Expat Explore - Version: Sat Sep 25 2021 16:29:32 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Page: 1/18 Itinerary for South Africa Escape • Expat Explore Start Point: End Point: Cape Town International Airport, Garden Court OR Tambo International Matroosfontein, Cape Town, 7490, South Africa Airport Hotel, 12:15 hrs & 14:45 hrs 2 Hulley Rd, Isando, Kempton Park, 1619, StayEasy City Bowl Cape Town, South Africa 54 Bree St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, from 10:00 hrs Johannesburg airport 8000 (Oliver Tambo International Airport), Check in from 15:00 hrs O.R. Tambo Airport Rd, O.R. Tambo, Johannesburg, 1627, South Africa Complimentary airport transfers offered - email us for confirmation DAY 1: Arrive in Cape Town Wamkelekile e iKapa! Welcome to Cape Town! The Mother city is South Africa's oldest city and one of three official capital cities. For flights arriving today, an Expat Explore team member will meet and greet you at Cape Town airport. A complimentary airport transfer is offered at selected times to take you to our starting hotel in the city. If you arrive early enough you'll have some free time to Expat Explore - Version: Sat Sep 25 2021 16:29:32 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Page: 2/18 explore Cape Town and its many tourist attractions. This evening you will meet your tour leader as well as your fellow travellers from all over the world. Enjoy a welcome dinner this evening and get to know your travel companions. Experiences Book flights to arrive at Cape Town international airport today, where a member of the Expat Explore team will direct you to your complementary airport transfer (certain times - see tour help section for more information), which will take you to the starting hotel in the city. Enjoy an included welcome dinner this evening - the perfect opportunity to get to know your Expat Explore tour leader and fellow travellers! Included Meals Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: DAY 2: Cape Town City Tour Your first full day in South Africa kicks off with a driving tour of Cape Town city centre, stopping at the Castle of Good Hope, famous St. George’s cathedral and take a stroll through the colourful Cape Malay quarters. We’ll also visit the well-known Company's Gardens - the oldest garden in the Expat Explore - Version: Sat Sep 25 2021 16:29:32 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Page: 3/18 country. The afternoon is then yours free to explore this incredible city. With a drop off at the beautiful V&A Waterfront, this is the perfect place to have lunch and try a variety of local foods, including some fresh fish right next to the Cape Town harbour. After lunch, why not take a cable car ride up to Table mountain? This table-shaped mountain is a prominent landmark that towers over Cape Town. Table Mountain is one of the official 'New 7 Wonders of Nature'! Experiences Cape Town city tour: Explore the heart of Cape Town. See highlights including the Castle of Good Hope which was once a Dutch stronghold, see St George’s Mall which is a bustling cobbled pedestrian street lined with shops, stalls and historic buildings. Wonder through the Company’s Gardens before enjoying a taste of local culture in the Cape Malay Quarter. Explore the V&A Waterfront: Enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of the ever-popular V&A Waterfront! It’s home to world-class shopping, top-rated restaurants serving fresh, delicious food, craft markets, buskers and great views of the harbour. Travelers can enjoy boat cruises and even helicopter trips! Included Meals Accommodation Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: StayEasy Cape Town City Bowl Optional Excursions Helicopter Flight: R 1450 Langa Experience: R 990 * Stated prices and availability are subject to change. DAY 3: Cape Town: Free Day Expat Explore - Version: Sat Sep 25 2021 16:29:32 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Page: 4/18 Today is your free day to explore Cape Town! Outside of the famous Robben Island and Table Mountain, the list of travel attractions are endless. Visit the Botanical Gardens, Constantia wine valley, the Two Oceans Aquarium or District 6 Museum. You also have the option to join the Cape Point & Peninsula day-trip and venture further south with your tour leader. Cape Point nature reserve is a one hour drive from Cape Town, on the southeast corner of the Cape Peninsula. Expect beautiful landscapes, over 40 km of coastline and a variety of fauna and flora. The Cape Fynbos is a natural shrubland found here - the smallest floral kingdom in the world. Continuing along the peninsula, stop at Boulder’s beach to see free-roaming African penguins. Stop for lunch and free time in Kalk Bay, a quirky coastal town. Make your way back to the hotel after this and spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Included Meals Accommodation Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: StayEasy Cape Town City Bowl Optional Excursions Cape Peninsula Day Trip: R 1200 * Stated prices and availability are subject to change. Expat Explore - Version: Sat Sep 25 2021 16:29:32 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Page: 5/18 DAY 4: Stellenbosch - Cape Winelands - Hermanus This morning we explore the Cape Winelands! Following breakfast we take a scenic drive through the Cape wine region. First stop is Stellenbosch, a special university town in the heart of the Cape winelands. Explore the Cape Dutch architecture and many laid-back coffee shops, boutiques and art galleries. Lunch is a delicious traditional meal served among the vineyards at a winery. South Africa has the oldest wine industry outside of Europe. This is your chance to taste South Africa's signature wine, Pinotage. Learn all about Cape district wines and the wine-making process from a local wine expert . After one more wine tasting tour this afternoon we take a heavenly coastal drive to Hermanus. The evening you will have free time to explore the town of Hermanus. Experiences Stellenbosch - Take some free time to explore the historical university town, admire the mix of Cape Dutch, Georgian and Victorian architecture, the tree lined streets and relaxing coffee shops. Cape Winelands - Enjoy two wine tasting and included lunch at a wine farm in the famous winelands region of the Western Cape. Hermanus - Savour the stunning coastal views as we make our way to Hermanus, where you’ll have a free evening to explore this delightful town on the Cape Whale Coast Route - if you’re lucky you’ll even be able to spot whales from the beach! Included Meals Accommodation Expat Explore - Version: Sat Sep 25 2021 16:29:32 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Page: 6/18 Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Windsor Hotel DAY 5: Hermanus - Swellendam - Mossel Bay This is the official start of our Garden Route adventure! This morning you can stay put in Hermanus to explore this beautiful harbour town. It’s one of the world's best whale-watching destinations. In season, June to November, you can spot them right off the coast. Join one of the optional excursions for the day: Shark Cage Diving or a Whale and Eco tour. This is your chance to see Great White sharks in their natural habitat. The excursion includes a short drive to Gansbaai - a famous shark cage diving spots in South Africa. Free time for lunch is in Swellendam. Taste authentic Boerekos (traditional farmer’s food), or perhaps some Springbok (venison) carpaccio. After lunch stop outside of Albertinia to visit Cape Aloe Vera farm. Taste aloe tea, sample the facial cream and learn more about the health benefits and uses of this indigenous plant. The final destination for today is Mossel Bay, a coastal village and popular holiday destination. Before making for the hotel we stop at the Pinnacle Caves. This archaeological site is where the early evidence of modern human behaviour has been found. Fossil findings date as far back as 170,000 years ago. Dinner is included at the hotel tonight. Experiences Expat Explore - Version: Sat Sep 25 2021 16:29:32 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Page: 7/18 Swellendam - enjoy free time for lunch in the third oldest town in the Republic of South Africa. Check out the incredible architecture of the Dutch Reformed Church - a striking mix of Italian Baroque and French Gothic influences, with an Eastern dome and Cape Dutch facades. Aloe Vera farm - Stop at one of the original aloe factories in the Hessequa region. Sample various Aloe Vera products, walk around in the indigenous garden (with 17 species of aloe) and drink some Aloe tea! Mossel Bay - Visit Pinnacle Point Caves, a Provincial Heritage Site where human bones of between 40,000 and 170,000 years ago has been discovered. The discoveries have led to further studies by the Institute of Human Origins. Included Meals Accommodation Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Oceans Hotel Optional Excursions Shark Cage Diving: R 2430 Marine Eco Big 5 Trip: R 1390 * Stated prices and availability are subject to change. DAY 6: Garden Route: Game Drive - Knysna - Garden Route Expat Explore - Version: Sat Sep 25 2021 16:29:32 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Page: 8/18 First thing this morning we head to Botlierskop Private Game Reserve for a unique safari experience. Enjoy close encounters with impala, wildebeest, rhinos, lions, giraffes and more! Over lunch we’ll be in Knysna, the heart of the Garden Route. Jump aboard a double-decker floating restaurant for an optional lunch cruise (fresh oysters anyone?). The lagoon cruise will take you along Knysna Bay for spectacular views of the area. You can even do some bird watching from the deck.