Self-drive South Africa: An Epic Road Trip

10 days from £2,460 for 2024 per person

• Cape Town
• Hermanus
• The Garden Route

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).

You either get the point of Africa or you don’t. What draws me backyear after year is that it is like the world with the lid off.
AA Gill