This exclusive tour leads into beautiful areas north of Cape Town which are extremely sparsely populated and, as yet, virtually untouched by tourism. 

 

Our "Off the Beaten Track" tour has been specifically created for guests who may have previously visited the Western Cape and been mesmerized by the beauty of the region and who now want to return to experience the ‘real thing’.  Lodging is in comfortable guest farms, where you will have the opportunity of plenty of contact with the people who live in these remote areas.  We love the diversity of this tour – offering wonderful opportunities to take stunning photos, as well as walking and riding for the more active, and gourmet meals and wine for the “inner” man and woman.  A wonderful escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life. This really is a holiday for anyone wanting to get "off the beaten track". You are accompanied by an experienced bush and riding guide who is passionate about introducing people to one of the few remote and fascinating areas still available for exploration.

We have included website links for the accommodation used, to give you a fuller picture of the quality of the itinerary.

 

No of guests: min 4 – max. 6

 

 Start Date - any Sunday (subject to availability). Please ask us for guidance on the best time to travel.

 

Price - £1,170 per person.  Based on two sharing.  (Single supplements available, providing the group mimumum number is reached)

Price includes:

          Airport transfers

Accommodation as detailed, sharing a double/twin room

          Transport throughout the trip in a comfortable 4x4 vehicle

          Fully qualified, multi-lingual, guide/driver

          All meals and soft drinks

          Tea and coffee

 

Not included:

          Flights

          Insurance

          Items of a personal nature

          Alcoholic drinks

          Gratuities

 

You will see-     

-                      rugged and table topped mountains - some covered in Cape Mountain Fynbos

-                      savannahs (Great Karoo)

-                      deserts (Knersvlakte in Namaqualand)

-                      vinyards along the Olifants River

-                      wetlands (Verlorenvlei),

-                      a fishing village on the desolate West-Coast of the South Atlantic (Lambert’s Bay).

             

Itinerary

 

DAY 1 Sunday:

Arrive at Cape Town International Airport in the morning, where you will be met and driven northwards into the Swartland..  Lunch at the Riebeek Valley Hotel in Riebeek-Wes).  After lunch, continue through a small mission station, Goedyerwacht, on a quiet track up the Piketberg Mountains to the Excelsior Farm, (www.excelsiorfarm.co.za).   2 nights at Excelsior Farm.

 

DAY 2 Monday:

After breakfast, set out on a leisurely circular walk through mountain fynbos (the indigenous Cape flora) and then down a ravine into a small valley, past some unique sandstone rock formations.  

Afternoon at leisure around the swimming pool, or more active guests can go on a short horse ride.

DAY 3 Tuesday:

Depart from the Piketberg Mountains, travelling down the Pass into the upper Olifants River Valley, one of South Africa’s largest citrus growing areas. The road continues past the Clanwilliam Dam into the little town of Clanwilliam.  This is the centre of the Rooibos tea industry, where you stop for lunch. After lunch drive up the magnificent Pakhuispas, leading through the northern corner of the Cedarberg Mountains, and continue via the Botterkloofpas into the Great Karoo, a semi desert shrub land.  For up to 120 km the road is gravel and traffic will diminish to the occasional pick-up truck.

You will finally arrive at your next destination which is Sewenfontein (Seven fountains) Guesthouse.  Accommodation is on an exclusive basis.   This isolated Farmhouse built in 1840 has no electricity – providing a real feel of living on the fringes of civilisation.  However, your comforts are not sacrificed as there are two modern bathrooms with gas-fired hot water and a well stocked gas fridge in the kitchen.  In the evening, relax over dinner by gas light and then make your way to bed with a paraffin lamp.

2 nights at Sewenfontein.

DAY 4 Wednesday:

A short drive and walk over the farmland (where small antelope and families of baboons can be seen) leads to a private waterfall, thundering down a 90 foot deep canyon, where you stop for a picnic lunch.

After returning to the Farmhouse, the late afternoon can be spent exploring the “seven fountains” or having a dip in one of the rock-pools of in the nearby stream.

 

Day 5 Thursday:

Depart to a hamlet called Niewoudtville, and further to the only Kokerboom Forest in the world. This is an aloe tree, which usually grows singly in the arid regions of the Northern Cape. Have a picnic under these Kokerbooms (Quiver-trees) and then continue driving to the desolate village of Loeriesfontein.  This is situated on the Southern fringe of the so-called Boesmanland (Bushman land) and is the most northern point of your tour. Here you visit the unique open-air windmill museum. In the late afternoon, drive back towards Niewoudville and descend from the highland of the Karoo down the Vanrhynspass into Namaqualand.

Overnightr in the Namaqualand Country Lodge in Vanrhynsdorp at the foot of the flat-topped Matsikamamountain. (www.namaqualodge.co.za).

DAY 6 Friday:

Today’s drive starts with an 85 km gravel road drive around the Matsikamaberg, traversing passes with gradients of 1:6 and thereafter emerging into the Knersvlakte (Crunch- flats).  These flats consist of quartz pebbles and small succulents.   A 4 km walk leads you through the succulents and will give you an opportunity to stretch your legs – this park borders in the south with the Saldanha/ Sishen railway-line. The line is a special iron-ore carrier and, with a bit of luck, youe might see the longest train in the world.  This consists of 4 engines and 205 carriages, stretching for a mile, slowly moving through the bleak desert. As a total contrast a mere 40 km drive brings you into the fertile, lower Olifantsriver wine growing region.

Overnight at the 4-star Melkboomsdrift Guest Lodge (www.westcoaststay.co.za ) where we strongly recommend a wine-tasting of their superb red wines, presented by the proprietor and wine-maker Hilsa Van Heerden herself.

DAY 7 Saturday: 

A leisurely drive down and along the South Atlantic takes you to the picturesque West Coast fishing village of Lamberts Bay. Walk along the harbour quay to Bird Island, where Cormorants and Cape Gannets can be viewed, before booking into the Sir Lambert’s Guesthouse for the last night (www.lambertsbay.net).

Dinner is served in the unique, open air, Seafood Restaurant, Muisbosskerm  where you will be treated to some of the West Coast’s most sought after seafood dishes - baked, smoked and grilled with homemade bread straight from the clay-oven.

 

DAY 8 Sunday:

Drive south through the so called Sandveld (Sand-field), the only area in the world where potatoes grow in huge irrigated circles in pure sand, along the Verlorevlei (Los Estuary) a bird paradise, to the tiny hamlet of Aurora.  This is your last lunch of the trip, at the quaint L’Aurore Guest house. After a delicious lunch,  continue driving for two hours to Cape Town airport in time for your overnight flight back to the UK.*

Safety Standards on this tour are high and every effort will be made to follow the itinerary.  However, this program is subject to changes or substitutions to the same high criteria without prior notice if, for example, inclement weather makes it necessary.

As in all "Shellseekers" Holidays, we can include this tour in a larger itinerary. Why not stay on in Cape Town for a few days at one of our favourite Guest Houses? These offer luxury accommodation at fabulous prices and you can spend some time exploring the city and the surrounding winelands.