South African Explorer

On arrival at the airport, you will be collected for your transfer to the hotel. After lunch you will embark on a guided afternoon city tour of Johannesburg.

Share in the history of Johannesburg – our city of gold.
Relive the South African dream with the street life of Newtown and a trip to the Carlton Centre and Constitution Hill.

Tonight enjoy dinner (own account) at your hotel.
Crowne Plaza Johannesburg – The Rosebank Hotel or similar - bed and breakfast

This morning you will be collected from your Johannesburg hotel and leaving the city behind you head East, via Dullstroom, to Limpopo Province.

Stop for lunch (own account) en route and arrive at Makalali Private Game Reserve on the banks of the Makhutswi River in time for high tea. Makalali Private Game Reserve is one of the leading pioneers in eco-tourism. Once a cattle farm, it has been revived to its present splendour as a game reserve and has successfully reintroduced animals such as lions, rhinos, elephants and leopards.

Let the bushveld enchant you on a guided open vehicle game drive, view the “Big 5” and other distinctive species like the giraffe, zebra and the endangered cheetah.

Return to the lodge and savour the luxurious yet rustic settings with pre-dinner drinks (own account) before tucking into a dinner of delicious local fare.
Makalali Private Game Reserve or similar – dinner, bed and breakfast,including two game viewing activities.

An early start sees you enjoying the bushveld as it come alive on a guided open vehicle game drive. The morning sights and sounds differ vastly from the evening sounds of the night hunters and crawlers, and with a bit of luck, some of the big cats may be still about after their night of hunting.

Enjoy coffee and rusks in the bush before breakfast back at the lodge. After breakfast we head to one of Mpumalanga’s most magnificent attractions, the Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondawels, on the Panorama Route.

The Blyde River Canyon may be one of the largest green canyons in the world with its lush subtropical vegetation. The Panorama Route offers you memorable views and unique natural phenomenon, like God’s Window and Bourke’s Luck Potholes.

Lunch (own account) will be enjoyed along this scenic route. Venture onto the small town of Sabie in the Drakensberg escarpment for the evening. Check in and freshen up for dinner.
Lone Creek River Lodge or similar – dinner, bed and breakfast

An early departure will see you leave the mountainous town of Sabie and drive, via Hazyview, onto Mpumalanga’s flagship attraction, the Kruger National Park.

The Kruger National Park forms part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. This peace park links the Kruger with Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe, and with the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique and is 20 000 square kilometres in size, roughly the size of the Netherlands.

A closed vehicle game drive will give you the opportunity to take in the park’s vastness and seek out the “Big 5” and other endangered and indigenous animals and plants. Amongst the park’s diverse offerings are: 147 mammals, 507 birds, 114 reptiles and 1 982 plants species with several historical and ancient archaeological sites.

Enjoy lunch in the park (own account). Exit the park at Malelane Gate and onto your lodge on the Mthethomusha Game Reserve. Enjoy an open vehicle game drive followed by dinner.
Bongani Mountain Lodge or similar – dinner, bed and breakfast including one game activity

After an early breakfast you will travel to St Lucia via the Kingdom of Swaziland. Swaziland, one of only two kingdoms in Southern Africa, is also the smallest country in Africa. This landlocked kingdom is named after the 19th century King Mswati II and is today still steeped in ancient cultural traditions. Enjoy lunch (own account) en route. Exit Swaziland at the Lavumisa Border post and enter the sub-tropical Elephant Coast, the Zulu Kingdom of KwaZulu-Natal.

An area naturally gifted with towering mountains, the blissfully warm Indian Ocean, lush tropical vegetation and a myriad of different animal species. In the late afternoon you will arrive at your hotel. You will have an opportunity to freshen up before relaxing with pre-dinner drinks and dinner (both for own account) at the restaurant.

Optional night game activity available (own account).
Elephant Lake Hotel or similar – bed and breakfast including one game activity
NOTE: When entering the Kingdom of Swaziland, please ensure that you are in possession of a valid passport, and for nationals of certain countries, multi-entry visa entry and conditions will apply.

Awake in this little piece of paradise, ready to discover South Africa’s first World Heritage Site, iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park was listed as South Africa’s first World Heritage Site in December 1999. The 332 000ha Park contains 3 major lake systems, eigh interlinking ecosystems, 700 year old fishing traditions, most of South Africa’s remaining swamp forests, Africa’s largest estuarine system, 526 bird species and 25 000 year-old coastal dunes - amongst the highest in the world and home to the biggest hippo and crocodile populations in the world The name iSimangaliso means miracle and wonder, which aptly describes this unique place.

Before breakfast, embark on an open safari vehicle, where you will be guided on a game drive through iSimangaliso. Observe hippopotamus, crocodiles, and an abundance of birds on an eco-friendly boat cruise on the Estuary. Enjoy a revitalising lunch (own account) while taking pleasure in the lovely lake views before departing for the city of Durban. Dinner (own account).
Protea Hotel Edward or similar - bed and breakfast

After breakfast you will make your way to Plettenberg Bay or “Plett” as it is known by the locals. From Lookout Beach you will be taken on an Ocean Safari (weather permitting), dedicated to observation and conservation that allows for extensive and memorable whale, dolphin and seal watching. Following your marine excursion, enjoy a relaxing lunch (own account). In the afternoon, take a guided tour of the Qolweni Township, school and crèche.

This is a community enrichment programme that sees the proceeds of its tours going into the education of the young children of Qolweni. Guests are welcome to donate pencils, books and other stationary.

Take a scenic drive back to your Knysna hotel and enjoy time at leisure. In the early evening make your way to the Knysna Waterfront for a leisurely dinner (own account) at one of the many restaurants on offer.
Protea Hotel Knysna Quays or similar – bed and breakfast

Depart after breakfast and begin today’s journey to Oudtshoorn, in the Klein Karoo, via Wilderness and the Outeniqua Pass. Your first scenic stop is in Wilderness.

Enjoy the photo opportunities and unspoilt views at the ‘Map of Africa’ lookout point (weather permitting) before you continue your journey via the Outeniqua Pass. Enjoy lunch (own account) on an ostrich farm in the Cango Valley, on the outskirts of Oudtshoorn, before taking a tour of the farm.

Learn about these birds, their industry and then dare to ride the world’s biggest bird species. Following the ostrich farm tour, you will then drive to your lodge where an optional afternoon game drive will be available (own account) before dinner.
De Opstal Country Lodge or similar – dinner, bed and breakfast

Today your trip takes you from Oudtshoorn to Cape Town via the Cango Caves and the iconic Route 62. After breakfast you will have the rare opportunity to experience an elephant interaction and feeding with the African elephants that were raised at Bufflesdrift Game Lodge. Leaving these gentle giants we make our way to the Cango Caves, a 20 million year old natural treasure at the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains.

Departing this world wonder, we travel along the picturesque Route 62. With its ever changing landscapes, this route will escort you from tranquil winelands to dramatic mountain vistas and the unique beauty of the semi-arid Klein Karoo.

Enjoy traditional Witblitz tasting (included) and lunch (own account) en route. Continue your scenic journey onto Cape Town and arrive at your city hotel. This evening’s dinner (own account) can be enjoyed at the hotel.
Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Cape Town or similar – bed and breakfast

Cape Town offers a wide range of activities and attractions from platinum beaches, a World Heritage Site Table Mountain, inviting night life, extensive shopping venues as well as art and cultural events. After breakfast, join a guided full day Cape Point tour.

Travel along the Atlantic seaboard to Cape Point via Chapman’s Peak and Cape Peninsula. Visit the Cape Point Nature Reserve; Boulders Penguin Colony (own account) where you can see the Cape Fur Seal Colony and rare African Penguins.

The tour ends at the world-renowned Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Freshen up before dining out in one of the many restaurants in the city (own account).
Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Cape Town or similar – bed and breakfast