Road Trip South Africa from Durban to Cape Town

Uvongo/Durban

2 nights

This All Stars Trip kicks off by travelling south from Durban. We’ll follow the N2 freeway and pass through sugar cane fields until we reach Uvongo where we will enjoy homely living for two days. During our stay in this area you can try the world’s highest gorge swing at Oribi Gorge and scuba with sharks at the renowned Protea Banks.

Port St. Johns

1 night

Our name might give some of it away and although we love the whole itinerary we are now close to Latitude 31° south, and travelling in one of our favorite areas – the Transkei. The Transkei was an independent country until 1994 when it became part of the Eastern Cape in the Republic of South Africa. We are heading for Port St. Johns, situated at the mouth of the mighty Umzimvubu River. It is a surreal area and people here might warn you about “pondo fever” – it’s the ‘condition’ of those who show up, expecting to stay a few days and end up staying for months or years. You’ll know why they stay once you enjoy a sundowner on Mount Thesiger. Maybe you’ll understand it when you take a walk through the village or to the ‘gap’ and the blow-hole on Second Beach as you experience this part of the ‘Wild Coast’ and more of the raw beauty of the Indian Ocean.

Mdumbi

2 nights

Only 30km north of Coffee Bay this is by far the most peaceful spot you will visit in a while. Surrounded by rolling hills you will stay in one of the traditional huts that you will come to associate with the Transkei. A 4 minute stroll will take you to a white beach that stretches out northwards as far as the eye can see – perfect for those long walks on the beach or topless tanning sessions as there is barely anybody else around. We also go on a breathtaking kayaking trip up die Mdumbi River!

Coffee Bay

2 nights

We are travelling into the heart of the Transkei, through rolling green hills on roads where you drive slowly and make sure you don’t hit cattle, people, dogs, potholes, chickens, goats… well, you get the idea. It’s a gorgeous drive as you head deeper into rural South Africa on your way to Coffee Bay – another gem on the Indian Ocean and Wild Coast. Our accommodations are right on the Bomvu River Mouth and the scenery can get very dramatic especially when this wild ocean acts up. Sunsets with an adult beverage overlooking Coffee Bay from a high cliff will be one of your best memories of South Africa. Nelson Mandela was in Mvezo in this region and we’ll pass close by this village when we travel onwards from Coffee Bay.

Chintsa

2 nights

Our next fabulous stop is Chintsa East, a few kilometers south of the the Great Kei river. We aren’t really supposed to compare the beaches on our trip but this one rates very high on our list. Our rooms are only a few minutes away from this breathtaking, unspoiled beach where the Chintsa river flows into the sea. Our accommodation is funky and has a laid-back atmosphere surrounded by forested dunes, lagoons and rivers. Help feed and play with local children at the Chintsa East Soup Kitchen and meet fellow travelers chillin’ around the pool and playing a friendly game of volleyball (with free wine!)

Hogsback

1 night

The landscape changes drastically as we keep moving south and away from the coast for a couple of days. Hogsback is a magical world of mountains and forests. It is situated high up in the Amathole mountains of the Eastern Cape, and is surrounded by centuries-old indigenous Afromontane forests. At our accommodation there is a bathtub on the edge of a cliff – best view from any bathtub – EVER! There is a great combo trip to explore the area including mountain biking, abseiling (aka repelling) next to a waterfall and hiking in the ancient forest.

Addo Elephant Park

1 night

We leave the highlands and between Hogsback and Jeffreys Bay we visit Addo Elephant National Park, one of South Africa’s 19 national parks and ranking number 3 in size after Kruger National and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Parks. The park was founded in 1931 to provide a safe place for the sixteen remaining elephants in the area. Today the park is home to more than 600 elephants, cape buffalo, the endangered black rhino, a variety of antelope and zebra species, lions, hyenas, leopards as well as as the unique Addo flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo.

Jeffreys Bay

2 nights

There are many reasons to visit this bustling town that is encapsulated by nature reserves & rivers. One of the main reasons people flock here is to surf or have your first surf lesson on some of the legendary waves the region is so well known for. Supertubes is the infamous break here but there are many others including Boneyards, Kitchen Windows and The Point to name a few. If surfing is not your thing you can laze around or go horseback riding on the beach, sandboarding on the dunes, shopping at one of many factory outlets for all the major surf brands, or paddle out with some dolphins in the crystal clear ocean.

Tsitsikamma/Plettenberg Bay

2 nights

We will be staying in Tsitsikamma for two nights and beauty and adventure is all around. The Crags is nestled in a gorgeous part of the Garden Route – right by the border of the Eastern and Western Cape. There are so many activities to do here, it will be hard to keep track and make sure you get it all done. You’ll have the opportunity to experience the world’s highest bungy bridge at Bloukrans and explore nearby ocean, scenic sandy beaches, rugged mountains, river gorges and estuaries, as well as numerous varied wildlife attractions. Whether you want to skydive, zip-line over waterfalls, hike a nature trail, check out 100 different snakes at the Lawnwood Sanctuary or even go shopping in Plettenberg Bay, there is something for everyone.

Oudtshoorn

1 night

Some people might give you the impression that the Little Karoo region is dry and desolate and boring. Let us assure you that it is quite the opposite from boring. We’ll visit Oudtshoorn for a full day of learning about ostriches, exploring an old caves system and you can even go cage diving with crocodiles. The town is home to the world’s largest ostrich population, with a number of specialized ostrich breeding farms. The Cango Wildlife Ranch provides guests with the amazing opportunity to get close and personal with a big variety of animals.

Hermanus

2 nights

Hermanus lies along Walker Bay on the south coast of the Western Cape. It is located about 115 km southeast of Cape Town. Hermanus has some of the best land-based whale watching in the world but when the season doesn’t allow for it you can still go cage diving with Sharks, horse riding, paragliding, kayaking, fishing, hiking or simply swimming and sunbathing at one of many gorgeous beaches. There are a lot of beautiful shops and art galleries in town and the restaurants are well worth a visit if you are a food lover.

Cape Town

2 nights

Cape Town was established in 1652 as the first permanent European settlement in South Africa. It is the most popular international tourist destinations in South Africa and Africa as a whole. The New York Times has named Cape Town as the number one place to visit and once you see the city with Table Mountain as backdrop, you’ll quickly understand why people are drawn here. As a group we will spend 3 days in Cape Town but seeing that it’s our final or first destination you can easily book your outbound flight to spend a few more days. There’s so much to see in this area from Cape Point Nature Reserve to the Winelands in the Stellenbosch area, from the South African Naval Base in Simon’s Town to the spectacular view of the harbour and Table Bay from the top of Table Mountain.

Click on a destination on the itinerary above to view more information

Please select your start date on the calendar when booking your tour. We require a 35% deposit on confirmation of booking. The remaining balance is due 14 days before your tour date.

We require a minimum of 4 travelers to confirm booking at quoted price.

If you are a couple please contact us for pricing and to make your booking.

Upcoming trip dates:

Choose your preferred starting date on the calendar.

Trip direction: Durban to Cape Town
Wild Coast, Amatole Mountains, Garden Route, Little Karoo, Walker Bay, Cape Town

Included in the price:

All accommodation. We aim to keep accommodation as private as possible. 2 – 3 people max per room. Most accommodation is en-suite except where it is not possible. NO DORMS
Professional guides/driver for the duration of the tour.
All overland transport that is trip related (comfortable vehicle, fuel, tolls). If you decide to do activities on your own outside the tour/group, transport to do so will be your own expense.
Wine tour
Walking tour in Cape Town
Table Mountain
Visit Stony Point’s African penguin colony
Cango Wild Life Ranch
Visit an ostrich farm
River kayak experience in Mdumbi
Hikes on route (including Salt River Mouth and Robberg, Coffee Bay to Whole in the Wall)

Bloukrans Bungy Jump – 216 metres (World’s Highest Bridge Bungy)

The Bloukrans Bungy Jump is the world’s highest commercial bungy bridge. It is also the highest commercial natural bungy jump in the world. 216 metres (709ft) above the Bloukrans River – ENOUGH SAID!

Bloukrans Bridge Walk

Journey out onto the bridge with the jumpers to witness the spectacle up close and personal. If you don’t want to bungy you can join the jump group on the top of the bridge arch and give your friends that extra bit of support. The experience of being on the walkway is quite spectacular, with a stunning view of the mouth of the Bloukrans River as it flows into the sea.On the top of the arch, you will get to witness the workings of the world’s highest commercial bungy jump bridge.

Waterfall zip-lining Tours

What makes the Tsitsikamma “Waterfall Zipline Tour” unique is that you have the opportunity to safely slide on a zip line across three beautiful waterfalls surrounded by indigenous trees and plants. This eco-adventure is sure to give you an adrenaline rush, zigzagging across the Kruis River with the wind in your face and the whistle of the pulley on the cable. There are eight slides, of which the longest is 211m, as high as 50 metres (164ft) above the water in some places. Each section presents its own surprises, adventure, wonders and beautiful views.

Canopy zip-lining Tours

The first of its kind in Africa, the canopy tour involves traversing from one platform to another along a steel cable suspended up to 30 meters (98ft) above the forest floor. Most platforms are located in giant Outeniqua Yellowwood trees. The scenery and bird life is spectacular and professional guides provide interesting facts about the forest ecology during the 2½ to 3 hour tour.

Stand Up Paddleboarding

Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) is still a relatively young sport and gaining participants with great momentum. Learn to SUP with easy, progressive and fun SUP lessons in Cape Town on calm water or in the waves at Muizenberg. You will learn how to safely SUP in waves in the shallow beach break in Muizenberg, internationally recognized ideal spot for learning Stand Up Paddle Boarding and Surfing.

Horse Riding

No reason for a long face if you are a horse riding fanatic. Again you’ll have different terrain to choose from and two of our favorites would definitely be a ride in the mountains at Swellendam or on the beach at Noordhoek, Jeffreys Bay or Chintsa.

Township Tours

Discover the multicultural side of South Africa and interact with the locals. In District Six forced removals changed the lives of many people. Langa, Gugulethu and Khayelitsha as the largest and fastest growing township in South Africa are all symbols of the New South Africa, caught between old squatter misery and new prosperity, squalor and an upbeat lifestyle, to informal settlements where traditional healers and shebeens add to the rich culture of township life.

Boat Trips

If boat tripping floats your boat there are a few outings to choose from. Take a boat trip to the seal colony on Seal Island in scenic Hout Bay or experience a close encounter with the gentle giants of the ocean on an informative and educational whale watching trip in Hermanus.

Sandboarding

Sandboarding is a very fun adventure sport! All it takes to sandboard is a positive attitude, a board strapped to your feet after a few basic instructions and you will be blasting down a sand dune in no time at all. It’s a board sport similar to snowboarding but takes place in desert areas or coastal areas with beach dunes. You’ll have a few opportunities to rip down some beach dunes in South Africa.

Skydiving and Tandem Skydiving Jumps

Experience free-fall over one of the most scenic drop zones in the world. Start the experience with a short briefing, then enjoy a 20 minute plane flight to 10,000 feet, over the Knysna forests and Plettenberg Bay coastline. The leisurely, scenic plane flight comes to an end and the adrenaline starts to pump as you exit the plane with your Tandem Master and experience the rush of a 35 second free fall at 200km/h!

Paragliding and Tandem Paragliding

Cape Town is one of the most spectacular places in the world to paraglide with astonishing views of Lion’s Head, Table Mountain and the Cape Town area. However, there are many other excellent flying sites all along the Cape coast including Signal Hill, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Franschhoek, Hermanus and all the way down to Wilderness and Sedgefield. Tandem paragliding instructional flights are a great way of getting into paragliding or just experiencing the joy of freeflight.

Wine Tasting

With some of the best wines in the world being produced just half an hour’s drive from Cape Town, it would be a disgrace not to spend a day sampling some of these fine beverages. The wine country has a long history and strong culture stretching from 1688. It’s hard to decide where to stop for a tasting; one of the 140 estates in the Stellenbosch area, some of the 70 farms in the Paarl district, Franschhoek, Robertson… fortunately we have time for more than two and we have a pretty good idea what you might like.

Crocodile Cage Diving

This dive at the Cango Wildlife Ranch is a world first and has attracted people from all over the planet. Submerged in water, face to face with giant Nile Crocodiles you get a chance to see these reptiles like you have never before (and probably never will again)

Monkeyland and Birds of Eden

The World’s first free-roaming multi-specie primate sanctuary. Monkeyland offers monkey safaris where you can view the primates in their forest home. Right next door you can visit Birds of Eden, the World’s largest free-flight bird aviary (50metres [164ft] high, covering 23 000 square meters of forest). Birds of Eden houses more than 3,500 specimens of more than 280 species, with the main focus being African birds. The dome covers 2 km of boardwalks. Choose one or combine both experiences.

Whale Watching Charters (in season)

Hermanus has the best land-based whale watching in the world but you can also get closer and in their own environment by doing a whale watching boat trip… an amazing way to experience these ocean giants

Safari – Game Watching

It is well known that Africa has an abundance of wildlife you will find nowhere else on the planet. It is always fun to try and spot the Big Five – Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Rhinos and Buffalo – but there is so much more to see….Have you ever heard about Africa’s ‘Little Five’? They are (and don’t laugh) the Elephant Shrew, Ant Lion, Rhinoceros Beetle, Buffalo Weaver and Leopard Tortoise. The country has some of the world’s richest biodiversity hotspots, with remarkable birdlife, abundant buck, small game and bizarre insects. You will have the opportunity to visit Addo Elephant Park from Jeffreys Bay and tick many of these land animals off our lists. With diving and snorkeling as well as boat trips we can also spot some of the ocean dwellers like dolphins, whales, sharks, turtles and crabs.

Oribi Gorge Wild Swing – 165m (Highest in the World)

Situated at the top of Lehr’s Falls, it is the highest gorge swing in the world. Hurl yourself (or simply step) off the edge of the waterfall to swing into the gaping depths of the gorge – 165 metres (55 Storeys / 541ft)!

Oribi Gorge Wild Abseil – 110m (also called rappelling)

Abseil down a 110 metre (361ft) cliff face alongside Lehr’s waterfall and experience a new dimension in sightseeing! Determine your own pace, and lavish the thrill of one of the world’s highest commercial abseils. The first 45 metres is a cliff abseil where one traditionally abseils with their feet against the cliff while the remaining 65 metres is a free abseil allowing one to take in the beauty of the gorge from a different angle.

Oribi Gorge Wild Slide

Experience solitary bliss! Slide along the cable that spans across the gorge, 165 metres (541ft) above the treetops. Strapped securely in a full body harness, you can lavish the view without compromising your comfort… Enjoy a bird’s eye views of Lehr’s Waterfall and Baboon’s Castle!

Surfing and Surfing Lessons

South Africa is a surf mecca! There are many breaks en-route and whether you choose to travel with your own board or hire on the spot we will be sure to catch some waves. If you have never surfed before and you want to try it, there are more than a few places where lessons are on offer.

Guided Walks and Hikes

Throughout our trip there are beautiful walks, hikes and mountain treks you can explore. River mouths, mountain trails, shopping malls, romantic walks on endless white sand beaches, walking safaris in The Kruger Park… the list goes on. If you talk the walk talk, your feet will stay busy every step of the way 🙂

Traditional Village Tours

Experience a way of life far removed from yours by roaming the hills with a guide. He’ll introduce you to his home village where you can sample the local food and consult the herbalist or perhaps the witch doctor who’ll throw the bones for you. End the day trip with a session at the local shebeen (unlicensed drinking establishment), where the bravest can try the African beer. This is a great way to learn more about some of the 11 different cultures that make up South Africa’s rainbow nation.

Kayaking

Explore the magic of our unique coastline with its abundant marine life up close and personal on a kayak in the company of an experienced guide. Glide across sparkling water while enjoying a view of the majestic mountain, sea cliffs and marine life. There are many places to paddle the day away from Simon’s Town in False Bay to enjoying the stunning river estuary in Mdumbi in the Eastern Cape.