The Old Rectory

Family Classic + 3 more + 3 more

City, Safari & Beach

South Africa, Mauritius

South Africa’s culture, safari and beaches rounding off with an indulgent island escape.

15 days

from £5,010 pp

Unexplored South Africa

Wildlife & Nature Luxury + 2 more + 3 more

Leave the tourist trail behind and experience a different South Africa.

14 days

from £9,350 pp

Go Local in South Africa

Safari Wildlife & Nature + 3 more + 3 more

Real people. Real stories. Real South Africa.

19 days

from £6,690 pp

Romantic Safari + 2 more + 3 more

South Africa Safari & Beach

South Africa, Mauritius

A seamless South Africa and Mauritius holiday.

14 days

from £4,450 pp

Classic South Africa

Family Classic + 3 more + 3 more

A classic South African holiday, with a few lesser-visited surprises.

17 days

from £3,655 pp

South Africa Safari Explorer

South Africa's wildlife at its best.

14 days

Safari Wildlife & Nature

from £5,850 pp

Quirky excursions

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Storms River Mouth & the Tsitsikamma Forest

The Tsitsikamma National Park begins a short way east of Plettenberg Bay and covers a long stretch of coastline as well as the forested hillsides and steep canyons that cut through them. There are a range of activities available: the park is crossed with good hiking routes, whilst some of the rivers offer tubing and other adrenaline sports. The highlight of the park is probably the Storms River Mouth. Here a footpath leads first to the Strandloper Cave where evidence of very early indigenous hunters can be found. Just past this is the Storms River, a steep river canyon that cuts through the cliffs and out into the ocean. A rope suspension bridge crosses the river where it meets the ocean and you can stand here, watching the dark, tannin-rich river water implacably flowing into the salty ocean swells, creating a maelstrom beneath your feet.

Featherbed Eco Experience

The Featherbed Nature Reserve, situated on the Western Head in Knysna, is the premier eco-experience on the Garden Route. Boarding the ferry you head out across the Knysna Lagoon to the Western Head where you hop off the boat and into a 4x4 vehicle which takes you up the headland onto the reserve, stopping at spectacular viewpoints. A specialist guide will provide you with information on the history, flora and fauna of this region. You'll stop for a buffet lunch at an outdoor restaurant admiring the panoramic views before returning back to the ferry.

Back-roads exploration

Criss-crossing through the forests and hills inland from the Garden Route coast, and pre-dating the modern N2 linking George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, are a series of beautiful roads, some tarmac and some graded. Armed with a reasonable map and the input of your guesthouse or hotel staff, it’s a wonderful place to spend a few hours exploring. The roads alternate between forested terrain with picturesque ancient stone bridges, and more open roads with broad sweeping views over the wooded hillsides and down towards the ocean.

The Robberg Peninsula

A crocked finger of rock curling into the ocean south of Plettenberg Bay, the Robberg Peninsula is a nature reserve and national monument. No development is allowed here, and the only access is on one of three circular hiking routes. The rocky ridge drops steeply to sandy beaches, often covered at high tide. Scouring winds have kept the vegetation low and scrub-like, as well as causing sand dunes and sand bars to drift into creation. A roundtrip to the tip of the peninsula will take about four hours, and can only be done at low tide. It’s a remote and beautiful spot, ideal for those who enjoy their hiking and getting close to nature.