Location is an approximation

South Africa

Cape Town and Table Mountain
A Christian centre on the Garden Route
Game drives - lions, elephants, giraffes...

 
 

A land of mountains, ocean and wildlife

South Africa’s Cape and Garden Route combine dramatic coastlines, towering mountains and rich wildlife. From the iconic silhouette of Table Mountain to the rolling hills and game reserves of the Western Cape, this journey blends scenery, culture, rest and adventure.

In the evenings we meet to hear a helpful Bible talk.
 

Cape Town: home to Table Mountain

Our journey begins in Cape Town, one of the world’s most iconic cities. Framed by Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, the city offers a blend of history and modern life. We explore the heart of Cape Town including the colourful houses of Bo-Kaap, riding the cable car up Table Mountain to enjoy panoramic views across the city, harbour and distant peaks. For the two nights in Cape Town we stay at Hotel Verde, close to the airport. 

We also admire the famous beaches before we follow the coast and mountains along the Garden Route to George.


 

The Garden Route: Coast and Countryside

We spend 8 nights at the Carmel Christian Retreat Centre near the town of George. This provides an excellent base for us to explore the scenic Garden Route, a region known for forested hills, scenic roads and wide beaches.

The Carmel centre is set above Victoria Bay with impressive views of the ocean. It is a peaceful location, an excellent place to unwind during our free time. Relax by the pool, enjoy a local walk or head down the hill to the sandy beach. There are also opportunities locally for canoeing and surfing.   


 

Carmel: impressive ocean views

Our accommodation is split across different buildings. The bedrooms are guest house style rooms. Some of the buildings are more traditional in style, while others are more modern. 

With such a range, we have simplified it to two main features. Supplements are payable for en-suite rooms and sea views. Please note that these two supplements only apply to the Carmel centre (all the rooms at the Cape Town hotel are en-suite but there are no sea views). If you book a single room, this will apply throughout. For non en-suite rooms, you will generally be sharing the bathroom with one other bedroom.
 
 

A boat cruise at Knysna

We visit Knysna, a picturesque town set beside a sheltered lagoon. A peaceful boat cruise reveals the estuary and the dramatic Knysna Head that guards its entrance to the sea. There is time to enjoy the waterfront, with its cafés, shops and views across the water.
 

Oudtshoorn: Caves and Wildlife

Crossing into the Little Karoo, we reach Oudtshoorn, known as the ostrich capital of the world. Here we explore the Cango Caves, with their impressive chambers and rock formations carved over millennia.

Nearby, at the Wildlife Ranch, we meet a variety of animals and learn about conservation work in the region. The contrast between the lush Garden Route and the semi-arid Karoo makes this day especially memorable.

 

Botlierskop: lions, elephants, giraffes

On two days, we have the opportunity to enjoy a guided game drive. Rangers share their knowledge of the wildlife and the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Although the game reserves in this part of South Africa are smaller than some safari parks, they still offer excellent opportunities to view these impressive animals in nature. On separate days, at Botlierskop and Buffelsdrift Game Reserves we experience a game drive to seek out lions, rhinos, elephants, giraffes and many more.

As we drive through the reserves, with mountains in the distance and the sounds of birdlife all around, we experience something of Africa that has captured imaginations for generations.

 

South Africa awaits!

The Garden Route of South Africa is waiting to be explore. A land of ocean and mountains, wildlife and warm hospitality, rest and adventure, and memories to treasure for years to come.

Itinerary

Below is the provisional itinerary. The letters in brackets indicate B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner
 
Day #1
Depart UK in the morning. Arrive in the evening and check in to the hotel
Day #2
Guided half-day city tour of Cape Town including Company’s Garden, Parliament Buildings, Bo-Kaap (Malay Quarter) and Greenmarket Square, followed by a visit to Table Mountain by cable car for panoramic views. Overnight stay in Cape Town (B/-/D)
Day #3
Morning - further visits in Cape Town including the beaches. Afternoon – travel along the Garden Route to George. For the remaining nights we stay at Carmel Retreat centre in George (B/-/D)
Day #4
Free day to rest, enjoy a local walk or visit the beach (B/-/D)
Day #5
Excursion to Botlierskop Game Reserve for a 3-hour guided safari, with opportunities to see lions, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, zebras and other wildlife before returning to George (B/-/D)
Day #6
Day trip to Knysna including a lagoon boat cruise along the estuary before returning to George. (B/-/D)
Day #7
Visit local churches, with the remainder of the day free to explore the town or relax. (B/-/D)
Day #8
Excursion to Oudtshoorn including a guided tour of the Cango Caves and a visit to Cango Wildlife Ranch for close-up encounters and learning about conservation (B/-/D)
Day #9
Safari experience at Buffelsdrift Game Lodge, including a 2-hour game drive to observe African wildlife in their natural habitat (B/-/D)
Day #10
Free day (B/-/D)
Day #11
Travel back to Cape Town along the Garden Route with stops at points of interest before boarding the flight home (B/-/-)
Day #12
Arrive back in the UK

Dates/Prices

The cost includes flights, airport taxes and charges, two nights at the Cape Town hotel, 8 nights at the Carmel centre, breakfasts and evening meals, entrance fees, £25 of tips, guide service (in Cape Town) and coach transport.

British citizens do not require a visa. For other nationalities or statuses, please check with your embassy.

The deposit is £150 if booking more than two months in advance (plus room supplement, if applicable).

For flight times, click 'View/Book'.

For details of independent travel, scroll down on this page.

  TripDatesPrice
GA45 - £2398View/Book ->
Availability Key:
Independent Travel Available
Full but waiting list available
Place may be available on request
Places still available
A few places still available
 

Independent Travel

You can select to travel independently during the booking process (NB we are unable to book one way flights or change the date of travel).

You can see the independent discount on the same page as the group flight times (click on 'View/Book' if you are viewing this message on the Dates and Prices page).

The cost for the optional airport transfer is shown later in the booking process.

The airport transfer is booked to coincide with the group flights. Please note that the driver would not be able to wait if you miss the transfer on the first day. If you are not booking on the same flight as the group, we would suggest booking a flight that arrives at least 2 hours before the group flight in case of any delays to your flight.

Note that on the final day we depart Cape Town just after midnight between 22nd and 23rd Oct. If your flight is earlier than this it is likely that you will need to make your own way to the airport. The transfer would be long and relatively complicated to do independently.

Please do not book your flights until you have received an email from Oak Hall confirming your place on this trip.

If you are travelling independently but someone else in your party will use the group flights, please make separate bookings.

If there are any changes to the holiday, we would not be able to cover the cost of changes to your independent flights. We would therefore recommend booking fully flexible tickets or joining the holiday using our flights.