Discover highlights of beguiling Mossel Bay and explore a museum complex dedicated to the first European to land in South Africa. Enjoy an enlightening drive around Mossel Bay, a beach-blessed city in the shadow of the Outeniqua Mountains that was named by a Dutch explorer in 1601, when he found a huge collection of mussel shells in a nearby cave. As you travel along the town’s charming streets, you’ll learn that South Africa’s first post office was established here centuries ago after sailors began leaving letters in the cleft of a milkwood tree so that other sailors could deliver them on their journeys.

See that revered, 500-year-old tree, now a National Monument, standing near the Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex, which is named for a Portuguese navigator who was the first European to set foot in South Africa in his search for a spice route to the Far East. During your time at the complex, perhaps you’ll visit the absorbing Shell Museum or the Maritime Museum, where a replica of Dias’ ship is on exhibit, along with early maps and navigation instruments. Experience the compelling sites and seafaring history of enchanting Mossel Bay on this captivating excursion.

Explore the African bush on a game drive at a private reserve, where you may spy animals such as elephants, lions and giraffe. Revel in a leisurely drive inland to the beautiful Botlierskop Private Game Reserve, an area of immense biodiversity, where the variety of plants and ecosystems attract more than 200 species of birds but where the larger creatures, such as elephants, lions and giraffe, are the true attractions.

Following a welcome drink at the reserve’s visitor center, you’ll board an open 4x4 vehicle and drive deep into the fascinating landscape. Discover that the animals wander freely, so there is no telling what you’ll see over the next two hours, but it’s likely you’ll experience close encounters with a variety of indigenous creatures that may include white rhinos, mountain zebras, blue wildebeest, impalas and lions. Thanks to the ideal viewing conditions offered by your 4x4 vehicle, you might also spot smaller yet still delightful animals such as honey badgers, porcupines and rock hyrax, all adding to the magic of your foray into the South African wilds.

Follow the breathtaking Garden Route to the town of Knysna, where you are free to explore the waterfront boutiques and galleries at your leisure. You’ll travel eastward along the magnificent Garden Route, passing ancient forests, golden beaches and craggy peaks covered in a flowering scrub called fynbos. Traverse the stunningly gorgeous scenery of the Wilderness Lakes region and arrive at the charming town of Knysna, tucked between the Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean. You’ll realize forest-rimmed Knysna is a natural paradise whose name is thought to mean “place of wood” in Khoisan, the language of the area’s earliest inhabitants.

Admire the cosmopolitan town, which has retained much of its original charm, and savor free time at the waterfront, where myriad shops and galleries invite you to browse for high-end crafts and restaurants entice you to try local delicacies. Because of Knysna’s proximity to several estuaries, rivers and the ocean, you’ll discover that seafood is a favorite, especially dishes with oysters. As you meander the inviting waterfront, looking out over the serene tidal lagoon, let the exquisite atmosphere of Knysna seep into your soul.

Cut through the majestic Outeniqua Mountains, taking in sublimely beautiful semi-desert terrain and fertile valleys, on this vista-filled tour. Settle in for a relaxing drive east along the magnificent Garden Route, passing ancient forests, golden beaches and craggy peaks covered in a flowering scrub called fynbos. Upon reaching the town of George, established in the early 1800s as a timbering outpost, you’ll turn inland into the Outeniqua Mountains and notice the terrain quickly change from rugged coastal to an arid, desert-like landscape known as Karoo.

Cross the Outeniqua Pass along a highway that was painstakingly blasted out of nearly impenetrable bedrock and wind along marvelous, sweeping curves that offer panoramic views in all directions. You’ll learn the history of the pass, which was named after the indigenous people that once lived here, then arrive in the town of Oudtshoorn, set in an oasis-like location within a fertile valley. Behold the town’s elaborate architecture, which reflects the opulence engendered by the ostrich-feather boom of 1860-1914, when Oudsthoorn supplied exotic feathers to adorn the clothing of ladies throughout Europe. You’ll enjoy a brief stop for refreshments before making your way back to Mossel Bay through glorious Robinson Pass.

Enjoy a scenic mountain drive to an ostrich farm on this entertaining tour. Journey along the magnificent Garden Route, passing ancient forests, golden beaches and craggy peaks covered in a flowering scrub called fynbos. As you turn inland into the Outeniqua Mountains, you’ll notice the terrain quickly changes from rugged coastal to an arid, desert-like landscape known as Karoo. Cross the Outeniqua Pass along a highway that was painstakingly blasted out of nearly impenetrable bedrock and wind along marvelous, sweeping curves that offer panoramic views in all directions.

Discover Oudtshoorn, set in an oasis-like location in a fertile valley, and behold the town’s ornate architecture, which reflects the opulence engendered by the ostrich-feather boom of 1860-1914, when Oudsthoorn supplied exotic feathers to adorn the clothing of ladies throughout Europe. Visit a working farm to learn how these giant birds are bred and reared, perhaps even seeing ostriches hatching in the incubator rooms.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel the picturesque Garden Route along beaches, ancient forests and rugged peaks.
• Observe the changing landscape as you venture inland to a dry, semi-desert terrain known as Karoo.
• Marvel at a highway blasted from solid bedrock to provide access through dramatic Outeniqua Pass.
• Appreciate the ornate architecture of Oudtshoorn, once the premier supplier of ostrich feathers for European high fashion.
• Tour an ostrich farm for insight into how the birds are bred and reared.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Browse a shop that carries wellness products made with locally sourced aloe and sample premium wines from an estate along the fertile Garden Route. ReedValley offers a unique wine tasting experience in the heart of the world-famous Garden Route. First owned by the Muller family, the homestead built in 1826 remains as a testimony of time, still holding its own as a destination where superior experiences are not the exception, but the rule. During the 1800s, the farm was known as an oasis to weary travelers going east and it often served as a gathering place for the early settlers. This bountifulness is still reflected today at ReedValley where hospitality and unparalleled experiences are a way of life. Sample our exclusive EdenValley wine range that we expertly pair with local produce. ReedValley also sources only the best vine fruit from the most suitable terroirs, and it’s this fine product that we offer to you exclusively at our venue. Free time follows at the House of Aloes in Albertinia, a storefront, and factory with products made from hand-harvested wild aloe that contains an exceptionally high concentration of beneficial substances. You might shop for items such as an aloe heat rub that relieves muscle stiffness, a nourishing aloe-based body wash, and an aloe toothpaste that cleans teeth and promotes healthy gums.

HIGHLIGHTS

• sample premium wines from an estate along the fertile Garden Route.

• Shop for wellness products made with wild aloe at the House of Aloes factory store.
• Enjoy an immensely scenic drive along South Africa’s beautiful Garden Route.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Look for some of Africa’s most iconic animals on a game drive through a natural reserve teeming with wildlife. Upon reaching the Garden Route Game Lodge, you will drive into the bush in an open-air 4x4 vehicle in search of the Big Five—elephants, lions, leopards, rhinoceroses and Cape buffaloes. A game ranger will serve as your guide and point out the various species, as they roam freely in their natural habitat, a gorgeous setting backed by the majestic Langeberg mountain range. The ranger will periodically stop the vehicle so you can observe the animals up close. While there is no telling what you will see, you may catch sight of lions lying in the shade of a tree, elephants strolling to a water hole and zebras grazing in the grassland. Giraffes often come right up to the vehicles out of curiosity. Lesser-known animals are also abundant, including antelopes such as kudu and bontebok.

Sample a selection of hand-crafted products that include cheeses, beers and wines that are characteristic of the Garden Route. At Kasselshoop cheese shop, you will taste a selection of cheeses made with rich, creamy milk that local small-herd farms supply. The Jersey milk cows are raised exclusively on pasture land and only eat hay and minerals as supplements. You will likely notice the difference in quality when sampling cheeses such as cheddars and goudas. They will be thoughtfully paired with locally produced craft beers that complement the tastes.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Taste cheeses made with milk from small-herd farms at Kasselshoop cheese shop.
• Enjoy an immensely scenic drive along South Africa’s beautiful Garden Route.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Follow a coastal hiking trail that offers staggeringly beautiful views in every direction. You will hike a stretch of about four miles of the St. Blaize Trail, which runs between the Cape St. Blaize lighthouse and Dana Bay. The exact route will be determined the day of the hike depending on the conditions. Regardless, you can expect it to be a wonderfully scenic trek along a mostly open treeless trail, which affords dramatic views of the southern coast. You may also spot wildlife such as rock hyraxes, which are commonly known as dassies. Despite their small size, these mammals are the closest living relative of the African elephant. Their feet and teeth are similar but really nothing more, as will be obvious if you encounter any dassies. Be sure to scan the ocean for whales and dolphins breaching the water’s surface. At the end of the hike, you will drop by a nearby restaurant for refreshments.

• Hike an beautiful coastal stretch of the St. Blaize Trail.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Hike an beautiful coastal stretch of the St. Blaize Trail.
  • Enjoy dramatic vistas as the trail is mostly open with few trees to block your view.
  • Look for whales and dolphins in the ocean and small land mammals known as dassies.

  HELPFUL HINTS

  • Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
  • Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

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OVERVIEW

Sample an inspired selection of hand-crafted gins thoughtfully paired with local foods at the Cape Saint Blaize Artisanal Distillery. It won’t take long to reach the distillery, which is located in Ochre Barn, a replica of an 18th-century granary in Mossel Bay’s historic district. The gins are made with botanicals such as juniper, rose geranium and star anise that have been foraged locally by hand. The flavors of the gins reflect the surrounding coastal, forest and semi-arid desert terrains. The exact gins for the tasting will be chosen upon your arrival, but they will likely include a soft floral pink gin, an aromatic gin with late burst of citrus and a woody gin with a velvet-like mouthfeel. The gins are meant to be enjoyed neat, on ice or with tonic. The foods for the pairings will be just as expressive. Afterwards, you might purchase your favorite gins, which are neatly packaged in handmade porcelain bottles.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Sample several locally made gins at the Cape Saint Blaize Artisanal Distillery.
• Learn about the natural botanicals that are used in the production of the various gins.
• Delight in the foods that are paired with the gins to complement their flavors.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Drive through the private game reserve Buffeldrift in an open-top safari-style vehicle and look for iconic African animals in the bushveld. Blessed with a variety of ecosystems, including coastal areas and mountain fynbos, Buffeldrift is home to a vast array of free-roaming animals, including hippos, giraffes, and zebras. You may also spot rare black impala grazing in the open woodlands and rescued lions and elephants that were orphaned. Many times, the vehicle can come surprisingly close to the animals without disturbing them, allowing you unobstructed views. Few experiences are quite so fulfilling as watching these magnificent creatures in their natural habitats. Some of the lesser-known animals at Buffeldrift include spiral-horned nyalas, deerlike antelopes called grysboks and rock hyraxes, smallish mammals that despite their size are related to elephants. Midway through the safari, you will stop at a scenic lookout that offers the ultimate view of the Swartberg Mountains.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride in an open-top 4x4 vehicle through the Buffeldrift, a private game reserve.
• Look for free-roaming giraffes, zebras and all sorts of lesser-known animals.
• Observe these magnificent creatures up-close at times.
• Pause at a scenic lookout to admire the panoramic views, which include the Swartberg Mountains.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.