Walking the Best of the Cape

This walking trip offers active exploration into the most popular regions of the Cape. We have designed it for the walking traveller who wishes to check off the icons while exploring a little deeper. With this in mind, we have included a variety of walking locations, covering mountains, wetlands, beaches, cities and bush walking.

Each day offers an exciting new route, followed by an immersive experience off the trail. We have suggested what we believe are the best routes and experiences for a walking visitor to the Cape. However, this is your holiday and with your help, we’ll fine tune it to make it perfect for you. This means tailoring the pace and grade of the walking in addition to selecting the restaurants, wineries and off-trail experiences that excite you most.

Complete the trip your Cape walking trip with an experiential safari on a private, owner-managed conservation reserve. Here you can pitch in and experience grass-roots conservation and wildlife management or just relax on interactive game drives. Alternately, stay with the walking theme and track big game on foot, enjoying arguably one of the most thrilling safari activities.

You may also want to check out these shorter trips:

The Best of Cape Towns Outdoors

Hiking the Cape

Cape of Good Hope Breakaway

13 nights/14 days
variable

Highlights

Explore
the best corners of the Cape
Enjoy
fine food and wine
Walk or run
our best trails
Bag summit peaks
and swim in two oceans

Experiences

Day One

Cape Town Orientation

Get to know your guide today as you enjoy a walking food tour of the historical heart of Cape Town.

Gain insight into the history and soul of the city through its architecture, its people and its food.

Day Two

Peninsula

Spend the day on the Cape peninsula, on one of the region’s most iconic day tours

We explore the tip of the peninsula a little more closely, with a 2-3 hour hike in the Cape Point reserve.

Our day includes a visit to the penguin colony at Boulders Beach

We explore the local neighbourhoods along the coast, participating in seasonal activities such as yoga, stand up paddle boarding, snorkelling and surfskiing as additional activities

 

Day Three

Table Mountain

Hike Cape Town’s most recognizable landmark today

We enjoy a catered picnic lunch on the trail, finishing at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

After some time to explore the gardens, enjoy some time to explore the city on your own

 

Day Four

Under the Skin

We get an early start this morning with a sunrise hike to the summit of Lions Head.

Return to the hotel for breakfast, before checking out.

We combine cultural and culinary elements in today’s walk as we explore the city’s street art before joining your guide in his home for an interactive Cape Malay meal.

We continue to our next stop in the Cape winelands, checking into your hotel in Franschhoek

 

 

Day Five

Panorama hiking

Today is a big hiking day as we explore the Jonkershoek Reserve, hiking one of the reserve’s signature trails

After a late lunch in Stellenbosch, the afternoon is yours to enjoy wine tasting in area

Your guide will curate the tastings based on your preferences

Enjoy a festive, family-style dinner at your lodge this evening.

 

Day Six

Wine country

This morning we hike one of the local peaks with endless views over the Franschhoek valley and beyond.

Following the hike, we will introduce you to a wine industry friend of Active Africa.

We enjoy lunch and afternoon of tasting and laughter at his winery.

 

Day Seven

Swellendam

We kick off the day with a morning run either in the valley or on the trails above the village.

After breakfast, we check out with some time to do some shopping in town before we hit the road towards the Garden Route.

We enjoy lunch and wine tasting in the Elgin Valley and Overberg, arriving in Swellendam in the afternoon.

 

 

Day Eight

Swellendam

Today’s outdoor explorations take us to the Marloth Nature Reserve, a mountain reserve close to Swellendam.

This is mountain fynbos hiking at its purest, with endless views across the Swellendam and Langeberg mountains

The afternoon is yours to relax or explore the surrounds with your guide

Day Nine

Garden Route

We’re back on the road towards the Garden Route today with its hardwood forests and rugged coastline.

We punctuate the 3.5 hour drive with a delightful trail that winds through thick coastal forest, dipping down to the Touw River. After reaching a waterfall we return along the river.

We arrive in Plettenberg Bay and check into your hotel in the late afternoon. There will be time for a sunset walk on the beach.

 

Day Ten

Bahia Formosa

The Robberg peninsula is one of our most favourite hikes and we share the joy with you today.

Your guide will discuss the route options with you to ensure optimal enjoyment of the day and the hike.

There are several options available this afternoon, including some canoeing, a cultural experience, wine tasting, whale watching or relaxing at your hotel.

 

Day Eleven

Safari njema

We have a long transfer today, so we start the morning with a morning beach walk or run 

Return for breakfast and check out for a 3-hour transfer to Port Elizabeth.

Here you bid farewell to your Active Africa guide as you transfer a further 2 hours to your safari

Arrive in time for a late lunch or afternoon tea before heading out for your first game activity.

 

Days Twelve & Thirteen

On safari

There are plenty of opportunities to get under the skin of the safari with game drives, night drives and big game walking safaris along with water-based safaris and fishing.

Private specialist safaris and rhino conservation can be arranged on request – more information here

 

 

 

Day Fourteen

End of program

Following an early safari activity, return to the lodge for breakfast.

Check out and transfer to Port Elizabeth for your onward travel

Please contact us for a detailed itinerary!
Robberg (L) and Mont Rochelle (R) are only two of the reserves featured in this itinerary, along with the Table Mountain National Park, Marloth Reserve and Jonkershoek Reserve
Cape Walking - Robberg
  • PRICING

    Please contact us for a quote on this trip.

    While we have preferred hotels for this itinerary, as with all of our trips, we will customise this program to your preferences

     

  • PRICE TYPICALLY INCLUDES

    Cape Town – Garden route: accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis

    Safari accommodation at Kwandwe on a fully inclusive basis

    All lunches, including wine/beer

    Private vehicle and qualified mountain walking/cultural guide for the duration of the trip

    All walking permits per the itinerary

    Wine tasting, park entry fees, activities per the itinerary

    Selected dinners, including wine/beer

    All walking and vehicle refreshments, water, tea/coffee

    Personal water bottle and walking SWAG

  • PRICE TYPICALLY EXCLUDES

    Flights

    Selected dinners

    Premium drinks

    Activities not specified in itinerary

    Some conservation activities at Kwandwe will attract an additional fee

  • HOTELS

    We typically use 5* boutique hotels throughout this program

    However, we have a delightful selection of 4* hotels and 5* guesthouses that can be substituted for some or all of the properties.

  • ACTIVITY LEVEL

    This program requires a moderate to good level of walking fitness

    The fact that we include a hike each day, along with sightseeing and other adventures, means that participants will enjoy it best if they are used to be consistently active.

    However, we can absolutely adapt the routes to offer easier walks and still maintain the flow of the program.

  • BEST MONTHS TO TRAVEL

    This trip can be done year-round

    However, Cape Town and the winelands experience their highest rainfall and coldest weather in July and August. Snow is possible on the higher mountains in August and September.

    January through March are the hottest and driest months.

    The Garden Route experiences rain year-round, but the driest months are typically June through September

    December through March are the wettest and warmest months.

    Kwandwe – the warmest and driest months fall between December and February. Most of the rain falls between March and October

    June through August are the coldest months

     

  • YOU SHOULD KNOW

    Kwandwe is located in the Eastern Cape, which is free of malaria

    Given the length of some of the hikes, we recommend that this program is suitable for children 14 and over. We will adapt the routes for younger children, but will recommend a bespoke program for families with children under 8 years of age.

    Since there is a chance of encountering dangerous game on the walking safaris, children under 12 years are not permitted on walking safaris.

    We cannot control the weather – this is an outdoor, nature based itinerary and indoor alternatives are limited. Come prepared to take on the elements if the weather is not playing fair.

  • TRANSFERS TO/FROM KWANDWE

    The reserve is an easy 2 hour drive by road from Port Elizabeth or a private fixed wing air transfer can be arranged from either Plettenberg Bay or Port Elizabeth

     

Epic safari experiences on offer at Kwandwe Private Game Reserve. Walking, fishing, birding and game viewing come standard. Enhance your experience with some active participation in conservation
Rhino conservation at Kwandwe
Lions on safari in Kwandwe

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