Day 1: DAY 1: CAPE TOWN

Arrive Cape Town and meet our representative outside the baggage hall for your private transfer to the hotel. Check in and rest of the day at leisure. Today evening we welcome you with an extravagant African Theme Dinner at Golds Restaurant with a complete Africa continent menu and live entertainment. (Indian veg/non veg & Jain menu options available). Return transfers from your hotel are included.

Meals: Dinner

DAY 2: TABLE MOUNTAIN, MALAY QUARTER, SIGNAL HILL, ROBBEN ISLAND & JEWEL WORKSHOP

After breakfast commence on a full day private of this wonderful city of Cape Town. The tour will start with a drive through the Malay Quarter and an explanation of its historic importance to South Africa before we reach the base of the Table Mountain. Visit the top by the rotating gondola, an exhilarating experience by itself. After descending this spectacular wonder of nature we will stop briefly at Signal Hill to capture a birds eye view of Cape Town. After a brief photo stop we proceed towards the luxury neighbourhood of Camps Bay.

We have a 2nd photo stop opportunity here before proceeding to V&A Waterfront for our 1pm ferry to Robben Island. After a 4 hour tour of this historic island prison where Nelson Mandela was held for many ears we return back to Cape Town. Your vehicle will drop you at The Jewel Africa workshop and showroom in the city. Browse through the sparkling wonders created by this organization. Avail special discounts exclusive to Pearl Travels clients by utilizing our voucher. You will be later dropped off at your hotel.

Jewel Africa opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 0730pm. Sat 10am to 0530pm. Sun 3pm to 0730pm

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 3: CAPE POINT, PENGUINS & SIMON’S TOWN

After breakfast astride a WWII motorbike sidecar for a scenic drive along the Atlantic Seaboard towards Cape Point & Cape Peninsula National Park and the historic Cape of Good Hope.

Past the Chapman’s Peak with photostops along the way your side car will drop you in the scenic fishing town of Noordshoek. Your chauffeur driven car will meet at this point and take you onwards to Cape Peninsula.

Rugged rocks and sheer cliffs towering more than 200 metres above the sea and cutting deep into the ocean provide a spectacular background for the Parks’ rich bio-diversity. Cape Point falls within the southern section of Table Mountain National Park. The natural vegetation of the area, fynbos, comprises the smallest but richest of the world’s six floral kingdoms. The scenic beauty of Cape Point is not its sole allure; it is also an international icon of great historical interest with many a visitor drawn to the area because of its rich maritime history.

The Flying Dutchman Funicular, also known as the Cape Point Funicular, is a funicular railway located at Cape Point. It is believed to be the only commercial funicular of its type in Africa, and takes its name from the local legend of the Flying Dutchman ghost ship.

The line runs from a lower station at the Cape Point car park, up an incline through dense fynbos to the upper lighthouse. The funicular leaves from the lower station every 3 minutes, comfortably accommodates 40 passengers per car, and can transport 450 persons to the upper lighthouse per hour, making it the ideal way to whisk closer to the lighthouse even during peak times.

Your next stop for the best penguin viewing experience, Foxy Beach is the place to be, just a short stroll from the actual Boulders Beach.  The boardwalks are all wheelchair-friendly and will take you to within metres of the birds.  There is also a visitors centre accessed on foot using “Willis Walk” from the Bellevue Road/Cape Point side, or via Kleintuin Road from the Seaforth Road/Simon’s Town side.

Boulders Beach has plenty of decent restaurant and cafés offering variety of food close to the gates (although nothing on offer inside the reserve precinct).  A beautiful summer’s day spent at Boulders is tough to beat, but don’t get too close to the Penguins as they have a nasty nip on them.

After the penguins we drive through the historic Simon’s Town. The town officially called Simon’s Town, but often referred to as Simons Town, was originally named Simon’s Vlek after Simon van der Stel, the Dutch governor of the Cape Colony between 1677 and 1699, who surveyed the bay east of Cape Town in 1687 and earmarked it as a safe winter harbour during the months of May to September for which it was finally proclaimed in 1741. You can take phot stops at will before proceeding to Cape Town. Overnight in Cape Town.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4:    STELLENBOSCH – SPIER FARM

After breakfast take a drive to Stellenbosch, Cape town , South Africa’s most famous wineland destination. Award winning wines , world class hotel and conferencing. Stay at Spier Wine Farm a spacious village style accommodation, SA ‘s most historic and forward thinking  farms .

SEGWAY TOUR: Two-wheeled, self-balancing, battery powered personal transporters: Segways are the coolest way to do a breezy lap around the farm.

Glide through the vineyards. Breeze through the River Garden. Take a turn past the yin-yang water recycling and re-energising plant. Go via our farmlands before resting your wheels.

 

 

EAGLE ENCOUNTER & FLYING SHOW: Later in the day meet the monarchs of the Bird world. Enjoy up-close-and-personal interactions with eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, kites, buzzards, snakes and lizards.  Take part in heart-stopping falconry displays, where we fly birds to you. Kids will also enjoy our piglets, rabbits, tortoises, chickens and unique playground.

 

 

 

WINE TASTING: Settle in at the parquet tables and admire the iconic Heath Nash chandelier — made from 334 recycled Spier wine bottles and weighing 370kgs — which hangs above the tasting counter.

You can either enjoy a set wine tasting, with or without a food pairing, or order whatever you like with an olive, cheese or cured meat board. (Food is optional extra)

Tastings include: Choose three wines from our Signature range and one from each of the two premium wine ranges, 21 Gables and Creative Block.

Day 5: INVERDOOM GAME DRIVE

After breakfast  drive to, Inverdoorn Game Reserve is a 10 000 ha park situated in Ceres.

Spanning across 10 000 hectares in the Ceres Karoo, the game reserve is home to an abundance of wildlife, including zebras, hippos, giraffes, cheetahs, various antelope and bird species, and the Big 5.

 

BIG 5 SAFARI

All members of the Big 5 – the elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo and the elusive leopard – are represented at Inverdoorn. The game is thriving and during your safari you may come across herds of eland, gemsbok and zebra, or hippos wallowing in the dam. The rhinos, with their horns intact, are a distinct highlight at Inverdoorn, combined with the magic of walking with giraffes and watching the cheetah run.

Day 6: CHEETAH  INTERACTION

Enjoy the morning game drive. Return to the lodge for breakfast.

The first time you see a cheetah in close proximity at Inverdoorn Game Reserve ,may be when the resident tame cheetahs, Velvet or Iziba, go on walkabouts with their handlers around the lodge. This is a truly magical experience. Many of the rescued cheetahs have a heart-warming, and sometimes heartbreaking, story that the handlers will eagerly share with you.

Inverdoorn offers guests the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get to grips with a cheetah through the exclusive chance to spend time interacting with them. Whether stroking and petting the cheetahs or giving them water, it is an amazing experience.

The cheetah is a very sensitive animal and so every care is taken to minimise their stress when being exposed to guests. We will make every effort to ensure an encounter, but there are certain conditions to be strictly adhered to.

OPTIONAL EXTRA (DAY 5 & 6) SANBONA WILDLIFE RESERVER

Nestled in the heart of the Little Karoo, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is a three-hour drive from Cape Town, along Route 62. At the foot of the towering Warmwaterberg Mountains, Sanbona boasts sculpted Cape Fold Mountains, wide open Karoo plains, indigenous flora and fauna and rare examples of San rock art, some dating back more than 3, 500 years. Explore all this from your choice of 3 different luxury lodges. Whilst the free roaming Big 5 call Sanbona home, it’s the vastness of the landscape and the raw beauty of the boundless plains that make safaris at Sanbona unique. Explore the 54, 000 hectares of this malaria-free premier, private game reserve for an ultimate safari experience close to Cape Town. 

 

Game Drives
Interactive game drives last up to 3 hours and take place in the tranquil moods of sunrise and sunset. You will traverse this wild landscape with a qualified ranger in a comfortable open Land Cruiser. During the drive, either in the early morning or at sunset, numerous species of plants, animals, big game and birds can be seen.

A hot beverage of your choice is offered during the sunrise game drives. Sundowner evening drives offer spectacular displays of light as the sun sets over the Little Karoo. No persons under 4 years of age are permitted to join game drives. 

Guided Nature Walks
Well-informed and experienced rangers can indicate points of interest while divulging important and interesting information about the area.
With the variety of exquisite sites, animals and plants to see while on your excursion, choosing the right time of day is important. Larger and smaller animals alike are most active during the early mornings and early evenings. During the day you’re likely to catch a glimpse of an array of birdlife nesting, hunting or travelling through the area, with waterholes being the most prominent area.
Each adventure is appropriate for any fitness level, from easy walking tours to more advanced hiking trails. No Persons under the age of 16 are permitted to join the nature walks.  

Relaxation Retreat
Various treatments can be enjoyed at our Relaxation Retreats which are situated at Tilney Manor,Dwkya Tented Lodge and Gondwana Family Lodge.Treatments can be booked prior to arrival with reservation.

Star Gazing and Story Telling
With the absence of artifical light, the star gazing at Sanbano Wild Life Reserve is phenomenal and amongst the best in Southern Africa.Interpretations about the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere are given by knowledgeable guides. Romantic stories of god and goddesses banished to the heavens are woven into astronomical facts and unfolds before your eyes. Discover the myths of the stories told by the San about their visions of stars 

 

 

Day 7 : DEPARTURE

After breakfast, transfer to Cape Town airport for flight back home. 

 OPTIONAL EXTENTION OF TOUR TO OUDSTHOORN & KNYSNA – 4 NIGHTS/5 DAYS 

Day: STELLENBOSCH- OUDTSHOORN

After breakfast, we reach the town centre by 0930am for a 10am walking tour with an expert local guide. After a 90 minute educating experience we visit local vineyard to learn about wine making and tasting. Lunch at the vineyard or a local restaurant before commencing the drive towards Oudsthoorn.

We use the scenic R62 to reach Oudsthoorn before sunset. Your accommodation is at an idyllic ostrich farm on the outskirts of the town. Don’t be surprised to see the elegant lovely birds walking not very far from your rooms.

Overnight stay in Oudtshoorn

Day: CANGO CAVES & WILDLIFE RANCH – THRILLING ENCOUNTER WITH A CHEETAH  – OUDTSHOORN
Today you visit the dual wonders of Cango Caves and the Cango Wildlife Ranch!

CANGO CAVES: 29km from Oudtshoorn, at the head of the picturesque Cango Valley, lie the spectacular underground wonder of the Klein Karoo – the Cango Caves. Situated in a limestone ridge parallel to the well known Swartberg Mountains, you will find the finest dripstone caverns, with their vast halls and towering formations.

Common myth has it that the Caves were first explored by a local farmer named Jacobus van Zyl (after who the first chamber, van Zyl’s Hall, was named) although research fails to reveal anybody by that name in the Cango area in the 1770’s. And besides we now know that the Caves have been known to man since the Early Stone Age.
Still, even if there never was a Jacobus van Zyl, the Cango Caves have been at the forefront of tourism in South Africa since the end of the 18th century: the first to be protected by environmental legislation and the first to employ a full-time tourist guide, they remain South Africa’s oldest tourist attraction
CANGO WILDLIFE RANCH: Upon arrival you will be greeted by your guide who will inform you of when your tour will start. During your wait (which will not be more than half an hour ) you can view our snake park, lorikeet aviary, wallaby walkabout, kids zone, visit our curio shops or have a bite to eat at one of our restaurants.

Your guided tour will take you through the Valley of Ancients with its variety of animals and reptiles, then off to Cheetahland where you will meet our big cats. A tour will last anything from 45 – 60 minutes. We recommend visitors set aside at least 2 hours to experience everything we have to offer.

After your tour you are welcome to walk around and perhaps re-visit some of the enclosures for extra pictures.

Natural Encounter programs, along with our new Experience Department, offers visitors both young and old the chance to interact with a few of our ambassadors species. Your ticket entitles you to ONE encounter experience either with a cheetah or lemur. Make the most of this once in a lifetime opportunity to have a picture taken during the encounter.

Return back to your lodge early evening to enjoy a hot dinner.

Overnight at Oudtshoorn

Day: MEERKATS, OSTRICHS & WHALES
Early wakeup call at 5am. We depart for an educational tour of the every agile Meerkats in their natural habitats only visible at sunrise. These borrow domiciled animals show very human like tendencies and intelligence when it comes to survival. Learn more during the tour.

After the tour we visit the Highgate Ostrich farm where a lovely breakfast awaits us (Indian menu available). After the breakfast visit to the ostrich farm and learn everything about them from birth to death. For the adventure seekers there is an opportunity to take a short ride on this huge bird. Also enjoy watching an ostrich race ridden by experienced jockeys.

Day: OUDTSHOORN – KNYSNA

After breakfast  Drive towards Knysna over the scenic pass route. On arrival in Knysna check into to your hotel and proceed for your whale watching tour at 3pm.

WHALES! Every year, both the Southern Right whales and the Humpback whales leave their icy feeding grounds off Antarctica and migrate to mate and calve in the warmer waters of our Southern African coastline. And Knysna is one of the best whale watching destinations in the country. The tour will last 90-120 minutes before bringing you back to Knysna.

Spend the evening at Knsyna Quays which boasts of lovely boutiques and numerous bars and restaurants. Overnight in Knysna.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 12: PRIVATE GAME RESERVE – WALK WITH THE LIONS & GAME DRIVE & DEPARTURE

Protea Hotel The Ranch

A once in a life time experience… Walk alongside Africa’s most majestic preditor. The”walking with lions” encounter is an opportunity to interact with young lions. The walks take approximately one hour to complete – depending on how fast the lions are prepared to amble – and a maximum of eight guests can be hosted on each excursion.
No leashes, No Collars, just a natural African Adventure…

This activity is an opportunity to accompany them in their natural habitat on foot. These lions offer guests an unparalleled experience and insight into the behaviour of this species. The close interaction with lions strengthens mutual respect and extends understanding and feelings for conservation. It is fully supervised and professionally managed by an experienced team.

The lions are unrestricted and roam free as you join them on a walk through riverine vegetation and African Bush. With these twice-a-day walks, which is strictly controlled by guides it is a nice and quite comfortable walk, and you walk slowly so that you can see how the animals interact and play.