South Africa´s Highlights Tour
Pretoria to Cape Town
(15 days, 15 overnights)

Day 1. Pretoria
Arrive at Johannesburg International Airport and transfer to Hotel. Afternoon take over of bikes. At our dinner we will do a tour briefing.

Day 2. Pretoria - Graskop, km 400

After our breakfast we leave for Graskop taking the scenic route via De Berg pass (highest tar road in Mpumulanga) and the Long Tom pass. Graskoop is right in the heart of Mpumulanga and makes an ideal base for exploring the magnificent surrounds.

Day 3. Graskop – Panorama Route – Graskop, km 250

Waterfalls, magical view sites and Winding Mountain passes will make today one of the highlights of the tour - Gods Window- Berlin & Lisbon falls- Bourkes Lucke potholes- Animal Rehab centre etc. Tonight we visit the Shangaan Cultural Village where you will enjoy a truly African experience which includes dances and a traditional meal.

Day 4. Graskoop – Swaziland, km 300

After breakfast we depart for the Kingdom of Swaziland – the home of the friendly Swazi people – after border procedures (passport and possibly visa required) – we weave our way along winding country roads and mountain passes. Today we will visit Swaziland’s own glass factory (Ngwenya Glass) and see the world famous Swazi candles being handcrafted at Swazi Candles. There are many excellent restaurants, pubs and craft markets in the Ezulweni Valley where we will overnight at an excellent country lodge, with its own magnificent restaurant with wooden deck with spectacular views.

Day 5. Swaziland’s - St Lucia, km 380

Today we make our way through Swaziland and into South Africa’s Zulu Kingdom. Homeland of the proud Zulu nation. In the late afternoon we will arrive in St. Lucia- (a world renowned natural heritage site) with its beautiful secluded beaches, hippos, crocs, whales, endangered turtles and other wildlife, our home for the next two nights. This afternoon we embark on an exciting sunset river cruise where we see hippos , crocodiles and other estuary wildlife . Tonight you can explore the many restaurants , pubs and cocktail bars that St Lucia has to offer.

Day 6. St Lucia, Leisure Day. No riding

St Lucia has so much to offer that we suggest an action packed day undertaking one of the many optional activities on offer e.g. Whale watching & turtle tours (in season).Full and half day game drives are also available into the magnificent Umfolosi/Hlhluwe game reserve. You can also visit a Zulu cultural village . As all activities are extremely popular, to avoid disappointment GAO prefers to pre-book activities for you.

Day 7. St Lucia - Port Shepstone, km 350

After breakfast we travel down the Kwazulu Natal coastline through Durban to the South Coast holiday town of Port Shepstone, where we head inland via a beautiful mountain road to a Nature Reserve. Tonight we can witness the magnificent African Sunset over the breathtaking Gorge.

Day 8. Port Shepstone - Coffee Bay, km 450

After an early breakfast it is time to head for the Wild Coast– where our famous Madiba – former president Nelson Mandela - was born. You will see why this region is called the Wild Coast – endless unspoilt sandy beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see make this destination well worth a visit.

Day 9. Coffee Bay - Port Alfred, km 450

After visiting the hole in the wall – a natural hole in a rock formed by waves battering against it – we take the N2 to East London and continue on the coastal road to Port Alfred- a beautiful little coastal town with stunning sea views and good places to eat.

Day 10. Port Alfred – Knysna, km 450

Today we follow the coastal route to Knysna – the start of the famous Garden Route where we will be based for the next 3 nights. En route, those brave enough will have the opportunity to bungee from Bloukrans, the highest bungee in the world-214 metres of pure adrenalin.Tonight you can chose one of the many excellent pubs and restaurants Knysna has to offer for your dinner.

Day 11. Knysna, Rest Day

Knysna is a truly beautiful place and is ideal for a rest day. There is so much to do! You can go on a boat cruise, marvel at the Knysna heads, embrace the beautiful evergreen Knysna forest, meet the Knysna Elephants or simply relax and enjoy the pubs, restaurants and shops. Another option is re-exploring some of the beautiful routes and windies.

Day 12. Knysna – Oudtshoorn, km 250

Today we enjoy the spectacular scenery and windies of the world famous garden route, visiting an ostrich farm and the Cango Caves in Oudtshoorn

Day 13. Oudtshoorn – Scenic Route 62 – Montagu, km 280

After an early breakfast we make our way over the Outeniqua pass to the start of route 62. The road winds through the Swartberg Mountains and beautiful foothills in their valleys. This area is famous for its Winelands.

Day 14. Montagu – Cape Town, km 250

We will arrive at Cape Town early afternoon and will enjoy the City and the V& A Waterfront.

Day 15. Cape Town and Cape Peninsula, km 180

Amongst the most popular travel destinations in South Africa is the Western Cape region with Cape Town as its centre. Although it's a small area relative to other popular cosmopolitan cities, it attracts millions of visitors from all over the world every year. Cape Town is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world as it is surrounded by glorious landscapes with unique vegetation, beautiful mountains and stunning wide beaches, especially on the Cape Peninsula, at False Bay and on the West Coast.
In May 1998, the entire of the Cape Peninsula was proclaimed a National Park for its extraordinary natural beauty, its unique flora and fauna and its special historical and cultural significance. The new Cape Peninsula National Park extends from Signal Hill in the north down to Cape Point and includes the mountain ranges of the area and the coastal stretches. The former Cape of Good Hope Reserve in the south of the peninsula became part of the new National Park as well as Table Mountain and the Silvermine resort. The greatest attraction of the Nature Reserve continues to be the southern part of Simon's Town down to the Cape of Good Hope. Here one can go on long walks through the Fynbos landscape, particularly beautiful in spring when the wildflowers bloom, and many animals can be observed: many different species of antelope, reptiles, ostriches, zebras and numerous seabirds.
A trip to Cape Point is a must for any Cape Town visitor. The southern end of the Cape Peninsula boasts two points of interest really, the Cape of Good Hope and the more southerly and a bit higher situated Cape Point. However, the most southern point of Africa is to be found 150 kilometers towards the southeast. There, at Cape Agulhas, the two oceans, the Indian and the Atlantic 'meet'. For the early seafarers the Cape of Good Hope marked the turning point in their luck because once the " Cape of Storms", as Bartholomeus Diaz called it in 1488, had been passed, the battle against the sea was basically won.

Final routing depending on availability of accommodation at time of booking and might change slightly