Garden Route and Cruise Escorted Tour - Table Mountain Cape Town

Garden Route and Cruise – Escorted Tour – 8 days 7 nights.

THE GARDEN ROUTE | PORT ELIZABETH | DURBAN | PORTUGUESE ISLAND MOZAMBIQUE

“It’s time to set sail on an extraordinary adventure that will stay in your heart forever.” – Charles Robbie

The Garden Route is a journey of exploration, of discovery and the chance to see why this part of the world is renowned for its beguiling diversity. This stretch of coastline connects Mossel Bay to the Storms River Mouth and has sandy beaches, lovely lakes and lagoons, lush, evergreen forests, and protea-studded slopes.

You will start in Cape Town and go to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa and the true meeting place of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. You will then spend time in Oudtshoorn, where ostriches are the main source of tourism as well as the Cango Caves. Knysna is the next stop, which features a gorgeous lagoon and mythical forests. Your adventure comes to an end in the friendly city of Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and for those proceeding to the cruise in Durban, Bon Voyage!

“No amount of money can equal the rewards of a life well-cruised.” – Charles Robbie III

GARDEN ROUTE and CRUISE

Escorted Tours – the best of both – 8 days 7 nights!
Priced from ZAR31000 per person sharing.

Cruising South Africa (Pty) Ltd is a trusted online travel agent.
Established in 1992 and proudly the official ground transport contractor to Starlight Cruises now MSC Cruises these past 30 years.

Priced from R31000 per person sharing. Includes accommodation in 3 and 4-star hotels, meals as per itinerary, entrance fees, flight to Durban, porterage, luxury transport and an English Guide.
Guaranteed departures every week with a minimum of 2 persons.

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“Cruising South Africa with MSC Cruises: Creating Memories, Inspiring Dreams for more than 30 years!” – Charles Robbie III – General Manager of CSA

Garden Route and Cruise – Escorted Tour

THE ITINERARY
Garden Route and Cruise with MSC Splendida – Best of both!

8 days and 7 nights in 3 & 4-star hotels

GARDEN rOUTE MAP Garden Route and Cruise map to Portuguese Island

DEPARTURE DATES:

January 2024: 15th, 29th
February 2024: 5th, 19th
March 2024: 4th

DAY 1 – MONDAY CAPE TOWN – OUDTSHOORN

This morning you will be met by your local tour guide and depart for the scenic Garden Route. Travel along Sir Lowry’s Pass, with its magnificent views, to Grabouw and Elgin, a lush landscape surrounded by majestic mountains. Stop en route at a farmstall packed with locally produced products from the area. Our journey continues to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. The area has largely been untouched and unexplored with its rugged coastline being the graveyard for many a ship. The historic Cape Agulhas Lighthouse is considered the icon that signifies the tip of Africa. After this thrilling experience, we continue via historic Swellendam and the Tradouw Pass to Barrydale and the famous Route 62. Sample top-quality port-style wines in Calitzdorp, before continuing to Oudtshoorn, the ‘ostrich feather capital’ and centre of the world’s Ostrich farming industry.
Distance travelled today: 550 km
Overnight in Oudtshoorn – **La Plume Guesthouse 4* or similar**.[D,B]
Dinner at an ostrich farm, dining on local specialities such as Ostrich Steak.

DAY 2 – TUESDAY OUDTSHOORN

After a leisurely breakfast take a tour of the spectacular limestone caverns of the Cango Caves, one of the world’s great natural wonders, sculpted by nature through the ages. Afterwards, enjoy a wine tasting at a local wine estate in the scenic Schoemanshoek Valley. Return to Oudtshoorn for a fun-filled interactive guided tour at a working Ostrich Farm.
Distance travelled today: 90 kms

Overnight in Oudtshoorn – **La Plume Guest House 4* or similar** [B]

DAY 3 – WEDNESDAY OUDTSHOORN – KNYSNA

After breakfast, travel over the Outeniqua Pass to George, the sixth oldest town in South Africa, with many historical landmarks like the Slave Tree and King Edward VII Library building; said to be the best example of Edwardian architecture in the town. The tour travels via Wilderness, an attractive holiday resort, to Knysna, known as the oyster box of South Africa, nestling on the banks of a beautiful lagoon in the heart of the Garden Route. Journey into the magical Knysna Forests (weather & road conditions dependent), the stamping ground of the elusive Knysna elephants. Discover the stories of the woodcutters who worked the forests, the elephants that were hunted to extinction and the discovery of gold. Visit the Dalene Matthee Big Tree Memorial. The enormous Yellowwood tree of over 880 years was named after Matthee, the best-known author of four books on the Knysna Forest. Enjoy a delicious lunch en route of traditional cuisine and local treats.
Distance travelled today: 170 kms

Overnight in Knysna – **Rex Hotel 4* or similar** [Lunch & Breakfast]

DAY 4 – THURSDAY KNYSNA –GQEBERHA (PORT ELIZABETH)

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred (unescorted, driver only) to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). You’ll head eastwards along the Tsitsikamma Forest to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), affectionately known as the “friendly city”. The tour ends on arrival in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). [Breakfast]
Distance travelled today: 274 kms

Guests may disembark, on request, at Chief Dawid Stuurman Airport.

For guests joining the cruise in Durban, there are 2 changes to our itinerary depending on the flights to Durban.

OPTION 1: Overnight in Port Elizabeth with transfers to the airport on Friday morning on Bed and Breakfast basis. ** Protea Hotel or similar**
OPTION 2: You will be dropped off at the airport for a flight to Durban. On arrival transfer to the **Protea Hotel Umhlanga Ridge** on a Bed and Breakfast basis with a 11h00 transfer to the Cruise Terminal for boarding the MSC Splendida.

DAY 5 – FRIDAY DURBAN – PORTUGUESE ISLAND WITH MSC

After breakfast, you may explore the area around your hotel but please note that your transfer to the new MSC Cruise Terminal will be at 11h00 which must not be missed! Late afternoon at 18h00 approx. depart for the uninhabited Portuguese Island which is South Africa’s most popular cruise destination.

Overnight at sea – **MSC SPLENDIDA – Balcony Cabin on Fantastica Experience** [Dinner, Lunch & Breakfast]

DAY 6 – SATURDAY AT SEA

Enjoy everything that this magnificent vessel has to offer! Make sure to book your free tender boat shuttle as per the directions onboard!

Overnight at sea – **MSC SPLENDIDA – Balcony Cabin on Fantastica Experience** [Dinner, Lunch & Breakfast]

DAY 7 – SUNDAY PORTUGUESE ISLAND MOZAMBIQUE

After breakfast, take the tender boat shuttle that you booked yesterday and transfer to the island. (This service is weather and sea conditions pending and should you for safety reasons not be allowed to disembark, the ship will offer other entertainment.)
Spend the day enjoying the sun and surf, or perhaps take an optional tour from the tours desk onboard. Lunch (typical South African cuisine) is served at the MSC Restaurant and you may use your cruise card to purchase drinks from the bar.
At 15h00 the last tender boat shuttle will take you back to the ship which will depart at 16h00! Please do not miss these timings otherwise you will need to be a modern-day Robinson Crusoe!

Overnight at sea – **MSC SPLENDIDA – Balcony Cabin on Fantastica Experience** [Dinner, Lunch & Breakfast]

DAY 8 – MONDAY DURBAN

The ship is expected to dock around 10h00. DO NOT book a flight out of Durban before 13h00!
We will meet you at the terminal for your shuttle bus transfer to the airport where the tour ends. There are optional add-ons available.

GARDEN ROUTE AND CRUISE ESCORTED TOUR
PACKAGE INCLUSIONS & EXCLUSIONS

VISA REQUIREMENTS:
This tour travels through South Africa and Mozambique. Please check visa requirements, as certain nationalities may require visas to travel through South Africa and Mozambique.

LAND SERVICE INCLUDES

5 Meals: 3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner including gratuity
3 Nights’ accommodation including porterage
Transportation including toll fees in air-conditioned vehicles
Services of a professional English-speaking tour guide
Entrance fees as specified in the itinerary
Bottled water in eco-friendly packaging

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Visit Dassiesfontein, a farmstall packed with locally produced products from the Overberg region
Visit to Cape Agulhas (the southernmost tip of Africa)
Visit to Cape St Blaize Cave in Mossel Bay, site of one of South Africa’s oldest archaeological excavations, and known as the Cradle of Human Culture
Guided tour of the Cango Caves, a wine tasting in the scenic Schoemanshoek Valley, a guided tour of an ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn
An immersive journey into the mythical Knysna Forests, discovering the legends build around woodcutters, elephants, steam trains, and gold miners
Enjoy carefully chosen experiences that positively impact our travelers and the communities we visit

SEA CRUISE SERVICES
* Round trip shuttle services (‘seat on a bus’ basis and optional upgrade to private)
* Porterage and a speedy check-in
* Accommodation in a balcony cabin (Fantastica Experience by default – an upgrade is possible to your own account)
* 3 main meals daily and midnight snacks (Full board)
* All entertainment on board (except casino, bingo, and theme cruises)
* SPA, Hairdresser, and other items of a personal nature NOT included.
* Drinks are NOT included and a 15% service fee will be added to your onboard hotel bill. Discounted drinks vouchers are available for purchase prior to cruising.
* Tender boat transfers – (subject to sea and weather conditions).

E&OE

GARDEN ROUTE AND CRUISE ESCORTED TOUR
Accommodation included:

3* Diaz Hotel & Resort or similar x 1 night
4* La Plume Guest House or similar x 1 night
4* Rex Hotel or similar x 1 night
4* MSC Splendida Balcony Cabin x 4 nights