| This tour has been carefully designed to offer golfers a great balanced mix of top golf courses and the most important South African attractions - all whilst limiting travel time. There is nothing like spending hours on the road and at airports moving from one part of the country to the other. A Golfer travelling to South Africa usually wants to experience the the following four things:
1) Cape Town and surrounds,
2) The splendour of the Garden Route,
3) Big 5 Game Viewing and
4) GREAT GOLF COURSES and this is what this tour offers you. This tour features: 13 Nights Luxury Accommodation Fully Guided Tour by a registered tour guide Transport in a Luxury Air Conditioned Coach All meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner including selective drinks) 7 Rounds of Golf (carts/caddies included)
Visits to world class game reserves
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Phase 1 (Days 1-5) - Cape Town |
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Day 1 - Arrival – Cape Town.
Nestled beneath the majestic Table Mountain soaring 1000 metres above it, lies one of the world’s most beautiful cities - and the perfect starting point for your South African Golf Safari. Today is spent at leisure giving you the opportunity to rest after your long flight. We book into one of the most spectacular hotels in Cape Town – The Ambassador Hotel in Bantry Bay. With breathtaking panoramic views of the Atlantic ocean you can enjoy the day soaking up the atmosphere and enjoy the African sun by relaxing at the pool just metres away from the rocks. Meals: Lunch and Dinner |
Day 2 - Golf at Erinvale Golf Club | Afternoon Cable Cart trip up Table Mountain.
This morning’s round of golf will take place at the Gary Player designed Erinvale Golf Club. Erinvale hosted the 1996 World Cup of Golf championship and also showcased the 2005 SAA Open. Situated at the foot of the Helderberg the course features majestic backdrops and panoramic views of the surrounding hillsides planted with vine and sparkling views of the ocean from higher vantage points. After lunch we take a cable cart trip to the top of Table Mountain where the rest of the afternoon is spent enjoying the breathtaking views of the Cape Peninsula. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. |
Day 3 - Golf at Pearl Valley | Wine and Cheese Tasting and Fairview Wine Estate.
Today’s round of Golf will take place at the magnificent Jack Nicklaus signature Pearl Valley Golf Estate. Every hole is played against the spectacular backdrop of the Klein Drakenstein, Groot Drakenstein and Simonsberg mountain ranges that forms a ring around the course. All par 3’s and par 5’s lay in different directions ensuring that the same conditions are seldom experienced in a round. Pearl Valley hosted the 2008 South African Open and had been carefully planned to make it the most visually spectacular course in South Africa and arguably the world!After a light lunch we move on to the Fairview Wine Estate for a pleasurable late afternoon Wine and Cheese Tasting. The home of Fairview wines is a 300ha farm on the south-west-facing slopes of Paarl Mountain, a granite rock outcrop in the heart of the Paarl wine district, viticulturally among the most historic and influential areas of the Cape winelands. Standing among the lavender beds in the terraced front garden of the winery, you’ll look out across rolling fields and see distant flat-topped Table Mountain. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner |
Day 4 - Grand Slam Peninsula and Winelands Tour.
We start our trip along the Atlantic Seaboard past the coastal suburbs of Sea Point, Bantry Bay and Clifton and stop for a photo of Table Mountain’s towering Twelve Apostles. We continue past Bakoven and Llandudno, marked by shipwrecks, to the fishing village of Hout Bay. Continue over the 600m heights of Chapman’s Peak Drive, one of the world’s most spectacular passes, past the Cape’s longest beach near Noordhoek and the hamlets of Kommetjie and Scarborough to the Cape of Good Hope National Park. Here we take a ride on the Flying Dutchman Funucalar to Cape Point Lighthouse, to enjoy the magical vistas of False Bay, at this, the south westernmost point of Africa. After this we head along the False Bay coast to Boulders Beach near Simonstown for a close up with a colony of African Penguins and enjoy a sumptious lunch at a local seafood restaurant and continue again through the seaside havens of Kalk Bay and Muizenberg along to coast towards the Boland Muizenberg. Here visit the gracious Neetlingshof Estate with famous pine avenue and Cape Dutch Homestead, for a short cellar tour and a chance to taste award-winning Cape Wines. Nearby Stellenbosch, South Africa’s second oldest town, affords us a glimpse of classical 17/18th Century Cape Style as we explore quaint Dorp Street, the museum and the galleries and shops of this University town, before returning back to the Hotel. Meals: Breakfast ,Lunch and Dinner |
Day 5 - Golf at Arrabella | Travel to Knysna.
Our round of Golf today takes place at the award winning Arrabella Golf Estate, a truly unique golf course set on the banks of the Bot River Lagoon and fringed by indigenous fynbos. Home to the Nelson Mandela Invitation the course stretches through rolling fairways, deceptive bunkers and challenging watertraps. Designed by Peter Matchovich, this classic parkland course offers spectacular views across the freshwater Bot River Lagoon and the Kogelberg mountain range. This area is home to over 1200 species of wild flower exclusive to this region. After lunch we make our way to the town of Knysna in the heart of South Africa’s world famous Garden Route. We book into the elegant The Rex Hotel, situated just over 100 yards away from the Knysna lagoon. Meals: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner |
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Phase 2 (Days 6-9) - Garden Route |
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Day 6 - Golf at Simola | Lagoon Ride and Featherbed Eco Reserve Tour.
Golf at the Jack Nicklaus signature Simola Golf Estate will be an unforgettable experience. The course offers challenging and rewarding golf amidst spectacular scenery. Set below high ridges, it’s relatively protected from the coastal wind. Fairways flow with the natural undulating contours of the terrain, and the unusual configuration of five par 5's and five par 3's adds a new dimension to the game. Every hole boasts exceptional views; either out across the Knysna Lagoon all the way to the Knysna Heads or over the picturesque Knysna River as it twists and turns through the valley below. This afternoon we will take a relaxing boat cruise over the Knysna lagoon to the Featherbed Nature Reserve. On arrival at the Reserve we enjoy a drive to the top of the Western Head stopping at a magnificent view point en route. Here unsurpassed views of the Lagoon, mountains and Knysna can be enjoyed.
Meals: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner |
Day 7 - Oudshoorn | Cango Caves | Crocodile and Cheetah Park | Safari Ostrich Ranch
Today we will visit the richly historic town of Oudshoorn in the heart of the Klein Karoo also known as the Ostrich Capital of the world. At the head of the picturesque Cango Valley lies our first stop, the spectacular underground wonder of the Klein Karoo – the Cango Caves. The Cango Caves is Africa’s only show caves and one the world’s great natural wonders. Situated in a limestone ridge parallel to the well known Swartberg Mountains, you will find the finest dripstone caverns, with their vast halls and towering formations. Departing Cango Caves we take a tour at the Crocodile and Cheetah Park, home to cheetah, lion, leopard, South American jaguars and Bengal tigers. After a sumptuous lunch at Safari Ostrich Ranch we take a tour of the ranch and learn about the evolution of ostrich farming and current farming methods and view one of the original, restored “Ostrich Palaces”. You will have the opportunity to climb aboard an ostrich as well as to observe an “ostrich race”. The curio shop is well stocked with a large variety of top quality ostrich leather products.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. |
Day 8 - Outeniqua Steam Train Golf at Oubaai
Today you will experiences first hand why this beautiful region is called the Garden Route. This morning we will take a train ride on the last remaining operating passenger steam train in Africa – the Outiniqua Choo-Tjoe. The train follows a scenic route of 67 kilometres through the beautiful garden route and winds through some amazing scenery that cannot be seen from the road providing scenes for some awesome photography – beautiful forests, hills covered with ferns, lakes, streams and the Knysna lagoon. Tunnels and cuttings are not excluded and provides an awesome and picturesque view of true South African beauty. After this scenic train ride we arrive in George and head for the nearby Oubaai Golf Course – the only Ernie Else signature course in South Africa. Oubaai features a Links layout where veld grasses line the lush fairways and greens. The elements, predominantly the wind, play a role in the defenses of the course; the course being a coastal golf course. However you will find generous fairways off the tees but in the spirit of the course these are well bunkered to penalize any stray or ill considered drives. The greens are in excellent condition and roll smooth and true. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner |
Day 9 - Golf at Pezula | Depart to Cape St Francis.
Pezula, a Shona word meaning ‘up there with the gods” is the ultimate garden route golf experience. Situated on the famous Knysna heads the course is a sweeping spectacle of fairways and greens rolling through the pristine Southern Cape landscape. The breathtaking, award-winning 18-hole course which was designed by David Dale and Ronald Fream of GolfPlan USA rates amongst most scenic golf courses in the world. Closing off this part of the tour on a high note – we leave the garden route towards the coastal town of St Francis Bay in the Eastern Cape. Meals: Breakfast ,Lunch and Dinner |
Phase 3 (Days 10 - 14) - Safari |
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Day 10 - Golf at St Francis Links | Sunset Boat Cruise at Bushman Sands
Be ready for a early T-Off at the St Francis Links golf course located in a natural reserve between beach and agricultural land. Designed by the great golfing legend Jack Nicklaus and described by him in the following words: “'This could very well be the best course I've ever seen...better than the best I've ever done!” With dunes covered in fine grasses and fynbos, interspersed with sandy recessed and protruding mounds lashed by the coastal wind, St Francis links is a course that truly captures the essence of links golf. After a round of challenging links golf we head to the Bushman Sands Game Reserve in the town of Alicedale. Meals: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner |
Day 11 - Shamwari Game Reserve Day Tour
Today you will visit the world famous Shamwari Game Reserve. The reserve has received numerous international awards, including the World’s Leading Conservation Company and Game Reserve for many consecutive years. Shamwari is the ultimate African safari experience. After lunch on the game viewing deck overlooking the Bushmans River you will take a quick tour through Khaya Lendaba, a traditional African Arts and Culture Village where you will experience the vibrant dancing, dramatic history, culture, food, healing methods, rituals and art of ancient and modern African life. In the Sangoma's hut (traditional healer), visitors learn about the role of traditional healers within African tribal life. A visit to the kitchen hut affords the visitor the opportunity of tasting traditional foodstuffs such as marogo, mealies and beans and traditional beer. Visitors are able try their hand at grinding corn and making soap the African way. This is followed by a game-drive in an open Land Rover, under the guidance of an experienced game ranger through the Shamwari Game Reserve where you will have the opportunity to view the big 5 (Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Lion and Leopard) in their natural habitat.
Meals: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner |
Day 12 - Addo National Elephant Park
Today we will visit the Addo National Elelphant Park – home to the Big 5 – but especially known for its large population of elephant. The park is situated in the dense valley of the Sundays River region and offers a memorable wildlife experience with some of the best Elephant viewing opportunities in the world.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. |
Day 13 - Sunrise Game Drive / Golf at Bushmans Sands / Sunset Boat Cruise.
Get up early for an early morning open landrover game drive through the Bushman Sands Game Reserve and enjoy a splendid African sunrise before returning to the Hotel for breakfast. This mornings round of golf will take place on the Bushmans Sands Game Reserve's own golf course. The 18-hole Bushman Sands golf course has been designed by South African golfing legend, Gary Player. The course follows the banks of the Bushmans and New Years Rivers, with some resemblanceto the game's earliest "links" courses in Scotland with undulating fairways and pot bunkers. Unique features include playing the first stroke over the active railway line, crossing the Bushman’s River and New Year’s River on various holes and finishing with a final drive over a small cemetery in the centre of the fairway. A challenging but friendly course enjoyable to any golfer. This evening you will have the opportunity to experience the mesmerising effect of an African sunset from the water of the 200 hectare News Years dam and possibly view some big game at the water’s edge. Accompanied by a qualified game ranger, visitors aboard “Imvubu” could come upon antelope cautiously sipping or elephant bathing, whilst enjoying a drink from the onboard bar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner |
Day 14 - Depart to Johannesburg.Depart to nearby city of Port Elizabeth for flight back to Johannesburg or Cape Town. |
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