South Africa offers an unparalleled touring experience: Following a route that has been specifically chosen to encompass some of the most stunning and diverse landscapes, we shall be visiting the most scenic parts of southern Africa, including Cape Town and its surrounding area, the glorious Winelands, the Little Karoo, and the beautiful Garden Route.

Accommodation

The tour will mainly stay in some of South Africa’s best hotels, often Relais & Chateaux listed. The delightful accommodation includes sophisticated hotels, an elegant Cape Dutch manor house, and an African Colonial-style homestead. All the hotels have wonderful character and individuality, whilst being of a very good standard – all 5 star, or equivalent. All the accommodation is hand-picked and, wherever possible, we have visited the hotels to ensure they have an enchanting atmosphere, as well as suitable parking for your car. All the accommodation is en-suite, and breakfast is included each morning.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive at Cape Town International Airport in the morning, where you will be met and taken to collect your car. Just a short 2 minute drive to the hotel will be followed by a free afternoon to settle in. The first three nights of the tour will be based at the highly-acclaimed Mount Nelson Hotel, just at the foot of Table Mountain. Set in nine acres of lush gardens this is Cape Town’s most famous hotel. Afternoon tea here is an institution in itself.

Day 2

Spend the day exploring the exciting ‘Mother City’ of Cape Town. Visit the renowned V

&A Waterfront and take a boat trip to Robben Island. Wander around Bo-Kaap, the city’s oldest residential area with colourful Cape Dutch and Georgian architecture. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, at the foot of Table Mountain, are well worth a visit. The view from the top of the iconic Mountain must be experienced, and you can either hike up or take the revolving cable car.

Day 3

Drive the fabulous circular route to Cape Point. Visit the penguins at Boulders Beach, and then head onto the Cape Point Nature Reserve. The Cape of Good Hope makes for a good photo stop. Return via the sensational Chapmans Peak Drive to Hout Bay and wind your way back over the mountains to Constantia and Cape Town.

Day 4

Head out to the Winelands and Stellenbosch, just over an hour away. Spend the day at your leisure exploring the numerous vineyards (there are over 100) in the area or visit the Winelands Auto Museum, with the country’s largest collection of classic cars . Continue on to Franschhoek to stay for two nights at the renowned Quartier Francais Hotel in the centre of the village.

Day 5

A free day in Franschhoek to explore the delightful town, discover more vineyards, or take part in one of the many activities available, such as hiking or horse riding.

Day 6

Head over the Franschhoek Pass to Grabouw and Cape apple growing country, with its acres of orchards. Drive over Sir Lowry’s Pass and take the stunning coastal road to Betty’s Bay and onto Hermanus, on Walker Bay, venue of the best land-based whale watching in the world. A very relaxing few hours can be spent watching the Southern Right Whales in the bay. (June to November only). Then drive to the fetching little town of Swellendam, South Africa’s third oldest settlement. Explore Swellendam and its pleasant museums. Stay in a beautiful Cape-Dutch manor house in the town.

Day 7

Leave early to drive north over the Tradouws Pass in into the Klein Karoo. Visit Calitzdorp, which is renowned for its production of Port wine. Head onto the Cango Caves, fantastic cavernous spaces with dripping rocks and columns, for a guided tour. Also nearby is the Cango Wildlife Ranch, where you can see cheetah, or visit an ostrich farm, or you can even take a walk with wild meerkats. Stay overnight in Oudtshoorn in a stunning colonial homestead hotel, surrounded by rose gardens.

Day 8

Leave Oudtshoorn and the Karoo and head down to the coast. Travel along the coast and the Garden Route from Wilderness to stay for two nights in the fabulous Plettenberg hotel in Plettenberg Bay. This Relais & Chateaux hotel is situated on a rocky headland with stunning vistas of the coast, mountains and sandy beaches.

Day 9

A day at leisure but why not visit Knysna and enjoy lunch on the quay. Spend the afternoon exploring the town, the Heads and the Featherbed Nature Reserve. Make your way back to Plett and stroll along one of the beautiful sandy beaches, or head to Kurland to watch the polo.

Day 10

You can either drop your hire car at Plettenberg Bay Airport and either fly back to Cape Town, or to Johannesburg, for the international flight home. There is an additional cost of £750 on top of the car hire to get the car transported back to Cape Town. Alternatively, drive back to Cape Town (about 5 hours).

Details

Dates

Duration: 9 nights. This trip can be taken at any time.

£1,950 per person – based on two people sharing a twin or double room. This price does not include car hire. We can arrange classic or sports car hire for your journey, and the price varies with the type of car.

We can also arrange shipping of your own vehicle to and from South Africa, if you require.

What’s included

• Full Tour participation
• All accommodation (based on two people sharing a twin or double room)
• Breakfast every morning
• Tour book for each car – includes a brief history of South Africa, basic Afrikaans dictionary, emergency details, maps and directions, accommodation information, and a very detailed account of sights and visits for each day. The book effectively eliminates the need for any other guide books.

What’s not included

• Flights or travel to South Africa and the start of the tour
• Car hire
• Fuel
• Road tolls
• All lunches, dinners and drinks
• Entry into attractions and activities

Requirements

• Each person must have a passport (and any necessary visas for non-EU passport holders) valid for South Africa to participate on the tour.
• All passports must be valid for six months after the end of the tour.
• You will also need your vehicle registration documents and an international insurance green card if you are shipping your own car.
• A driving licence (a photo-card licence or international permit is best) for each driver.
• Please check with your travel insurers that you are covered for travel in the required countries.

Car hire

Classic Travelling can arrange the hire of a suitable classic or sports car on your behalf in South Africa. We have teamed up with Motor Classic of Cape Town to offer you a superb variety of classic and sports cars, all at very favourable rates for this tour.

Please have a look at www.motorclassic.co.za for further information and the range of vehicles available.

Car Hire for 10 days:

Category 1 (e.g Morgan +8, Jaguar E-type): £2,350

Category 2 (e.g. Jaguar XK8, Austin Healey 3000): £1,990

Category 3 (e.g. MGB): £1,240

Category 4 (e.g. Alfa Romeo Spider, VW Beetle convertible): £895

If you wish to leave the car in Plettenberg Bay there is an additional fee payable of £750 for its return to Cape Town.