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Day 1:
Arrival Port Elizabeth airport, and collect your rental car. Drive to your apartment hotel, located close to Summerstrand beach. In the afternoon, relax and enjoy your surroundings. The swimming pool at your hotel may also be tempting.
Overnight: Brookes Hill Apartment Hotel, Port Elizabeth.
Day 2:
We recommend you visit Bayworld Oceanarium which is located quite close to your hotel. The large main fish tank is home to a wide variety of large fish, sharks and turtles. Alongside it is the smaller tropical tank where a variety of tropical fish and sea turtles found alongside the East coast are displayed. The large dolphin lake is undoubtedly the focal point of the Oceanarium. 60m long, 45m at its widest point and up to 4,5m deep, it contains 4, 75 million litres of filtered seawater and is still one of the largest dolphin lakes in the world. Indian Ocean Bottlenose dolphins delight visitors to the Oceanarium on a daily basis. A large seal pool enclosure houses a small colony of Cape fur seals, as well as a Sub Antarctic seal. Drive to Cape St. Francis (approximately 1 hour’s drive), where you will spend the next two nights. Nestled in the dunes at Cape St Francis is a village consisting of traditional Cape Dutch style thatched cottages. The cottages are comfortably equipped in a beach cottage decor and have a fully equipped kitchen for self-catering. Each cottage comes with satellite TV, its own private garden or deck area and is serviced daily.
Overnight: Village Break, Cape St. Francis (on room only basis). (B)
Day 3:
Spend the day exploring Cape St. Francis nature reserves and the beach. Follow one of the many well-marked paths and trails, and you may also see some animals which inhabit this area. Look out for bushbuck, grysbok, common duiker, bushpig, porcupine, vervet monkey, caracal, yellow and grey mongoose and otters. You can sometimes see the rare African black oystercatcher and occasionally an endangered Jackass penguin. Bottlenose and common dolphins are often seen offshore and, from August to December, southern right whales may be spotted at sea.
Overnight: Village Break, Cape St. Francis.
Day 4:
Leave Cape St. Francis and drive to Plettenberg Bay (approximately 2 hours’ driving). You will be driving through Tsitsikamma National Park, and you should stop at the bridge over the Bloukranz River – this is where the world’s highest bungy jumps take place! Arrive in Plettenberg Bay and check in to your cosy guesthouse, located 2 minutes walk from the beach. Relax, take a walk along the beach and plan the next few days’ activities.
Overnight: Starfish Lodge, Plettenberg Bay.
*1 child sharing w. 2 adults: will be accommodated on a mattress on the floor; 2 children: will have their own room.
Day 5:
Start the day with a 2-hour marine eco tour: this ocean adventure leaves from the beach with an exciting beach launch and heads east past the bird sanctuary and Keurbooms beach to Arch Rock. Here we usually encounter Bottlenose Dolphins and the rare Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins as well as some shark species. We head into the middle of the bay where pelagic seabirds are normally seen. Hopefully, resident Bryde's whales may be seen, as well as Common Dolphins or Southern Right whale and Humpback whales during their season (June – November). We then traverse the bay to the point of Robberg Peninsula and out to the “wild side”, often seeing groups of whales and pods of dolphins. Cruising back along the inside of Robberg, we see the unique geology from this unusual viewpoint and can observe our growing Cape Fur Seal Colony. Finally we head back along the Robberg beach, while a brief rundown on the history of the area is given. After passing the Beacon Island Hotel, built on the site of an original Whaling Station, we end the experience with an exhilarating landing, again on Central Beach. The rest of the day at leisure to enjoy the beach or visit one of the many interesting places in and around Plettenberg Bay.
Overnight: Starfish Lodge, Plettenberg Bay. (B)
Day 6 & 7:
Spend two more days in Plettenberg Bay. There is so much to do – which will depend on your interests and ages of the children. That is why we have not included any activities or visits, it is better that you choose those that interest you and pay your own entrance fees where necessary. These are just some of the activities offered in Plettenberg Bay:
• Robberg Beach is superb, just lazing on the beach may be your idea of fun!
• Monkeyland is the world’s first free roaming multi-specie primate sanctuary. Monkeyland has as one of its aims, to create awareness about the plight of primates and to show that with a greater understanding of our primate cousins, that we can all live in harmony. Monkeyland is unique in that the sanctuary caters for several species of primate, and they are not caged, they are free to move about the forest, and do so in harmony. The primates are therefore not found on predetermined points displayed on a map, the emphasis is to search for them, and the reward is to see them as they should be: free and in the wild.
• Birds of Eden – a unique free-flight bird sanctuary. This unique two hectare dome (the World’s largest) spans over a gorge of indigenous forest. The sanctuary has its own mysterious ruin, which incorporates a walk-behind waterfall. Birds of Eden was developed to create a safe environment in which to release a large collection of free-flight African birds, miniature monkeys and the sanctuary also enables bird owners to apply to release their pet birds into the sanctuary, after undergoing rehabilitation.
• The Elephant Sanctuary provides a “halfway house” for young African elephants in need of a temporary home. It is the only operation in South Africa that provides for elephants in this way. It is our vision to release all the elephants into an environment where they can be more independent once they are older. The elephant herd consists of five female elephants and one young male. Visitors can learn more about elephant habits, behaviour, different personalities and anatomy through up-close and personal interaction. You get an opportunity to touch, feed and even walk trunk-in-hand with these magnificent animals.
• Canopy tour: Enjoy the unequaled beauty of the indigenous forest high up on ten treetop platforms. Gently glide along in a harness, on steel cables 30 meters above the forest floor. Birdlife is abundant and your guides will explain the ecology of the lush primeval forest. (Minimum age 7 years).
• Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre offers a truly unique Wildcat Experience. Guests are taken on a guided tour to meet captive-bred furry felines, living in a semi-natural environment. So close, you can hear them purr… During the one hour guided tours you are guaranteed to see the charismatic cheetah, ZweLakhe the Leopard and enjoy a cat and mouse game with South Africa’s seldom seen smaller indigenous cats, such as the African wild cat, servals, caracal and the rare black-footed cat. Experience the inquisitiveness of the busy meerkats, watch the blue cranes dance and take pleasure in getting to know the mischievous Marabou Storks. For the more adventurous we offer a walk with the Tenikwa Cheetahs. Take an exhilarating stroll through Tsitsikamma Indigenous Forest and Cape Floral Fynbos as you join the Tenikwa Cheetahs on their daily walk. A unique and personal experience with these amazing animals, the Cheetah Walk will stay with you for life.
Overnight: Starfish Lodge, Plettenberg Bay. (B)
Day 8:
Today we leave Plettenberg Bay and drive east, for our wilderness experience. The drive will take approximately 4 hours, we drive via Port Elizabeth and then head north, to Addo Elephant National Park. Kuzuko Lodge lies in a private concession to the north of the Addo Elephant National Park, the third largest national park in South Africa in a malaria-free region. The Addo Elephant National Park conserves no less than five of South Africa's seven biomes and is also home to one of the densest African elephant populations on earth. Check in to your very comfortable chalets, and enjoy a sumptious dinner whilst admiring the stars – this is a remote area so it is therefore a perfect star-gazing location.
Dinner and overnight: Kuzuko Lodge. (B,D)
Day 9:
Set off on your first game-drive at dawn. Kuzuko offers a complete wilderness experience concentrating on the whole environment. The area is dry so the animal density is lower, but you may be rewarded by seeing some unusual animals not normally seen in other reserves. Lion and elephant, as well as other well-known African animals, live in this reserve. The park encompasses five of South Africa's seven biomes which give rise to plants usually found in vastly different locations co-existing side by side in the Addo region. Return to the lodge for breakfast. The middle of the day is for relaxing, enjoying the swimming pool or the spa facility. A delicious lunch will also be served. For the children, a special programme to entertain and keep the occupied during the middle of the day:
• Wilderness Ramble – Let’s get up close and personal with all the local “goggas”, jurassic descendants and other interesting visitors and plants around the lodge. All sorts of treasures to be collected for fun art activities afterwards. Ages 5 to 10
• Do it like the Khoisan Kids did it - Experience the Karoo the Bushmen way. Explore nature and the remnants of caves and Khoisan painting gallery. Memorise the paintings to be redrawn using your paint brush made from a local plant on return to the lodge. Ages 8 to 14
• Kids on Safari - Explore our big five reserve on a private kids safari, learning about the big and the small five and all the other critters living out there. Ages 6 to 15
• Tiny Tots - Colouring, puzzles, games and fun activities on offer in a secure environment.
• The swimming pool is also a great place to spend the middle of the day!
In the afternoon, set out on another game-drive. Spotlights are used after dark so that we may see some of the shy, nocturnal animals and birds.
Dinner and overnight: Kuzuko Lodge. (B,L,D)
Day 10:
Leave Kuzuko after breakfast and head back to Port Elizabeth (approximately 2 hours driving). Hand back your rental car prior to departure. (B)
Alternatively:
Day 10:
Head for your “Big 5” safari experience – at Kariega Lodge (approximately 3 hours driving). This malaria-free “Big-5” private Game Reserve comprises nearly 5000 hectares of pristine wilderness incorporating contrasting riverine forest, bushveld and grassland eco-systems and is home to more than 25 species of game including lion, elephant, leopard, white rhino, hippo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, gemsbok, waterbuck, nyala, kudu and a variety of other antelope and more than 250 species of birds amongst which are high soaring martial- crowned- and fish eagles which nest on the reserve. A unique feature is the ability to walk freely and safely amongst the game in an area of the reserve which excludes the dangerous “Big 5” animals. In the afternoon, your first game-drive at Kariega.
Dinner and overnight: Kariega Main Lodge. (B,D)
Day 11:
Game drives with experienced rangers give guests the opportunity of game viewing from open vehicles. Guests can expect to be enthralled with the sightings of lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard, hippo, hyena, giraffe, zebra, eland, kudu, wildebeest, waterbuck and a variety of antelope, as well as a myriad of bird species, including nesting fish, martial and crowned eagles. At least one game drive will include a boat cruise on a beautiful river. In the middle of the day, take a walk, a mountain bike ride, go canoeing, have a swim or just relax!
Dinner and overnight: Kariega Main Lodge. (B,L,D)
Day 12:
Your last gamedrive before driving back to Port Elizabeth airport, handing back your rental car prior to departure. (B)
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