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Set out from Cape Town along the Garden Route

Cape Ganets
The Cape Winelands
Camps Bay
South Africa's coastline

South Africa's Western Cape

Cape Town, the winelands and the Garden Route have all the ingredients for a perfect holiday any time from late September to June. It is a region of spectacularly beautiful coastal scenery, of undulating winelands, of charming country house hotels, exquisite restaurants and championship standard golf courses.

The Cape, winelands and Garden Route were settled by British, French, Dutch and Germans from the 17th century onwards and in some ways resembles parts of northern Europe although bathed in Africa's glorious sunshine.

There are literally hundreds of small country house hotels and bed and breakfast places, some of which are excellent (while others are less so) and Africa Exclusive will prepare an itinerary for you which takes you in easy stages through the region, staying at some of the best and most friendly, using the Cape's excellent road network. Some of our favourites are The Cellars, Lanzerac in the winelands and Hunters Country House in the Garden Route.

The best way to see this area is by hire car and we would normally suggest around four days in Cape Town, staying at one of the top quality waterfront hotels or, if you would prefer, a country house property such as Constantia Uitsig in the Constantia Valley, twenty minutes out of town.

When you have ascended Table Mountain, visited Robben Island, done some shopping and dined out wonderfully yet inexpensively, you can head into the winelands.

This beautiful undulating country has dozens of old wine estates tucked away near Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschoek, where you can enjoy tastings, lunches and perhaps a round of golf. If you find a favourite, the wine estates will ship a couple of cases home for you.

Four hours drive along the attractive coast road takes you to the heart of the Garden Route, to George, Knysna and Plettenberg, where you can stay at places like the Relais et Chateau Hunters Country House or, if you would prefer a top beach hotel, The Plettenberg with its views across the sweeping curves of Plettenberg Bay.

There are watersports on the Knysna Lagoon, the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe steam train which takes you on a three hour journey from George to Knysna, endless walks in rich forested country, or along the Garden Route's rugged shoreline.

Between June and December try whale watching or for watersport enthusiasts, world class surfing at Jeffries Bay.