Garden Route Wildlife-explore nature and wildlife in Cape area

Overview-Garden Route Wildlife

Garden Route Wildlife is a three day guided experience in a private, Big five, 11 000 hectare, malaria free game reserve. Spend time with expert trail guides who will intimately expose you to the Reserve’s unique biodiversity and eco systems with the opportunity to potentially experience wildlife on foot. Four game drives and all meals are included


Type	Guided walk & game drives
Location	Mossel Bay, Western Cape, South Africa
Group size	4 – 10 people
Duration	2 nights/ 3 days
Grading	Easy
Day Stages	One short walk
Distance	About 2,5 km
Terrain	Footpaths and trails
Accommodation	Luxury suites
Meals	All meals included
Cost	From R12 775 pp
Dates	All year. Oct-Apr is high season

Trip details

Garden Route Wildlife is an all inclusive luxury trip to experience the wildlife and Fynbos landscape and wildlife in a Western Cape private game reserve. You literally need to “just bring your boots” and the team will do the rest. Experience nature and wildlife on game drives and on foot.

Highlights

The Garden Route

The Garden Route begins about four hours outside Cape Town, and includes one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline of some 300 km between Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay and is one of South Africa’s most popular holiday destinations. Garden Route Wildlife is an exciting start to other attractions, activities and things to do when you visit the gorgeous Garden Route on your travels in South Africa.

Scenery

Beautiful fynbos and grass plains.

Vegetation

The Cape Floral Region is the smallest, but richest and most critically endangered, of the world’s 6 floral regions. 596 fynbos species only occur in one place, such as a single mountain top peak, valley or wetland. Plant species such as Proteas, Erica’s, Cone bush, Pincushion, Lily, Gladiolus, Restios, etc provide colour and beauty to the reserve.

Wildlife

You will find free roaming lion, black rhinoceros, eland, red hartebeest, endangered Cape Mountain Zebra, springbok, kudu, as well as elephant, among others. There are about 60 mammal- and about 150 bird species in the reserve.

Expert trail guides

Learn about the geology, wildlife, vegetation and history of the area from qualified trail guides.

Game drives

Four game drives are included

Day 1- Arrive
13:00 – 15:00 Lunch
15:00 Check in to room
16:00 -19:00 Game drive
18:30 – 21:30 Dinner
Overnight- Private suite

Day 2: Fynbos trail
06:00- 09:00 Morning Game Drive
09:00 – 10:30 Breakfast
11:00- 13:00 Fynbos trail- guided- about 2,5 km
13:30 – 15:00 Lunch
16:00-19:00 Game drive
19:00 – 21:30 Dinner
Overnight- Private suite

Day 3: Game drive
06:00 Morning Game Drive
08:30 -10:00 Breakfast
Depart

Privately situated suite. The dome-shaped thatched structures, draw inspiration from the nomadic dwellings constructed by the San tribes millennia ago. Each suite boasts a comfortable lounge area featuring a wood-burning fireplace. The spacious bathrooms include a deep indulgent bath with a picturesque window, double basins, rain shower, and a separate toilet. Unwind under the outdoor shaded deck area of your suite enjoying breath-taking views of two waterholes and a mountainous landscape. The romantic double pool lounger is an ideal spot to immerse yourself in the surrounding beauty of the Cape landscape.

Kwena suite 1

Kwena suite 2 1

Rates

2 Night Package Price: From R12 775 per person

Included

Accommodation in a private suite
All meals
Four game drives
Fynbos walking trail with guide
Conservation levy

Not included

Items not mentioned above, eg:
Transport to and from the reserve

Grading

Overall rating: “Easy”. You do not need to be ultra-fit but if you choose to do the walks you should be able to walk 10km per day. The route takes you along paths, tracks and through the veld. See Walking grades for more details about “Easy” rating.

The walking trails

The walking trail is conducted by experienced and knowledgeable guides.
On foot, encounter the majesty of the Fynbos
Floral Kingdom as well as endangered species such as the Cape Mountain Zebra and Bontebok, contributing to the conservation efforts for these
rare and precious creatures. Additionally, you may also catch glimpses of Eland, Giraffe, and Sable, creating a truly immersive wildlife experience.

Destinations to add to your trip

We suggest that you add other attractions to your program. We can recommend a number of interesting options and can assist with bookings to complement your Garden Route Wildlife trip. The costs of these options are available on request.

When to do the Garden Route Wildlife trip

Bookings can be made throughout the year. High season is from October to the end of April

Climate

Mossel Bay area has an ocean-moderated hot semi-arid climate. The climate is mild throughout the year as the town is situated in the area where the winter rainfall and all-year rainfall regions of the Western Cape Province meet. Its weather is influenced by the Agulhas Current of the Indian Ocean to the south, and by the presence of the Outeniqua Mountains to the north. Mossel Bay receives 80% of its rainfall at night. Annual Rainfall: 500mm.

Frost is rare or almost absent and snow has never been recorded on the coastal platform. Prevailing winds are westerly in winter (May – August) and easterly in summer (September – April), and rarely reach storm- or gale-force strength. The average days of sunshine are 320 days per year. Summer max and min temperature: 28 °C and 15 °C. Winter max and min temperature: 18 °C and 7 °C

Getting there

Conveniently located in the Garden Route of South Africa, Gondwana Private Game Reserve provides the perfect Safari Holiday destination near Cape Town for visitors wanting to experience an African Safari at a Private Game Reserve.

Just a 4-hour drive from Cape Town
45-minute drive from George Airport (GRJ) – Transfers can be arranged (with daily flights from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB, Johannesburg) and Cape Town International Airport (CTA))
15 minutes (20kms) off the National highway – an easy self drive destination
30 minutes (40kms) from the coastal town of Mossel Bay.

What to take

Wear neutral colored clothing. 1-2 pairs of hiking or athletic shorts. 1-2 athletic walking pants/leggings/loose jeans, for hiking if cold, or to protect legs from brush. 2 t-shirts or bush shirts with short or long sleeves. 1 thin athletic/jersey top to wear if cold. 1 warm athletic top and/or puffer jacket for around camp at night. Jeans or comfortable pants and tops for fire at night. Trail running or walking shoes or hiking boots with a decent tread. Comfy shoes and flip flops for around camp. Rain/wind breaker type jacket to carry in daypack if it rains – disposable rain ponchos are provided. Warm and cool pyjamas, underwear, socks, etc. Sunhat, sunglasses, sun block, personal first-aid kit, camera, binoculars and a torch. Cell phone charging facilities available.

Insurance

We recommend that you arrange appropriate holiday insurance giving you cover against illness, injury, and loss or damage to luggage. This insurance should also cover the possibility of your having to cancel your holiday for any reason.

Availability and Booking

To enquire or reserve a date, go to: Availability request

For general information: Contact us, or

email: info@trailsandtravel.co.za, or

Booking process and -conditions – Go to How to book

Map

Location of Gondwana Game Reserve.

Gallery

Pictures of the Garden Route Wildlife trip can be viewed in Garden Route Wildlife Gallery

Reviews

Comments by guests who have experienced a self-guided walking/hiking holiday offered by Trails and Travel in South Africa:

“Overall, the holiday was invigorating- You certainly went out of your way to make the whole time memorable- We are recommending it to our walking community in the States- Fantastic walks, wines and accommodation”

For details, go to Reviews

More about the Garden Route

For more information about the Garden Route, Contact us

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