Part 1: Fully Escorted Safari

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.

* Part 2 - Self Drive tour of Cape Town & the Garden Route *

Please note that all self-drive tours may be customized to suit your specific requirements

At the Cape Town International Airport you collect your rental car and travel 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.

Days 6, 7 & 8 – Western Cape Province – Cape Town
You have three full days in which to explore the beautiful city of Cape Town and it’s surrounding areas on your own.
Suggested highlights:

• Cable Car ride to the top of Table Mountain
• Signal Hill with spectacular views of Cape Town
• Cape Town City with the Houses of Parliament, the City Hall & the Castle of Good Hope
• Blouberg Beach
• The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
• Clifton & Camps Bay beach views
• Picturesque Chapman’s Peak Drive
• Cape Point & nature reserve
• The Cape of Good Hope
• Fish Hoek & Simon’s Town
• The penguin colony at Boulder’s Beach
• The Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
• A Boat trip to Seal Island from Houtbay
• The Cape Winelands including the towns of Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch
• Robben Island
• Whale watching in Hermanus (July to November)

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”.
Suggested highlights:

• 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 route crosses the Robinsons Pass to Mosselbay, and then continues via George & Wilderness to the charming town of  Knysna, in the heart of the Garden Route.
Suggested highlights:

• 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
You have a full day to explore the Garden Route area between Knysna and the Tsitsikamma forest.
Suggested highlights:

• 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 you 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 days exploring the beautiful Garden Route!
Suggested highlights:

• Swellendam, the 3rd oldest town in South Africa
• The southernmost tip of the African continent, where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet
• Whale watching at Walker Bay in Hermanus (seasonal)
• The scenic coastal route past the villages of Kleinmond, Betty’s Bay and Pringle Bay

Your rental vehicle is handed back at Cape Town International Airport for the end of the tour.

Please note: The activities and excursions mentioned under “Suggested highlights” in the itinerary are suggestions only, and the cost thereof is not included in the tour price. Activities mentioned under “Included highlights” are included with the accommodation, at no additional cost.