Hello lovely Bloggers. Today I wanted to share with you my trip I did up the Garden Route recently. The Garden Route is South Africa’s best kept secret. It consists of mysterious woodland forests and lakes – and reminds me of Britain’s gorgeous Lake Districs, but with much denser Indigenous forests. You basically travel 5 hours from Cape Town by car until you hit Mossel Bay, George, Wilderness, Knysna, Plett and the Tsitsikamma. It is an Adventurer’s Paradise with so many activities you will not believe it! (Treetop canopy swinging tours, bungi jumping, black water tubing, horse riding, hiking and more) No trip to South Africa is complete without it, and you can do it on the cheap! And include a Safari is you wish. Here is the itinerary I did…
Day 1 – Depart Cape Town at 9am for Mossel Bay. Arrive at 14h00 at Botlierskop Game Reserve. Check into my gorgeous Luxury Tent and enjoy an afternoon Game Drive, and later a sumptuous 5 course dinner! I rate it the best meal of 2010!
Day 2 – Early morning Game Drive, & Elephant Back Ride. Visit the Lion Sanctuary (read all about it here) Check out of the Lodge and make our way to Gondwana Game Reserve, about a 20 minute drive. Gondwana is the only Fynbos reserve in the world, with free roaming Lion and Black Rhino! It is 11 000 hectares (that is huge!) and the views are breathtaking. Enjoy an evening Game Drive, a wonderful dinner, then bed!
Day 3 – After an early morning Game Drive and breakfast, we set off for Plettenberg Bay! Spend 2 nights at the wonderful Plett River Lodge (costs only R 390.00 per person per night, including breafast!) (that is about US $ 55 each) Plett River Lodge is my new favourite place. It overlooks the Bitou River, with gorgeous accommodation, with your own private deck. It is a home away from home where you can really relax, kick back, and open a bottle of wine from the bar. Today we did nothing, just watched the view from our Deck 🙂 The birdlife is amazing here.
Day 4 – Today we explored Robberg Beaches of Plett, whale watched, and took a drive to Knysna (a 25 minute drive) to explore this quaint little village. Enjoyed a Seafood lunch at the Knysna Quays, which is famous for it’s oysters!
Day 5 – This morning we checked out and drove a short way to Wilderness. I left the best till last. We really were spolit! I received a free night at The Views, in Wilderness. What an amazing property. Words can’t describe this place, it’s breathtaking.
Day 6 – This morning we check out and make our way back to Cape Town. I feel restored and revitalized. (Did I mention The Views has a Spa?) Be sure to stop for coffee and cheesecake at the Wilderness Farmer’s Market.