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Self Drive Holidays - South Africa Wildflowers: Cape + Namaqualand + Karoo + Garden Route

Cape Wildflowers + Karoo + Garden Route (self drive)

23 NIGHTS FROM:

$3,784

Per person sharing

Scheduled flights + car hire quoted separately

SCZ23C

• Self Drive Holidays South Africa

• Wildflowers, Cape Town

• Kirstenbosch Gardens

• Langebaan Lagoon

• Namaqualand Wildflowers

• Stellenbosch

• Karoo National Park

• Mountain Zebra National Park

• Addo Elephant Park

• Garden Route & Hermanus

Our self drive holidays in South Africa allow you to view the spectacular seasonal wildflowers of the Cape, Namaqualand & the Karoo (mid August to mid September is best). Also visit Kistenbosch Gardens, Cape Point, Karoo National Park, Mountain Zebra National Park & Addo Elephant Park, before continuing to the scenic Garden Route & Hermanus, which is renowned for its whale watching.

Detailed itinerary ▶

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Day 1

You will be met at Cape Town Airport and transferred to your hotel in this beautiful city, within sight of Table Mountain.

Check in and relax in your magnificent surroundings.

Day 2

Today enjoy a full day private tour of the beautiful city of Cape Town.

Weather permitting, we start by ascending Table Mountain by cable car to see one of the world's most famous views (Fast Track cable car ticket included). Alternatively we will drive up Signal Hill).

We then explore the key sights of this beautiful city including enjoying views of the City Hall, Greenmarket Square, Houses of Parliament, Bo Kaap and Sea Point. Entrance fees are included for the Castle of Good Hope and the District Six Museum, but lunch is for your own account.

At the end of the day you will be dropped off at your hotel or at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, with its many shops and restaurants.

Note: Table Mountain cable car is closed for annual maintenance from late July to early August.

Day 3

Today we suggest you purchase a pass onboard the Blue Route Hop-Off Bus, which travels from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront to Camps Bay beach, taking the longer circular route around the back of Table Mountain.

On this route you can visit the world famous Kirstenbosch Gardens, nestled on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain and regarded as one the most beautiful botanic gardens in the world. It is renowned for its wide diversity of fynbos and protea (pay entrance fee locally).

You can also visit the small fishing harbour at Hout Bay, where you can take the ferry to Seal Island (pay locally).

Note: Don't let the colour of the bus confuse you. All buses are red, but they run two different routes - the Red City Route and the Blue Kirstenbosch Route.

Day 4

This morning your hire car will be dropped off at your hotel. We recommend you spend the rest of the day exploring the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve peninsula (pay all entrance fees locally).

Drive past the sparkling beaches of Camps Bay, Clifton and Llandudno to Hout Bay, the heart of the local crayfish industry. Here you can join an optional cruise to Seal Island to view Cape Fur seals (pay locally).

Then drive via spectacular Chapman’s Peak Drive to Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve to enjoy the rugged beauty of this spectacular coastline, with its diverse fauna and flora. Established in 1936 to preserve the indigenous flora of the Cape Peninsula, this 7,750 hectare reserve showcases the diversity in the Cape Floral Kingdom, including the protea, erica and restio families. The fauna of the reserve include eland, Burchell’s zebra, bontebok, Chacma baboon and many smaller mammals and reptiles, as well as over 250 bird species. You may even see dolphins or whales in season (July to November).

On the return journey we recommend driving through naval Simons Town to visit the resident penguin colony at Boulders Beach before returning to your hotel.

Day 5

Enjoy the stunning scenery of West Coast National Park, as you drive 2-hours to Langebaan Lagoon.

Over 250 bird species have been recorded on and around this rugged lagoon, which is a RAMSAR Wetland of international significance. Thousands of seabirds roost on the nearby sheltered islands, and large concentrations of flamingos and migrants can be seen wading on the salt marshes.

When you enter the park, you immediately find yourself in coastal 'Strandveld' which hosts a profusion of bush birds. Birders can listen and keep a look out for the Long-billed crombec, Bar-throated apalis, Grey-backed cisticola, Layard's titbabbler, Karoo lark, and Cape penduline tit. The main Geelbek hides are the most popular places to observe these birds. The waders that can be seen from the hide also include the Little stint, Ringed and Kitlitz's plovers, Marsh sandpiper, Greenshank, Ruff, Whimbrel and Eurasian curlew. There are also plenty of South African shelducks around, as well as the White pelican and two species of flamingos.

On the shores of the lagoon, you can also see zebra, wildebeest, eland, red hartebeest, grysbok, caracal and rock hyrax. Migrating whales may be seen between July and November.

After a picnic lunch (which you need to arrange yourself), continue driving around the lagoon to Postberg Flower Reserve (pay entrance fee locally). This special wildflower conservancy is only open to visitors during the flower season, ensuring an abundance of undisturbed blooms. Depending on the rains, from mid August to mid September you may see spectacular fields of wildflowers that form a carpet of many colours. On clear sunny days, the wildflowers appear to erupt from every sandy nook and rocky cranny, opening up to the blue sky and providing an unforgettable floral extravaganza.

Day 6

This morning leave Langebaan and drive 2.5-hours to the scenic Cederberg Mountains, travelling either inland through the Piekernierskloof Pass, or using the longer coastal route.

For birders we suggest taking the coastal route, as the Lower Berg River at Velddrif is a great place to spot a few waders. Where the road runs parallel to the Atlantic Ocean keep a look out for the endemic Heaviside’s dolphin just beyond the surf. The bird reserve at Rocherpan has a few bird hides. You will drive past the large wetland at Verlorenvlei and from Elands Bay you will take a dust road north along the coast, via the saltpan at Wadrif. At Lambert’s Bay you can view an endemic Cape gannet colony at close quarters, one of only six breeding colonies in the world, as well as African penguins, terns, cormorants and gulls.

Continue inland to the dramatic Cederberg Mountains, which are composed of sedimentary sandstone richly coloured by iron oxides. Over millennia these mountains have been twisted and sculpted into a remarkable range of fantastic rock formations. The area has a mix of diverse mountain fynbos and hardy succulents of the semi-arid Karoo. The Clanwilliam cedar tree, which gives the area its name, grows at an altitude of over 1,000m. It was heavily exploited by early settlers, as a result of which it is almost extinct, but there is now a concerted effort to re-plant these trees in suitable areas of the mountains.

Time permitting, at Clanwilliam you can visit the Ramskop Wildflower Garden, which boasts over 350 different species of indigenous wildflowers and wonderful views of the Cederberg Mountains (pay entrance fee locally). The best viewing is between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its warmest.

Afterwards check into your hotel in this region of dramatically beautiful rocky mountain scenery, renowned for its Bushmen paintings.

Day 7

Today leave the Cederberg and drive 2-hours to the small Karoo farming town of Calvinia in Namaqualand.

Along the way you can visit a Bushman painting site in the scenic Cederberg Mountains.

Then continue to the small Karoo farming town of Calvinia in Namaqualand. Named after John Calvin, the religious reformer, this predominantly Afrikaans-speaking town is renowed for its wildflowers and spectacular Karoo landscapes, with one of the highest concentrations of wildflower bulbs in the world. It also has amazingly clear night skies for wonderful star gazing.

Day 8

Today enjoy a full day photographing and enjoying the spectacular wildlflowers found around Calvinia, driving through the flowering areas of Toren, Naresie and the Quiver Tree Forest.

Also visit Nieuwoudtville on the Bokkeveld Plateau, which has some of the best spring wildflower displays in the Cape. More than 1,350 different species of wildflowers are found on this plateau, with over 600 in the vicinity of the town. In some areas around Nieuwoudtville there may be as many as 25 000 geophytes (bulbs & tubers) per square metre, but it is more usual to find a few hundred plants. At this density, a spade full of soil will contain more than 100 bulbs..

We also suggest visiting the Matjiesfontein Flower Reserve, before returning to Calvinia (pay any entrance fees locally).

Day 9

Leave Calvinia today and drive 5-hours to the small town of Springbok in the heart of Namaqualand.

The mountains above Kamieskroon represent a unique floral spectacle, as the higher rainfall here has caused the normally arid succulent vegetation to be replaced on some slopes by outlying areas of fynbos, characteristic of the Cape Floral Region to the south. Namaqua National Park also has excellent spring flowers (pay entrance fee locally).

As you approach Springbok, at certain times of the year you can see miles and miles of brightly coloured wildflowers that bloom here during August and September – carpeting what is normally an arid semi-desert landscape. This spectacular natural phenomenon occurs for only a few weeks, with the quality and timing of the floral displays depending upon the mid-year rainfall. Check into your hotel in the heart of the wildflower region.

Day 10

Spend today exploring the wildflowers of Namaqualand.

During wildflower season (late July to mid September, although this does depend on the rainfall) we suggest visiting Goegap Nature Reserve, as well as regions such as Kamieskroon or Nababeep depending upon where the wildflowers are at their best..

On one day you can take a full day excursion to Namaqua National Park and surrounding area. Enjoy photographing these colourful blooms, which are a truly remarkable sight.

Namaqualand forms part of the Succulent Karoo Biome, and the rocky hillsides and open flats are also home to the greatest diversity of succulents in the world.

At other times of the year there is much to photograph in these quaint rural towns in this far-flung part of South Africa, where the Bushmen once roamed. To learn more about their culture you can adapt your itinerary to explore areas such as Riemvasmaak Canyon, the mountainous Richtersveld or the beautiful coastline at Port Nolloth instead.

Each evening marvel at the glorious night skies overhead, offering some of the best star gazing opportunities in the world.

Note: The wildflower areas only open at 11am.

Day 11

A full day on the road today as you leave Namaqualand and drive 6-hours southwards, travelling through the scenic Cederberg Mountains to the winelands of Stellenbosch.

Check into your hotel in this famous wine producing area, relax under the giant oak trees and savour the fine food and wines of this region.

Day 12

At leisure to relax in beautiful Stellenbosch, which is surrounded by its mountains and vineyards.

Explore this old university town with its many street markets, craft shops and museums, including the Modern & Contemporary Art Gallery, or visit Stellenbosch Botanical Gardens.

You can also self-drive the wine routes of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl with many opportunities for wine tasting at famous wine estates. Alternatively use the Vine Hopper hop-off bus to explore these winelands (advance booking online recommended) or book an optional small group tour.

In the evening there are several fine dining restaurants in the area (advance booking strongly recommended).

Note: Vine Hopper bus operates on specific days depending on the route.

Day 13

Today leave Stellenbosch and drive 1.5-hours to the small town of Worcester.

Here you can detour 30-minutes to visit Karoo Desert Botanical Garden, set in magnificent surroundings at the foot of the Hex River Mountains (pay entrance fee locally). The only true succulent garden in the southern hemisphere, it showcases hardy plants from the arid regions of South Africa - including tree aloes, euphorbias, wild grapes, botterboom with its papery bark, thorny Karoo acacia trees and a great variety of smaller species. The gardens offer a kaleidocscope of colour from August to mid-October, when Namaqualand daisies and vygies provide a dazzling display.

Afterwards continue driving 4-hours northeast to Karoo National Park, located outside the town of Beauford West in the vast and unforgiving landscapes of the Great Karoo. The Karoo (a San word that means 'dry') covers nearly one third of South Africa and was once a huge inland lake. At an altitude of 600 m above sea level, with rainfall in some places as low as 50 mm per annum and a summer temperature often exceeding 38°C in the shade, the flora and fauna of the of the Karoo have adapted to survive in such extreme conditions. For example, the vegetation has adopted various devices to ensure its survival e.g. succulents store water in their leaves or roots, and seeds of ephemeral plants lie dormant for years until good rains. Over 50 % of the plant species in the Karoo are endemic to the area.

Check into your rest camp in this wildlife sanctuary that is dominated by the lofty Nuweveld Mountains and its surrounding plains. It is home to a fascinating diversity of species, all having adapted to survive in these harsh conditions.

Day 14

Today enjoy exploring Karoo National Park, which is renowned for its impressive landscapes and large variety of plants that have adapted to the harsh climate. The park provides sanctuary for 64 species of mammals, over 200 birds and 59 reptile species.

In the morning enjoy an included game drive to view endemic wildlife found in these arid conditions - such as the Cape mountain zebra, eland, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, kudu, blesbok, hyena and many species of smaller mammals. Over 20 breeding pairs of black eagle find sanctuary in the park, and there is a wide diversity of succulent plants and small reptiles. Plants to look out for include miniature hibiscus flowers, the cancer bush, wild rosemary, Karoo gold and Karoo violet.

In the afternoon you can explore the area around your rest camp on foot, or take an optional extra game drive (book & pay locally).

An interesting inhabitant of the park is the dicynodont. This herbivorous mammal-like reptile may be found on the 400 m fossil trail near the cottages, that depicts the geology and palaeontology of the Great Karoo. There are also walks through Karoo scrub to a birdhide that overlooks a small water hole. Birders can look out for the Short-toed rock thrush, Cinnamon-breasted warbler, Mountain wheatear, Pririt batis and African rock pipit.

Day 15

After another early morning game drive, leave Karoo National Park and drive 3.5-hours to Mountain Zebra National Park near Cradock.

Your route will take you through the Great Karoo and the hills of the Suurberg, which offer unending views over the plains of Camdeboo that were immortalised by Eve Palmer in her book of the same name. Then drive through the settler towns of Aberdeen and Graaff-Reinet, where you can stop to explore this charming town.

We suggest also you detour to spend some time at the stunning Valley of Desolation in Camdeboo National Park. Blesbok, black wildebeest, klipspringer and red hartebeest are a few of the 43 mammal species found here, as well as 225 bird species and many reptiles.

Afterwards continue to Mountain Zebra National Park and check in to your simple self-catering rest camp, surrounded by the mountains, deep valleys and rolling hills of this wildlife conservation area situated in the stark Great Karoo.

Day 16

Relax and enjoy the clear dry Karoo air of the Mountain Zebra National Park, with its rich flora and birdlife.

This 28,000 hectare reserve was proclaimed in 1937 to protect the Cape mountain zebra from extinction, and which still offers these rare animals sanctuary. It has a rugged landscape of mountains, grassy plains, bushy hillsides and rocky gorges, bisected by the Wilgerboom River with its densely wooded banks.

In addition to a population of over 300 Cape mountain zebra, other wildlife found in this park include caracal, Cape buffalo, black rhino, eland, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, gemsbok, grey rhebok and the endangered cheetah. Birders can look out for the Layard’s titbabbler, Sickle-winged chat, Namaqua warbler, Fairy flycatcher and Pale-winged starling. There are also several species of larks.

There are a number of game viewing trails which you can self-drive, as well as guided game drives, night drives, birding and Khoisan rock art walks. Cheetah tracking on foot with an armed guide is also popular here.

Note: We suggest you reserve any activities in advance on the SanPark website, to avoid disappointment.

Day 17

Today drive 3-hours through a region of vast sheep and game farms to the malaria-free Addo Elephant Park in the beautiful Eastern Cape.

After checking in to your simple self-catering Addo Rest Camp accommodation, enjoy a self-drive safari in this national park where game viewing opportunities should present themselves almost immediately. In addition to the elephants, you can hope to see antelope, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe and other plains game, as well as several of the Big Five (park entry fee for own account).

Note: The rest camp has a restaurant where you can buy breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Day 18

This morning enjoy a self drive safari in the malaria-free Addo Elephant Park. Renowned for its elephants, you can view these magnificent animals that once roamed free in this area and were saved from extinction by this national park, which has also preserved the rare Cape buffalo and the flying dung beetle.

Addo Elephant Park is home to all the 'Big Five' - lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino - as well as many other interesting species. These include the Burchell’s zebra, giraffe, ostrich, hippo, crocodile, bushbuck, waterbuck, Cape grysbok, duiker, eland, kudu, warthog, baboon, spotted hyena, Cape fox, yellow mongoose and suricate. With over 200 different species in the park, outstanding birding is also guaranteed.

Before breakfast, we suggest you drive the Mbala Loop. There is a view point at the top of Zuurkop (315 m) where you will have great views in all directions and can hope to see the Acacia pied barbet, Karoo scrub robin, Chestnut-vented tit babbler, Southern tchagra and White-throated canary, Emerald-spotted wood dove, Black-collared barbet, Southern black tit, White-browed scrub robin, Red-collared widowbird, Golden-breasted bunting, Streaky-headed seed-Eater and Yellow-fronted canary.

After breakfast we suggest you explore the grasslands of the Gorah Loop. Here you can look out for the Denham's bustard, Southern black korhaan, Blue crane and Secretarybird. Also look out for the magnificent Verreaux’s eagle and Martial eagle.

The remainder of the morning is free to relax at your rest camp, before setting out again in the afternoon for another game drive. The Hapoor route will take you past four waterholes (Lendlovu, Hapoor, Rooidam and Gwarrie Dam) and should give you excellent elephant sightings.

It is also possible to book an optional night drive locally to search for nocturnal creatures such as springhare, scrub hare, porcupine, aardvark and polecat, as well as owls and nightjars. The waterhole at the main camp is floodlit at night, which gives you another opportunity to watch the elephants coming to drink.

After a beautiful African sunset, enjoy the balmy evening and pristine stars of the Milky Way as you have never seen them before – as well as the spectacular Southern Cross.

Note: Vehicles are not allowed to drive off-road in any national park in South Africa.

Day 19

After some final early morning game viewing in Addo Elephant Park, drive 3.5-hours to Plettenberg Bay on the scenic Garden Route (paying any entrance fees locally).

Where the Bloukrans Bridge crosses the dramatic Storms River Gorge, you will find the highest bridge bungee jump in the world. Here we suggest you detour to the Storms River Mouth in Tsitsikamma National Park Forest, where the indigenous forest and the Indian Ocean meet. The park has over 220 bird species , with regular sightings of common dolphins and southern right whales from the shore (in season).

Before reaching the beautiful beaches of Plettenberg Bay, you can also visit the Garden of Eden Nature Reserve. This reserve has some mighty Outeniqua yellowwood trees, as well as many other indigenous trees and plants. You can take a short walk here through the lush evergreen forest and you should be rewarded with the sight and sounds of many forest birds. You can also look out for some of the forest reptiles, such as the endemic Knysna dwarf chameleon, boomslang (tree snake) and puff adder.

Then continue to Plettenberg Bay which is South Africa’s playground for the rich and famous. Schools of dolphins are sometimes seen here in the warm Indian Ocean and whales may be seen in season (July to November). Check into your hotel and relax on one of the six spectacular beaches.

Day 20

Today we suggest an optional leisurely 3-hour boat ride up the Keurbooms River into the Keurbooms River Nature Reserve.

Sit back and look out for kingfishers, fish eagles and riverine birds, while the boat takes you 6-miles (10 km) into the forest. There is no road access here, so the forest is in a pristine condition. Afterwards enjoy a short walk (or swim) before heading back to the jetty.

If you take a picnic lunch with you, this can be enjoyed on the banks of the Groot River at Natures Valley - one of the most beautiful beaches in South Africa, where you can walk through the lush evergreen forests of the western part of Tsitsikamma National Park. Occasionally Cape clawless otters are seen here and birders can look out for the Knysna turaco, Cape batis and Chorister robin chat, as well as many other forest species.

Day 21

Today we suggest driving 30-minutes to the oyster capital of Knysna.

Here you can visit the viewpoint at the top of the beautiful Knysna Heads that guard the entrance to the Knysna Lagoon.

Afterwards birders can do some bird watching over the tidal mud flats that attract many migrating birds, or take an optional boat ride to Featherbed Nature Reserve. You can also explore some of the many craft shops in this small town.

Alternatively head inland to Diepwalle Forest, where you can go for a short walk. This area is the last known refuge of the few remaining Knysna forest elephants, although sightings are rare. Birders can look out for Narina trogon, African emerald cuckoo, Green woodhoopoe and Knysna woodpecker. You can also continue along Prince Alfred’s Pass to the Spitskop, one of the higher peaks in the area. Here the flora changes and you will find a lot of 'fynbos', a type of shrubland vegetation that is endemic to the Western and Eastern Cape.

Day 22

Today drive south for 5-hours along the scenic Garden Route from Plettenberg Bay to Hermanus.

We suggest you stop at the Knysna Heads to enjoy superb views of the lagoon, before continuing to Mossel Bay where we suggest you visit the Post Office Tree, where early navigators left mail for homebound ships to Europe and where the Portuguese navigator Bartholomew Diaz landed and erected a cross. Continue via the historic town of Swellendam where you can visit the Drosty Museum.

In the afternoon arrive in the small seaside town of Hermanus. From July to November, southern right and humpback whales come here to breed and this is considered the best location for land-based Whale Watching in the world. Once severely endangered, these magnificent creatures of the deep are now breeding successfully in the area due to a major international conservation effort.

Day 23

At leisure to relax in the small clifftop town of Hermanus or explore more of the surrounding area.

You can wander around the village and along the coastal path, with its indigenous fynbos and birdlife. You can also visit the small Fernkloof Nature Reserve, a gem of a fynbos wildflower sanctuary, cared for by the local botanical society and set against a mountain at the end of the village.

Day 24

Drive 2-hours to Cape Town Airport for your flight home.

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