Self Drive Garden Route Itinerary

Overlooking the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront with views of Table Mountain, Robben Island, the Harbour and the Atlantic Ocean is the Commodore, Legacy’s flagship hotel in Cape Town. Stylish living, quality service and a tranquil setting have ensured that our guests return year after year, be it as businessmen or tourists excited to experience all that is the Mother City.

We would recommend the 2 day Premium Ticket for the Red Bus Tour. This HopOn HopOff tour package offers access to over 50 of Cape Town's leading attractions with unlimited HopOn HopOff access on Official City Tour.

This ticket allows you access to all 4 bus tour loops: - The Red City tour to the Table Mountain Cableway - The Blue Mini Peninsula tour - The Purple Constantia Valley Wine tour and - The Yellow Downtown tour. On board commentary in 15 languages plus a Kids channel Additional discounts and special deals negotiated just for you – see the back of your ticket
With our buses scheduled to stop at regular intervals, you will have plenty of time to uncover the city's treasures. So whether you want to jump off and take a quick scenic pic of Table Mountain or wonder around Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens or visit Groot Constantia, the oldest Wine Estate in South Africa, you have the flexibility to do so.

Today will see you checking out of the Commodore and collecting your rental car for the journey along the Garden Route. Your first stop, the scenic coastal town of Hermanus.

Hermanus, the world's foremost land based whale watching destination, is a thriving holiday resort offering residents and holiday makers all modern amenities, yet retaining its fisherman's village charm. The popular resort town of Hermanus, situated between mountain and sea, has gained world-wide recognition as the world's foremost land based whale watching destination. This has resulted in the former fishing village showing a tremendous growth over the last few years.

A slightly longer drive today as you head across to the beautiful town of Knysna for two nights.

Knysna is a natural paradise of lush, indigenous forests, tranquil lakes and golden beaches. She nestles on the banks of a breathtakingly pretty lagoon, now a protected marine reserve that is home to the extraordinary sea horse and over 200 species of fish.
Beaches, lakes, mountains and rivers provide endless opportunity for leisure and outdoor adventure. Within the town, craft shops, flea-markets and cosy cafés beckon with small-town charm and hospitality. The area around Knysna is a veritable Garden of Eden. This is home of the only forest elephant in South Africa, the rare Pansy Shell, the brilliantly coloured, and elusive, Knysna Loerie, a plethora of waterfowl and forest birds, dolphins and visiting whales.
The indigenous forests in Knysna constitute the largest complex of closed-canopy forest in southern Africa, whilst the remarkable richness of the Fynbos vegetation contributes over 8000 plant species to the Cape floral kingdom. Exploring the Knysna forests, along demarcated walks, with the occasional call of the Loerie, provides a complete escape into a former time when many elephants trod these paths, particularly if you’ve read Dalene Matthee’s ‘Circles in a forest’

A visit to Knysna would be incomplete without a trip to the heads - a striking geological feature made up of a pair of huge, brightly coloured cliffs lying at the mouth of the lagoon, flanking a channel of potentially treacherous water that flows into Knysna’s lagoon. The eastern head houses a lookout with spectacular views of the lagoon, Leisure Isle and Knysna whilst the western head is a privately owned nature reserve called Featherbed Nature Reserve. Visitors can get to the reserve via ferry.

Depart Knysna for Plettenberg Bay.
The town of Plettenberg Bay lies almost on the border of the Western and Eastern Cape. Built on the hillside, most of the town is on a steep slope leading down to the sea, which means that regardless of where you find yourself accommodated, you will be treated to spectacular views of the bay and surrounding hills and mountains.
With miles of pristine beaches to choose from, it’s no wonder that lazing on the beach is so popular with visitors, but, for those that manage to pry themselves away, there are charter boat cruises, hiking, canoeing and abseiling to choose from, to name but a few.Another attraction well worth a visit is the Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary; the world’s only multi-species, free roaming primate sanctuary, located a few minutes outside of town.

A full day in the Plettenberg Bay region will allow you to explore this beautiful part of the Garden Route.
• For golfing enthusiasts, Plett offers 2 superb courses and we are in close proximity to Knysna & George - both towns offering world class courses.
• Whale & Dolphin Discovery Cruises are a highlight or you can watch from your balcony or over breakfast.
• Go for a 2 or 4 hour walk on the Robberg Peninsula for an unforgettable experience. Kranshoek, Natures Valley & Tsitsikamma National Park are all in close proximity for keen hikers.
• Oyster tasting, elephant viewing, cruises to the Heads & Featherbed Nature Reserve as well as a journey on the Steam Train all make for interesting day trips.
The unique and most exciting feature of this area is the abundance in marine mammals in the bay which is flanked by two marine nature reserves and therefore rich in food for the resident whales and dolphins.
During July to September every year, Southern Right Whales migrate to this part of the Indian Ocean to calve. There are organised boat trips all year round to see Brydes whales and dolphins. Huge schools of dolphin surfing the breakers or leaping clear of the blue sea, are a regular sight throughout the year.

Shamwari, meaning “my friend” in Shona, is the pinnacle of private game reserves and home to the coveted Big 5. It’s a place where guests can exist in harmony with nature, however fleeting the moment, where wildlife roam the landscape under the relentless African sun.
After checking in you will enjoy an afternoon game drive.

Situated in the beautiful Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, Shamwari Private Game Reserve is internationally renowned for its spectacular array of wildlife. This 25 000 hectare reserve boasts various ecosystems featuring diverse vegetation which provides the ideal habitat for a range of wildlife including the infamous Big Five. It is known for its picturesque African vistas, abundant wildlife and offers world-class safari experiences. Visitors can enjoy an array of luxury accommodation options, cooking classes, game drives, bird watching, swimming, and fascinating bush walks. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Rhino Awareness Centre, the Born Free Big Cat Sanctuary, and Shamwari’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.

A morning at leisure before driving back to Port Elizabeth for return of your car hire and flight back to Cape Town and onward flight back home.