Savoring South Africa

Upon arrival in Johannesburg, we will be met at the airport and transferred to the Protea Waterfront Hotel, Centurion, or similar, for your overnight.
Alternatively, if you arrive one day earlier, you can join a pre-trip extension to the urban township of Soweto for an experience filled with history, music, food, and a lively contemporary culture.

We begin our South African adventure today by heading east into the scenic Mpumalanga Province, which means “Place of the Rising Sun”, with the rugged Drakensberg Range as a backdrop. The afternoon will be spent in the historic mining town of Pilgrims Rest. Gold was discovered here in 1873 and for 10 years the area buzzed with diggers working small claims before the large companies came in and took over the town. In 1972 the old company town was sold to the government and in 1986, the entire town was declared a national monument. Overnight at the Graskop Hotel, or similar.

Meals: Breakfast

This morning is spent viewing the spectacular Blyde River Canyon, one of South Africa’s scenic highlights, while en-route to the famous Kruger National Park. Kruger National Park stretches north to south over approximately 500 km and is the largest game reserve in South Africa. It claims to have the greatest variety of animals of any park in Africa including all of the “Big Five” (lion, leopard, elephant, Cape buffalo, and black rhino) as well as numerous other species of fauna and flora. Some people rank it as one of the finest national parks in the world, and it is extremely well-managed and protected. In combination with surrounding private reserves, it represents a vast ecosystem hosting all of the major game species of southern Africa. We will embark on early morning and late afternoon game drives in search of the abundant birds and animals inhabiting the park, but you will also find that the landscape alone is beautiful and fascinating. An optional night drive or game walk may be booked locally. Overnights at Kruger Rest Camp, or similar.

Meals: 2 Breakfasts

Swaziland is an independent monarchy on the Mozambique border. This is a friendly country where you will feel welcome and safe. The beautiful Mlilwane Game Reserve was the first in Swaziland and is a testament to the kingdom’s commitment to wildlife preservation. The area offers an opportunity to sample nature at a smaller and more informal scale than in Kruger. We will have a guided walk, and you may choose to participate in other optional activities (booked locally) such as mountain biking and horseback rides in the reserve. Overnight in unique, traditional Swazi Beehive huts, or similar.

Meals: Breakfast

Zululand, a province within South Africa covers a large part of the KwaZulu-Natal. From our base in Zululand, rich in both cultural history and wildlife, we will enjoy game drives in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserves, famous for their role in saving the endangered white and black rhinos. The two reserves were first proclaimed in 1895 and are among the best in South Africa. We are likely see many rhinos, as well as lions, elephants, giraffe and a large variety of birds. A cultural visit to a local village is also included. Overnights at the Banghoek Lodge, or similar.

Meals: 2 Breakfasts

We will depart after breakfast and follow the scenic Indian Ocean coastline through the hilly region of KwaZulu-Natal. We will arrive at Oribi Gorge in the early afternoon. This spectacular gorge on the Umzimkulwana River is one of the highlights along the coast. We will have time to view the gorge or participate in the various activites available, including a gorge swing, abseiling and hiking trails that can be booked on site. Overnight Oribi Gorge Hotel, or similar.

Meals: Breakfast

Transkei, birthplace of Nelson Mandela, the first democratically elected South African president, is well known for its stunning coastline, lush subtropical vegetation, unspoiled beaches, and relaxed atmosphere. You will have a full day in the hamlet of Coffee Bay where you will have a full day available for scenic walks on the Wild Coast Trail or enjoy of the surf beaches and marine life along the shore. You may wish to hike to the Hole-in-the-Wall geological site. We will stay in the small town of Coffee Bay, located in the heart of the Transkei coast. Overnights at the Ocean View Hotel, or similar.

Meals: 2 Breakfasts

Today's drive will take us south, just inland from the Ship Wreck Coast, where we will enjoy another very special wildlife experience today! Encompassing much of the Sundays River Valley near the Zuurberg Range, the enormous, and soon to be enlarged, Addo Elephant National Park is home to large herds of elephants, lions, and antelopes. We will take a game drive and observe the animals interacting at the floodlit waterhole. Overnight at the Addo Rest Camp, or similar.

Meals: Breakfast

Continuing west, we will explore the famous Garden Route, which encompasses a verdant and highly attractive stretch of coastline between the forests of Tsitsikamma and the winelands of the Western Cape. We will have a full day to explore the charming towns of the area or partake in a variety of optional activities (booked locally) including hiking, whale watching, or a sunset boat cruise. As this is a famous and popular tourist area, there is an abundance of restaurants and shops. Overnight Knysna Hollow or similar.

Meals: 2 Breakfasts

We head inland this morning to Oudtshoorn. This was the center of the great ostrich plume boom of the 19th century when fortunes were made in the feathers and much of the money went into building this town, which is still crazy for the birds. Heading inland via the Outeniqua Pass, we will enjoy a fascinating guided tour of an Ostrich Farm and the famous Cango Caves, named after the Khosian word for “a wet place”. This extensive system of Pre-Cambrian limestone caverns is one of the largest and most impressive in southern Africa. Overnight at the Kleinplaas Resort chalets, or similar.

Meals: Breakfast

Our journey will take us through a picturesque fruit and wine growing valley known as the longest wine route in the world — “Route 62.” Route 62 is a tourist route in the Western Cape that meanders between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn and the Garden Route and Port Elizabeth, offering a scenic alternative to the N2 highway. It's an area of magnificent landscapes, towering cliffs, crystal clear streams, and an abundance of trees and indigenous flora. The unique aspects of this environment make Paarl and Wellington, the Breede River Valley, the Klein Karoo, and the Langkloof some of South Africa's most diverse regions. This scenic route passes through farming towns and the fruit growing and wine producing towns of Barrydale, Montagu, Ashton, Bonnievale, Robertson, McGregor, Worcester, Wellington, and Paarl. Maintaining its reputation, Route 62 boasts countless wine cellars and estates. We will arrive in Cape Town and check into our hotel Breakwater Lodge, or similar.

Meals: Breakfast

This morning, we will depart at 8:00 a.m. for a full day peninsular tour. Driving along the Atlantic seaboard via Hout Bay and Chapmans Peak, we will visit the Cape Point Nature Reserve and then return to the hotel via the Indian Ocean coastline. A morning or afternoon cable car ascent up Table Mountain is included (weather dependent). Dinners can be enjoyed at the bustling waterfront (own expense). Overnight at the Breakwater Lodge, or similar.

Meals: 2 Breakfasts

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Or, alternatively, add one day for a visit to famous Robben Island. For nearly 400 years, this island, 12 km/7.5 mi from Cape Town, was a place of banishment, exile, isolation and imprisonment. It was here that rulers sent those they regarded as political troublemakers, social outcasts, and the unwanted of society. During the apartheid years, Robben Island became internationally known for its institutional brutality. The duty of those who ran the Island and its prison was to isolate opponents of apartheid and crush their morale. Some freedom fighters spent more than a quarter of a century in prison for their beliefs, most famously, Nelson Mandela. Those imprisoned on the Island succeeded on a psychological and political level in turning a prison 'hell-hole' into a symbol of freedom and personal liberation. Robben Island came to symbolize the triumph of the human spirit over enormous hardship and adversity, not only for South Africa and the African continent, but also for the entire world. This three and a half hour tour includes a return trip across Table Bay, a visit to the Maximum Security Prison, interaction with an ex-political prisoner, and a 45-minute bus tour with a guide providing commentary. Return to the Breakwater Hotel for your overnight.

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight home.

Meals: Breakfast