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Self-drive South Africa: An Epic Road Trip

10 days from £2,460 for 2024 per person

Experience all the romance and adventure of an epic road trip, whilst staying in the lap of luxury as you traverse South Africa’s most scenic routes – all pre-planned by Ampersand and assisted by your trusty sat nav. This is classic Cape Town + Garden Route, but with the bonus of the Big 5 added in and all without flying until the end.

Start in Cape Town at one of the city's loveliest boutique gems, the Twelve Apostles, which hugs the mountains just outside trendy Camps Bay and looks out across the piercing blue Atlantic Ocean. Explore the city with an expert guide – feel the drama of climbing Table Mountain and delve into Cape Town’s Dutch colonial history as you stroll through her famous heritage sites and architectural wonders. Before you leave the Cape and get behind the wheel you will be treated to a fully guided day exploring the ravishing Cape Winelands and sampling its world famous wines.

Now the self-drive adventure begins… Your road trip starts in leisurely style with a short drive along the coast to Hermanus – an area famous for its wild, white-powder beaches and exceptional whale watching (August - November) when hundreds of whales come to Walker Bay during migration. Birkenhead House is a sumptuous base from which to explore, with a chic but relaxed seaside vibe and dramatic ocean views.

Next, it’s an unforgettable 3 ½ hour drive through the gorgeous Garden Route to check in at Gondwana Reserve. Set in a 26,000 acre private game park, Gondwana is a malaria-free, ultra-luxurious and easy to reach safari destination where the Big 5 safari animals (lion, buffalo, elephant, rhino and leopard) roam freely.

From the bush to the beach, end with a spectacular drive to Knysna to kick back at The Beach house, an extraordinary and impeccably styled 4-bedroom villa in one of the Garden Route’s most stunning and sought after islands, accessed via private causeway. There is a white sandy beach on your doorstep with a calm bay for swimming, and there are restaurants and the boat harbour a short stroll away, as well as golfing, tennis, cycling and water sports on offer. Or for those wishing to take it easy at the end of their trip, there’s nowhere better to relax than the villa's swimming pool - you couldn’t dream of prettier views.

* Special Offer: This tour includes 1 free night at the Twelve Apostles Cape Town (certain dates excluded).


Itinerary details

10 days from £2,460 for 2024 per person

  • Day 1 - Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa - Cape Town
    Arrive in Cape Town. Private car transfer to the Twelve Apostles. Day at leisure.
  • Day 2 - Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa - Cape Town
    Enjoy a privately guided tour of Cape Town City & Table Mountain.
  • Day 3 - Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa - Cape Town
    Enjoy a full day exploring the Winelands and sampling the fantastic Cape wines on a privately guided tour.
  • Day 4 - Birkenhead House - Hermanus
    Your car will be dropped off at your hotel in time for your drive to Hermanus. Self-drive from Twelve Apostles to Birkenhead House in Hermanus, a pretty 1 ½ hour drive. Day at leisure.
  • Day 5 - Birkenhead House - Hermanus
    Full day exploring Hermanus and the beautiful surrounding beaches best known for whale watching (seasonal).
  • Day 6 - Gondwana Reserve - The Garden Route
    Self-drive Hermanus to Gondwana Reserve, a scenic and easy 3 ½ hour drive. Check into Fynbos Villa on a fully inclusive basis in time for your afternoon game drive.
  • Day 7 - Gondwana Reserve - The Garden Route
    Morning and afternoon game drives. Other activities include mountain biking, bush walks, Africology spa treatments and the ‘Junior Ranger Program’ for families with young children.
  • Day 8 - The Beach House - The Garden Route
    Self-drive from Gondwana to The Beach House in Knysna – a beautiful 1 ½ hour drive along the spectacular Garden Route.
  • Day 9 - The Beach House - The Garden Route
    The Beach House has a white sandy beach on its doorstep and there are restaurants, boat harbour, tennis courts, a bowling green, the park and cycle paths a short stroll away.
  • Day 10 - In transit.
    Self-drive from Knysna to George airport (approx. 45 minutes) and drop off hire car in time for your scheduled domestic flight to Cape Town. Fly home from Cape Town.
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For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move.
Robert Louis Stevenson

Client Testimonials

We have just returned back from a wonderful trip. Thank you very much for organising everything. The transfer was excellent – for once they had perfect car seats. The villa was lovely, just what we needed and the hotel had helpfully put us as far away as possible from everyone else. The breakfast buffet was the best I have ever seen – and I am slightly obsessive over breakfast!! There was an incredible choice, something for everyone and so beautifully presented. A real highlight of the trip. Thank you again for sorting everything - and at such short notice!
- Redmayne family, Phuket
Ballyfin was great - we loved it! Best things were the amount of space, it felt like you had the whole place to yourself, the history of the house, and the staff. We'd definitely recommend it. Thanks very much for all the help getting it booked!
- Mr Wyburd, Ireland
I thought the Ampersand team was outstanding. We couldn’t have hoped for anything more.
- Mr Geoffrey Johnson, India

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