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Off to SA next week for my major hols of the year (If you don't count my 4 month working in India!)

Based around Cape Town where we're staying for 4 days and going to the Lions match against Western Province. Then we've got hired cars and driving around for a week. Going to Hermanus, and then to the Garden Route staying at Mossel Bay, and Plettenburg Bay on the Garden Route,  then back to Cape Town via the Mountain Route via Oudtshoorn.

Now, these are places on an Itinerary that my uncle has set up, I have no idea what to expect really, has anyone been before?

It's been a while but it was great. Try and get to Cape Point if you can and also spend a couple of days in the Wine Region, Paarl of Stellenboch. A day visiting wineries sampling the wares is great. Start @ 10 am on the Champers

Stellenbosch and Paarl are very near Cape Town (no more than 2 hours' drive) and on the way to the Garden Route (which is further east still from Cape Town).  Definitely worth stopping off, as Redbuck says.

All I would say about the Garden Route is do have a clear idea of what you would like to do when you get there.  It's not a destination as such, more a picturesque region.  I was there 10 years ago with an ex girlfriend and, after the drive from Cape Town, found myself thinking 'OK, we're here now.  What next?'

Within a day or two. we soon found answers to the question.  Amongst other things, we both did (what was then in 1999, maybe still?) the world's highest bungee jump from the Bloukrans River Bridge.

Beautiful country...although, sadly, some of the casual racism that still exists there will take your breath away.

Stellenbosch is really nice for wine tours, I went on one and got absolutely slaughtered!

Hermanus is a great place and you can whale watch from the beach, although I think they only tend to come close to the shore in Autumn. Its best to go on a boat trip to see them, we travelled to Plettenberg Bay and caught a trip and we got so close to the whales I was able to stroke one! We also went along side a load of dolphins speeding through the water - it was ace.

Oudtshoorn is very different from the other places and its quite a drive! We stayed at a working ostrich farm and that was great. The Cango Caves nearby are worth a visit, there are a few nature parks which are smart, you can get really up close and personal with the animals - we got to stroke Cheetahs amongst other things!

SA is a really easy place to get around, fuel is cheap and you don't even need to get out the car to fuel up as there are always loads of petrol pump attendants floating around the forecourts.

What is quite interesting when driving around is the amount of people trying to flag you down for a lift, this is common and part of their culture, but it does seem odd when you're first there!!

As Ossie says though, the casual racism is a real eye opener on arrival!!!

shark cage dive from hermanus or near by
ride an ostrich at oudtshoorn (if you're 80kg or less)
climb table mountain in cape town

they are my 3 tips from where you are going

Thanks for all the responses, very helpful.

Fly out on Wednesday, can't wait!