The Overberg and Whales

The Overberg and Whales tour is your opportunity during springtime to see and perhaps meet the Southern Right Whales visiting the shoreline of Hermanus on the garden route. On this tour, you will be exploring this amazingly beautiful region with its rolling wheat and canola fields and perhaps also see the Blue Cranes in the farming fields. This is your chance to visit the southernmost point of South Africa, do whale watching, and visit many other exciting attractions on this trip.

Canola Fields, Overberg 

Itinerary:

Day 1:  

Your host will be waiting for you on arrival. Depart from the airport on a scenic 3 hour drive towards Swellendam. A convenience and lunch stop will be done on route. Arrive in the scenic town of Swellendam, where we will be staying for the first 2 nights of the trip. Relax, unpack, and enjoy the beautiful gardens at the Guesthouse.

The town has a great village atmosphere, and it is easy to explore it and the wonderful gardens on foot. Dinners will be enjoyed at some of the many restaurants in the area.

Day 2:  Nature and Whales

Is your day for nature, the ocean, whale watching and scenic mountains. A leisurely drive takes us towards the ocean. We travel to the famous De Hoop Nature Reserve, which is a big breeding area for the Southern Right whales. We view these gentle giants from the cliffs above and spend quality time here. We then return to town, relax until dinner time.

Day 3: Southernmost Tip of Africa

It is time to move on, and to do another coastal visit in the Overberg region. We travel among the rolling hills filled with wheat and canola fields towards Bredasdorp, Struisbaai and the southernmost point of South Africa at Agulhas, where we enjoy lunch. We also visit the region’s long stretches of beach and the lighthouse and maritime museum. It is a beautiful area, and we spend quality time here. On the return trip, we visit the famous Kapula Candle Factory.

Whale Tail

From Bredasdorp we continue with another scenic drive towards Caledon and to Rouxwil Country House. It is situated on a working wheat and sheep farm.  You will find it nestled between vast, rolling hills of wheat fields, orchards and majestic mountains covered in Protea fynbos-providing an ever changing kaleidoscope of colours, a paradise for landscape photographers.  We check in at the country house for the remaining three nights, and relax before dinner. Experience the Overberg hospitality. All dinners will be enjoyed at the farm, which is always a wonderful experience.

Day 4: Whale Time

A forty five minute drive takes us to the coastal town of Hermanus, where it is easy to view the southern right whales that are usually found in the bay below. Walk along the cliffs of Walker bay, and enjoy these unique giants of the sea. We spend quality time viewing the whales, and also explore the town.  Lunch will again be taken on route at an interesting coastal venue. For those interested, we can arrange viewing of the whales from a boat. This needs to be arranged beforehand and at an additional cost.  We return to the farm via the Hemel and Aarde Valley road. (If the roadworks are completed)

Day 5:  Wine Tasting

Today we will explore the wonderful Franschhoek Valley. We travel to Villiersdorp and visit some of the wonderful art galleries in the region. Then we travel alongside the Theewaterskloof dam, and over the Franschhoek mountain pass (a lovely Fynbos region), with its stunning views of the valley below. In Franschhoek, we will visit the wonderful Huguenot Museum and its lovely gardens as well as the wonderful Dutch Reform church. We will also do some wine tasting and allow time for guests to explore all the wonderful art galleries and shops in town. Lunch will be enjoyed in town, and we return to the guest farm via Elgin, and do a very informative farm tour.

Wine tasting in the Cape

Day 6: 

After a last farm breakfast, it’s time to return to Cape Town for your return flight home. This is a 2 hour drive and we enjoy the last of the beautiful scenery on our way towards Cape Town.