Buffelsdrift Game Lodge

Day 1: Botlierskop - Oudtshoorn Depart Cape Town or Stellenbosch early morning (6am - 7am) and trade the silhouette of Table Mountain for the scenery at the starting point of the lush Garden Route region. Travel route about 450 km / 4 to 6 hours driving. Enjoy the scenic route along the way to the 3,500-hectare Botlierskop private game reserve. Located in a malaria-free area, the reserve is home to an abundance of wildlife including four of the Big Five, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and more than 200 bird species. Spot some of the wild animals native to the region from the back of an open-top 4x4 vehicle and keep your eyes peeled for lion, elephant, buffalo, and rhino sightings. Leopards are nocturnal hunters, evasive, and not contained by fences so it's unlikely to see them during these game drives. During the 2-hour game drive you may get time for a more personal encounter with nature as your guide allows you to hop off the vehicle (subject to weather and safety) to have quick walk in nature to look at insects, plants and smaller wildlife along the coastal Renosterveldt region. After an hour's journey, you'll reach either 4 star Luxe Buffelsdrift Game Lodge or 4 star Farmstay Mooi Plaas, just outside Oudtshoorn town – or the 3 star 88 Baron Van Reede Guesthouse option in side town. Get ready for an unexpected safari oasis. In the heart of the Klein Karoo, Buffelsdrift offer luxe canvas tents decked out with all the creature comforts, including a beautiful claw-footed bath, rustic outdoor shower, and an inviting king-sized bed. On the horizon line, giraffes snack on the tops of tall trees as the sun dips below the horizon. Take in the calm veld surroundings as you lounge at the pool deck. If you select the Farmstay option, overnight on the working ostrich farm, Mooi Plaas. Day 2: Buffelsdrift - Route 62 Travel about 450km / 6 hours driving (excl. safari). After breakfast, venture off into the Klein Karoo bush for an 2-hour 4x4 bush drive to seek out more of the local wildlife. Your ranger will help spot wildlife and share some of nature’s secrets while teaching you about the region’s fauna and flora. Get close to nature and discover insects, plants, and smaller mammals. Look out for buffalo, giraffes, kudu, porcupines, and meerkats. Join elephant guides on an optional Elephant Observation in nature experience (at extra expense) to have the opportunity to see three rescued elephants as they roam freely in this natural habitat in the Cango Valley overlooking a nearby waterhole. Learn about the gentle giants under the guidance of the elephant guides as you observe them, ask questions and take photos. End the day with a drive along Route 62, the longest wine route in the world. Travel back, soaking in the beauty of the high mountains, twisting passes and rugged Karoo plains on your return journey to arrive back in Cape Town or Stellenbosch by late evening (between 6pm - 9pm). Subject to traffic and stops.

Day 1: Cape Town to Oudtshoorn: Cango Caves and Buffelsdrift Bush Safari Game Drive Pick-up is between 06:00 and 06:30 am from your Cape Town accommodation. Our 5-hour trip to Oudtshoorn, the Ostrich Capital along the Garden Route, includes breaks for refreshments and rest stops. When we reach Oudtshoorn, we'll visit the Cango Caves for a 1-hour Heritage Tour of these ancient caves. Join a guided walk through the caves and delve deeper into one of the prominent attractions along the Garden Route. Following the Cango Caves visit, we'll drive for about 20 minutes to Buffelsdrift Game Reserve for an Afternoon Safari Experience. At 13:30, we'll have lunch. Following our Bush Safari Experience at Buffelsdrift, we'll journey to Chandelier Game Lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Day 2: Chandelier Giraffe & Ostrich Tour and Botlierskop Big 5 Safari Rise to the sounds of African wildlife and enjoy breakfast at Chandelier restaurant around 8:00 am. The morning includes a 30-minute Giraffe encounter at 9:00 am and a 1-hour Ostrich Tour at 10:00 am. After these experiences, guests will check out and head to Botlierskop. After morning activities and check-out, we'll depart Chandelier Game Lodge for Botlierskop Game Reserve. Enjoy lunch and a thrilling 3-hour afternoon Big 5 safari starting at 14:00. Encounter Rhinoceros, Lions, Elephants, Buffalo, Cheetah, Giraffe, rare Black Impala, Golden Wildebeest, Mountain Zebra, Hippos, and more! Following our thrilling Big 5 safari game drive at Botlierskop, we'll leave the Garden Route and head back to Cape Town. The journey will take roughly 4 to 4.5 hours, and we anticipate arriving in Cape Town around 21:00.