| itinerary |
|
| B
= breakfast included; L = lunch included; D = dinner included
*
= explanation/ description in pop-up window
|
|
|
| Day
1, Saturday - arrival & Johannesburg city tour |
|
|  You
will be met on your arrival at Johannesburg
International Airport* and transferred*
to your hotel in Sandton*,
north of Johannesburg*.
In the afternoon you will be taken on a guided tour of Johannesburg*.
Visit the "Top of Africa" at the Carlton
Centre* from where you have a panoramic view of the City
(entrance fee not included). Continue to visit the historical
buildings downtown Johannesburg*,
including the old Stock
Exchange* and De Beers buildings.
Travel through
the arty suburb of Melville and return to your hotel via the
Emmarentia Gardens and upmarket suburb of Rosebank*.
|
|
| Overnight:
Protea Hotel Wanderers - Sandton, 1 night (B)
 |
| |
| |
| Day
2, Sunday - Johannesburg to Sabie |
|
| Today,
you travel to the Eastern
Lowveld* where the famous Kruger
National Park* is situated. The route takes you through
the Highveld*
with its wide-open spaces. Travel via Witbank*,
Dullstroom*
and Lydenburg*
and then continue over the breathtaking Long
Tom Pass* to Sabie*.
where you will spend the night. You will also visit the nearby
Lone Creek Waterfall.
|
|
| Overnight:
Lone Creek River Lodge (Timber Cottages), 1 night (DB)
|
| |
| |
| Day
3, Monday - Sabie to the Kruger National Park |
|
|  After
breakfast you'll visit the Mac
Mac Waterfalls*. Along the Bonnet Pass pay a short visit
to the historic town of Pilgrim’s
Rest*, where the richest alluvial gold deposits in South
Africa* were discovered in 1873.
Continue exploring
the Panoramic
Route* featuring: the Blyde
River Canyon*, Three
Rondawels*; Bourke’s
Luck Potholes*, God's
Window* and various waterfalls. Travelling over Kowyn’s
Pass to the Hazyview*
area, arrive at your overnight stop. Enter the Kruger
National Park* for a short introductory game
drive* in the late afternoon and return to the hotel for
dinner under the stars in a traditional African Boma (weather
permitting).
|
|
| Overnight:
Protea Kruger Gate Lodge (incl. 2 game viewing activities),
1 night (DB)
|
| |
| |
| Day
4, Tuesday - Kruger National Park & Bongani |
|
| Early
morning game
drive*, in your tour vehicle, in the Kruger
National Park* (Optional alternative: An open vehicle
game
drive*).
 After
breakfast you'll head back into the Kruger
National Park* on a south-bound game
drive* enroute to your overnight destination. Animals
which may be seen include lion, elephant, leopard, rhino,
buffalo, giraffe and many species of antelope as well as prolific
plant and bird life. As these animals roam freely in the wild,
luck plays a role when you go looking for them. Your drive
through the Kruger*
will give you a wonderful opportunity to see how many of them
you can spot along the way.
Your overnight
destination, Bongani
Mountain Lodge*, lies on community trust land bordering
the Kruger's*
southern fence line. It is a rocky mountainious area making
for a unique wildlife experience. You'll arrive in time to
explore the rugged area in the lodge's Landrovers, guided
by experienced local guides*
and trackers*.
|
|
| Overnight:
Bongani Mountain Lodge (incl. 2 game viewing activities),
1 night (DB)
|
| |
| |
| Day
5, Wednesday - Bongani to Ubizane Game Reserve |
|
| After
an optional*
early morning game
drive* or bush walk you will travel from Bongani Mountain
Lodge to Ubizane*
in the province of KwaZulu-Natal*.
You will travel through the east of the small mountain kingdom
of Swaziland*.
This small land locked country is one of the few monarchical
states left in the world and is ruled by King Swati (iii).
Leaving Swaziland*
you re-enter South
Africa* in the KwaZulu-Natal*
province. KwaZulu*
means the home of the Zulu*,
a very proud and famous people of South
Africa*. From here you travel to the Ubizane
Private Game Reserve*, where you will spend the night.
Dinner served under the African Sky (weather permitting). |
|
| Overnight:
Ubizane Tree Lodge (incl. 1 game viewing activity), 1 night
(DB)
|
| |
| |
| Day
6, Thursday - Ubizane to Durban |
|
|  After
breakfast, depart for the nearby Hluhluwe-Umfolozi
Game Reserve*, South
Africa’s* oldest game
reserve* and renowned for its success in saving the endangered
white rhino. A south bound game
drive* will show you much of the natural beauty of this
sub-tropical game
reserve*. Along the way you'll see various wildlife species,
there's a good chance of seeing some of the rhino's that Hluhluwe's*
famous for.
Leaving Hluhluwe*
you will make a quick visit to the Greater
St. Lucia Wetland Park*, a world heritage site. A one-hour
cruise of the St.
Lucia Estuary*, through which Lake
St. Lucia* is connected to the ocean, is included in your
visit. From here you travel to Durban*
where you will spend two nights. |
|
| Overnight:
Protea Hotel Umhlanga, 2 nights (B)
|
| |
| |
| Day
7, Friday - Durban |
|
| Today
you will have the day free to relax on the beach or you may
join an optional
tour* of Shakaland*.
Shaka was a legendary king of the proud warior kingdom of
the Zulu*
nation. Shakaland*
is a traditional Zulu*
"Umuzi" or homestead. It is divided into the home of its
Zulu*
residents and hotel rooms for overnight guests. On this tour
you will experience the sight of assegaai-wielding warriors,
share the fascinating secrets of the Sangomas (traditional
healers) and witness customs such as tribal dancing, spear
making and the beer-drinking ceremonies - in this authentic
re-creation of the Great Kraal overlooking the Umhlatuze
Lake.
|
|
| Overnight:
Protea Hotel Umhlanga, 2nd night (B)
|
| |
|
| Day
8, Saturday - Durban to Port Elizabeth |
|
|  You
have the morning at leisure to enjoy more of the beach and
surroundings. You should experience typical humid and sunny
Durban*
weather, although we don't control the weather...
Later in the
day, probably late morning, you will be transferred*
to Durban
International Airport* for a one hour flight
to Port
Elizabeth Airport* (included in your tour price).
On arrival in Port
Elizabeth*, you will be transferred*
to your hotel. You have the rest of the afternoon at leisure
to enjoy the beach or to relax at one of the nearby restaurants
or other beachfront attractions. |
|
| Overnight:
Protea Hotel Marine, 1 night (B)
|
| |
| |
| Day
9, Sunday - Garden Route & Knysna |
|
| You
leave Port
Elizabeth* in the direction of Cape
Town*. Enroute to Knysna*
you will pass through a most interesting and beautiful variety
of scenery. You'll be entering the so-called Garden
Route*, you will visit the rainforests
of the Tsitsikamma*
Mountains and travel along the Victorian passes of Bloukranz*
and Groot
Rivier*. Along the route you will stop at the Big Tree
(±800 years old) and Garden of Eden (short forest paths).
You will also pay a short visit to Plettenberg
Bay*, the "millionaires' playground".
Ultimately you
reach the quaint town of Knysna*
in the heart of the Garden
Route*. Your hotel is located at the Knysna Waterfront,
which you will have ample time to explore. An optional*
sunset cruise of the Knysna Lagoon is also on offer. Dinner
will be enjoyed at one of the Waterfront's restaurants - on
your hotel's doorstep. |
|
| Overnight:
Protea Hotel Knysna Quays, 1 night (DB)
|
|
| |
| Day
10, Monday - Knysna to Oudtshoorn |
|
|  Today,
you explore the Garden
Route* from Knysna*
to Mossel
Bay*. Enroute you pass through the beautiful Wilderness*.
After a short visit to Mossel
Bay* (Diaz Museum & Old Post
Office Tree*), you turn inland and cross the Outeniqua
Mountains via the scenic Robinson Pass to enter the semi-desert
Klein Karoo, renowned for ostrich
farming*, fruit and vineyards.
First you pay
a visit to an ostrich
farm* for a close up encounter with the largest birds
on earth. Afterwards you visit the Cango
Caves* for an underground tour of these magnificent caverns.
Time permitting an optional
tour* of the Crocodile
and Cheetah Park* is available. You spend the night a
farm guesthouse outside Oudtshoorn*.
Dinner is enjoyed at the in-house restaurant, which features
ostrich fare and fine wines. |
|
| Overnight:
De Opstal Lodge (a.k.a. De Opstal Country Hotel), 1 night
(DB)
|
| |
| |
| Day
11, Tuesday - Oudtshoorn to Cape Town |
|
| Your
route to Cape
Town* will enable you to appreciate the true diversity
of landscapes, highlighted through the magnificence of the
ever-changing semi-desert areas, folded sandstone mountains
of the Huis River and Tradouw Passes, the charming town of
Swellendam*,
and the mountain plateau of expansive apple orchards in and
around Grabouw. Your day ends with your first glimpse of Table
Mountain* from the top of the famous Sir Lowry's Pass. |
|
| Overnight:
Holiday Inn Cape Town Waterfront, 2 nights (B)
|
| |
| |
| Day
12, Wednesday - Cape Peninsula & Winelands |
|
|  Today,
you will do a combination of two of the most popular tours
in the Cape
Town* area. First will be a tour of the Cape
Peninsula*. Travel via Camps
Bay*, Hout
Bay* and Chapman's
Peak Drive* to the Cape
of Good Hope Nature Reserve*. Enjoy stunning views from
Cape
Point* before you continue towards Simonstown*
and Muizenberg*.
After lunch (not
included), you  come
to the second tour of the day, a visit to the Cape
Winelands*. You will be introduced to South
African wines* at a local wine estate (probably Spier*).
This includes a short talk on wines and wine production. There
after you will enjoy a wine
tasting* of a couple of South African
wines* under the guidance of someone familiar with the
finer aspects of wine. Afterwards you drive through the University
town of Stellenbosch*
before returning to your hotel. |
|
| Overnight:
Holiday Inn Cape Town Waterfront, 2nd night (B)
|
| |
|
| Day
13, Thursday - Return home |
|
| You
have the day at leisure until such time as your flight (own
arrangements) departs for home. You may head for the Table
Mountain Cable Way*, visit the nearby Victoria
& Alfred Waterfront* or indulge in any of the many
other attractions that the city has
to offer* (for your own account).
All good things
have to come to an end sooner or later... You will be transferred*
to Cape
Town International Airport*
in time for your flight back home. |
|
| Overnight
flight home, you may also request us to book extra days for
you in Cape Town. |
|
| |
| |
"
in the 