We will spend much of the time investigating the rich geological and paleontological setting of the Western Cape region and the Great Karoo. We will visit a very important Permian Age, paleo-surface that preserves immaculate footprints and fossils. Afterwards we will head down to the famous fold mountains of the Swartberg Mountain Range. Our last day will see us journey through the Little Karoo all the way back to Cape Town again.

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1 : We start our tour at Sea Point near Cape Town where there is a famous geological contact zone and rock formations. A special site which left a mark with Darwin. From there we travel north to Blaauwberg Beach and on to Yzerfontein to view 2 very distinctive volcanic and igneous formations. We then head inland towards the famous Cape Mountains near Ceres and Worcester to explore the Cape Supergroup Formation and its various sub-formations and deposits. Travelling further north along the N1 we pass through De Doorns and on to our accommodation.

Day 2 : The second day see us venturing into the Karoo Supergroup and the famous town of Matjiesfontein explore the glacial rocks of the Dwyka Formation. Then it’s of to Laingsburg where we have the Ecca Shales and fabulous fossil of a tree trunk preserved in the rocks. After that we travel through the Beaufort Group rocks all the way to Beaufort West and our accommodation at the Karoo National Park. Here we will explore its rocks and walk along its fossil trail.

Day 3 : We travel and explore the rest of the Beaufort Group enroute to Fraserburg via a fabulous “secret” pass where excellent exposures can be seen. At Fraserburg we will be taken on a fossil tour where we can see footprints and fossils of the famous Karoo reptiles that predate the dinosaurs. In the afternoon we travel back to our accommodation at Beaufort West.

Day 4 : We now venture south again to the quaint little town of Prins Albert at the foothills of the famous Swartberg Pass. After booking into our accommodation we will set out on our next field trip into and up the Swartberg Pass to view the Cape Fold Mountains and the geology in its full splendour!

Day 5: Our last day will see us traveling into and through the spectacular Meiringspoort to view an excellent example of an over-thrust fault. We continue onwards then to the town of De Rust and will follow the back roads onto Oudtshoorn and the Little Karoo. The Enon Formation provides some unique geology in this landscape and worthwhile exploring. After Oudtshoorn we travel slowly back to Cape Town while viewing and exploring the geological setting of the Little Karoo.