Passes of the Wineland, the Karoo, Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma, the Langeberg and the South-West massif - the legacy of father and son Bain. This tour is not intended for road engineers or any other technically minded person, but for anyone with an interest and a fascination for mountains, the passes that traverse them, the scenery associated with mountain routes, the multiplicity of the vegetation and geology, the birds (these areas have large raptor populations), quaint and remote villages and their people, and not least the southern night sky. The engineering feats achieved by the builders will no doubt be recognized, but it will be left to the individual to decide what are the most outstanding features of this tour.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Leaving C.T. we travel SE over Sir Lowry’s Pass, via Elgin and the orchards of the Vyeboom valley, descending into the famous ‘Huguenot’ town of Franschhoek. We continue through Paarl and Wellington, and over Bain’s Kloof Pass, a National monument, before reaching the picturesque, historic Cape Dutch town of Tulbagh, where we o/night.
Day 2: Over Michell’s Pass we leave temporarily the fynbos of the Cape behind, travel to the quaint Victorian settlement of Matjiesfontein, following the Rooinek Pass into Seweweekspoort (Sevenweeksgorge), a geological marvel, giving a first taste of the arid Karoo. Along the R62 we reach the “Port-wine” village of Calitzdorp for the o/night stop, and maybe some Star gazing.
Day 3: Next comes Oudtshoorn, the town of the “feather barons” with the opulent “feather palaces”, centre of ostrich farming. We ascend the majestic, breath-taking and highest pass of the tour, the 1436m high Swartberg Pass, with its endemic Protea and Erica varieties, and proceed to Prince Albert for o/night and more Star gazing.
Day 4: We join the N12, and through Meiringspoort and the rural villages of DeRust and Uniondale reach Avontuur. Another gravel road lies ahead over the precipitous and formidable Prince Alfred’s Pass, affording spectacular views to the Indian Ocean. The bustling resort town of Knysna is our preferred stop for 2 nights.
Day 5: East past Plettenberg Bay and through the Tsitsikamma National Park, a surviving stretch of indigenous rain forest, brings us to Stormsriver mouth; returning via the Bloukrans and Groot River Passes, and Nature’s Valley back to Knysna.
Day 6: From here we follow the old "7 passes” Cape road into George. Over the Outeniqua range, we first take the old Montagu Pass up, then travel the new, sweeping Outeniqua Pass, down to Mossel Bay for an o/night stop in luxury.
Day 7: Via the Garcia’s Pass we return briefly into Karoo landscape to Barrydale. The Tradouws Pass brings us to the ‘olde worlde’ missionary settlement of Suurbraak, before the historical town of Swellendam. Through Cogman’s Kloof we reach Montagu for the last o/night stop on our tour.
Day 8: “Die Koo” next, over the Rooihoogte Pass joining the N1, we travel down into the Hexriver and Breederiver valleys, thus returning to the Cape winelands. Last but not least, the duToit’s Kloof Pass, before arriving back in Cape Town.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- transfers and transport for 8 days in an air-conditioned
- semi-luxury 10-seater bus/coach (Mercedes Sprinter or equivalent) with tourist guide
- 4 passengers travel in a micro-bus
- O/night in 3* and 4* accommodation, or luxury B&Bs or “Chalets” in the nature reserve
- with typical extensive South African breakfasts - light lunches, and dinners daily
- 1L bottled mineral water per person/day
- all entrance fees and baggage handling/porterage
- listed excursions
- VAT and tourism levy
Price does not include:
- personal drinks
- tips
- items of a personal nature
- travel insurance
- anything not specifically listed
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
South Africa
Ecotourism
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