Day trips for 2010

Day Trip to Calitzdorp via Red Stone Hills

A day trip with a difference!
A drive into the foothills of the Swartberg, to enjoy the beauty of the Red Hills, and then into Calitzdorp to satisfy the taste buds with a delicious lunch and some wine tasting

09h00  Collect from George and travel over the magnificent Outeniqua Pass towards Outshoorn. From here, having had a look at some of the lovely historical buildings, we take the Calitzdorp Road. Instead of driving directly to Calitzdorp, we turn northwards towards the Swartberg Mountains, through the spectacular Red Stone Hills.

10h30  We arrive at the Red Stone Hills Holiday Farm where we will receive a warm welcome and enjoy tea at this very special venue.
This farm is run by Petro and Hermanus Potgieter, who are at least the 4th generation living here. There is abundant birdlife and the views of the Red Hills are a photographer’s dream.

11h15 After a relaxing tea, we shall take the Groenfontein road to Calitzdorp, which gives you magnificent views of the Swartberg Mountains.

12h30 Wine tasting at the Boplaas Wine cellars: (a good opportunity to try some prize-winning Port)

13h00 Lunch at one of the restaurants in Calitzdorp

14h00 Just enough time to try the cellar at Die Krans, before our return to George, arriving back at about 16h00.

Cost of this excursion
For 2 (or 3) people : R670,00 per person
For 4 (to 8) people : R380,00 per person

Included in this price
All transport and guiding fees (with registered tour guide, in air-conditioned minibus)

Not included in this price
Drinks at lunch/any purchases made at wine cellars

Itinerary for day trip to Tsitsikamma /Storms River mouth

This is the perfect tour for all who enjoy the beautiful coastal scenery we have to offer here in the Garden Route. Lovely beaches, magnificent passes, and the spectacle of Storms River Mouth to complete the day!

Group departs George 08h30.
Once through Knysna, we stop off for a walk at the Garden of Eden.
(This is a very easy walk through the forest, which most people can enjoy).
Tea at ‘Old Nick’s at Plettenberg Bay : This is a fun stop, as there are lots of interesting galleries and art shops here.

We drive on to Nature’s Valley down the beautiful Groot River Pass, have a look at this beautiful village, and then on to Tsitsikamma National Park, and Storms River Mouth for lunch. The energetic can have a walk to the suspension bridge, while the rest can just relax while looking at the magnificent coastline.

Our return trip will be along the main road, and, if time allows, a quick stop at the viewsite of the Bloukrans bungy jump – the highest commercial bungy jump in the world! (it’s always a thrill to see someone taking this huge leap!)

Cost of this excursion:
For 2 (or 3) people : R850,00 per person
For 4 (to 7) people : R520,00 per person

Cost includes:
All transport (in air-conditioned minibus)
Entry fees to the places mentioned above
Driver/guide (registered with Dept of Environmental Affairs and Tourism)
 
Not included in the above cost:
Lunches and drinks
The bungy jump!

Little Karoo /Oudtshoorn Tour

09h00 :  Collect clients and transport to Oudtshoorn, over the  magnificent Outeniqua Pass.

Guided tours of an Ostrich Show Farm, the world famous Cango Caves, and Cango Wildlife Ranch (crocodiles, cheetahs, and other BIG cats) are on offer for the guests on this tour. Time allows for two of the three options to be comfortably enjoyed, i.e. with no time constraints. (should guests want to do all three of these activities, an earlier start is necessary, and the cost would be adjusted to include the extra entry fees)

The plan is to do either the Ostrich Show Farm or the Cango Wild life Ranch before lunch. This will be at the Wilgewandel Farm Stall which always offers tasty fare in a relaxed and interesting environment.

After lunch a tour of the Cango Caves. (if guests do not want to do a caves tour, we can adjust the day accordingly, and perhaps take a drive up the spectacular Swartberg Pass)

Cost of this excursion:
Return to hotel at approx 17h30.
Price :  R450.00 p.p. for 4 (to 8) pax
R750,00 p.p. for 2  (or3) pax

Included in the cost:
Entry fees to Caves and Ostrich Farm or Cango Wildlife Ranch
All transport and guiding fees

Not included in cost:
Meals and refreshments.

Little Karoo / Mossel Bay Day Tour

This is an ideal tour on which to enjoy the magnificent Outeniqua and Robinson Passes over the Outeniqua Mountains, as well as to enjoy the gastronomic delights to be found at Eight Bells Mountain Inn.

09h00: Depart from George and travel over the beautiful Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn.

Visit the Safari Ostrich Show Farm for a guided tour, and tea will be served. This is always an  entertaining and interesting excursion
12h00; Travel over the Robinson Pass towards Mossel Bay, stopping at the delightful Eight Bells Mountain Inn for lunch
15h00:Arrive in Mossel Bay, here there are options to visit the Diaz Museum and Post Office Tree, visit some of the interesting shops in Marsh Street, or a gentle walk around the Point Promenade
17h00 Arrive in George

Cost per person:
4-8  people R380, 00 p.p.
2-3  people R720, 00p.p.

This cost includes:
All transport in air-conditioned minibus
Driver/guide
All entry fees

Cost does not include:
Lunches. Teas, Drinks

Half-day tours from George
(starting and finishing in George).
(08h30 to 13h00 ; or 13h30 to 18h00)

Knysna half-day tour

Depart George and travel to Knysna, via Wilderness.
Short tour of the town, then either :
drive out to the scenic Knysna Heads viewpoint, or
do a 75-minute lagoon cruise (if available, cost R130,00 p.p.)
Explore the Knysna Waterfront complex, then return to George.

Mossel Bay half-day tour

Depart George  and travel to Mossel Bay. Visit the Dias Museum complex, including the Old Post Office Tree and the Caravel Museum. 
Then on to Mossel Bay Point, for a walk along the boulevard, and a visit to the Cape St Blaize cave.
Whales can often be seen from the shore (August to November). 
Tea is enjoyed at a beachfront coffee shop, then return to George.

Ostrich Farm half-day tour   

Depart George and travel over the scenic Outeniqua Pass into the Little Karoo (semi-desert). Drive through Oudtshoorn (the ostrich capital of the world), and on to Safari Ostrich Show Farm, for a guided tour of the farm, and a chance to sit, or ride on, one of these huge birds.
After tea/coffee here, we travel over the magnificent Robinson Pass back to the coast, and then return to George.

Prices of the above half-day tours :
R440,00 p.p. (for 2 or 3 people)
R275,00 p.p. (for 4 or more people).

These prices include :
All transport, in air-con vehicles.
Registered driver/guide
Entry fees (except optional lagoon cruise at Knysna – R130,00 p.p.).

Prices do not include :
Refreshments and meals
Lagoon cruise at Knysna

Tour to Millwood and Jubilee Creek

This outing will take you deep into the indigenous forest, in the foothills of the beautiful Outeniqua mountains, and you will have the opportunity of seeing the remnants of a bygone, gold-rush, era. The gold mining activity here was at its peak in the 1880s - there was a thriving town, with hotels, shops, bank, and even a music hall – but by 1893, with the decline in the gold output, the population had dwindled to only 70  people.
 
08h30  Depart from George and drive along the N2, through the Wilderness Lakes area. As we get close to Knysna, we take a turn, towards the mountains, to Rheenendal Village, and on through the forest towards the old Millwood gold mining site.

We have a short stop at the ‘Big Tree’, a +/- 700 year-old yellowwood, on the way to Millwood.

10h00   Tea stop at museum/tea garden at Millwood
After tea, we drive up to the Bendigo Mine, where we park the vehicles, and have a short walk to the mine, and the display of restored mine equipment.

We then drive back to Jubilee Creek, which is a lovely picnic site, in the forest, next to a stream.

11h30   For the more energetic, there is a forest walk to the waterfall and back. The total distance for the walk is about 3km.

13h15   Picnic lunch at Jubilee Creek
On the return journey, we shall be able to stop at the Sedgefield craft market
for tea before returning to George.

16h00  arrive in George
Cost for this excursion: 2-3 pax R570.00p.p.
4-8 pax R350.00p.p.

Included in this cost: All transport & guiding
picnic lunch at Jubilee Creek

Excluded: teas and other refreshments

Day trip to Sedgefield via Lakes and Bird Hides

This is an ideal opportunity to get out and enjoy some of the quiet beauty to be found close to home!! A wonderful soul restorer!

09h00:
Depart from George and drive to Wilderness Heights via Seven Passes Road.
Enjoy the view from the   Map of Africa view site and drive via Ebb and Flow to Malachite Kingfisher bird hide.
Here you should see many of the resident waterbirds, if you are very quiet you may be lucky enough to see the Purple Gallinule. This is a very beautiful but rather shy bird. Fish Eagles are resident in this area and can often be seen and heard. We can enjoy a picnic tea at this hide

11h30:
We continue along the lakes to the bird hide on Rondevlei.
After a relaxing quiet time here, we carry on to Sedgefield for lunch
After lunch we can take a drive to Swartvlei beach either to have a walk or just look at the sea.

14h30:
Return to George  

Cost of this excursion:
2-3 pax R360.00p.p.
4-8 pax RR220.00p.p.

Cost includes:
All transport and Guiding fees
teatime refreshments

Cost does not include:
Lunch and drinks
Suggested items to bring along
A hat, binoculars, camera. bird book. (I have a selection of bird books, so this is not a necessity)