Down to earth holidays

Description

We really think this is the best Garden Route holiday you will find. Of course, you can find Garden Route holidays from many different companies. So why should you consider our Garden Route holiday? Simply, because it’s different, it includes lots of excellent activities within the price (most don’t), and because it allows you to meet some really wonderful local people. We will also get you close to the nature of the Cape Floral kingdom, and even take you to a garden, both experiences which perhaps surprisingly, you will struggle to find on most other itineraries!

This is a self-drive holiday and we’ve arranged some great places for you to stay: a Dutch Homestead at a winery, a gorgeous hotel in nature retreat on the fynbos coast near Gansbaai, a fascinating and friendly homestay in Outdshoorn, and a 1000 acre country estate near Plettenberg Bay

We’ve also include some excellent activities which will really bring you closer to what the Garden Route is all about. There is a picnic in a very special and quite mad garden, some wine tasting, an eco-marine trip to see dolphins and whales, and a journey into ancient indigenous coastal forest at Tsitsikamma. But perhaps the most unusual and heart-warming experience you will have is when you’re invited into the home of a local lady in Knysna, who will delight in cooking an amazing lunch for you, and, if you’re interested, teaching you to cook some of her traditional African dishes. You’ll stay, cook and eat lunch with her and leave as friends a few hours later. This and the homestay are experiences which few visitors to South Africa are privileged to enjoy.

This really is no ordinary Garden Route holiday. So, if you want something special, varied and memorable, yet still at a great price, let us show you the Down to Earth Garden Route.

NOTE: This holiday can be combined with other sections to make a longer trip.

Detailed Itinerary

1. DAY 1: Arrive in Cape Town. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your guest house, a small friendly B&B. Free afternoon to explore the city.  (If you want longer here you can combine this trip with our Cape Town & Winelands holiday, or our Cape Town add-on).
   
   
2. DAY 2: Your hire care will be delivered to your guest house this morning, along with directions, a map and vouchers. And so your Garden Route adventure begins as you head east for about 2½ hours, past Hermanus and the fishing town of Gansbaai. Your rural hideaway at the foot of mountains with views of lakes and the ocean, is a country house in an isolated 800 hectare nature reserve of the Cape Floral kingdom. This is one of the most stunning and least-touched areas in the Cape, yet most visitors drive straight past. There are over 700 plant species in the reserve, some extremely rare, and a tiny portion of the reserve is an indigenous flower plantation. There are also various wildlife species such as baboons, bat-eared foxes and antelopes which use the reserve. The accommodation has only six rooms, and it is of a high standard. The food is truly delicious with a strong emphasis on everything local. Here you can enjoy walks in the reserve (guided if you prefer, including one showing you the medicinal properties of the local flora), you can horse ride, or go birdwatching. Slightly further away is Pearly Beach for endless isolated sandy beach (only 30 mins drive), and you can try to spotwhales from De Kelders cliffs about 20 mins drive away (Aug-Dec). Cape Agulhas (the southernmost point of Africa) is 1½ hours drive away. Staying at the lodge you can enjoy a massage, swim in the lap-pool or just chill out and enjoy the spectacular views. This is a special place, so relax, your holiday has begun in earnest. B,D
   
   
3. DAY 3: Today we’re putting a garden into the Garden Route! But this is no ordinary garden. Soekershof is a botanical garden and maze. The owners see the garden as being about “the appreciation of nature, humor, play, creation, expression and respect for the land and the growth and development of the people and plants that participate”. We see them as being perhaps slightly mad, but wonderfully creative and fun! The garden has been described as one of the most beautiful and diverse succulent gardens, and is really not to be missed – even if you’re not particularly into gardens. It’s magical and makes you smile. Enjoy a Dutch picnic in the garden (included).  It will take you about 2 hours to drive here and you are expected at noon (please arrive 15 minutes before your 12 noon tour). Then we’ll bring in a little of the Winelands, as we’re still on the edge of the Cape wine growing region. Travelling about 1 hour east you come to a wine estate. Once you’ve settled in at the vineyard where you’ll be staying the night in a Dutch homestead, you’ll be taken to sample the estate’s wine. Such hardship! FB.
   
   
4. DAY 4: You’re now heading slightly north to the town of Outdshoorn in the Klein Karoo. The two main highlights of this area are the Cango Caves (ancient underground caves with limestone formations) and the ostrich farms (farming for meat and feathers). There is also Meerkat Magic, where you can try to see wild meerkats in a conservation project just outside of the town, and Cango wildlife ranch where you can meet cheetahs up close and personal!
   We’d recommend an early-ish start today so you’ve got time to see what you want before arriving later in the day at your homestay with a kamamma (a local matriarch of her community) from Dreamcatcher*. At the homestay you’ll find a comfortable house with a welcoming hostess. This is a chance to get to know some of the local people and enjoy African hospitality. The décor may be quirky to western taste, but the honest desire to make you feel at home and give you an insight into their culture is very heart-warming. For dinner tonight, either ask your kamamma to cook, or try one of the great local restaurants.   B.
   
   
5. DAY 5: After breakfast and a fond farewell to your kamamma hostess, you’ll head south for about 2 hours through the spectacular Outeniqua Pass down to Knysna by the coast. By about noon you’ll have made your way to your next kamamma’s house (or meet her at the local tourism office). She’ll be waiting to welcome you for a cook-up, and will cook some delicious traditional African dishes with you. You will definitely have a lot of laughs, and after enjoying your lunch you’ll be leaving full of African food and more true hospitality. You’ve now only got a 30 minute drive to your 1000 acre country estate, which will be your base for exploring this area for the next three nights. Today, you can simply relax by the pool and enjoy the superb views over fields and forest to the ocean. FB.
   
   
6. DAY  6: An exciting morning awaits you today, as you head out from Plettenberg Bay (15 minutes away) on a two hour eco-marine encounter trip. This professional, safety-conscious and conservation-orientated company offers the only permitted boat-based whale and dolphin encounters in the area, and since they are accredited, they can get within 50 metres of the wildlife. This can be a real close-up experience! You will hopefully see common, bottlenose and Indo-Pacific dolphins, resident Bryde’s whales and, in season (June-Oct) Southern Right or Humpback whales. You’ll also head to the Robberg Peninsula and a Cape fur seal colony. What an exhilarating way to spend a morning! In the afternoon you could either go exploring more of the area or head back to the lodge. There are so many things to do and see in this area between Knysna and Tsitsikamma that you’ll be spoilt for choice in how to spend the rest of your time here. B
   
   
7. DAY 7: One of the unique aspects of this area of the Garden Route is the indigenous coastal forest. This morning we’ve booked you onto a lovely gentle guided tour in the forest near Tsitsikamma (about 45 mins away). Travelling down the old Storms River Pass in a specially-designed vehicle, you follow an old elephant trail (sadly no longer used) down to the water. Your guide will tell you about this ancient indigenous forest with its tree ferns, stinkwoods, yellow woods draped with old man’s beard, and the 250 bird species found here too, such as the Knynsa Lowrie. You will also stop at the river for tea and a snack (or lunch if you prefer a later departure) during your roughly 2½ hour Woodcutter’s Journey. (Please note this will be dependant on a minimum of 6 people wanting to join a trip, and also on the weather, so you’ll need to ring and confirm the day before). If you fancy a bit more excitement while you’re here, consider taking the hugely exciting treetop canopy tour, where you will be harnessed up and then you can zip through the tree canopy. Superb fun!  Note: you need to book this in advance, so please ask for our help. B
   
   
8. DAY 8: You have a last morning to enjoy the Garden Route before driving about 2 hours east to your final destination, Port Elizabeth. This is a large city by the sea, and you’re staying at a very lovely guest house with a swimming pool. B
   
   
9. DAY 9: Today you’ll drop your car at the airport before either flying home or continuing with onward arrangements. If you want to see the wildlife of the area we have an excellent 5-day add on in Amakhala Game Reserve (see left).

* The Dreamcatcher Foundation was founded 25 yrs ago by Anthea Rossouw. Its mission is to help help themselves out of the poverty trap, and to bring lasting dignity, skills and training to women, their families and communities situated across South Africa by job creation through the micro-business programmes of Dreamcatcher.

Is it for you?

This holiday is great for all adults and children. There is variety, excitement, a chance to really get to know the Garden Route area and people, and some wonderful places to stay.

Best times to go

From about October to March the weather along South Africa's Garden Route is mostly hot and dry. November and February are very Mediterranean in climate.

Getting there

The journey starts in Cape Town. If coming from abroad you’ll obviously fly here, but if you’re arriving from elsewhere in South Africa, you could come by train, in which case we’ll collect you from the station (we can book a train for you if you like). At the end, from Port Elizabeth you can fly out to Joburg, Cape Town, or other regional airports, and connect to homeward flights if relevant. Alternatively, for a ‘slow travel’ option, we can book you a lovely overnight train journey to Cape Town.

Responsible Travel

How your holiday helps:

There is so much to this holiday which is positive. Buying this holiday, you are helping local conservation, local people and local wildlife. It’s a gem of a holiday for you, but it gives SO MUCH back to the area.
(Note: FTTSA is the Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa).

The nature retreat near Gansbaai is an accredited member of the FTTSA, and the owners work tirelessly to protect the indigenous and rare plants and habitats of their 800 hectare reserve. There are various different habitats here, but the area is most noted for the indigenous ‘fynbos’ (meaning fine bush or heath), which include plants such as proteas and ericas.

Soekershof Garden is an accredited member of the FTTSA and its mission statement is: "Soekershof is a sacred enterprise, based on the appreciation of nature, humor, play, creation, expression and respect for the land and the growth and development of the people and plants that participate”. Not only have they brought back to life a dying garden, but they are also a community-orientated venture, and back local artists and suppliers such as Joey, a talented wire artist.

The winery has a primary school on their farm, and a staff empowerment and upliftment scheme (eg their head chef was an alcoholic, but now copes with life, work and family).

Dreamcatcher’s Homestay and Cookup with Kamammas give back to the Kamammas and their helpers, creating work and income for a lot of people. The Dreamcatcher Foundation is one of the founders of community-based tourism in South Africa. With about 100 projects, they estimate that they benefit about 20,000 people. Through tourism ventures they work for the well-being and advancement of under-privileged communities in South Africa, with an emphasis on supporting women.

The aim of the marine tour company we use is: “to create, in partnership with the community, a conservation model in Plettenberg Bay to sustain marine and coastal resources through improved management, research and education”. In our view, a whale and dolphin boat trip with this company is the best you can find, AND it gives back in many ways. They even back a local disadvantaged community with funds for education and a crèche.

Storms River Adventures who do the Woodcutter’s Journey through the forest in Tsitsikamma is an accredited member of the FTTSA, and they have won various awards for their responsible tourism practices including social involvement, economic impact of local communities and environmental management.


Carbon Offsetting:
For every client we take on holiday we plant 10 indigenous tree saplings. This is used as a poverty alleviation and biodiversity scheme as well as helping with carbon offsetting. Click for more details …

Giving to grassroots projects:
Our registered charity, The Tribes Foundation, is currently raising funds for a project in South Africa. The kindness of strangers can make a big difference, so if you’re a travel philanthropist considering donating to a worthwhile charity, please consider backing this excellent community project.

The Calabash Trust is a charity based in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It works with poor communities based in the urban townships of Port Elizabeth. While the primary focus is nutrition and education, they also engage in job creation and skills training.

We will shortly have a page with photos of the project on http://www.the-tribes-foundation.org/.

Shop ethically:
If you support buying fair trade, ethical and organic goods, please take a look at our online ethical shop for books, maps, travel gadgets, first aid kits etc before you travel. This is also a great place to find organic goodies and handmade crafts, many made in the countries and areas that we visit.

FOR MORE GENERAL DETAILS ABOUT OUR RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL PRINCIPLES, CLICK HERE.

Comments

Trip Code: K2

Validity: 1-3-09 to 31-10-09

Individual Trip Dates & Prices

2+ people can take this holiday on most days of the year, subject to availability. Please call us to check availability.

1 March to 31 October 09 : from £720 pp.

Pricing notes:

• Prices are based on twin share, excluding flights.
• We can also arrange this trip for more than 2 people, so please ask for prices.
• Please ask about child rates (if available) and single supplements.
• Exchange rate fluctuations may affect these prices (see our Booking Conditions).

Duration: 9 days

Included
Airport meet & greet, accommodation based on twin share, meals as shown, car hire for 8 days, map & voucher pack, entrance to and picnic in Soekershof garden, one wine tasting session, Cookup lunch, eco-marine encounter, Woodcutters’s journey (subject to 6 people booking and weather permitting).

Not Included
Flights, tips, insurance, visas, items of a personal nature, some meals, drinks, car hire options (eg second driver, deposit – please ask for details), optional activities.