This is a land of dazzling beaches and magnificent marine creatures; surreal wine lands and mellifluous forests; a land where a great animal kingdom stirs as scintillating sunsets capture your attention…before the stars take the stage.
Here grand greens welcome golfers and photographers want for nothing. Luxury trains guide you through breath-taking landscapes. Families find adventure and partners fall deeper in love in tranquil settings. Chefs mesmerize gastronomes and winemakers have guests marvelling at their creations.
Explore and discover the gems of South Africa in this 12 night adventure from Cape Town, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Plettenberg Bay and Kwandwe Private Game Reserve.
On arrival into Cape Town, you will be greeted by a representative who will assist you to collect your car rental and hand over your detailed travel itinerary.
They will be able to assist you with any information required for your vacation.
Arrive to Ellerman House where you will check into a Classic House Room on a Bed and Breakfast basis for 3 nights.
Spend the next 3 days exploring Cape Town at leisure where you can take a cable car to the top of Tabletop Mountain or explore Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated. This amazing place is steeped in history, offers various cuisines and great shopping by the harbour.
Check out the Experiences tab below for more recommendations on what to do in Cape Town.
Included:
Breakfast, beverages (excluding wines and Champagne) inclusive of spirits & beers, fully stocked in-room bar with luxury brands, guest pantry with wide selection of snacks and in-between meal options, daily sunset cocktails & canapes, access to Ellerman House Spa & Fitness Centre, Wi-fi, laundry and subject to availability private transfers within 15 km radius of the hotel.
Excluded:
Lunch, dinner, wines and champagnes, invited guests’ meals and drinks.
Today you check-out from Ellerman House and depart to the De Hoop Nature Reserve on the east coast of South Africa. It is a mere 3 hour drive to your next destination.
Self Drive from Ellerman House to Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop. Guests are recommend to get to the Car Park for 1400. Check-in to Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop staying in a standard room on a Fully Inclusive (selected beverages) basis for 3 nights.
Access to Lekkerwater is via the Potberg Park Entrance (not the “Morukuru and De Hoop Collection entrance gate”). From the Potberg entrance gate it is 14.8km (30-45 minutes’ drive) to the lodge’s car park. De Hoop Nature Reserve Gates open at 07h30 and close at 16h00. Gate entrance fee of ZAR 60 per person (estimated park fees subject to confirmation), per night is payable in cash upon entry. Please note that there are no credit card facilities available.
Spend three days at leisure to explore the De Hoop Nature Reserve area. A great destination if you are looking to spend a bit of time relaxing as you grab your swimsuit and head to the 6km of white sandy beach. If you keep your eyes peeled, then you may spot Whales playing.
De Hoop is ideal for those who love a bit of walking, nature and being close to the wildlife
Included: All meals, all local house wines, beers, spirits and cool drinks, road transfers to/from the lodge’s guest car park 6 km away and all daily activities.
Excluded: Flights, premium brand beverages, park entrance fees (payable as you enter the park) discretionary tips/gratuities, items of a personal nature, transfers from Cape Town and personal travel insurance.
Check out the Experiences tab below for more recommendations on what to do in the De Hoop Nature Reserve Area
Check-out from Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop which would be scheduled for 10h30. After being dropped off at your vehicle depart for Plettenberg Bay.
Your next adventure awaits, on Day Ten you will make your way to Kwandwe Game Reserve for your safari experience.
Be one with nature and the wildlife and experience twice daily game drives, nature walks accompanied by an armed ranger, and big game walking safaris with the opportunity to track white and black rhino, elephant and buffalo on foot, which are all included in your stay
Included: Accommodation as specified (exclusive use of the villas), twice daily game drives, nature walks accompanied by an armed ranger, big game walking safari (tracking white rhino, black rhino, elephant and buffalo on foot, accompanied by an armed specialist ranger and tracker team; subject to availability), 3 meals daily, a selection of South African premium and sparkling wines, local & premium brand spirits, beers, soft drinks, teas & coffees, refreshments on game drives, laundry, emergency medical evacuation insurance, VAT, transfers to & from the reserve’s airstrip, complimentary child-minding.
Excluded: Community & Conservation levy, in-room massage treatments, telephone calls, safari shop purchases, gratuities, all items of a personal nature, imported champagne, cigars and additional specialized safari activities not mentioned above.
After your final safari and breakfast head to Gqeberha where you will drop your vehicle and depart on your flight back home OR if you want to extend your holiday further then we can add on a beach stay to either Mauritius or Zanzibar. Speak to your Personal Consultant about this and we can recommend the best option for you.
Beach Walks & Bird Watching
Take a stroll amongst the pristine sand dunes and enjoy a sundowner from atop your castle of sand!
Rock Pool Explorations
Explore the tidal pools and caves on a marine walk, keeping your eyes peeled for multi-coloured schools of fish and fascinating marine life.
Land Based Whale Watching
Experience some of the best land-based whale watching in the world: as well as southern right whales, you’ll also spot the less common Bryde’s whales and perhaps even humpbacks as well as dolphins cresting the waves.
Fynbos Walks
Lace up your boots for a walk through the fynbos. A part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, you’ll discover thousands of endemic plant species in the reserve including the national flower of South Africa, the King Protea.
With over 250 species of birds recorded in the De Hoop Nature Reserve, you’ll definitely be able to tick more than a few sorts from your list.
Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary (Plattenberg Bay)
Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary is the world’s first multi-species, free roaming primate sanctuary with 12 hectares of indigenous forest which is home to over 500 primates of 9 different species. These include:
Squirrel, Capuchin, Howler, Vervet and Spider monkeys, Saki, Gibbon, Ring-tailed and Black-and-white Ruffed Lemurs that all enjoy the freedom to climb trees, forage amongst the undergrowth and live a life that is far removed from where they came.
These animals are all ex-pets, laboratory animals and surpluses from zoos that used to live in cages. Now they are free to roam and behave in a way that is natural to them.
On a one-hour tour, the experienced rangers will guide you through the the forest, pointing out the different species whilst offering a wealth of information on their ecology and conservation.
To experience breath-taking views of the forest then make sure you go onto the 128m long suspension bridge that stretches across the forest canopy.
Stand Up Paddle Boarding In Knysna
Explore the waterways of Thesen Island and the Knysna Estuary with the world’s fastest growing watersport, Stand-Up Paddling. Stand-Up Paddling, or SUP for short, is easy, fun and guaranteed to keep you fit whilst enjoying the spectacular scenery of our waterways & lagoon.
The calm waters of Thesen Island are ideal for beginners and the many inlets and coves are perfect for the more adventurous or experience paddlers.
Eight top quality boards and paddles are available for rent by the hour.
Travelling around South Africa is relatively easy by air, road and rail.
Facilitating travel around South Africa are 10 airports managed by the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA). In addition, there are some 90 regional airports, including the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport in Nelspruit and the Skukuza Airport, offering access to the Kruger National Park.
An extensive tarred road system makes travelling in South Africa by vehicle convenient and easy. You will find gravel roads in rural areas though. Note:
A valid international driver’s licence is required.
We drive on the left hand side of the road.
Wearing seat belts is compulsory and mobile phones can only be used ‘hands free’.
Speed limits are generally set at 120km on freeways, 100km on secondary roads and 60km in urban areas.
Toll fees apply on certain national roads.
Petrol stations are widespread.
Most global car hire firms have branches in South Africa.
Another means of getting around South Africa are luxury inter-city bus services such as Greyhound and Trans-Lux. Metrobus buses are available for inner-city transport. Metered taxis must be ordered by telephone. There is a hop-on-hop-off bus service in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Our rail system includes the long-haul, inexpensive Shosholoza Meyl Metrorail trains. More luxurious options are the Blue Train, Premier Classe and the steam train Rovos Rail. There is also the new Gautrain rapid transit railway system in Gauteng Province which links Johannesburg, Pretoria, Ekhuruleni and OR Tambo International Airport.
South African temperatures, which are measured in centigrade, average at highs of 28°C (82°F) to average lows of 8°C (46°F) in the summer months while winter temperatures range from 1°C (34°F) at night to around 18°C (64°F) in the day.
Average annual rainfall is on the low side at under 500mm a year, making the country somewhat dry. Much of the rain falls in the Western Cape in the winter, differing from the rest of the country, which experiences summer rainfall. On the plus side, the South African climate boasts more than its fair share of sunshine, recording an average of 8.5 hours a day.
At Ellerman House in Cape Town, South Africa, the guest is treated as master in his or her own Cape Edwardian mansion.
Service is gracious and discerning, and no wish is left unfulfilled. Whether attending a wedding (or just watching one from your veranda), celebrating an anniversary, or simply enjoying a weekend getaway that starts and ends with a South African pinotage under a palm tree by the heated pool, Ellerman House delivers.
A mere three hour drive from Cape Town, in the eastern, most exclusive sector of De Hoop Nature Reserve, is Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop.
Undoubtedly one of the most glorious coastal reserves in Africa.
The seven rooms at Lekkerwater Beach Lodge are positioned along six kilometres of pristine white sand.
Ideally situated between the coastal towns of Knysna and Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape, Tsala is a wonderful location from which to explore the beauty the celebrated Garden Route has to offer or just to spend time relaxing at the peaceful lodge.
Like the monumental ruins of an ancient central African civilisation, Tsala’s impressive stone-masonry entrance flanked by water features leads to a magnificent foyer supported by Blackwood columns.
Set along the lush green banks of the river after which it is named, the 9-suite lodge is designed to amplify the endless landscape.
Featuring a classic-contemporary style of understated elegance and earthy tones, Great Fish River Lodge is all about tranquillity and solitude. Watch majestic kudu meander down to the river from the expansive viewing decks, or soak in the views from the privacy of the suite’s plunge pool.
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Telephone: 020 3962 4212
