Lanzerac Spa

The wonderful and luxurious Lanzerac Spa is on one of the oldest wine estates in the region, surrounded by vineyards and folds of beautiful mountains. 

It’s the perfect place to unwind and spoil yourselves. The hydrotherapy facilities are enticing – mist rooms, a steam room and sauna, experience showers, two traditional rasul chambers and a sparkling-blue indoor heated pool with a jacuzzi on the side. Loungers on  terrace overlook the valley, plus there is health café. 

There are seven treatment rooms. Every inch of you, from top to toe, can be pampered and revitalised in this oasis of wellness.

Befitting its wine-farm setting, natural, grape-based TheraVine products are used, as well as African-inspired TheraNaka treatments and natural-skincare brand Elemis are used. 

Perdekop Trail in Mont Rochelle NR

Perdekop Trail in Mont Rochelle. 

Just beyond the pretty Valley of Franschhoek lies Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve. Perdekop Trail offers panoramic views in all directions. On a clear day even Table Mountain and Lion’s Head is visible. Perdekop stands at 1575m elevation. 

More so however you’ll hike through diverse natural landscapes and beautiful Fynbos, including Proteas, Erica's, Restios. 

The Berg River Dam can be seen on the far end of the valley, and across Franschhoek Pass you look towards Theewaterskloof Dam. Both are important supply reservoirs to Cape Town and Theewaterskloof Dam. Wemmershoekdam is visible from Uitkyk. 

Antelope tracks and droppings on the way , indicates the presence of the small mammals that survive up in the mountains. One such species is the Klipspringer, which you could get lucky to sight as the bucks are diurnal and inhabit rocky terrain – mostly the peaks/ridges and plateaus. Keep your eyes peeled for cat scat or fresh tracks, this is leopard country after all!

The trail is approximately 13km and takes roughly 7 hours including short stops. Elevation gain is 1017m

Panorama Route Jonkershoek Stellenbosch

Panorama Route Jonkershoek 

Pay an entry fee at the gate of the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve. They do nót take cash. Drive or hike to the White Bridge (about 5km). I recommend driving although the road is bad and bumpy. 

Starting at the trailhead at the "White Bridge", if you go clock-wise, you start climbing immediately on a well-maintained singletrack path. Or go anti clockwise up Kurktrekkernek via the waterfalls. It is a steep aproximately 2 km hike to the top. Many people prefer this rather than coming down via the Kurktrekkernek track. 

The climb is fairly challenging with loose rocks but offers amazing views of both sides of the valleys with beautiful flowers on the way. 

The board says 17 km but it is closer to 14km. Route takes between 5 and 7 hours depending on hiking speed, fitness and amount op breaks if you drive with car to the start of trail. Take enough water (at least two liter) and food for the hike. 

Boland Hiking Trail Sphynx Route

Sphynx Route, part of the Boland Trail, is situated in the Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve, close to Grabouw in the Western Cape.

The trail winds up and down along a rugged and mountainous terrain and ends at Landroskop and Shamrock Hut where one can spent the night – a total of 12km (7.4 miles). The first part is on a jeep track before it continues in a well maintained foot path. Elevation gain approximately 550m. Time including stops 4h30. 

The next morning, the hike is walking down is on a jeep track. On the way watch out on the right for the Brail trail. A short section down a footpath which ends on the jeep track a bit further from where the jeep track continues to the end 10km (6.2 miles). Elevation gain 88m. Time aproximately 2 hours. 

The trail can also be done as a day hike. Best to start early. 

Kirstenbosch Botanical garden

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden nestled at the eastern foot of Table Mountain, grows only indigenous South African plants. The Kirstenbosch estate covers 528 hectares and supports a diverse fynbos flora and natural forest. The cultivated garden (36 hectares) displays collections of South African plants, particularly those from the winter rainfall region of the country.

Internationally acclaimed as one of the 7 most magnificent botanical gardens in the world.

Zipline Tour

The zipline tour at Tsitsikamma Adventures consisting of 8 slides is done in a harness fitted with a braking system and takes one back and forth across the Kruis  The zipline tour consisting of 8 slides is done in a harness fitted with a braking system and takes one back and forth across the Kruis river. The  longest slide is 211 metres and average length is 100 metres. The slides take one over 3 waterfalls and down a gorge..  The tour takes a group of 10 about 90 minutes and 2 people about 40 minutes. 

Another option is the the new triple 500 metre 3 slide adventure with total distance of 810 metres. –longest slide is 500 metres over the waterfalls while sliding along above the river. The duration is aproximately 90 minutes

Swimming with seals

Swimming with seals in Plettenberg Bay, a fun and playful experience.

Whale Watching Hernanus

Whale Watching

The lovely seaside town of  Hermanus  is generally considered the best land-based whale-watching destination in the world. From June to December, the bay becomes the swimming grounds for a large number of southern right whales. Whales can be viewed from aboard a boat, an airplane or the shore. Wonderful 🐬🐳

Wildehondkloof Oudtshoorn

Wildehondekloof Private Game Reserve is a 4000-hectare farm near Oudtshoorn in the Klein Karoo offering you the opportunity to sit back and relax or take part in various activities. 

Enjoy sunrise & sunset game drives, hiking trails and mountain biking. See several of buck species and appreciate the beauty of the succulent Karoo, Cape Thicket & Fynbos. It also showcase the most beautiful renosterveld and landscapes you can imagine.

 

 

Oudtshoorn with RJ Tours

Exploring Oudtshoorn with Royden from RJ Tours. Informative, interesting & loads of fun! Don't miss this tour when you in Oudtshoorn

https://www.rjtours.co.za/

 

Tour & Hike Garden Route 5 days

 Suggested itinerary:

Day 1: 20th Nov

Pick up in Houtbay. Drive rive via Clarence Drive to Hermanus .  (+/- 150km 2h) 

Whale Cruise

Hermanus which is generally considered the best land-based whale-watching destination in the world. From June to December, the bay becomes the swimming grounds for a large number of southern right whales. 

Drive to Garden Route Game Lodge (+/-270 km 3h) 

Garden Route Game Reserve (1,500ha)

With the beautiful Langeberg Mountains as a backdrop, Garden Route Game Reserve is a Big 5 sanctuary offering 3-hour game drives. You can expect to see 4 of the Big 5 (lion, buffalo, elephant, white rhino) as well as the fastest of cats, the cheetah. While these iconic species are probably high on your wish list, giraffe and zebra roam around freely alongside antelope such as kudu, red hartebeest, impala, springbok and the rare bontebok, so you’ll see plenty of other animals too. 

Overnight Garden Route Game Lodge 

Day 2: 21st Nov

Morning: Safari

Drive to Knysna (+/- 150km 2h)

Evening: Sunset Cruise on Knysna Lagune 

Overnight: Knysna 

Day 3: 22nd Nov 

Dive to Tsitsikamma, Storms River.  (+/- 100km 1h30)

Walk to the bridges

Various other activities optional : walk with Elephants, Visit 

Vista Monkeyland - walk in forest with different types of monkeys from various countries. Birds of Eden, biggest aviary in the World. 

Drive back to Knysna  (+/- 100km 1h30)

Overnight  Knysna 

Day 4: 23rd Nov

Drive to Knysna Forest  (+/- 30km 30min) 

Hike the Jubilee Creek Trail or one of the many Elephant trails at Diepwalle in the Knysna Forest. 

At end of days activities drive to Oudtshoorn +/- 160km 2h30)

(Perhaps via Prince Alfred's pass?) 

Overnight Wildehondkloof 

Day 5: 24th November 

Morning walk on Wildehondkloof Private Game Reserve in Oudtshoorn

 Possibly to Walk with Giraffes (if available) 

Afternoon Nature Safari 

Overnight Wildehondkloof 

Day 6 : 25 th November 

Drive back to Capetown.  (+/- 420km 5h00)

(Perhaps via Swartberg Pass?)

End of Tour

Cornellskop Animal Encounters

Cornellskop Animal Encounters  Botriver. 

Home to four legged movie stars! Great and informative visit 🦓🎥