South Africa
Flowers and Wildlife of the Cape and Garden Route

Wednesday 26 September - Thursday 11 October 2012 (16 days)

From the flowers, whales, birds and stunning scenery of the Cape, along the west coast, across to the Karoo, and back along the beautiful Garden Route, we visit an astoundingly beautiful and varied land, rich in wildlife. Join us at a time of year when the flowers and birds here are at their best, and when whales are displaying close inshore!



We start in Cape Town, known for its dramatic mountain scenery and unique fynbos vegetation, both at sea level and up Table Mountain, where we take one of the most spectacular cable car rides in the world. Cape Point is the meeting place of two of the world's largest oceans, as well as being the home of Southern Right Whale and African Penguin.

Our travels take us up the west coast to Langebaan Lagoon, rich in birds and with a wealth of flowers, and on up to Lambert's Bay, with its accessible Cape Gannet colony. We then head inland to an area of red sandstone rocks and ancient rock art, and on to the Karoo, with its array of drought-adapted succulent plants and specialised birds. South through spectacular mountain passes, we eventually reach the famed Garden Route, with rich forests and birdlife. We finish the tour in one of the best places in the world for shore-based whale-watching, where we hope to see Southern Right Whales doing some dramatic display activities close inshore.

The tour is again designed and led by Geoff Crane.

August to September is usually the best time for flowers in the Cape, when the endemic birds are displaying, and when the seabirds and whales also come close inshore.

Accommodation will be in quality guest-houses and lodges with all rooms en suite.

Leader: Geoff Crane

Numbers: Max. 8 clients

For a selection of Geoff Cranes' photos, Facebook users can find them here.

Price: £ 3,995
Single supp.: £ 375
Deposit: £ 400 per person

The price is per person and includes scheduled return flights London/Cape Town*, airport taxes, ground transportation and excursions as outlined above, accommodation on a full-board basis, admissions, local taxes, tips, and the services of the leaders.

The price excludes holiday insurance, drinks, optional tips to the driver/local guides, and other personal expenses.

*For an ex-flight cost (Cape Town/Cape Town) please deduct £645 from the tour cost.

South Africa map
Outline Itinerary
Day 1 We take an evening scheduled flight from London to Cape Town, arriving early on Day 2.
Day 2 Overnight Cape Peninsula
Day 3 We will spend a leisurely day experiencing the rugged beauty of the Peninsula. Overnight Cape Peninsula
Day 4 Weather permitting, we will then take the spectacular cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain and enjoy a short walk across the top. Overnight Cape Peninsula
Day 5 Our first port of call is Hout Bay harbour, where we will be joining a boat cruise to Duiker Island, with its Cape Fur Seal colony. Overnight Langebaan
Day 6 Langebaan Lagoon and the West Coast National Park have a number of habitats, which include the largest salt marsh in South Africa. Overnight Langebaan
Day 7 We will be taking the coastal route up to Bird Island at Lamberts Bay, visiting the wetlands of the lower Berg River. We then travel inland to the town of Clanwilliam. Overnight Clanwilliam
Day 8 The Cedarberg Mountains were once the hunting ground of the San people (Bushmen). Overnight Clanwilliam
Day 9 After a leisurely breakfast we will be heading for the Karoo town of Worcester, where we will have an opportunity to visit the Karoo National Botanical Gardens. Overnight Worcester
Days 10-12 After an early breakfast we will head through the Great Karoo to the Swartberg Mountains. Three nights Knysna
Day 13 We leave the Garden Route and head south towards the notorious southern tip of Africa, Cape Agulhas. We will then drive through small farming communities to Hermanus. Overnight Hermanus
Day 14 Hermanus has gained worldwide recognition for its excellent land-based whale watching. Overnight Hermanus
Day 14 After a morning at leisure in Hermanus, we will drive to the Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens at Betty's Bay, before heading for Cape Town for our return flight back to London, arriving on Day 16.

Click here for a full, printable itinerary