15-Day Tour of South Africa and Cape Town, a Taste of South Africa

DAY 01. Gauteng – Panoramic Route (Taste of South Africa and Cape Town)

Our first day of this 15-day tour of South Africa takes us from Johannesburg via Middelburg, Dullstroom and Robber’s Pass to Pilgrim´s Rest, the early gold mining town turned into a living museum. Rich deposits of alluvial gold were found here at the end of the 19th century, hence the town’s existence deep in the mountains. After exploring this quaint old town, we continue After exploring this quaint old town, we continue to Graskop, our overnight spot  situated on the edge of the escarpment! Overnight Angels View Hotel. (Dinner included).

DAY 02.  Panoramic Route – Private Reserve

From Graskop we travel further and marvel at scenic areas such as the Pinnacle, God’s Window, Lisbon Falls, Bourke’s Luck Potholes (a walk down the hill to this unique trick of nature is worth the effort), and the magnificent Three Rondavels view site at the Blyde River Canyon. We walk along the cliffs to really appreciate the breathtaking views.  Finally, we descend to the Lowveld via Abel Erasmus Pass and the Strijdom Tunnel to arrive at Mohlabetsi in the Balule private game reserve,  a part of the Greater Kruger National Park. This afternoon our encounter with Africa’s wildlife begins as we travel on an open vehicle to search for the game. Enjoy a great dinner under the stars tonight (weather permitting). Overnight at Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge.

DAY 03. Private Reserve –  Kruger National Park

After an early morning open vehicle game drive and conditions permitting, a hike on foot searching for the animals, we enjoy breakfast and then leave for the Kruger National Park. We spend the rest of the afternoon in this magnificent reserve, around 2 million ha in extent. We overnight in chalets in one of the rest camps in the park.

DAY 04.  Kruger National Park – Swaziland

We rise early for a game drive and return for breakfast in the camp. Spend the rest of the morning in the reserve.

Continue to the mountain Kingdom of Swaziland. Visit the Ngwenya glass factory; all the items are hand made from recycled glass. We drive through the capital, Mbabane, and continue to Mhlambanyatsi, where we overnight in the mountains at Foresters Arms.

DAY 05.   Swaziland – Zululand – Private Reserve

This morning we have an early breakfast and then visit Swazi Candles in the Malkerns Valley. Watch the locals hand-moulding wax into a variety of interesting shapes.  Here is also a market where the locals sell their craft and other shops to buy items like batik, hand-woven cloth, colourful handbags, etc. Continue along the Ezulwini Valley towards Manzini, the country’s industrial centre. Swing south towards Nhlangano on a scenic route where crossing every hill opens up a new vista. Exit Swaziland at the Onverwacht border post. We enter Zululand and travel southwards to Hluhluwe and arrive at our private lodge for check-in. Then we embark on another exciting open vehicle safaris continuing into the evening. We return for a well-deserved dinner and overnight at Zulu Nyala Game Lodge.

DAY 06. Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park – St Lucia (iSimangaliso) – Durban

After an early breakfast, we travel to Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park. We enter the reserve for another two hours of great viewing of the Big Five. The white rhino was saved from extinction here. We travel to the village of St Lucia and join a boat cruise on the estuary of the famous Lake St Lucia. The lake was proclaimed a World Heritage Site in 1999. Around the lake is a wildlife paradise with bird species such as fish eagle, Goliath heron and many more. Your skipper/guide will show you the world of the hippo and the crocodile and the other mystic inhabitants of the “deep”. After this unforgettable experience, we travel to Durban, South Africa’s holiday Mecca, where our tour ends.  Overnight Capital Pearls Hotel

DAY 07.  Durban

Today you embark on a tour of the city.  Durban is an intriguing cultural blend of East, West and Africa. With its endless summer climate, effervescent and lukewarm ocean lined with golden beaches offers a subtropical carnival atmosphere all year round. Our tour of this bustling metropolis, often called the cultural ‘melting pot’ of South Africa, includes a drive through the sports corridor with its impressive sporting facilities. Then onto the Blue Lagoon area on the Umgeni River, where you get a panoramic view of the whole bay of Durban.

We pass the so-called Apartheid Beaches. Continue via Marine Parade (Golden Mile), where you will see the rickshaws.  Continue past the impressive developments at the new Point Waterfront area. We drive past the busiest harbour in Africa and various historical monuments.  Continue through the city centre where the second railway station, the City Hall and the Post Office buildings each have a story to tell. We stop at the Indian Market to glimpse the Indian culture and bargain for souvenirs and spices.

Our last visit is to the Botanical Gardens. The gardens have an extensive collection of trees and plants from all over the world and a famous cycad collection and orchid garden. You have the option of being dropped off at the end of the tour at the Ushaka Marine World with its world-class aquarium and many shops and restaurants. Overnight Capital Pearls Hotel. 

DAY 08.  Garden Route – Tsitsikamma National Park – Knysna

After early breakfast, you are transferred to the local airport for your flight to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). Depart from Port Elizabeth / Gqeberha, towards the Garden Route, so-called because of its lush, green scenery, looking much like gardens, along the N2 national route to the Storms River. This is the beginning of the Garden Route.  Your next stop is at Tsitsikamma National Park (Khoisan for the place of much water), stretching over one hundred kilometres of wild and rocky coastline characterized by massive cliffs, narrow isolated beaches, and shady indigenous forests along the river valleys. Here you can do a relaxing walk/hike to the suspension bridge stretching over the mouth of the Storms River.

We then continue to The Bloukrans Bridge, 216 meters (709 feet) above the Bloukrans River. The Bloukrans Bungee is the world’s highest commercial bungee bridge and is the highest commercial natural bungee jump in the world!

On the road again, before entering Plettenberg Bay, we visit the Birds of Eden. This unique two-hectare dome (the world’s largest) spans over a gorge of indigenous forest. It is currently home to over 3,500 birds from over 220 species, with the main focus being African birds. Then a short stop at Monkeyland, the world’s first free roaming multi-specie primate sanctuary. On this visit you can expect to see a variety of primates, ranging from the Gibbons of Asia to the Lemurs of Madagascar. More than 700 primates live at the sanctuary.

Continuing past Plettenberg Bay to Knysna on the edge of the Knysna Lagoon with its entrance to the sea guarded by two promontories known as the ‘Heads’. The area also falls within a National Park proclaimed to conserve the extraordinary natural beauty of the Lakeland and forests. Knysna also offers shopping opportunities of unusual locally made art and craft, etc. Overnight in Knysna at the Stannards Guest House or similar

DAY 09. Knysna – George – Oudtshoorn

We spend the morning exploring Knysna visiting the “Heads” etc. Driving west, we experience some of the most magical views on the Garden Route and Wilderness National Park and scenic viewpoints along the way. We travel over the Outeniqua Mountains to the Little Karoo where you visit the Cango Wildlife Ranch and Valley of Ancients, an endangered species breeding facility extraordinaire. Then travel to our hotel—overnight La Plume Boutique Guest House or similar.

DAY 10. Oudtshoorn – Mossel Bay

After breakfast you visit an Ostrich Show Farm for some unique experiences with these strange birds. You visit the Cango caves, regarded as one of South Africa’s foremost natural wonders. The fascinating calcite caves comprises an underground wonderland of stalactites and stalagmites. Visit Oudtshoorn, also called the “Feather capital” of the world, as over ninety percent of the world’s ostrich farms are found here. Continue to the Aquamarine Guest House or similar in Mossel Bay where you spend the night.

DAY 11.  Mossel Bay – Swellendam – Hermanus – Cape Town

You visit arguably the oldest post office in Africa, the Post Office Tree and the site of the first landfall, made by the Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Dias in 1488. Continue to Hermanus, the best place in the World to spot Whales from land – (July to Dec). After lunch you depart for Cape Town via the beautiful coastal route between Hermanus and Gordon’s Bay, arriving late afternoon.
Overnight Premier Hotel Cape Town or a hotel of your choice.

DAY 12.  Cape Town City

Departure is at 09h00 from all city and Waterfront hotels. Cape Town, Tavern of the Seas, with the majestic Table Mountain as a backdrop, is one of the world’s most beautiful cities. An electric mix of architectural styles, cobblestone streets and cultural diversity enhance the cosmopolitan ambience. A trip by cable car to the top of Table Mountain is gratifying. At the top, the city unfolds below you from the viewpoints. We also visit the Malay Quarters, Castle of Good Hope, Company Gardens and Government Avenue, Houses of Parliament, S.A. Museum. We take a final drive to Milnerton for a full view of Table Mountain with the city in its lap. Overnight Premier Hotel Cape Town.

DAY 13. Cape Peninsula

The Cape Peninsula forms part of the Cape floral kingdom, which is the smallest floral kingdom there is. It has more indigenous plant species per square meter than anywhere else on earth. Both coastlines of the Peninsula combined have more than a hundred beaches with dazzling white sands. This route also offers magnificent viewpoints for the photographers on board. On this round-trip of the Peninsula, you will visit the following highlights:

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens with over seven thousand plant species, half of which being indigenous plants and of those, some two thousand six hundred being endemic to the peninsula. From here, you drive via the Constantia Valley, which is the oldest winemaking centre in South Africa. The African Penguins at Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town. Simon’s Town is also the headquarters of the S.A Navy. Cape of Good Hope is the most south-western extremity of the African continent. Cape Point is the second-best viewpoint after Table Mountain. The fynbos rich Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and the spectacular scenic drive over Chapman’s Peak along the west of the Peninsula will take you back to the city after this eventful day.  Overnight Premier Hotel Cape Town.

DAY 14.  Cape Town

Today you have free to explore the city yourself or join an optional tour of the famous Cape Winelands or one of the other popular day tours around Cape Town. Overnight Premier Hotel Cape Town.

Day 15. Cape Town – Onward

You are transferred to the local airport for your onward flight.