" Off The BEATEN TRACK"
12 Day 11 Nights Tour - Cape Town via R62 - Overberg - Garden Route - Kamanassie - Tsitsikamma - return
A Special kind of Tour for the traveller who needs to GET AWAY from the rest
There are several Options
For singles and groups not exceeding 12 passengers per group
Departing Cape Town
Option 1
Day 1:
Depart Cape Town via N1 for Stellenbosch and the Wine Estate at the foot of the old Simonsberg.
The Farm
The farm has 70 ha under vines. Cultivars are Merlot, Cabernet, Pinotage, Weisser Riesling, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc.
After traditionally belonging to a wine co-operative for generations, the first estate wines under our own label were produced in 1997, namely Knorhoek Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage and Sauvignon Blanc; with the maiden Cabernet Sauvignon being awarded double gold at it's first entry in the national Veritas Awards.
SIMONSBERG, acknowledged as a viticulture blue chip, covers most of the south, south-western and north-western foothills of the Simonsberg Mountain up to the R44 road linking Stellenbosch town and Paarl. Respected properties arrayed on the scenic slopes include Delheim, Kanonkop, Morgenhof, Muratie, Remhoogte and Rustenberg. Some top-rated properties on the 'wrong' side (to the west) of the divide are also included in the appellation – such as Laibach, Le Bonheur, and portions of Slaley, Warwick and 'newcomer' Vera Cruz. Whereas high-flying Thelema, still a fruit farm when Simonsberg was gazetted, up-and-coming Delaire and the new cellar of financial services colossus GT Ferreira lie outside the boundary.
Veritas Awards 2000
The South African wine industry's 10th annual Veritas Awards - established by the South African National Wine Show Association (SANW) in 1991 and now the country's largest competition for market-ready wines - drew record 1 480 wines entered by 233 producers. After the adjudication from 11 to 14 September 2000, Double Gold, Gold, and silver and bronze medals were awarded during a gala dinner at Nederburg in Paarl on 6 October 2000.
Accommodation: Selected Wine Estate
Lunch: Spier Excl
Supper: Wine Estate Incl
Day 2:
Day at your leisure. Wine Tasting; Horse riding
Accommodation: Selected Wine Estate
Lunch: Picnic - Spier Wine Estate [Excl.]
Set at the edge of the Spier lake,
the Spier Farm Stall is a bakery and delicatessen which caters to
casual picnickers, allowing visitors to make up their own
portable picnic baskets from the vast selection of delectable
foods including cold cuts of meats, imported and local cheeses, a
variety of salads and freshly baked rolls, baguettes and breads,
muffins and cakes and specially packaged cups of delicious filter
coffee. Visitors are free to take their picnics onto the lawns
next to the lake or to the banks of the Eerste River.
The Farm Stall also stocks a large variety of
beautifully packaged homemade pickles and jams, as well as olive
oils and vinegar's.
Supper: Wine Estate Incl
Day 3:
Depart after breakfast via Somerset West and the coastal route, Clarence Drive via Betty's Bay to Hermanus for the Overberg.
FYNBOS - A FLORAL ROUTE FOR THE ECOTOURIST IN THE SOUTHERN OVERBERG
Known as the heart of the whale coast, this coastal resort offers the best land based whale watching in the world. Southern Right Whales visit Walker Bay from July until December every year. About 60 to 100 of these magnificent animals come here from Antarctica to calf. Tourists are often treated with close up displays as these creatures often come to within 10 meters of the coast. The cliff tops in Hermanus offer the tourist great views and the ability to watch the whales close up.
Hermanus also offers great beaches, mountain walks and the craft market is famous for its art. Hermanus also has many fine restaurants and is a wine lover's paradise with nearby wine farms offering wine tasting.
Accommodation: Selected Guest House BB
Lunch: En - Route Excl
Supper: Excl
Day 4:
After breakfast and more whales we amble along this beautiful coastline with Protea lining the road and shrouded in the shadow of the Overberg Mountains. We pass Gansbaai and soon reach the end of the tarred road and turn right to find us on a deserted beach where the fresh air will astound you.
Accommodation: Selected Guest House BB
Lunch: En - Route Excl
Supper: Open Air BBQ excl
Day 5:
After a home cooked breakfast we sample the last of this forgotten retreat and depart for Bredarsdorp.
Bredarsdorp
This town was founded in 1838 and was named after Michiel van Breda. The town is an important center for the wheat and sheep farmers in the area. The town offers the tourist a shipwreck museum, agricultural museum and many fine examples of Cape Gothic style architecture dating from the 19th century. The town has recently seen growth as a result of the South African Air Force Missile Testing Range, which was established in 1986. The testing range is located near Arniston.
From
Bredarsdorp on R316, we travel to Arniston. This quaint little
fishing community was founded in 1815 after a British transport
ship HMS Arniston sank, with the loss of 372 lives.
Arniston is also known as Waenhuiskraans, which roughly
translated means "Wagon Shelter Cliff", as a
large cave in the area reminded farmers of the large shelters
wagons were kept in. The cave is only accessible at low tide for
an hour or two.
The area offers a great place for summer vacations with white
beaches and fairly warm water. It's a great destination if you
want to get away from it all.
From Waenhuiskraans to L' Agullahas, the most Southern tip of Africa, with its famous Lighthouse Museum; March 1847
From Agullas we return through Bredarsdorp and turn off to Malagas. In Malgas (formerly Malagas) the last manually operated pont in South Africa still carries traffic over the Breede River from dawn to sunset.
In Malgas (formerly Malagas) the last manually operated pont in South Africa still carries traffic over the Breede River from dawn to sunset. The name of Moxie Dunn, who drove the pontoon for years, has become a legend. During the 19th century Malgas was a busy cargo port and important inland harbour. The 158-ton vessel Kadie called here for six years, until being wrecked in 1865. Malgas is situated near the De Hoop/Potberg Reserves.
We depart Malgas and slide along the stretched out wheat fields due north for Swellendam. We enjoy a fantastic lunch at Zandrift and steam onto Mossel Bay.
Mossel Bay
Rest of the day at your leisure
Accommodation: Selected Guest House BB
Lunch: Zandrift Excl
Supper: The Hotel Excl
Day 6:
After breakfast we depart for Knysna, gem of the Garden Route.
Accommodation: Selected Guest House BB
Lunch: Knysna Quays Excl
Supper: Excl
Day 7:
After a great breakfast we depart via Plettenberg Bay for the Tsitsikamma National Park.
Tsitsikamma National Park
Accommodation: National Park
Lunch: National Park Excl
Supper: National Park Incl
Day 8:
After breakfast we cross the over the Tsitsikamma Mountains to the R 62 & Eagle Falls.
Through the Prince Alfred Pass between Knysna and Uniondale.
The Lang Kloof mountains on the Garden route
The Prince Alfred's Pass had us working out how Thomas Bain had surveyed and built it, and why, and how ox-wagons going in different directions on the road would have given way. But mostly it had us quietly marvelling: at the views of the Outeniqua and Kouga mountains, dense indigenous forest (which made the adjacent pine plantations look green-uniforms in so many rows) and the changes in vegetation until we reached the Fynbos heights more than 1000m later.
Route 62
Very private and luxurious chalets and Lodge. Rock pools, swimming, horse riding, and walking trail to the historical Arch rock, looking at the Black Eagle's nests. Mountain bike heaven. Wild waterfalls game reserve with 4x4 vehicles and hunting.
Accommodation: Rustic Lodge DBB
Lunch: Self
Supper: BBQ (outside)
Day 9:
Before breakfast we take a hike along the creek to see the Black Eagles Nest and maybe a glimpse at these majestic birds.
Then along the up to Meiringspoort via Prins Albert to the famous Swartberg Pass.
Swartberg Pass
Prince Albert had its origins in 1762 when a loan farm named Kweeckvalleij "the valley of cultivation and plenty" was established in a green and fertile valley at the foot of the awesome Swartberg Mountains. Today, the town is one of the prettiest in South Africa - a place of great serenity and charm, with beautiful architecture, fascinating flora and fauna and great Karoo hospitality. Prince Albert has a mystical quality. Some pass through, registering only another small town: another sees a small stitch in the vast tapestry of the Great Karoo. The more perceptive recognize the ambience of peace and tranquility that prevails and never want to leave.
We continue through Oudtshoorn to Calitzdorp. We taste some great wines at Die Krans wine Farm.
On to Ladysmith and Barrydale where we stop at the friendliest shop on Route 62 the Country Basket.
Ronnie's Sex Shop, the heart of Route 62, must be the oddest pub in South Africa.
Ronnie
Ronnie painted the name "Ronnie's Shop" on this cottage next to the R62, planning to open a farm stall to sell fresh produce and fruit. His friends played a prank on him by changing the name to "Ronnie's Sex Shop". Initially angry about the involuntary name change, Ronnie left the name and continued fixing the dilapidated building. His friends would stop by for a chat, having a few beers and throwing a couple of chops on the fire. During one of these evenings, someone suggested: "Why don't you just open a pub?"
Ronnie's Sex Shop has had visitors from all over the world, judging by the graffiti, it has also become a regular pit stop for bikers, the local farmers and people travelling this road regularly.
Route 62 meanders through some of South Africa's most fertile valleys. Thus it is no surprise to have three of South Africa's leading wine regions on this route. The Breede River gives life to the Robertson Wine Valley and also to the Worcester Wine Valley. Against the backdrop of the harsh and unforgiving climate of the Klein Karoo it is still surprising to find the Klein Karoo Wine Route. Together these wine valleys produce some of South Africa's finest wines — an experience not to be missed by any wine lover.
Route 62 is the tourist route that meanders between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn, the Garden Route and Port Elizabeth, offering the shorter, scenic alternative to the N2 highway.
It's an area of magnificent landscapes and towering cliffs, crystal clear streams and the abundance of trees and indigenous flora, all contribute to making the Breede River Valley and the Klein Karoo two of the Western Cape's most diverse regions. The ever changing colours of the majestic mountains, scenic passes, rivers, vineyards and orchards, as well as the multitude of attractions, will offer you an unforgettable adventure — whether this is in the physical sense or simply a kaleidoscope of scenic tranquillity.
Innovation and pride combined with a terrain and mild climate that are harmoniously balanced results in the prominence of our region's wines. Route 62 will take you along the longest wine route in the Western Cape and most likely the whole world.
On via Montegu, Aston to Wine Farm. This is a Guesthouse & Wine Farm that you will want to return to, nestled on a beautiful mountainside with great big trees, vineyards and sparkling pool.
Accommodation: Wine Farm BB
Lunch: Zandrift
Supper: Wine Farm Excl
Day 10-11:
We depart after a lavish breakfast for Cape Town via Franshoek & Stellenbosch.
We arrive & check into Hotel/Guest Hous just after lunch the rest of the day and the next is at your leisure.
Accommodation: Selected Guest House BB
Lunch: At your leisure
Supper: At your leisure
Day 12:
Transfer after breakfast for Airport
Included: All entrance fees except where it is excluded. All transfers; guides' fees; transport; accommodation bed, breakfast & suppers as per itinerary, portage.
Excluded are lunches, alcoholic drinks, tips and items of personal nature.
Tariff per person sharing:
R 28,500 PP
Single Supplement R 2,150
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