Day 1 – Mpumalanga Province - Kruger National Park Border
An early departure from Johannesburg as we travel east towards the Mpumalanga Province and visit the many attractions along the “Panorama Route”, including God’s Window, the Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the viewpoint over the Blyde River Canyon at the Three Rondavels. In the afternoon we descend the eastern escarpment and travel through the warm “lowveld” to a beautiful country lodge, located just a short distance from the nearest entrance gate to the Kruger National Park.
Accommodation: Country Lodge
Dinner, bed & breakfast basis
Day 2 – Mpumalanga/Limpopo Province - Kruger National Park
We depart before dawn and travel the short distance to the entrance gate to the Kruger National Park. Once inside the Park, excitement will mount as we start seeing some of the numerous animals that inhabit this magnificent wildlife sanctuary. Breakfast packs will be provided, which we will enjoy at a picnic spot inside the Kruger Park. We spend virtually the entire day travelling inside the Kruger Park, arriving at our “restcamp” in the late afternoon. Accommodation tonight is in comfortable en-suite bungalows or cottages, and dinner is enjoyed in the camp restaurant.
Accommodation: Satara, Olifants, Letaba or Skukuza Restcamp
Dinner, bed & breakfast basis
What is a restcamp? The word "restcamp" is a bit deceiving as it has nothing to do with "camping". The accommodation used in the Kruger National Park are brick or stone cottages or bungalows, usually with a thatched roof. These bungalows or cottages all have private en-suite facilities (WC, shower and wash basin) and air-conditioning.
Day 3 – Mpumalanga/Limpopo Province – Private Game Reserve
After breakfast we depart from our restcamp, and spend most of the morning inside the Kruger Park, game-viewing as we go. Around mid-day we exit the Park, and travel to an exclusive lodge in a nearby private game reserve, where later this afternoon your first exhilarating game drive in specially adapted open 4X4 vehicles is undertaken. At dusk sundowners are enjoyed deep in the bush, after which the drive continues, making use of spotlights to search for nocturnal animals. A final highlight today is a specially prepared dinner at the lodge.
Accommodation: Private Game Lodge
Fully inclusive of all meals & game-viewing activities
We make use of a number of smaller and more intimate game lodges in one of the private game reserves that lie directly west of the Kruger National Park. The specific game lodge used will depend on availability, but should be one of the following: Serondella Game Lodge, Monwana Game Lodge, Waterbuck Game Lodge, Jackalberry Game Lodge, Chapungu Luxury Tented Lodge, Kapama River Lodge, Kapama Buffalo Camp or Gomo Gomo Game Lodge
Day 4 – Mpumalanga/Limpopo Province - Private Game Reserve
An early wake up call signals the start of yet another exciting day in Big Five territory. You depart on an early morning safari in open 4x4 vehicles after which you return to the lodge for a late breakfast.
After breakfast you can embark on a guided bush walk with an armed ranger, who will identify spoor and droppings and share with you some of the fascinating secrets of the bush. If you are lucky you may come across big game on foot - a truly exhilarating experience. This evening another safari in open 4x4 vehicles is undertaken, followed by a scrumptious South African dinner.
Accommodation: Private Game Lodge
Fully inclusive of all meals & game-viewing activities
Day 5 – Western Cape Province – Cape Town
After a final open vehicle game drive breakfast, you are collected from the lodge and transferred to the Hoedspruit or Nelspruit Airport for a domestic flight to Johannesburg, where you connect with a flight to Cape Town. Upon your arrival at the Cape Town International Airport you are met and transferred to your hotel, ideally located at the entrance to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.
Accommodation: City Lodge Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Bed & breakfast basis
Please note: The City Lodge Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is an excellent 3-star hotel, well located at the entrance to the V&A Waterfront. However, there are numerous other hotels in Cape Town, any of which could be used as an alternative to the City Lodge. Should you wish to be accommodated at any other hotel of your choice please let us know and we will send you an amended quote.
Day 6 – Western Cape Province – Cape Town
This morning we undertake an orientation walk through the vibrant Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, led by your tour guide. We then depart on a Cape Town City, Table Mountain & Blouberg Beach Tour. This tour incorporates some of the most interesting and historical sights of Cape Town, unforgettable views from the Table Mountain Arial Cableway, and the summit of Table Mountain itself. The tour ends with a visit to Blouberg Beach which offers outstanding photographic opportunities of Cape Town City, the Cape Town Waterfront and Table Mountain across Table Bay.
Includes:
- Table Mountain – weather permitting (otherwise Signal Hill)
- Scenic City tour passing the Houses of Parliament, the City Hall & the Castle of Good Hope
- "Bo-Kaap" (traditional Malay Quarter)
- Green Market Square
- District Six
- Blouberg Beach
Please note:
As the operation of the Table Mountain Arial Cable Way is weather-dependent, the Cable Car Fare is for your own account and is payable at the ticket office.
You are requested to be ready for pick-up at 09:00, and will be back at the hotel at approx 17:30.
Accommodation: City Lodge Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Bed & breakfast basis
Day 7 – Western Cape Province – Cape Town
Today you undertake a full day Cape Point Tour. First on the program is a drive to Cape Point, where traditionally the two oceans, the Atlantic and the Indian meet. On our drive along the rugged and scenic Atlantic coast, you will begin to understand why Sir Francis Drake described this as “the most beautiful Cape in whole the circumference of the globe”, but also why at times the Portuguese name of the “Cape of Storms”, could be as appropriate. We also visit Boulder’s Beach, home of one of the very rare African Penguin colonies on the African coast. The tour ends with a visit to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, world-renowned for the beauty and diversity of the Cape flora it displays, and for the magnificence of its setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain.
Includes:
- Clifton & Camps Bay beach views
- Picturesque Chapman’s Peak Drive
- Cape Point & nature reserve
- The Cape of Good Hope
- Penguin colony at Boulder’s Beach
- Fish Hoek & Simon’s Town
- Kirstenbosch botanical gardens
Please note:
For those who do not feel up to the stiff walk to the view site at Cape Point, there is an electrically powered funicular railway, the only one of its kind in the world. The cost of the funicular is included.
You are requested to be ready for pick-up at 08:30, and will be back at the hotel at approx 17:30.
Accommodation: City Lodge Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Bed & breakfast basis
Day 8 – Western Cape Province – Cape Town
This morning you are collected for a full day tour of the magnificent Cape Winelands. The picturesque towns of Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, in the heart of South Africa’s wine producing areas, will be visited today. Apart from magnificent scenery, these towns have much to offer and one thing that may not be missed is a visit to a few of the many wine estates, where some of South Africa’s best wines can be sampled.
Includes:
Paarl
- An informative drive through the town of Paarl
- A cellar tour with wine tasting
- The Afrikaans Language Monument, the world’s only monument dedicated to a language
Franschhoek
- A visit to a wine estate with wine tasting
- The village of Franschhoek
- The Huguenot Memorial
Stellenbosch
- The Helshoogte Mountain Pass
- City tour of Stellenbosch with some free time to explore on foot
- A visit to a wine estate with wine tasting
You are requested to be ready for pick-up at 08:30, and will be back at the hotel at approx 17:30.
Accommodation: City Lodge Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Bed & breakfast basis
Day 9 – Western Cape Province - Oudtshoorn
Today you depart on the exiting Garden Route leg of the tour. The route crosses over the Du Toit’s Kloof Mountain Pass, continues via Worcester and Robertson, and then along the well known “Route 62” past the interesting towns of Montagu, Barrydale and Calitzdorp to Oudtshoorn, the “Ostrich Capital of the World”.
Includes:
- The Du Toit's Kloof mountain pass & tunnel
- The interesting and historic towns of Worcester, Robertson, Montagu, Barrydale & Calitzdorp
- Oudtshoorn – The “Ostrich Capital of the World”.
- A guided tour of the awe-inspiring Cango Caves
Accommodation: La Plume Guest Farm
Bed & breakfast basis
Day 10 – Western Cape Province - Knysna
The day starts with a visit to an ostrich farm where, through interesting talks and demonstrations by experts, you will get to know more about these fascinating birds. Our route then crosses the Robinsons Pass to Mosselbay, and continues via George & Wilderness to the charming town of Knysna, in the heart of the Garden Route.
Includes:
- Guided tour of an Ostrich farm
- The Diaz Museum in Mosselbay
- The “Post Office Tree” where early sailors left mail for homebound ships to Europe
- Scenic coastal drive between George and Knysna
Accommodation: Bradach Manor (Lagoon facing room)
Bed & breakfast basis
Day 11 – Western Cape Province - Knysna
A full day is spent exploring the Garden Route between Knysna and the Tsitsikamma forest, before returning to Knysna in the late afternoon for a romantic boat cruise on the Knysna Lagoon.
Includes:
- Plettenberg Bay
- Monkeyland, the world’s first free-roaming multi-specie primate sanctuary
- Garden of Eden, in one of the most lush and beautiful parts of the Knysna forest
- The Big Tree
- Dizzying view from the Paul Sauer Bridge over the Storms River
- A cruise on the Knysna Lagoon to the Knysna Heads
- The Knysna Waterfront
Accommodation: Bradach Manor (Lagoon facing room)
Bed & breakfast basis
Day 12 – End of Tour
An early departure from Knysna as we travel via Swellendam to the southernmost point of the African continent at Cape Agulhas. The route then continues to the famous whale watching town of Hermanus, before ending back in Cape Town after four fabulous days exploring the beautiful Garden Route!
Includes:
- Swellendam, the 3rd oldest town in South Africa
- The southernmost tip of the African Continent
- Whale watching at Walker Bay in Hermanus (seasonal)
- The scenic coastal route past the villages of Kleinmond, Betty’s Bay and Pringle Bay
Arrival in Cape Town at approximately 18:00 |