VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations Unveils Cycling South Africa: Cape Town & The Garden Route

From Cape Town to Tsitsikamma National Park, Cyclists Explore Coastal Towns, Scenic Winelands and Lush Gardens.

BRISTOL, VT— July 14, 2014 – VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, the oldest active travel company in the nation, unveils a cycling adventure through South Africa’s coastal garden route and cosmopolitan Cape Town. Highlights include:

• Meeting a Sangoma, a traditional healer
• Indulging in homemade local cuisine during a picnic overlooking the coastline
• Sample traditional South African barbecue
• Visit local winery and indulge in a tasting
• Spotting South African wildlife, including Klipspringer, Black eagle and Grey Rhebuck
• Swimming in the Indian Ocean between bike rides
• Extension options at Kruger National Park and Victoria Falls

This new tour brings travelers along the 3,000 kilometer coastline from Table Mountain in Cape Town to the renowned Garden Route. During a warm-up ride, cyclists will explore the base of the mountain followed by a cable car trip to explore the top of the peak with sprawling views of the whole city. After biking to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, travelers will enjoy one of VBT’s signature experiences, a home-cooked dinner with a local family.

During a visit to Simontown, guests will explore the African Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach and take in sweeping views of False Bay before biking to a local township with representatives of the Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN). The trip continues to Franshhoek, the “French Corner” of South Africa where travelers will cycle through fragrant vineyards and sample local wine at nearby wineries. The tour then heads eastward to Little Karoo, a sprawling, semi-arid region known for its wildflower-filled valleys and majestic sandstone mountains, where guests will stay on a working ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn. Other highlights include exploring picturesque Meiringspoort, a scenic ride along the Cape Fold Mountains, a traditional donkey cart ride and a taste of local cuisine during a traditional South African barbeque known as a braai.

The tour concludes with three days along the lush, coastal Garden Route, where travelers will enjoy cruising on bike paths along the Knysna Lagoon onto Thesen Island and Knysna Head. Off the bike activities include an optional hike around the Robberg Peninsula where travelers can spot Cape fur seals, bottlenose dolphins, and even humpback whales amid the soaring cliffs, white-sand beaches and rock-ringed lagoons. The next day, the group will head along quiet roads amidst the Afro-Montane forest where travelers listen for the call of the indigenous birds as they pedal through the tree-lined paths to Tsitsikamma National Park. The final night of the tour is completed with a farewell dinner at an African lodge.

For travelers who want to explore more of South Africa, VBT offers a pre-trip extension for two nights of safari in Kruger National Park at the Rhino Post Safari Lodge. Kruger is home to the legendary Big Five – rhino, lion, leopard, buffalo and elephant. The post trip extension option includes two nights in Zimbabwe at the Ilala Lodge, walking distance to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World – Victoria Falls.

All VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations are led by local residents who will provide insight into the region’s customs and traditions, as well as help facilitate authentic cultural experiences. Continually recognized as the best value in active travel, VBT’s tour prices include all accommodations, use of custom bicycles, many meals, two expert local trip leaders, unique sightseeing and cultural activities, and on-tour vehicle support.

To learn more about this new vacation, request a catalog and to book visit vbt.com/Tours/south-africa or call VBT’s tour consultants at 888-487-7603 Monday-Friday from 8:30am to 6:30pm EST.

About VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations
VBT offers deluxe, small group bicycling and walking tours worldwide, including destinations throughout Europe, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Vietnam, Peru, South Africa, and the United States. Each trip includes all accommodations, many meals, two expert local Trip Leaders, unique sightseeing and cultural activities and on-tour vehicle support. Unlike other companies, VBT also includes roundtrip international airfare from over 30 U.S. cities and select Canadian cities for all overseas vacations. In 2013, VBT was rated by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine among the “World’s Best Tour Operators” for the fourth consecutive year.