally located Cape Town City (CBD), V&A Waterfront, Atlantic Seaboard (Mouille Point, Sea Point, Bantry Bay, Clifton and Camps Bay) hotel accommodation only.
Departure Time
08:00am
Return Details
Returns to original departure point
Inclusions
Entrance fees
Driver/guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)
Transport by air-conditioned minivan
Exclusions
Food and drinks
Gratuities (optional)
Table Mountain Cable Car fee
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee. If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee. If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
• Full-day guided tour of Cape Town and Robben Island
• Visit District Six Museum and learn about apartheid history
• Travel to nearby townships, including Langa and Khayelitsha, and meet their inhabitants
Overview
Take a fascinating trip through South Africa’s difficult past with a tour of Cape Town and Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. Visit the District Six Museum to get an in-depth look at the troubling history of apartheid in South Africa, and see how that system still impacts modern life in townships like Khayelitsha, Langa and Gugulethu. See how residents of these townships work to improve their lives and communities. Take a ferry to UNESCO-listed Robben Island for a tour of the former prison for political prisoners.
What to Expect
After getting picked up at your hotel, your first stop is the District Six Museum. This museum gives you an excellent look at the history of apartheid in this area, how it began in 1950 with the enforced eviction of more than 60,000 black South Africans from the district in order to make it an all-white neighborhood.
With this history in mind, your next stop is the township of Langa, the oldest township in Cape Town. Townships first sprang up under apartheid as places for non-whites to live. They were always in unsavory areas, and were essentially cut off from city infrastructure. In Langa with your guide, stop into a shebeen (tavern), go to a local market and visit a traditional healer. Next, visit Guga S’thebe Arts & Culture Centre to see the work being done to improve the lives of the Langa community, most of whom are Xhosa.
Next, head for the township of Khayelitsha. This is, by some estimates, the largest and fastest-growing township in the country. See both sturdy buildings made with bricks and mortar as well as hovels made with whatever is handy. This is a township with a budding infrastructure — including clinics and shopping malls.
Head back toward Cape Town for the last township visit, Gugulethu. This township was originally built specifically for migrant workers from the Transkei region of the Eastern Cape. Here, again, there are signs of both progress and poverty — shacks alongside restaurants and night clubs.
Back in Cape Town, enjoy some free time in the afternoon at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront where you can get lunch (own expense) before getting into a ferry to ride across Table Bay to Robben Island. The island was once a prison, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. Today, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site where former political prisoners give tours.
See Mandela’s cell in the prison — it’s roughly seven square feet (0.6 square meters) — and hear what life was like for him and the other prisoners there, including how he was made to dig in a quarry when officials found out he was acting as a leader during a prisoner rebellion.
Contemplate the distance Mandela traveled from these prison gates to the presidential office as you ride the ferry back to Cape Town. The tour ends with a drop-off at your Cape Town hotel.
Important Information
Departure Point
Your centrally located Cape Town hotel
Departure Time
Camps Bay Hotels: 8am departure
Sea Point Hotels: 8:15am departure
Waterfront Hotels: 8:30am departure
Downtown Hotels: 8:45am departure
Up Town Hotels: 8:45am departure
Return Details
Returns to original departure point
Inclusions
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Professional guide
Transport by air-conditioned minivan
Admission to the District Six Museum
Ferry and admission to Robben Island
Exclusions
Food and drinks
Gratuities (optional)
Additional Info
Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee. If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee. If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
5-day tour of South Africa’s Garden Route from Cape Town
See magnificent landscapes while hiking in Tsitsikamma National Park and and canoeing in Wilderness National Park
Walk to lookout points around the Knysna Heads and snap photos of the breathtaking views
Swim, surf or stroll along the famous beaches in Jeffreys Bay, one of the world’s best surfing spots!
Get close to elephants, big cats and other wildlife at Addo Elephant National Park and several other wildlife reserves
Check out a working ostrich farm
Try extra activities (own expense) such as bungee jumping, a Big Five game drive and ziplining
Overview
See the best of South Africa’s scenic Garden Route — with visits to Addo Elephant National Park, Wilderness National Park, Jeffreys Bay and Oudtshoorn — during this 5-day trip from Cape Town. Join your expert guide on hikes through lush forests and canoe rides through picture-perfect water. Visit nature reserves to see some of Africa’s endangered species. Kick back and soak in the sun on soft, sandy beaches. This tour offers the perfect mix of guided and self-directed activities.
What to Expect
Take a 5-day tour of South Africa’s famous Garden Route to see some of the country’s most beautiful scenery and a few endangered animal species, and to get your blood pumping with some extreme adventures — at your discretion, of course.
During your 5-day trip, you’ll see three national parks, several wildlife reserves and the popular surfing beaches around Jeffreys Bay. Get up close to animals like elephants, lions, and ostriches. Hike through old-growth forests to access stunning views. Canoe or swim in rivers and the ocean.
This tour includes round-trip transportation via deluxe mini coach, four nights of lodging in budget accommodation or 3-star hotels and guided tours at many attractions. Some meals are included. For others, feel free to ask your guide for advice on places to eat (own expense). Your guide also offers helpful information and context for the sights you’ll visit and the wildlife you may see. Consult the itinerary section below for more details about what to expect each day on this trip.
Itinerary
Day 1: Cape Town – Wilderness National Park – Wilderness
After pickup from your Cape Town hotel, you’ll travel in a comfortable mini coach for approximately five hours, with lunch and plenty of rest stops along the way. Your friendly guide will answer any questions you may have about your 5-day Garden Route tour, a route filled with outdoor adventures and wildlife encounters in gorgeous and varied landscapes.
You’ll head down the road to Wilderness National Park. Take to the water on a 2-hour canoe ride with a professional guide, paddling on a calm river that winds through lush forests and mountains. After gliding through this paradise, you’ll hop back in your van for a 30-minute drive to your hotel for the night. Have the evening at your leisure to rest and enjoy the ambiance of the South African coast.
Overnight: 4-Star or 3-Star Guest House B&B or Backpackers budget accommodation option in the Wilderness area
Day 2: Knysna – Tsitsikamma – Jeffreys Bay
Have breakfast at your accommodation and then drive to the lively town of Knysna. Your guide will take you on an easy walk to the Knysna Heads, two eye-catching sandstone cliffs that flank the mouth of the Knysna lagoon. Snap photos of the stunning views from the lookout points along the path. Then you’ll re-board the minicoach for an hour’s drive to the world’s highest bungee jump at Bloukrans Bridge.
Standing 709 feet (216 meters) above the Bloukrans River, the arch bridge is the ideal place to bungee jump! If you don’t want to participate in this optional activity (own expense), you can enjoy vicarious thrills by watching the bungee jumpers take the plunge. Once you catch your breath, enjoy lunch at the jump site.
After lunch, a short 30-minute drive brings you to the spectacular Tsitsikamma National Park where you’ll take a 2-hour guided walk along shady forest paths set against a dramatic coastal landscape. After the walk, you’ll have the option to do a waterfall zipline (own expense) across the nearby Kruis River. The eight ziplines–the longest is 692 feet (211 meters)–zigzag across the river gorge, in some places as high as 164 feet (50 meters) above the water!
When you have finished exploring Tsitsikamma National Park, you’ll continue one hour by minicoach to Jeffreys Bay–also known as J-bay–famous for its beaches, marine life and for being one of the world’s top surfing spots. You’ll have the evening to spend at your leisure and enjoy the atmosphere of Jeffreys Bay.
Overnight: 4-Star or 3-Star Guest House B&B or Backpackers budget accommodation option in Jeffreys Bay
Day 3: Jeffreys Bay – Addo Elephant National Park – Jeffreys Bay
Get an early morning start for a day trip to Addo Elephant National Park, the third largest national park in South Africa. It’s home to over 550 elephants, lions, buffalo, black rhino, spotted hyena, leopard, a variety of antelope and zebra species, and the Addo flightless dung beetle. The park is notable for having the largest remaining population of wild elephants on the planet.
You’ll start the day with a safari tour in your minicoach, with knowledgeable park guides along to spot elephants and explain their behavior and habits. You may get lucky and see buffalo and other big animals, and witness the dung beetles keeping the park tidy!
In the afternoon, you’ll return to Jeffreys Bay and have time to relax on the beach. You can try surfing (own expense) in one of the world’s most famous surf spots! You can also check out the Billabong, Rip Curl and Quicksilver factory shops in town for excellent deals on surf gear and beach clothing.
Overnight: 4-Star or 3-Star Guest House B&B or Backpackers budget accommodation option in Jeffreys Bay
Day 4: Jeffreys Bay – Oudtshoorn
After breakfast, you’ll travel approximately four hours on the famous Route 62 to get to Oudtshoorn, where ostriches have been raised on farms for more than a century. You’ll visit a working ostrich farm where you learn about these fascinating flightless birds – the heaviest fowl in the world – and see their enormous eggs and nests.
After getting familiar with the ostriches, you’ll drive to the nearby Cango Caves. Located in a limestone ridge parallel to the picturesque Swartberg mountains, the caves include over 2.5 miles (4 km) of dripstone caverns, with vast halls and towering formations of stalactites and stalagmites. You’ll walk through some of this subterranean wonderland with your guide on a 2-hour tour of the caves.
You’ll have the evening to spend at leisure in Oudtshoorn. As you explore the town, note the grand houses that were built in the late 1800s when the booming ostrich feather trade brought riches to the area’s ‘feather barons.’
Overnight: 4-Star or 3-Star Guest House B&B or Backpackers budget accommodation option in Oudshoorn
Day 5: Oudtshoorn – Cape Town
After breakfast, you’ll have the option to take part in a 45-minute ‘meet the elephants’ experience (own expense). You can also feed and interact with these huge noble creatures and learn about orphaned elephants.
Return to the wild for an optional morning bush game drive (at own expense). Spot wildlife from the safety of a 4×4 vehicle in their natural habitat on a malaria-free private game reserve. Led by an experienced game ranger you’ll search for animals rarely seen in Addo – including Hippo, Giraffe, Rhino and Springbok to name a few.
After spending the morning with the wildlife, you can relax in the minicoach as you return to Cape Town along Route 62. You’ll pass through breathtaking scenery and have plenty of rest stops before reaching Cape Town in the evening to end your tour.
Important Information
Departure Point
Your centrally located Cape Town hotel
Departure Time
Between 7am to 8am: you can verify the exact pick-up time set for your specific pickup address with the local supplier a day before the tour depart.
Return Details
Returns to original departure point between 8-10pm on day 5
Inclusions
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Driver/guide
Transport by minibus
Breakfast included if 3* or 4* accommodation chosen
4 nights accommodation
Entrance fees to Addo Elephant, Wilderness and Tsitsikamma National Parks
Entrance fee to Wilderness Canoeing
Tour of Addo Elephant National Park
Standard or Adventure tour of Ostrich Farm and Cango Caves
Exclusions
Additional food and drinks
Optional activites as per itinerary
Gratuities (optional)
Additional Info
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Minimum age is 12 years
Children between 12 and 17 must be accompanied by an adult
Some optional activities on this tour require a moderate level of fitness
According to availability at time of booking, accommodation will be in the mentioned hotel or in one of a similar standard and star rating
It is recommended that you bring: comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, sun hat, jacket for cooler evenings, beach towel and swimming costume
The exact itinerary is subject to change and may, on occasions, run in reverse order
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee. If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee. If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
Safari day trip to Aquila Game Reserve from Cape Town
Spot South Africa’s Big Five animals on a game drive around this malaria-free private reserve
Watch out for endangered species like snow leopards
Lean about the reserve’s wild animals and birdlife from your game ranger guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off included
Overview
Spend a full day at the Aquila Game Reserve, the closest one to Cape Town, on this safari tour. Get excited to see the ‘Big Five’ game animals and endangered species such as the ‘Aquila’ Black Eagle on this worry-free trip, which includes pickup at your Cape Town city center hotel. This is one of the easiest safari tours near Cape Town, on a private and malaria-free game reserve.
What to Expect
Begin your day with a pickup at your central Cape Town hotel in an air-conditioned coach, and travel in comfort to the private and malaria-free Aquila Game Reserve about 2 hours away in the midst of the southern Karoo semi-desert region.
Meet your guide and game ranger when you reach the reserve, and from there climb into an open-air safari vehicle to begin your game drive.
Learn about how the so-called ‘Big Five’ – African elephants, Cape buffaloes, lions, leopards and rhinos – got their nickname as you keep your eyes peeled for any sign of them as well as giraffes, hippos and other animals. The Aquila Game Reserve is particularly known for its abundant bird species, thanks in part to a large wetland area. There are over 170 species of birds that make their home in the park, including the endangered ‘Aquila’ Black Eagle from which the reserve takes its name.
At the end of a 2.5-hour safari drive, return for lunch (included) and then meet up with your host once again for the drive back to Cape Town. Return to the city by late afternoon.
Important Information
Departure Point
Please note: complimentary pickups and drop offs are from City Centre, Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Green Point and Sea Point Hotels.
Departure Time
9am and 10am
Return Details
Returns to original departure point at approximately 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Inclusions
Lunch
Game Drive
Entrance fees
Hotel pickup and drop off
Professional guide
Exclusions
Gratuities (optional)
Food and drinks, unless specified
Additional Info
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not recommended for child aged 2 and under
Not wheelchair accessible
Toilets are available on coaches with a seating capacity of 28 to 44 passengers. There are no toilets on the 15 seater Sprinters and Minivans. Vehicle used will depend on passenger numbers on the day
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee. If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee. If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
Highlights
- Full-day Cape Peninsula tour from Cape Town with an expert local guide
- Travel along scenic coastal roads to Hout Bay, and visit Duiker Island if you wish
- Explore Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in the UNESCO-listed Cape Floral Kingdom
- Spend time at leisure in Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
- Visit Simon’s Town and pass through the picturesque coastal towns of Fish Hoek and Muizenberg
- Hotel pick and drop-off from your centrally located Cape Town hotel
Overview
Experience the scenic beauty and natural landscapes of South Africa’s Cape Peninsula on this full-day tour from Cape Town. Enjoy the convenience of guided visits, as well as the independence of solo sightseeing and learn about this dynamic region from your friendly, knowledgeable guide. You’ll see seals in Hout Bay (with optional Buiker Island boat trip) and have time to wander the shops. You can explore the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve at your leisure, and check out playful families of African Penguins in Simon’s Town. Your return trip to Cape Town even includes a stop at the colorful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
What to Expect
Your Cape Peninsula Tour from Cape Town kicks off with hotel pick-up and air-conditioned minibus transportation towards picture-perfect Hout Bay. This destination, which sits halfway between Cape Town and Cape Point is a quiet fishing village that’s home to dozens of seals, small shops and lots of local charm. Enjoy leisure time to wander the streets and markets, or take an optional boat ride to Duiker Island (own expense) before making your way to Chapmans Peak.
You’ll enjoy a scenic ride through the southernmost edge of the Cape Peninsula as you make your way to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Enjoy 90 minutes of free time here to tuck into a local lunch or wander the path to Cape Point where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet.
Make a stop at Simon’s Town on the False Bay Coast as you make your way back to Cape Town and opt to visit Boulder’s Beach (own expense) where you’ll find a friendly colony of African penguins wandering the sandy shores. Afterwards, drive through Fish Hoek and Muizenberg, where you’ll stop at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Take some time to explore this diverse ecosystem at the foot of Table Mountain and enjoy the beauty of the Cape Floral Region that’s proudly displayed at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your tour ends with drop-off at your Cape Town hotel.
Important Information
Departure Point
Please note: complimentary pickups and drop offs are from City Centre, Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Green Point and Sea Point Hotels.
Departure Time
8:30am
Return Details
Returns to original departure point at approximately 5:00pm
Inclusions
- Entrance fees
- Hotel pickup and drop off
- Professional guide
Exclusions
- Gratuities (optional)
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Optional visit to penguin colony
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- On certain days, Chapmans Peak drive will be closed on these days the tour will travel via the Ou Kaapse Weg
- Please note: tour operates half in English and half in German on the following dates: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee. If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee. If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.