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Top 10 Tips for Doing the Best Garden Route Tour in South Africa
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Fri, 06 Mar 2020 14:30:13 +0000
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If you are planning on doing a Garden Route Trip in South Africa, one of the Top Destinations for world travellers, you might have some questions. Like what the best routes are to and from the Garden Route, where to start your trip and what to include. We have put together our top tips and […]
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If you are planning on doing a Garden Route Trip in South Africa, one of the Top Destinations for world travellers, you might have some questions. Like what the best routes are to and from the Garden Route, where to start your trip and what to include.
We have put together our top tips and valuable insights so that you can decide what the best Garden Route tour experience will be for you. No matter where you’re coming from, we know you’re travelling far to reach us at the southern tip of the African continent.
We understand that you want to make sure that each day of your holiday on the Garden Route is memorable.
Start your Garden Route Tour in Cape Town to add rugged mountain scenery to your trip
Letus start with the fact that Cape Town itself should be a must-do on your travel bucket list. It is home to Table Mountain and is a scenic feast that should be part of your holiday plans.
Starting your tour from Cape Town enables you to do the gorgeous scenic Route 62 with its rugged mountain scenery.
The rugged mountains are spectacular; Route 62 meanders past farming towns, vineyards, and fruit growing towns and orchards. You will love the scenery on this tour while having interesting conversations with our guides.
PS: Fly directly to Cape Town, which can save you some valuable holiday time
Include Oudtshoorn as an overnight stop to add the Cango Caves and arid Little Karoo
Oudtshoorn is ideal as a lovely overnight venue, breaking up travel distance while adding beautiful scenic diversity to your trip.
It is located in the arid Little Karoo, situated between the Swartberg Mountains and the Outeniqua Mountains. Oudtshoorn was established during two ostrich-feather boom periods in the 1800s and 1900s. Oudtshoorn is known as the “Ostrich Capital of the World”, having the largest Ostrich population in the world
We love staying in the picturesque, peaceful Schoemanshoek Valley of Oudtshoorn where there are many great accommodation establishments. Located close to the famous Cango Caves, an underground wonder that is many millions of years old.
The caves are a network of limestone chambers and vast halls with dripstone stalactite and stalagmite formations. One of the must-do attractions on your tour. The word-class Cango Caves offer easy Heritage Tours and Adventure tours into the smaller chambers. This cave is a national asset and managed to balance between showing off its beauty and preserving its heritage.
Some of the chamber halls are so large that it has been the venue of Symphony Concerts in the past. The Heritage Tour would be preferable if you prefer a leisurely tour rather than the heart-racing but exhilarating Adventurous journey.
Include the Garden Route town of Knysna
The scenic highlight in Knysna are the two giant sandstone heads flanking the entrance from the Knysna Lagoon or Estuary into the Ocean. You can choose from various Knysna Lagoon cruises to get a front-seat view of the Heads.
One of these cruise options is the Featherbed Eco Experience. Combining a Lagoon Cruise, a 4×4 vehicle drive to the Featherbed Nature Reserve and stopping at beautiful viewpoints.
You can also opt to do an optional guided walk down the Head with stunning views and a delicious buffet lunch. If you prefer to do a cruise only, there are daytime and sunset cruise options. It is a great way to end the evening, sundowner in hand while gazing out on the Heads and Ocean.
Dinner is included on the sunset Paddlecruiser, and one can order from the a la carte menu on the John Ben Sunset Cruise. Knysna, also known as the “Oyster capital” and well known for the annual Oyster Festival. There are also many great restaurants, several located at the Knysna Waterfront with its various arts and craft shops.
Knysna is a convenient central location on the Garden Route. It serves as a “home-base” from which to explore the surrounding attractions of the Garden Route.
The seaside town of Plettenberg Bay with its golden beaches should be part of your Garden Route Tour
Holiday Vibes; White clean beaches; Blue Sky; Beautiful Ocean – this is Plettenberg Bay. No wonder Plettenberg Bay is one of the favourite holiday venues for the local South Africans.
There are many restaurants with delicious food and many excursions to enjoy nature and wildlife. Whales frequent the bay at Plettenberg Bay during Whale season (July to November) and Dolphins in the warmer months (December to April). Book a cruise if you want to experience these marine mammals in their natural habitat.
Whether you are an avid hiker or enjoy a leisurely stroll, the Robberg Nature Reserve offers various short and longer hiking routes. The Robberg Nature reserve is a World Heritage Site with rocks dating back 120 million years. Evidence of Stone Age inhabitation was found in the caves along the peninsula. The Keurbooms River enters the Ocean at Plettenberg Bay, and the Keurbooms River Guided Ferry takes you up into the Keurbooms River on a leisurely and educational cruise.
Include the stunning Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park near the Stormsriver Village
We have seen many Garden Route Itineraries that stop short of including Tsitsikamma – don’t make that mistake! Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park is one of the most scenic parts of the Garden Route.
It is incredibly relaxing to stroll on the wooden boardwalks through the coastal forest, with stunning views over the Ocean. These boardwalks lead to the suspension bridge over the Storms River Mouth, which makes for great photographic opportunities. If you are up for modest accommodation, we highly recommend an overnight stay in one of the ocean-view wooden cabins. Some of them are located right at the shore and rocks, and you would have great views over the Ocean from your own patio.
The National Park is a beautiful, restful experience. Whether it is a calm sunny day or whether it is stormy weather when the waves are crashing on the shore in an impressive display of the Ocean. The only way to see the inaccessible Storms River Gorge and Waterfall are with the Spirit of Tsitsikamma boat cruise that starts in the National Park on the ocean side, and then enters the Storms River.
Another favourite activity here is doing the Kayak-Lilo excursion – a great way the natural beauty of Tsitsikamma.
Discover the gems of activities around Storms River Village
There are many activities to enjoy in the Storms River Village / Tsitsikamma area. Some of these are ziplining across a waterfall which is an easy 1-hour activity to enjoy whether you are 3 or 80 years old.
The 3-hour Treetop Canopy Tour takes you from platform to platform high up in the trees of the Tsitsikamma Forest. Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness and Rehabilitation Centre is a rehabilitation and recuperation centre for indigenous cats and other animals of South Africa. Animals can recuperate so that they can be returned to the wild where they belong. Tenikwa offers various conservation-based wildlife tours focused on the wild cats of South Africa.
One of these tours is the 1-hour Wild Cat Experience where visitors are led on a guided tour to meet African Wild Cats. Located in the Tsitsikamma Forest, is the ancient Yellowwood Big Tree estimated to be almost 800 years old, and standing 36.6m tall with a circumference of 9 metres.
A pathway through the forest leads you to this majestic natural beauty.
Add the beautiful beaches of Wilderness
Wilderness is a picturesque village famous for its beautiful wide beaches, lagoons and rivers. On Wilderness Heights, you will find the Map-of-Africa Viewpoint that gives you a bird’s eye view of this natural wonder shaped like the African continent.
Right across from the map-of-Africa viewpoint, is a popular spot to do Paragliding (Tandem with Instructor). For a nature activity, you can hire a kayak for a leisurely kayak excursion to the Touw River Waterfall.
The first half will be leisurely kayaking and the second half a hike along the boardwalk to the Waterfall. Take a picnic snack along to enjoy at the Waterfall and natural pool. Another great lookout point in the Dolphin Point Viewpoint.
Travel back to Cape Town via the scenic coastal Overberg
Travelling back, the routes passing Arniston, Cape Agulhas, Hermanus and the coastal Clarence Drive add additional scenic diversity to your tour experience. Arniston is a small seaside fishing village and home to the famous Arniston Hotel.
The sea’s colour at Arniston is a hypnotizing turquoise and provides a gorgeous view from your sea-facing room. Overberg, Arniston, Cape Agulhas.
Add a short Safari if you have limited time
We recommend including one of the Game Reserves like Gondwana or Botlierskop on your Garden Toute tour. Either as an overnight venue or as a Day Visitor doing a Game Drive. One night at these smaller game reserves is ideal.
The predators are kept separate in large encampments, and the number of large animals is smaller in line with the size of the reserves and with responsible conservation.
Chances are high to see 4 of the Big 5 on these game drives, conducted in 4×4 vehicles. The wildlife includes Lion, Elephant, Buffalo and Rhino though there are more wildlife species, depending on your visit.
Add an authentic free-roaming-wildlife African Safaris in the adjacent Eastern Cape to your Garden Route tour.
Eastern Cape is located right next to the Garden Route, which makes an authentic African Safari in the Eastern Cape easily accessible.
Some of the options are Addo, Kariega, Shamwari, Lalibela, Amakhala, Pumba, Kwandwe and Gorah.
The thrilling game drives are conducted in 4×4 vehicles in search of the free-roaming animals. Because of the size of these reserves, we recommend a minimum stay of 2 nights to do your Safari experience justice.
Contact the Garden Route experts, 34° South Tours for more Tips and Advice or a Tour Proposal that incorporates your interests.
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Top 5 tours to do in Cape Town 2017/2018
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Thu, 16 Nov 2017 12:13:50 +0000
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With Table Mountain as the city’s famous official New7Wonders of Nature backdrop, Cape Town has always been rich in history. There is plenty to do in the city and peninsula. Whether it is a ride to see Table Mountain, or the scenic views of the peninsula and enjoying safari tours and cape winelands. Cape Town […]
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With Table Mountain as the city’s famous official New7Wonders of Nature backdrop, Cape Town has always been rich in history.
There is plenty to do in the city and peninsula. Whether it is a ride to see Table Mountain, or the scenic views of the peninsula and enjoying safari tours and cape winelands. Cape Town surely deserves being named the best place to visit in the world by the American New York times, and the British Daily Telegraph in 2014. That is why I took it upon myself, to create a list.
Top 5 tours To Do in Cape Town.
Cape Point and Peninsula day tour
The day tour provides a full day of scenic splendour, travelling around the peninsula and including Cape Point, at the very tip of the Cape peninsula, and located within the Table Mountain National Park, a natural world heritage site.
Visit Cape Point for more information to see why this is a must-do as one of the highlights of this tour, and visit 34 South Tours to see how the other activities and scenic points around the peninsula e.g the Atlantic seaboard, Boulders beach penguins and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is included to make this day a scenic feast.
Cape Winelands day tour
The day tour entails the picturesque views passing through wine routes of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl. With a valley of vineyards, gorgeous mountain ranges as backdrop, charming and friendly towns and tempting cuisine at any of the award-winning restaurants that the winelands are famous for, you will experience why this is one of the highlights of the city.
There is a variety of activities to do, from wine and chocolate tasting, to cheese tasting and gourmet picnics, you might just spend the entire day enjoying all these luxuries. See our winelands tours for more ideas on how to spend your day.
Hermanus and whales’ day tour
This is a full day tour, available from July to November as this is the official whale season. Hermanus is a popular village holiday spot with pristine beaches, nature reserves with Fynpos, which is the smallest of the plant kingdoms in the world, and whale watching, this intimate village will delight you. You can also add wine tasting to your Hermanus trip.
And half the fun is the coastal scenic route to get there as Clarence Drive, passing Betty’s Bay, Pringle Bay and , is considered to be one of the most beautiful coastal roads snug against the ocean on the one side and the mountains on the other. For more information onhow to make the most of this day, check out 34 South Tours Whales Tours.
Cape Town safari tour
Want to meet the king of the jungle and see if he really roars? Well this Cape Town Safari tour is just the activity for you! You will enjoy a game drive at Aquila game reserve and see The Big 5 in the flesh. The highlight of the tour includes seeing the Big 5, buffet breakfast and lunch as well as a scenic drive back to Cape Town. Visit Aquila game reserve.
Cape Town city tour to Table Mountain
What better way to see the city, than on top of the red double decker bus? With 11 hop on hop off points around the city and commentary in 15 languages, this is a great way to visit Table Mountain, the Two Oceans Aquarium, the V&A Waterfront, the promenade alongCamps Bay, Sea point and Mouille Point and Long Street in the city. Check out City Sight Seeing for more information.
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14 Reasons why your Garden Route Tour should include the Overberg
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Thu, 03 Dec 2015 18:12:07 +0000
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14 Superb reasons why you should add the Overberg to your Garden Route Tour or do an Overberg Tour We would love to keep the Overberg a secret so as to preserve the serene ambiance of the area, but it’s just too good not to share. It has become such a popular add-on to […]
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14 Superb reasons why you should add the Overberg to your Garden Route Tour or do an Overberg Tour
We would love to keep the Overberg a secret so as to preserve the serene ambiance of the area, but it’s just too good not to share. It has become such a popular add-on to our Garden Route Tours, that the team at 34º South Tours has listed the main reasons why you absolutely must add the Overberg to your travel experience or to your Garden Route Tour in South Africa.
(View our tours that include the Overberg : 5-day Garden Route and Overberg Tour or 7-day Garden Route & malaria-free Safari Tour or 5-day Garden Route & Wildlife Tour or 2-day Arniston & Cape Agulhas Tour)
The Garden Route is truly one of the top travel destinations and highlights to experience on your holiday in South Africa. The route stretches along the picturesque south-eastern coastline, offering tremendous diversity and a scenic feast of experiences. South Africans have long ago discovered that half the fun is traveling to the Garden route and back. This is where the Overberg enters the picture. The meandering route through the beautiful scenery of the Overberg past the charming towns adds to the diverse scenic experiences you will already have encountered on your Garden route trip. Arniston (Waenshuiskrans) is 370 kilometres from Knysna on the Garden Route, making it the perfect “halfway station” back to Cape Town. It is an unforgettable break ensuring you arrive back in Cape Town refreshed and energised after the Garden Route leg of yout tour.
Top reasons why you should add an Overberg Odyssey to your travel experience:
1. Arniston’s azure-coloured sea is magnificent
The stunning turqoise/azure-coloured ocean at picturesque Arniston, an unexpected gem on our Garden Route and Overberg Tour, is one of the reasons why this quaint fishing village found its way into our hearts. The colour of the ocean is almost unreal and at the same time, both calming and invigorating.
2. Arniston Hotel and Restaurant for a superb, relaxing experience and the ideal halfway-station between the Garden Route and Cape Town
The 4-star Arniston Hotel is located right on the ocean. One of the joys of staying in this warm friendly hotel, is the ocean view from our beatiful sea-facing room, which is decorated in cool ocean colours. This may be a small charming fishing village, but the restaurant in Arniston Hotel is top-notch and serves a wide variety of sophisticated dishes and a delicious breakfast buffet that will tempt you to over-indulge. And if you love to be pampered, make sure to pre-book a spa treatment at the Ginkgo Spa at Arniston.
3. Kassiesbaai’s Fishermen with their friendly, crinckled weather-beaten faces bring in the catch of the day
Watching the Kassiesbaai fishermen with their friendly, weathered, crinckled faces bringing in the catch of the day, rates as one of the highlights when staying in Arniston. Stroll down to the small fishing harbour with its colourful fishing “chuckies” and watch as they expertly clean the catch of the day, which could be Cob, Red Roman, Steenbras or any of the other fish found in these waters. A large portion of their catch is bought by the Restaurant at Arniston Hotel, and the Chef starts his day selecting the fish and shellfish for the restaurants’s menu. So it really is the “Catch of the day”, fresh and delicious, when you order this on the “a la carte” menu.
4. Arniston’s safe swimming waters, beautiful clean beaches and pristine white sand dunes
From Arniston Hotel, it’s an easy stroll to the beautiful safe beaches with its warm shallow water; the Waenhuiskrans beach cave that can be accessed at low tide and the pristine sand dunes that beckon to be conquered.
5. Hermanus, best land-based whale watching in the World
Hermanus is the favourite annual holiday venue for the Southern Right whales from July to November. They travel yearly from Antarctica to mate and calve safely in the calm water of Walker Bay. This makes Hermanus the best land-based whale watching spot in the world during whale season (and the best people-watching spot for whales).
Hermanus has the only Whale Crier in the world. The position is currently held by Eric Davalah, who followed in the footsteps of a progression of Whale criers since 1991. The Whale crier searches for whales alongside everyone else, strolling along the cliff paths, and announcing whale sightings by blowing on his kelp horn.
It is such fun to be part of the collective sighs of enjoyment and amazement from the people as they spot a whale breaching.
6. Hermanus’ Fernkloof Nature Reserve and Winelands and Beaches makes it a popular destination
Hermanus is a favourite holiday venue with its pristine blue flag beaches.
The Hermanus Wine Route along the Hemel-en-Aarde Vallei (translated meaning Heaven and Earth Valley) offers wonderful wine tasting and wine shopping experiences and includes the wine estates of La Vierge Wines, Sumaridge, Bouchard Finlayson and Hamilton Russell Vineyards.
Fernkloof Nature Reserve provides stunning panoramic views and photographic opportunities overlooking the valley and ocean.
7. Birding in the Overberg : “Beauty” (Blue Crane Birds) and the “Beast” (Cape Vultures)
It is not unusual to see Blue Cranes, South Africa’s elegant national bird, chatting to their sheep friends next to the farm roads. Almost half of South Africa’s Blue Crane population of about 25000 birds are found in the Overberg. As these stunning birds are under threat, seeing so many of them along the Overberg roads is a privelige we hope to continue enjoying in future.
The only remaining colony of Cape Griffon Vultures in the Western Cape, live in the steep cliffs of the Potberg Mountains in the De Hoop Nature Reserve. They now flourish where their numbers were previousdly dwindling. The farmers and community have been instrumental in protecting the colony.
8. The adorable African Penguin Colony at Stoney Point in Betty’s Bay is a delightful experience
Traveling in Cape Town’s direction, just before Clarence Drive, we stop at Stoney Point in Betty’s Bay and stroll along the wooden boardwalk to the controlled access point where, for a nominal entrance fee, one can observe the African Penguin Colony. We love their former name, the “jackass penguins”; this aptly links them to donkeys because of the braying sound they make . The adorable penguins, all dressed up in their “tuxedos”, must rate as one of the cutest birds we’ve ever seen. This is a wonderful opportunity to see them in their natural habitat, where they are not enclosed, and free to come and go as they please. They share their “home” with cormorants and many other sea birds. A jacket is advisable as the temperature can be cool with a strong wind.
9. The charming back-roads, meandering through the farmlands, create a wonderful ambiance
We love traveling along the back-roads that pass the farms in the Overberg. Away from the hustle and bustle, there’s time to stop and take pictures and to enjoy the views of the rolling farmlands and the beautiful scenery.
10. Bright yellow Canola Fields and Blue Mountains make for great photo opportunities
During the late winter and early spring months, the magnificent bright yellow canola fields stretch as far as we can see. We tried to capture it on camera, but there’s nothing that comes close to seeing the bright-coloured fields “live”. Behind the rolling hills of the Overberg, the backdrop of rugged blue mountains makes a stunning picture and it is easy to see why they have inspired many South African songs.
11. Cape Agulhas (or known as Cape L’agulhas), the iconic meeting place of the “Two Oceans”
There’s something special and magical knowing we are standing on the southern-most tip of Africa, that iconic point on the African map. When we face the ocean, the Atlantic Ocean is on our right ; the indian Ocean on our left. This is the southern-most point that the early seafarers had to circum-navigate when they were searching for safe passage to the spice islands of the East.
12. Clarence Drive, our magnificent scenic coastal drive, is one of the most scenic roads you’ll experience.
Clarence Drive is considered one of the most scenic drives in the world (as per our guests’ opinion) and the stunning scenic splendour entices you to stop at the viewpoints to try and capture the beauty with a photograph. The road is hugged snugly by the mountain range on one side and the ocean on the other. Whether it’s a sunny or cloudy day, the scenery is truly spectacular and we’ll never tire of dricing along this beautiful road.
The road passes the beautiful coastal villages of Kleinmond, Rooiels, Pringle Bay and Betty’s Bay – each in their own right will tempt you to pause and stay :
Betty’s Bay gems include : Harold Porter Botanical Gardens ; beaches, lagoons and hiking trails
Kleinmond gems : beautiful coastline, open market with crafts, gifts, gallery, art, golf course, hiking trails,
Rooiels gems : peace and quiet, beautiful beach, stunning views and rocky shore
Pringle Bay gems : picturesque village, peace and quiet, beautiful views over False Bay
13. Greyton will enchant you
Instead of taking the shortest route to Cape Town, treat yourself and make the best detour to Greyton, a picturesque, qauint and arty village. One of our top favourite villages in the Overberg, Greyton it is best explored on foot in order to enjoy all the gems one can discover in this beautiful village.
Keep your camera ready as there is ample photo opportunities.
Our favourite activities in Greyton include shopping (art, candles, beauty products, gardening, fashion, gifts, chocolates, wine and much more) and hiking (whether through the village, in the Nature Reserve or along the river) and enjoying the delicious cuisine of the many quality restaurants. If you’re around on a Saturday, the Saturday Morning Market is where you would want to explore and buy wonderful arts and crafts and delicious edibles.
Don’t be surprised if you don’t want to leave – Greyton is known to enchant and is a favourite wedding venue for a reason.
All our private tours can be customised to include as much of the Overberg as you would like to explore ; we also include the Overberg in many of our small-group tours.
5-day Garden Route & Overberg Tour
2-day Arniston and Cape Agulhas Tour
7-day Garden Route & Eastern Cape Safari (includes the Overberg)
Email us on info@34southtours.com or select the “Enquire Now / Book “ button to obtain rates & availability on any of our tours or to request us to craft your perfect Tour: ENQUIRE NOW / BOOK YOUR DREAM TOUR
View All Garden Route Tours
View All Tours & Safaris
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Visit the popular Pilanesberg for an authentic African Big 5 Safari
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Fri, 07 Aug 2015 11:34:31 +0000
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When you are travelling to South Africa, a Cape Town tour is an absolute must. The Mother City is renowned for being one of the most picturesque in the world. Once you have experienced Cape Town, it is recommended that you witness the esteemed fauna that this country treasures. The Pilansberg National Park is located […]
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When you are travelling to South Africa, a Cape Town tour is an absolute must. The Mother City is renowned for being one of the most picturesque in the world. Once you have experienced Cape Town, it is recommended that you witness the esteemed fauna that this country treasures.
The Pilansberg National Park is located in the Bojanala region of the North West Province. In 1979, through an intensive project entitled, “Operation Genesis” that entailed an entire re-fencing of the park, allowed for many species of animal to call this nature sanctuary, home. As of today, there are approximately 7000 animals residing in the 580km2 park.
Unlike any other nature reserve in the country, Pilansberg is situated in the crater of an ancient volcano. According to the park’s official website,
“The park exists within the transition zone between the dry Kalahari and wetter Lowveld vegetation, commonly referred to as “Bushveld”. Unlike any other large park, unique overlaps of mammals, birds and vegetation occur because of this transition zone. Over time, wind and water have carved a spectacular landscape.”
It is a highly sought after tourist destination, owing to it affording visitors the opportunity to witness our treasured Big Five in all their glory. If that wasn’t enough, Operation Genesis, has allowed rare species such as the nocturnal Brown Hyena, which is graded as being endangered. It is also a haven for the avid ornithologist – there are over 300 species of bird.
Owing to its popularity, the game reserve offers accommodation for its guests. Through the park’s immense size, Pilansberg Game Reserve is able to offer four different lodges from which you may choose to suit your budget.
The Bakubang Bush Lodge has 76 luxurious rooms and you are entitled to a game drive every day. The Ivory Tree Lodge is located in the north eastern region of the park. It boasts 60 standard suites and four executive suites. The Kwa Maritane lodge has 90 luxury rooms. In the south western portion of the reserve, you will find the Shepard’s Tree Game Lodge, which offers a diverse selection of rooms – 26 standard rooms, 13 family suites and four executive suites for the discerning traveller.
The Pilansberg National Park is truly a destination that exudes the “spirit of Africa” and which no trip is complete without.
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Explore the Best of the Western Cape with Cape Town Tours
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Fri, 21 Nov 2014 11:01:16 +0000
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When visiting South Africa, it’s very unlikely that a tourist or travelling party will miss out on visiting the Western Cape and Cape Town. 34º South Tours make sure that their guests see this province and explore the beautiful Mother City; it is one of the world’s most idyllic regions and offers an endless list […]
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When visiting South Africa, it’s very unlikely that a tourist or travelling party will miss out on visiting the Western Cape and Cape Town. 34º South Tours make sure that their guests see this province and explore the beautiful Mother City; it is one of the world’s most idyllic regions and offers an endless list of attractions and activities for guests. The problem that many tourists face however is that they simply do not have enough time to do and see it all. Cape Town tours, Cape Winelands Tours and Garden Route tours allow guests to visit the Cape’s most popular attractions and beautiful best-kept secrets. Undoubtedly, the best way to discover the Cape is by embarking on Cape Town tours.
And although the entire Western Cape is incredibly beautiful, offering guests different landscapes, its very own unique flora, African safaris and a blend of Europe and Africa which is unique to the Mother City, 34º South Tours have planned and investigated how they can show guests the absolute best of all the “must sees”. This way, guests are assured that their time isn’t wasted and that they can fit all that needs to be seen and done into their busy schedules. What’s more, they can enjoy the Cape without having to stress about driving and planning their days; once booked on a tour all these annoyances are taken care of. And to top it off, most tours have inside information and even deals with tourist attraction operators to make sure that guests don’t pay an arm and a leg to see it all.
Cape Town tours are the most popular tours in the Western Cape, taking tourists to the beautiful beaches and cliffs along the Atlantic Seaboard, the glamorous V&A Waterfront, Cape Point Nature Reserve, historical monuments and reminders, the enchanting Kirstenbosch, and of course, the iconic and majestic Table Mountain. These Cape Town tours also take guests to see the African Jackass Penguins at Boulder’s Beach, will take you to the ferry port to Robben Island and will even tell you where to go shark cage diving.
And as the Cape is popular all over the world for its wines and vineyards, Cape Winelands tours have been established to take guests to the region’s most popular, award-winning, historical, and beautiful wineries. Guests are taken to the quaint and culturally rich towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, getting the chance to explore one of South Africa’s oldest towns and its art galleries, museums, award-winning restaurants and stunning oak-lined streets. The vibrant vineyards and Old Dutch homesteads can be explored, allowing guests to take their times listening to each wine-maker’s story and take a look around the vineyards.
The Garden Route has enticed thousands of tourists to visit South Africa and the Western Cape. Not only can they see the beautiful eastern coastline of South Africa but they can watch how the landscape changes as they move away from Cape Point. Garden Route tours will take you to the popular whale town of Hermanus, allowing you, during wale season from June to November, to observe the graceful Southern Right Whales. You’ll also be able to stop off in the idyllic town of Plettenburg Bay and see the Wilderness and Knysna Forrest. This part of South Africa is tranquil, slow-paced and will show you South Africa’s wildlife in the Western Cape.
Cape Town tours will show you the enchanting attractions and beauty of the Western Cape. Whether you choose to explore the Cape Peninsula while on Cape Town tours, go wine tasting while on Cape Winelands Tours or to relax while on Garden Route Tours you’ll be amazed with the exciting things to do and the beautiful things that you’ll see. Vacations in the Cape are amongst the most popular holidays in the world and without a doubt will leave you enchanted.
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Hermanus and the Southern Right Whales
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Fri, 21 Nov 2014 11:01:11 +0000
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Southern Right Whales graced the waters of Walker Bay long before people even started to settle in the area. And while their coming and going every year is almost like clock-work, how they manage to appear so graceful is a mystery to most. Their mesmerising frolicking and gentle nature attracts thousands of curious observers to […]
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Southern Right Whales graced the waters of Walker Bay long before people even started to settle in the area. And while their coming and going every year is almost like clock-work, how they manage to appear so graceful is a mystery to most. Their mesmerising frolicking and gentle nature attracts thousands of curious observers to the tranquil coastal town of Hermanus every year, making it an incredibly popular Western Cape town.
34 South Tour’s “Hermanus and the Whales” tours offer tourists vising South Africa the opportunity to go whale watching in Hermanus. These tours are a day in length, departing early in the morning from Cape Town and returning in time for dinner in the Mother City. This tour not only allows guests to see the whales, but also takes them on a scenic drive through the Helderberg mountain range.
The tour is also professionally run, ensuring guests a smooth and enjoyable experience, and the opportunity to learn something about the whales. This tour is also seasonal: Southern Right Whales can be seen in just a few bays in the Southern Hemisphere during the second half of the year, when they return from the freezing waters of Antarctica to give birth and mate in the warmer waters of the Indian Ocean. They spend up to four months in these waters before making the lengthy return trip back to Antarctica.
While on the tour, you’ll be given the chance to observe these large mammals from a Hermanus lookout point. Weighing forty-seven tonnes and stretching fifteen meters in length, these truly enormous sea creatures entrance onlookers with their graceful breaching (soaring through the water into the air before belly-flopping onto the water’s surface), swimming and bathing.
While taking you on a Cape Town tour unlike any other to see these beautiful animals, 34 South Tours will give you the option to go on a whale watching boat cruise which will take you up to fifty meters away from the whales. You may prefer to visit one of the local wine estates however, explore their cellar and pick a bottle of red to take home with you. You may also choose to visit the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens or even the Fernkloof Nature Reserve.
On your return, your tour driver will take you on one of two routes. Depending on which route he took you to Hermanus on, he will now take you over the famous Sir Lowry’s Pass which stretches from Elgin and Grabouw (the heart of the Western Cape’s apple county) to Somerset West, or via Clarence Drive, a beautiful road which hugs the cliffs going into the sea and offers truly beautiful views of the sea.
While this Cape Town tour is just a day in length, you’ll have more than enough time to observe the whales and soak in the relaxed atmosphere of Hermanus. Showing you beautiful scenery, a new and different side of Cape Town and the Western Cape, and the rare and majestic Southern Right Whales, this tour offers a great opportunity for tourists to explore further.
Although this Cape Town tour is just a day in length, you’ll leave satisfied by the beautiful scenery and will feel relaxed and refreshed by a gentle sea breeze and coastal town atmosphere and will have had the rare opportunity to see the gentle and stunning Southern Right Whales.
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South Africa’s Wildlife Whisperers: Kevin Richardson, Lawrence Anthony & Mike Rutzen
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Tue, 16 Sep 2014 17:32:31 +0000
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There is something about the word ‘Africa’ that conjures up images of expansive savannahs, flaming red sunsets and scores of animals roaming free. When imagining Africa, and suspending the realities of its predominantly third-world and semi-industrialised state, one word has remained persistently synonymous with the continent:wild. A walk through the bustling city-bowl of Cape Town […]
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There is something about the word ‘Africa’ that conjures up images of expansive savannahs, flaming red sunsets and scores of animals roaming free. When imagining Africa, and suspending the realities of its predominantly third-world and semi-industrialised state, one word has remained persistently synonymous with the continent:wild.
A walk through the bustling city-bowl of Cape Town would certainly contradict this statement, but a short drive outside of any city centre, and deep into the space of the nature reserve will reveal an altogether different story. Find yourself off the grid and away from the tall office-block buildings, the smells of freshly tarred roads and the collective city sounds of revving cars, loud music spilling out of apartment windows and everything else that is decidedly urban – and the wildness of Africa could feel just a little too close for comfort.
But when it comes to the wild, it attracts more than tourists and holidaymakers or hunters and poachers, as a curious and captivating figure seems to have emerged: the wildlife whisperer. Kevin Richardson ‘The Lion Whisperer’, Lawrence Anthony ‘The Elephant Whisperer‘ and Mike ‘Sharkman’ Rutzen have become global names for their phenomenal and seemingly crazy efforts with wildlife – all of whom were born and bred on the colourful shores of South Africa!
Each of these men have captivated the world in one way or another, and for animal lovers and haters alike, their plights with wildlife creatures have been inspiring; have a look:
The Lion Whisperer
Who said cats hate water, anyway?
Lions, as the apex predator of the savannah, are typically looked at as rather dangerous – understandably so, considering that their jaws can crush bones and an adult’s paw is almost the size of a human head. But imagining Africa without Lions seems almost impossible, since the two are so mutually exclusive.
“Lion’s live on less than 20% of their former habitat due to destruction, human-predator conflict, poaching, hunting, and illegal trade” – Kevin Richardson.
Richardson has developed unique and awe-inspiring relationships with Africa’s big cats – bonds which are over 16 years in the making. He’s appeared on several local and international news networks, and his philosophy of building loving and caring ties of trust between himself and these predatory cats is beautifully endearing.
Looking content & comfortable.
His efforts to shine a spotlight on the plight of Lions in both the wild and in captivity has captured plenty of attention around the world. The way he interacts with these animals is astounding; they look like nothing more than oversized kitty-cats when Richardson is around them. This video will have you gasping and gawking in delight:
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The Elephant Whisperer
Anthony interacting with the elephants he loved.
Lawrence Anthony’s remarkable story and his work with African elephants is widely-known across the world. The relationships he developed with Africa’s largest land animal, his legendary conservation efforts that included establishing conservation groups and nature reserves, as well as his intimate approach to rehabilitating traumatized elephants is well-documented in his co-written book, The Elephant Whisperer.
A heart-warming, tear-jerking, all round inspiring novel.
This man was remarkable; after being called upon by a conservation group to rescue a group of nine, destructive elephants in KwaZulu-Natal, Anthony successfully managed to rescue the herd and save them from being shot. He provided them with a home at Thula-Thula nature reserve, where he eventually earned their trust and became a part of the family.
What’s more – after Anthony’s passing in March 2012, two herds laboriously trudged across acres of the Thula-Thula Reserve and loitered on their friend’s compound for two days before retreating back into the wilderness. It’s remarkable, because these gentle giants are well-known for mourning their dead and the herds had, presumably, gone to the Anthony compound to pay their respects.
The Sharkman
He’s tallied over 800 hours of free-diving with sharks, and discovered that massaging a white shark’s nose causes tonic mobility.
Another local wildlife whisperer, Mike Rutzen, is fast approaching legendary status for his interaction with Great White sharks. Footage of his nail-biting free dives have folks labelling him as crazy, while at the same time, alerting us all to the gross misconceptions that have shrouded these apex predators since the pilot screening ofJaws.
Rutzen started out as a fisherman catching yellowtail, and recalls white sharks launching themselves on the deck of their fishing boat to get at the freshly caught fish. Close to 20 years later, and Rutzen’s come a long way; his shark cage diving business, White Shark Diving Unlimited, is one of the popular diving operators in Gansbaai and his business has hosted many, many celebrities over the years.
“My business gives the great whites a value alive, whereas previously their only value was their fins and jaws.” – Mike Rutzen
Rutzen pictured here with actor Brad Pitt.
Apart from managing his company and occasionally accompanying divers to Shark Alley, his conservation efforts include participating in several national and international documentaries and films. After watching this awe-inspiring video of Rutzen ‘catching a ride’ from a Great White, it’s easy to see how he’s earned the title of ‘Sharkman’.
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The Hermanus Whale Festival
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Mon, 27 May 2013 21:53:48 +0000
Hermanus is a picturesque seaside town, known for its festive atmosphere, friendly residents, gorgeous scenery and its whales. The famous visitors return to its shores annually to calve and their graceful antics are watched by the hundreds of people who flock to Walker Bay to witness the majestic creatures in action. Whale watching in Hermanus […]
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Hermanus is a picturesque seaside town, known for its festive atmosphere, friendly residents, gorgeous scenery and its whales. The famous visitors return to its shores annually to calve and their graceful antics are watched by the hundreds of people who flock to Walker Bay to witness the majestic creatures in action.
Whale watching in Hermanus is world-renowned – no other place provides the same opportunity to witness the phenomenal animals in their natural environment, cavorting in the bay. The tell-tale sudden explosion of a jet of water, or the appearance of a gigantic tale, is a give-away that there is a friendly whale lurking below the sea’s surface.
Hermanus loves its and every year they are celebrated with the immensely popular Hermanus Whale Festival – South Africa’s only Enviro-Arts festival. The whole town gets involved and the carnival atmosphere is infectious, with numerous musical performances, comedy skits, cabarets and exciting stalls to discover.
Choose from an overwhelming selection of exquisite arts and crafts and delight in the multiple acts on offer. As soon as the Whale Crier sounds his seaweed horn, everyone knows that the first whale has been spotted and it’s time to start the festivities.
Opting for a group tour to Hermanus is a wonderful way to experience the best that the town has to offer, while the informative, knowledgeable guides enhance your experience with their fascinating commentary about the area’s past and its whales. It’s also a fantastic way to meet new people and spend some time with your family and friends.
Stroll along the superb, pristine stretches of golden sand and climb up the rippling dunes for outstanding vistas of the sea and its gentle inhabitants. Hermanus is famed for its rugged, wild landscape, with its captivating natural beauty and serenity.
The town may have grown and developed a great deal, but it still maintains its integrity and small fishing town feel. It’s a place of immense charm and allure, with much to offer, including its well-known Whale Festival, which takes place annually in September.
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Cape Point: Where mighty oceans meet
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Mon, 27 May 2013 21:52:22 +0000
Cape Point is a place of phenomenal natural beauty and historical importance. Forming an important part of the world renowned Table Mountain National Park, here you can relax and enjoy the tranquillity of the World Heritage Site. Going on a Cape Town tour is a wonderful option, as you will