(REF 0081)
11-Day Garden Route Birding Self-Drive
Birding Paradise on the Garden Route
Enjoy the best birding locations along the South African Garden Route and take in the beauty of the country’s top self-drive destination.
From
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Including 11 days Packed-for-you Jimny hire
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10 nights B&B accommodation through the Western Cape
- This eleven-day tour starts and ends in Cape Town and includes a variety of unique Garden Route attractions for both birding and nature enthusiasts alike
- After a night relaxing in Cape Town, you will depart the mother city in our Gen4 Suzuki Jimny for the De Hoop Nature Reserve, a World Heritage site and one of the Western Cape’s largest and most beautiful nature sanctuaries. The reserve is paradise for birding enthusiasts with more than 260 species of birds including the endangered Cape Vultures
- From here you will head on to the beautiful ‘Garden of Eden’ Knysna, surrounded by pristine beaches, lagoons and forests, where the famous multi-coloured Knysna Loerie and many other bird species are found.
- After taking in the best of Knysna and the Garden route surrounds you will head to the Sundays River Valley for a safari encounter in the Addo Elephant National Park
- Your final stay is in the Karoo on a private game reserve for the chance to not only see unique desert adapt birds but also Africa’s ‘shy five’.
Tour Highlights
11 Day 4x4 Jimny Hire - Gen4 1.5 Glx
Travel with freedom in our All-New Suzuki Jimny Rental including our Packed-For-You gear to complete your self-drive vacation across South Africa.
2 Nights Cape Town - Hippo Boutique
Start your vacation with two nights relaxing in Cape Town at the Hippo Boutique Hotel. With so much to see and enjoy, make the most of your time in the Mother City.
2 Nights De Hoop Nature Reserve
Sea, sand dunes, a floral sensation of rare fynbos, diverse bird and animal life makes the De Hoop Nature Reserve the perfect start to your adventure.
2 Nights Knysna - Lofts Boutique Hotel
Travel further up the famed Garden Route to the buzzing town of Knysna – your base for the next two nights to take in the splendour of the surrounding attractions.
2 Nights Addo - Zuurberg Mountain Village
160-year-old haven of historical delight situated high up on the Zuurberg Pass in close proximity to the Malaria-free Addo Elephant National Park.
2 Night Karoo Safari - New Holme Guest House
End your self-drive vacation with a truly unique experience at the New Holme Karoo Guest House. From exceptional birding to shy-five night drives.
Detailed Self-Drive Itinerary
Day 1-2: Camps Bay from Table Mountain in Cape Town
Arriving in Cape Town, you will be met and transferred to the Hippo Boutique Hotel for a two nights stay in the Mother City. This is the perfect opportunity to catch up after your international flight and also take in the many sights which make Cape Town famous. With a full day at your disposal, we recommend a tour of the Cape Peninsula including attractions like Table Mountain, the Cape Point Nature Reserve, Boulders Beach and Chapmans Peak.
On your day of departure from Cape Town, our team will meet you at the Hippo Boutique Hotel to hand over your Suzuki Jimny – your vehicle for the remainder of your self-drive adventure along the Garden Route. Our 1.5 GLX Jimny’s are perfectly equipped for your vacation with added items like a fridge, picnic basket and all the safety gear for an enjoyable vacation.
Day 3-4: Discover the wonders of the De Hoop Nature Reserve
Your first stop will be the De Hoop Nature Reserve – an enjoyable three hours drive from Cape Town. Spend two nights at the De Hoop Collection which offers a wide range of accommodation designed to suit all budgets. Activities include whale-watching (seasonal), interpretive marine walks, hiking/mountain biking trails, eco boat cruises on the vlei, and nature drives – perfect for birdwatching, and a ‘Bucket List‘ visit to the Cape Vulture colony (the only surviving colony in the Western Cape situated on the Potberg Mountain in the Reserve) is a must!
Day 5-6: The Lofts Boutique Hotel in Knysna
After an enjoyable stay exploring the De Hoop Nature Reserve you will head further up the Garden Route to the beautiful town of Knysna. Spend two nights at the luxurious 4-star Lofts Boutique Hotel on Thesen island. Here you can enjoy the serenity of nature expressed by the changing moods of the lagoon, the magnificent views of the surrounding hills and forests. With its location in the heart of the Garden Route, Knysna is the perfect base from which to enjoy the many surrounding attractions.
Day 7-8: Zuurberg Mountain Retreat near Addo Elephant National Park
Heading further up the coast, you will depart the Garden Route for the Zuurberg Mountain Pass where you will spend two nights at the Zuurberg Mountain Village. The Sunday River Valley provides the ideal base from which to explore the Addo Elephant National Park and surrounding areas. Great bird watching is possible while on a safari.
Day 9-11: New Holme Guest House in the Greater Karoo
Having taken in the best of Addo Elephant National Park, you will head north for the final stop of your vacation in the Greater Karoo. Spend two nights at the Karoo Gariep New Holme Karoo Guest House situated on the banks of the Seekoei River nestled amongst trees that attract a wealth of birdlife. This is where you can enjoy an authentic Karoo farm with all the comforts of home. Activities include early morning birding drives and a rowing adventure on the Gariep Dam where many species of inland birds can be spotted and also possible sightings of the Karoo’s ‘Shy 5’ – aardvark, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, cape fox and black-footed cat. Departure is on day 11 as arranged with Tread Lite, leaving only your memories behind.
Your adventure starts here
Our itineraries are tailor-made to fit your interests, budget, and travel expectations.
The above itinerary can be adjusted where needed.