whale watching Hermanus, elephant tour with Acacia Africa

Day 1 Durban – Chintsa / East London
Departing Durban early, traveling through mountain passes from the foot of the Drakensberg, through the rugged wild coast region, formally known as Transkei, birthplace of Nelson Mandela. We visit Nelson Mandela museum. Traveling further south through rural lands of the native Xhosa people, we arrive early evening in the quaint coastal town of Chintsa spending two nights absorbing the peace and tranquility the Eastern Cape offers.


Day 2 Chintsa beach
This rustic spot, with wild untouched beauty inherited its name from the river on which it lies, meaning ‘crumbling banks’ in Xhosa. Enjoying Sunday with the combination of freedom and tranquility, we take a guided village walk, thereafter choosing to wonder the many bush trails, tan on beaches or join exciting optional adventures; fishing, surfing, bike trails, canoeing or trying your hand on a beach horse trail.

Day 3 Chintsa – Addo Elephant Park
After breakfast we continue towards Grahamstown, the national university town for arts and culture. You may explore the town or visit the historical museum before heading for Addo Elephant National Park,enjoying a late lunch and serious animal spotting. The park boasts over 400 individual elephants, with lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino,buck and antelope too. We spend the night on the outskirts of the park, Avoca resort, enjoying stillness with sun downers on the river banks at our peaceful holiday resort.

Day 4 Addo Elephant – Knysna / Tsitsikamma Forest
Depart after breakfast for a fulfilling day of stunning sights and exciting adventures within the Tsitsikamma Forest. Tsitsikamma National Park is a multi-dimensional destination, forming the top section of the magnificent Garden Route National Park. Proceeding to Knysna, renowned for its endless estuary, and visiting the famous bungee jump Bloukrans Bridge we settle into Knysna for the night with time to browse stores on the waterfront.
Day 5 Knysna
After breakfast your guide will take you to the famous heads overlooking the town, exploring the rocks and admiring scenic views. Enjoy the serenity and magical atmosphere of this wonderful destination for the rest of the day. From boat cruises, fishing trips, or the bird park, Knysna will leave you with a yearning to return. After an early dinner you can again explore the narrow streets with cosy pubs and a lively waterfront.

Day 6 Knysna – Hermanus
Relaxed from Knysna hospitality, we head south through scenic coast roads, mountains and rivers to Hermanus, famous for whale and dolphin sightings, and for the outdoor enthusiast, detouring via Cape Agulhas, where the two oceans meet, at the most southern tip of Africa. We visit the gigantic, 165 year old lighthouse before lunch in the Cape style town. Afternoon is spent exploring Hermanus, whale watching if in season, or canoeing, yachting, diving or surfing. Evening is spent enjoying the town’s atmosphere, inhaling the cool Atlantic breeze.

Day 7 Hermanus – Cape Town
A free morning where you may choose to visit the Old Harbour Open-Air Museum that is a provincial heritage site, join a whale watching tour or explore the town’s variety of shops and boardwalk on foot. Departing Hermanus before lunch we follow the rough coastal route to Cape Town, visiting a winery on the outskirts of Cape Town, and our tour ends towards late afternoon at the foot of Table Mountain in the popular mother city of South Africa, Cape Town.

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