Grand Tour of South Africa

Overview

Experience the scenic beauty and natural landscapes of South Africa’s Cape Peninsula. See highlights of Garden route such as the Cango Caves, Ostrich Farm, Cango Wildlife Ranch, and more. Enjoy a cruise on the lagoon in Knysna. Experience Swazi and authentic Zulu culture, search for the Big Five in the world renowned Kruger National Park and the Hluhluwe Reserve. Travel along the awe-inspiring Panorama Route and the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’.

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Day By Day Itinerary

Fly to Johannesburg. Overnight flight

On arrival Johannesburg you will be welcomed and transferred to hotel protea balalaika sandton Johannesburg

Experience the scenic beauty and natural After breakfast we travel to Mpumalanga via the magnificent Panorama Route. From many well-positioned vantage points one has a view of the 33 km long Blyde River Canyon gorge, which starts at “Bourke’s Luck Potholes” and ends at the “Three Rondavels”. Time and weather permitting, stop at God’s Window. Late afternoon arrival at your hotel. Dinner and Overnight Perry’s Bridge Hollow

Early morning transfer to the Kruger National Park for a morning open vehicle safari through the Kruger National Park. The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. At nearly 2 million hectares, the reserve is the flagship of South African National Parks and is home to an impressive number of flora and fauna. Return to your hotel in the afternoon and spend the remainder of the day at leisure. You will have the option to return to the Kruger National Park to absorb the tranquil beauty of an evening safari. Dinner and Overnight Perry’s Bridge Hollow

After breakfast, travel to the Royal Kingdom of Swaziland. This tiny mountainous kingdom is filled with bygone African traditions and culture and offers beautiful scenery and attractions such as game reserves and art & craft outlets to name a few. Enjoy a showcase of the traditional Swazi culture followed by a traditional lunch at the Matsamo Cultural Village. Continue to the Ngwenya Glass Works to see master craftsmen create beautiful sculptures and artwork from molten glass. After spending some time at the craft markets, arrive at your hotel located in the beautiful Ezulwini Valley. Overnight Royal Swazi Sun

After early breakfast. Enjoy a morning visit to the Swazi Candle Factory where each candle is made and finished by hand using the age-old technique “millefiore”. No two are the same and the range boasts an astonishing array of patterns, shapes and designs.Continue via Big Bend into KwaZulu Natal. Arrive at your hotel in the afternoon, in time to embark on an afternoon scenic drive up the Ubombo Mountains, offering views over Lake Jozini. At the summit and as the setting sun transforms the sky into a tapestry of colours, stop for sundowners. The drive will be combined with a visit to a local and authentic Zulu homestead for a glimpse into Zulu life in today’s world. Return to the hotel for dinner. Overnight Ghost Mountain Inn

Enjoy the morning at leisure to embark on any of the activities on offer from the hotel. Then you will transfer to the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve for an afternoon of game viewing. The Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve covers a combined area of 90 000ha and it was here that the white rhino was saved from extinction. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner and Overnight Ghost Mountain Inn

After breakfast we Continue the journey along the Elephant Coast of KwaZulu Natal to St Lucia which is located at the southern extremity of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park – a World Heritage Site. Here you embark on an estuarine boat trip which provides an opportunity to view crocodiles, hippo and numerous bird species, including the elusive African Fish Eagle, in their natural habitat. Continue to Durban and check in at hotel The Benjamin Boutique

Morning city tour of Durban, a tour dedicated to the discovery of the cultural & historical contrasts of this cosmopolitan city where east meets west. Drive along Durban’s distinctive beachfront, the Golden Mile, past the art-deco buildings and uShaka Marine World to The Point at the harbour entrance. Drive along Victoria Embankment and through the city past buildings of historical significance such as the Natal Museum, City Hall and the Play House Theatre.Then transfer to Durban airport to board your fly to Port Elizabeth. On arrival check in at hotel Radisson Blu Port Elizabeth

We travel via the coastline to the beautiful Tsitsikamma National Park. Described as the ‘garden of the Garden Route’, the Tsitsikamma actually deserves a more vivid description to encapsulate the beauty of the place. Enjoy a walk along the suspension bridge across the Storms River mouth gorge which offers visitors incredible views and photo opportunities. Continue to Plettenberg Bay and check in at The Country House

After breakfast, get up-close-and-personal with nature at the Elephant Sanctuary. With the help of the resident African elephants and the well-informed guides, you will learn about the sad and mystical story of the Elephants. The visit presents you with the opportunity to touch, feed and photograph these gentle giants. This is followed by a visit to Birds of Eden – the largest free-flight bird aviary in the world. Birds of Eden stems from the need to create a safe environment in which to release a large collection of free-flight African birds and the sanctuary also enables bird owners to apply to release their pet birds into the sanctuary, after undergoing rehabilitation. Time permitting Dinner and Overnight stay at The Country House

After breakfast and check-out formalities, proceed on an informative cruise up the Keurbooms River.Continue to the lagoon side town of Knysna – the gem of the Garden Route.Enjoy some time at leisure at the Knysna Waterfront Complex before travelling to Oudtshoorn – the ‘feather capital’ of the world due to its large ostrich industry. Visit a working ostrich farm for a guided tour. Dinner Overnight stay at De Opstal Country Lodge

After breakfast Enjoy a morning tour of the Cango Caves before departing Oudtshoorn. The Cango Caves is one of the natural wonders of the world and has become a major draw-card to the Karoo area. Afterward, travel via Route 62 to Barrydale for lunch (to own account). Arrive in Cape Town around 17h00. Overnight Pepper Club Luxury Hotel

Experience the scenic beauty and natural landscapes of South Africa’s Cape Peninsula on this full-day tour of Cape Town. This tour encapsulates the best that the Cape has to offer – magnificent beaches, breathtaking views, historic & picturesque coastal villages, superb mountain ranges, vineyards and Cape Dutch homesteads are to be seen along the way.sYour return trip to Cape Town even includes a stop at the colorful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

Half day Table Mountain & City Tour. See the best of Cape Town including a trip to the top of Table Mountain and a minibus tour of the city’s highlights during this half-day tour. Survey the city from Table Mountain, ride the cable car back down and then see Cape Town’s main sights from your minibus. See places such as the Diamond Works and the Malay Quarter on Signal Hill Then to the City Hall on the Grand Parade and later a visit to the Castle. Enter the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront that abounds with shops, pubs, restaurants and entertainment.

Full Day Cape Winelands Tour. This delightful drive winds its way to the heart of the Cape Winelands, through superb mountain ranges, vineyards and Cape Dutch homesteads. Head off to the wine-country to one of the Cape’s first farming districts-Paarl. the town is set at the foot of the cluster of remarkable granite domes from which it takes its name. Our first stop of the morning is the picturesque Seidelberg Wine Estate. We enjoy a wine tasting at one of the numerous wine estates in the area, before taking time to enjoy time for lunch at one of the many award winning restaurants. Onward to Stellenbosch, via the scenic Helshoogte Pass, the heart of the South African wine industry boasting great beauty and culture that is steeped in South African history.

The day is free until leisure to transfer to airport to board your flight to UK. Overnight flight

Arrive home today

Group Departure Dates & Prices

Accommodation

Protea Hotel Balalaika Sandton Johannesburg

Perry’s Bridge Hollow Boutique Hotel Hazyview

Royal Swazi Spa
Ezulwini Valley

Radisson Blu Hotel
Port Elizabeth

Hunter’s Country House
Harkerville

Pepperclub Hotel and Spa
Cape Town

De Opstal Country Lodge
Oudtshoorn